Jessica Williams's Blog, page 3

How Big League Pins Became a Successful Passion Project for Two Friends

We’re Angie Garbot and Kirsten Goede, Co-Founders of Big League Pins. Anyone who knows us knows that we are huge Chicago Cubs fans. #CubsBesties, in fact!

Friends for over 10 years, our pin obsession was borne out of this shared love of baseball and also wanting to wear fun and stylish accessories to support our team.

Combining Kirsten’s background as a full-time graphic designer and Angie’s as a full-time photographer, we launched our passion project…creating unique, cute, fan-centric, and personality-driven pin designs. 

And our passion extends beyond the Cubs and Chicago sports. We're also BIG fans of the city we call home, Chicago. Our love of bling includes fashion, pop culture, food, and weddings, too. 

We also love to create custom designs, working with other brands, charities, clubs, sports organizations, and more. If you'd like a custom pin for a special event, celebration, or giveaway, please get in touch. We’d love to collaborate with you!

1. Tell us about your side hustle.

I’m Angie Garbot, a co-founder at Big League Pins. We design unique, personality-driven enamel pins for organizations, sports teams, non-profits, individuals…anyone looking for fresh, topical, and collectible pins. They’re perfect for:

VIP / Season Ticket Holder giftingFan appreciation/GiveawaysCharity events and Fundraising toolYouth Program participation giftsBoard Member / Sponsor / Donor appreciationVolunteer engagementEmployee + customer appreciationTheme Night giveawaysFestival & Special Event promotionAnniversaries/Milestone Events

We also have a successful consumer-focused Etsy shop here.

2. What inspired you to start your business?

My biz partner Kirsten and I had been friends for over ten years, and our pin obsession was borne out of a shared love of baseball (Go Cubs!) and wanting to wear fun and stylish accessories to support our team. It’s our passion project!

3. How did you make your first dollar?

Our first dollar was from friends purchasing a pin or two. Our first big client was Clark Street Sports, who picked us up in 30 of their stores a few months after we opened. That’s when we knew we had something. We met the owner through personal network connections.

4. When can you work on your side hustle? How do you make time for it?

Any day/any time. Since I’m self-employed all around, the biggest need jumps to the front of the line. There are weeks when I’m working on Big League Pins every day (especially during the high-volume holiday season). Balancing during busy photography season is trickier, but most BLP work can be done at any time…

5. How has your side hustle impacted your personal and professional life?

Personal – my family helps out with it (Mom and husband), so it feels more…inclusive?…than my photography business, which is just me and can feel isolating. It’s also made me very popular when I gift our pins to family/friends.

Professional – it’s opened many doors to people and organizations I wouldn’t normally have met. It’s added new networking opportunities. Also, since I have a biz partner here, it’s had a positive impact on my photography from a business perspective – things that I never got around to for my photo biz that we had to do for BLP (migrating to Quickbooks online, for example,) suddenly became doable, less scary – and got done!

6. What challenges have you faced while working on your side hustle, and how have you overcome them?

So many challenges! Initially, it was sourcing – everything from the pin manufacturing to packaging to payment platforms to website dev…EVERYTHING! Having a product-based business is so much different than a service-based one. 

Having a partner has made all the difference in overcoming challenges in general. We balance each other out with our areas of expertise and available time. When one’s not available to work on something, the other often is… Our biggest ongoing challenge is finding the right sales help to get us to the next level.

7. Do you have any resources to recommend to someone looking to start a side hustle?

Maybe because we both already had our own businesses/were self-employed, we just sort of…dove right in! We were used to figuring things out with limited resources. I would say that two overall resources are networking and Google.

We have gotten all of our large clients (Cubs, Chicago Fire, Nike, Depaul University, etc.) from our personal networks and targeting events with an audience we think has the right people in it for us. We’ve done festivals and markets that have sponsors we want to meet. So you HAVE to get out there.

As for Google, research things that you know other people have struggled with – how do you take payments online, where are the manufacturers, what are other people charging, are there other people doing it, etc. Don’t reinvent the wheel; even if what you find isn’t perfect, you want to work in your business, not on it! (if that makes sense!)

8. What advice would you give to someone considering a side hustle?

Be sure it’s something you really and truly enjoy. It will consume you sometimes, and it will take a lot of work. But it won’t feel that way if you really love it. If it’s just to make some money, consider what you’re willing to do for it.

9. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with your side hustle?

The more professional you are about your hustle, the more people will take you seriously. 

Put the time into creating good marketing collateral (on your website, About You, how you talk about you and your hustle online, etc.). 
Don’t skimp on things like good photography (learn how to take better pics if you can’t afford to hire someone; there are many resources for that).
Invest time in processes to make things easier (Google Workspace has been a lifesaver with spreadsheets/docs to keep track of everything from vendors to networking contacts to resources to marketing, etc.)
Find a way to take online payments right away and set up your hustle with Venmo/QuickPay, etc.). 

People want to know who the people/persons are behind any small business, so even if you’re uncomfortable, you have gotta put yourself out there.

Where to find Angie online:WebsiteEtsy ShopFacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedIn

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From Lawyer to Fitness Coach: Meet Shelley Aniciete and Learn How She Pulls the Inner Athlete Out of All of Us

Shelley Aniciete is a lawyer, fitness, nutrition, running coach & rescue dog mom living in Chicago. She’s been an avid runner and lifter for 25+ years and can make anyone who wants to be, an athlete. Her gift is pulling the inner athlete out of you and showing you that fitness & healthy living are so much more than diet and exercise: they’re a ‘cheat code’ to living a fuller, happier life. Shelley works with all her athletes virtually, so you can live anywhere & be a part of her world.

1. Tell us about your side hustle.

I am a fitness/nutrition and running coach. I create personalized programming for women already exercising but wanting better athlete and/or aesthetic results. I offer 1:1 coaching. I hope to provide group programming soon. 

2. What inspired you to start your business?

Additionally, I’ve had fitness/nutrition/running coaches for about eight years, and they’ve changed my life in many ways. 

I want other women to experience this.

3. How did you get your first client?

Posting on social media: specifically, Instagram and Facebook. This has changed a bit over the years because Instagram is pushing reels SO much. But, a few years ago, I posted a daily picture with thoughts/ lessons/beliefs about health/fitness. I also talked about my personal journey in fitness/nutrition over the years and how it’s evolved.

About once a month, I’d post something like:

“I’m looking for five women who want (X) results”

And I got my clients. That was very consistent. Over the years, I’ve changed the type of client I want to work with, and those posts didn’t really call them in. 

Also, with the uptick in reels, I’ve had to evolve and learn how to make reels relaying my messaging. I have also done several IG/FB lives to discuss specific topics.

I built a big client base by consistently posting on FB/IG and in my IG stories. I have a high client retention rate, so I only solicit new clients when I’m ready. The rest of the time, my posts are just to establish who I am & what I believe in regarding health/fitness.

4. When can you work on your side hustle? How do you make time for it?

I work throughout the day during downtime at my full-time job,  on the weekends, or after work. Whenever I can.

5. How has your side hustle impacted your personal and professional life?

It’s changed how I see myself. It’s given me the confidence that I can do more than my day job and that I don’t need permission to do more than one thing. 

It’s activated parts of me that I felt I had put on the back burner as a leader and creative.

6. What challenges have you faced while working on your side hustle, and how have you overcome them?

Finding the energy to come home from my day job and work on the side hustle. 

I’ve overcome this by scaling down my side hustle while regrouping and figuring out how to reshape it so it can grow while I continue my full-time job. As a result, I’ve become pickier about the clients I will take–and will not accept clients I do not think are ready to be coached. 

7. Do you have any resources to recommend to someone looking to start a side hustle?

Hire a business coach or mentor to get started. I’ve found all of my coaches on Instagram. Some have been long-term coaching commitments, while others have been just a one-time Zoom call. I also listen to many podcasts about other people who have started businesses, which has reaffirmed: it takes time to grow one!

8. What advice would you give to someone considering a side hustle?Play the long game. Don’t try to grow a huge business immediately.Take risks and leaps, but it’s ok to grow slowly.Don’t worry about what other people think.Don’t compare yourself to other business owners. Do you. Start to see yourself as a business owner. You can’t grow a business until you believe that you are.Don’t listen to people telling you you can’t do it your way. Maybe you can, maybe you can’t, but trust your gut.9. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with your side hustle?

It’s more than just ‘growing a business’ and more about growing into someone who can hold a business in a way that feels good and is something you believe in. It’s about letting go of doing things perfectly and trusting that you can handle whatever happens. It’s about going with the flow and not being glued to expectations of how things should be.

Where to find Shelley online:InstagramFacebook

The post From Lawyer to Fitness Coach: Meet Shelley Aniciete and Learn How She Pulls the Inner Athlete Out of All of Us appeared first on Tech Biz Gurl.

How to Build a $10K Newsletter Side Hustle

“You can build a profitable 5-figure newsletter with a full-time job — but not without commitment and sacrifice.”

Dylan shares his process for working on his newsletter, how he makes money and the behind-the-scenes of it all. Side hustlers are making it out here!

The post How to Build a $10K Newsletter Side Hustle first appeared on Tech Biz Gurl.

40 Things I Did, Experienced, and Appreciated in 2022

I’ve skipped the typical year-in-review posts for the past few years and created my own version inspired by Joanna Hennon. You can see 2020 here and 2021 here. This remains one of my favorite ways to reflect on the previous year.

So without further ado…

Saw a magic show. It was amazing!Did the 2-mile walk for the Shamrock Shuffle. Ended up walking 6.5 miles that day. (this was my first walk post ankle injury, so to me, this was a BIG DEAL.)Caught COVID along with grandma. Luckily it was a mild case, and we recovered quickly.Hired a virtual assistant, which I had wanted to do for years. Her graphics are excellent. Just check out my Instagram. (Found her through this service.)Experienced some muscle strain in my right neck and shoulder and got into a routine of physical therapy and Chiro. Learned that stretching is really underrated.Visited Prince: The Immersive Experience with my mom. We had a blast.Went to my first Cubs baseball game, and they won! (Not saying I’m good luck, butttt…maybe?)Did a few LEGO projects including this one.Saw “All’s Well that Ends Well” at the Chicago Shakespeare theatre. (thanks, Karen!)Shared some money tips in this interview.Shared my career journey with Ms. Tech. Took a Bar Method class.  Didn’t mind it, but I didn’t like it as much as I thought I should.Got into old fashioneds. In love with this Chicago bar that makes Dr. Pepper and Cream soda flavored ones.Saw Six the Musical – so good.  The soundtrack is amazeballs. If you have the opportunity to see it, I highly recommend it.Went to the Museum of Ice Cream. Delicious.Got sister locks. Accepted into the Microsoft Creator program. This has been a great way to get my content in front of a new audience and earn a little advertising money each month.Went to Dance for Life (thanks Jennifer!).Saw my first ever movie in the park.  It was “In the Heights.” So good.Took an improv class.Tried oysters. Not a fan.Got a Cheese-It-Spotlight in my gurl Saya's newsletter.Quoted as a side hustle expert in a Next Advisor article.Did some more interviews with Canvas Rebel and Subkit.Celebrated 300 issues and 6 years of #jesspicks!Read 18 books.  The goal was 24.  A few faves: Gilded, Hidden Pictures, The Plot, Chill & Prosper.Turned 41 and celebrated at this amazing dinner theatre experience.Celebrated 11 years since I started my blog, which started me down the path of entrepreneurship.Spoke to some college students about my career journey and the lessons learned.Led an #IamRemarkable workshop for a women’s ERG.Attended a friend’s Death Lunch which was not as morbid as it sounded.  But it was great to be there to support a friend in getting her legal paperwork (think wills and powers of attorneys) together.  So glad the Adulting Kit exists so I can start planning my own.Tried restorative yoga. Loved it so much. Learned a few things.Heard that GoDaddy Bookkeeping was retiring. Had to find another system for bookkeeping. (Now it seems Freely is retiring, so here we go again?)Launched a Side Hustle in a Day beta offering and worked with a few clients. Had a great response.Was a guest at 40 Cups of Coffee and talked about side hustle tips.  Learned that my Sacred Money Archetype is a Nurturer, and am excited to learn more about that next year. What's yours?Participated in Lizzy’s Christmas Party for the third year in a row and had over 1000 folks sign up for my Tips for Starting a Curated Newsletter Course.  Went to BeMoved dance class (almost) every week. So crucial for my mental health.Had several happy hours and fun outings with friends.Passed the 2,000 subscriber mark for #jesspicks!

All in all, in 2022, I created more bits of white space in my life and allowed myself to enjoy those moments of serendipity and spontaneity. Looking forward to doing more of that in 2023.

What's something you did, experienced, or appreciated in 2022?

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Luxury Travel Advisor: How Brianna Chandler Turned Her Passion For Travel Into a Side Hustle

1. Tell us about your side hustle.

I am a luxury travel advisor. I provide personalized service by getting to know my clients. I curate unique private travel itineraries and recommend the right cruises for their travel style or tour groups as desired. I also provide support throughout my client’s travels. 

I know many people who want to travel but are scared or don’t know where to start. I spend time with clients, getting to know their likes and dislikes. They may think they want a certain type of vacation because a friend did something similar, but upon further discussion, if it doesn’t sound like the right fit, I may suggest something different. I use my knowledge and travel experiences to develop the best trip for them. 

I’m just starting, so I’m still refining my niche. I want to focus on new and seasoned adventurous solo travelers in their 30-50’s who want community in the form of small group travel but are ready to elevate their experience, pamper themselves and experience unique, curated adventures away from the usual hordes of tourists. They have outgrown budget group travel but find luxury group travel often skews toward retired, less active people, and they aren’t ready for that type of travel yet. 

That’s where I come in. I use my international connections and knowledge to create unique, curated adventures that awe, excite and pamper. I want my clients to return home with new friends, refreshed in mind, body, and spirit, with a new appreciation for the world around them. I want to leave them awed and inspired to continue exploring the world. My clients want to share their experiences with everyone while asking, when is the next trip?

2. What inspired you to start your business?

I first had an inkling in 2019 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I met a man during an ice cream break in a gorgeous park. He was originally from Croatia but had been a tour guide in many parts of the world. He was managing some local Airbnbs. We talked about working together in a partnership where I would send business his way for a fee or commission. I liked the idea, but I was hesitant because I didn’t have a way of truly knowing if he were someone I could send people to and know they would have a good experience or not, and I didn’t know all of the business ramifications of a partnership. Then COVID hit.

I have worked in healthcare for over 16 years, and COVID burned me out. Last January, I participated in Mac & Cheese Productions’ Secret Sauce Squad. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do instead of healthcare, but I felt stuck. I shared my love of travel with the group. One of the women in the group suggested I become a travel advisor, to which I said, “I have no idea how to do that or where to start.”

She introduced me to a woman she knew through a Mac & Cheese Productions offering who was a travel advisor. Kristin told me how she got started and gave me some information about where to start looking. I spent six months researching and organizing before settling on a training program and starting in October 2022.

3. How did you make your first dollar?

Funny enough, I made my first dollar on a commission from travel insurance I bought for myself for a trip to Europe for a group travel symposium and river cruise expo!

My first actual client dollar was from my aunt, who traveled to Mexico in February.

4. When can you work on your side hustle? How do you make time for it?

I work four days a week (32 hours) and spend the evenings learning and setting things up on my days off. I am single and don’t have kids, but I have to optimize my time. The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know! 

My year-long program includes business and marketing, with multiple Zoom calls weekly. I have a 40-minute commute each way, two days a week, so I take that time to listen to recordings of the calls I can’t attend.

5. How has your side hustle impacted your personal and professional life?

My friends have been supportive, although I have been working on expanding my network to include other entrepreneurs as none of my current friend groups have side hustles, so they don’t know what it’s like. Some of my family has not been as supportive, which has been challenging.

However, my two coworkers have been very supportive. They both would like to segway out of healthcare or at least diversify what they are doing so they get why I want something else, and they know how much I love to travel. I haven’t told my manager about it; at first, I felt weird about it, but now I don’t care as I’m not using company time to work on my side hustle.

I’ve talked about it to others I work with, and most are supportive, even if they don’t understand what a travel advisor does or why you would use one.

6. What challenges have you faced while working on your side hustle, and how have you overcome them?

Fear, uncertainty, and overwhelm have probably been the biggest challenges. Oh, and figuring out my business name and niche! Leaning into community has helped tremendously. Every day I am thankful for the training program I chose. It’s year-long, but there is so much to learn. I can’t imagine how anyone does a three-month or less program!

The host agency and our mentors are excellent! Amy always reminds us, “you are deeply loved and cared for,” which I didn’t realize I needed to hear sometimes. Then they dish out sage advice, answer questions, and encourage us to wade through the stream of fear to the other side.

7. Do you have any resources to recommend to someone looking to start a side hustle?

I became a podcast fiend when I started researching becoming a travel advisor! They all have websites, but I will share the podcasts because that’s my go-to:

Goal Digger with Jenna Kutcher Keep What You Earn with Shannon Weinstein Yo Quiero Dinero with Jannese Torres The Legalpreneur with Andrea Sager All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins Girlboss Radio with Avery Bigger Pockets Business 8. What advice would you give to someone considering a side hustle?

Find a community to support you! I don’t think I could have done this if I didn’t have a community.

9. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with your side hustle?

It’s scary and not easy, but I’m so glad I made the leap!

Where to find Brianna online:InstagramFacebookEmailWebsite (coming soon)

I will attend a Group Travel Symposium in March on a river cruise with AMAWaterways on the Danube River from Vienna, Austria, to Budapest, Hungary. In addition, I will attend the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) River Cruise Expo in Budapest. I can tour approximately ten ships and meet representatives from half a dozen river cruise companies. Follow along on my social media to see what it’s all about! 

In May, I will be attending Gifted Travel Network’s annual conference in Mykonos, Greece, where I will have the opportunity to connect with various travel partners from around the world. I hope to add a week in Albania beforehand to showcase a hidden gem that deserves more attention. Follow along on my social media channels above to learn more!

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Balancing Corporate & Side Hustle: Lessons From Cheryl Bennett

Cheryl Bennett is the owner of Just Swim Consulting, a leadership training, and personal development company. She has nearly 30 years of management and leadership experience; and has been a certified PMP since 2009. Cheryl works full-time as the PMO Director for NewWave Technologies in Baltimore, MD. She holds a BS in Computer Science, and M.Ed. in Cognitive Science, with a minor in Adult Education, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership.

Cheryl is passionate about mentoring, coaching, and sharing her experiences as a project manager to help the next generation of managers develop their leadership skills. She believes that all managers can become exceptional leaders.

In her free time, Cheryl serves on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Community ToolBank; is an active member of Toastmasters International; enjoys traveling; and, most importantly, spends time with her children and grandchildren.

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1. Tell us about your side hustle.

My business is called Just Swim Consulting. It is a leadership and professional development training consulting company. I provide leadership and project management training, speaking, and mentoring to aspiring leaders.

2. What inspired you to start your business?

I have been in project management for more than 30 years and get the greatest joy from mentoring and helping new managers develop their skills. I love sharing my experiences and the best practices I’ve learned as a leader.

When I first moved from a technical person (computer programmer) to leadership, I was left to figure out how to lead on my own. So I took as many classes and workshops as possible and modeled the behaviors of leaders I respected.

I want to make it easier for managers in similar situations not to feel overwhelmed and drowning in the new world of management. My company name reflects this. I want to be their lifeline and help them to “swim.”  

A second meaning for Just Swim comes from my desire to encourage others, especially women, to try new things, not be afraid of trying before everything is perfectly aligned, and being ok with ‘good enough.’ In other words, after you’ve done some prep work, it’s time to jump in and ‘just swim.’

3. How did you make your first dollar?

Initially, I had hoped to include a networking component in my business to help bring adults in my area together. That was in early 2020, and circumstances (aka Covid) were not kind to that idea. I offered a couple of virtual cake-decorating workshops that year and earned about $300. 

Otherwise, I volunteer to speak for professional networks, including local chapters or the Project Management Institute (PMI), which got me visibility with my target audience: project managers. I also went back to school because I love learning new things and because the idea of ‘Dr.’ sounds pretty cool. 

2021-2022 was spent refocusing, learning, and planning for my ‘exit strategy’ from corporate America. I made $0 but continued volunteer speaking for PMI-Baltimore and PMI-New Hampshire. 2023 is my year to earn enough to supplement my retirement income (future planning). 

I have earned a whopping $86 through a productivity workshop I published on Eventbrite. But, I also just won (yesterday) a contract to lead a 6-week Project Management Training with a local community college (you’re the first to know!) I also have an interview with a software company next week to discuss their leadership development needs. My goal for 2023 is $40K.

4. When can you work on your side hustle? How do you make time for it?

I reduced my hours at my corporate job to 4 days per week, which allows me all day Friday, evenings, and weekends to work on school and my business. IT IS TOUGH, though. I have to spend at least 3 hours per night on schoolwork, with Friday (my day off) being my catch-up day.

Friday and the weekend are also my time to focus on Just Swim. If things go well, I hope to reduce my corporate hours further, but I need them for health benefits, at least until I earn enough through Just Swim to cover the high costs.

5. How has your side hustle impacted your personal and professional life?

Professionally, I am meeting new people.

Personally, the biggest impact is that I’m tired. My house is a wreck, and we eat out way too much. I also have to find a quiet spot on weekends (like today) when my grandchildren are with us (every other weekend), so I can focus on school and work.

Today I am at the public library. My youngest grandchild doesn’t understand “grandma can’t have you climbing on her lap right now” or “grandma needs a few hours to do homework.” The library works well, and I’ll have the rest of the day today and tomorrow to spend with them. 

6. What challenges have you faced while working on your side hustle, and how have you overcome them?

My biggest challenge is a fear of marketing myself. The fear is that if I win work, will I be able to fit it in with my corporate job? And, more importantly, will I do a good job (aka Imposter Syndrome)?

My strategy for time is to reduce my hours and/or retire depending on how much work I get. I also have a mentor encouraging me to market myself (holding me accountable), which helps. Knowing someone else is counting on me makes me more likely to move.

7. Do you have any resources to recommend to someone looking to start a side hustle?

“The One Page Business Plan” helped me get my thoughts on paper and create, revise, and finalize my business plan. I entered a business plan PITCH contest in 2020 and won $7K (4th place) on the strength of my business plan.

I have stacks of books I plan to read one day,  but finding that time is difficult. The only book I read entirely in 2022 was “The Trusted Black Girl,” which discusses various stereotypes of Black women. Highly recommend it for any Black woman who wonders, for example, “did that really happen?”, “am I overreacting?” or “why am I so exhausted just living?”

8. What advice would you give to someone considering a side hustle?

Do your homework, and then jump in. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect….perfection is impossible anyway….so jump in at “good enough” and learn as you go. 

Mistakes are learning opportunities, so don’t beat yourself up over them. Instead, learn from them and keep swimming.

9. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with your side hustle?

Never stop learning. There is always something new to learn and experiences that could help you with your side hustle or simply help you with your sanity. Be curious and keep learning. 

Although this is year three since I officially registered my company, it is still in its infancy. Part of the reason for the slow development is fear and hesitation.

My advice, therefore, is not to let fear get in the way of trying new things. And if you so desire, try many things.

Where to find Cheryl online:WebsiteLinkedIn

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Jenn Vyenielo: Resources and Advice on Starting Your Product-Based Side Hustle

I met Jenn during Fear Experiment (think adults learning to do something that scares them over ten weeks and then performing in front of hundreds). We were part of the Broadway group, learning routines to Broadway songs and feeling a bit nervous the whole way. I'm so excited to see her business flourish.

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1. Tell us about your side hustle.

I run a creative product-based small business that offers handmade, small-batch polymer clay jewelry (earrings, bracelets, necklaces), accessories (keychains, barrettes), and home goods (sun catchers, oil diffusers, trinket bowls).

Each product is handcrafted by me from the design to cutting, adding embellishments (i.e., texture, prints/patterns with silkscreens, etc.), to the finish with sanding & assembling.

2. What inspired you to start your business?

I started working with polymer clay to maintain my mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic & cope with isolation, feelings of depression, and anxiety. 

Working with clay gave me both a physical way of dealing with stress (kneading, sculpting, pounding, etc.) and a way mentally – to manage my thoughts by being present, mindful, and aware of what I’m creating. 

After years of searching,  I finally found a passion, something I wanted to run toward instead of running away from. For those reasons, I decided to take a leap, trust myself and turn it into a side hustle/small business person. 

3. How did you make your first dollar?

I made my first dollar when I sold a friend a pair of my Lyra pink & black skull earrings from my first earring collection, Night Blooms. That collection is very personal and was inspired by my mental health journey and Allie Michelle’s poem from her published collection “The Rose That Blooms in the Night.”

4. When can you work on your side hustle? How do you make time for it?

I work on my side hustle whenever I have downtime from my full-time job – on breaks, in slow moments, on weeknights, and weekends. If I'm not working on my full-time job, I’m likely working on my side hustle. 

There are some days when my full-time job wears me out, and my energy for my side hustle is low. On those days, I give myself the rest I need. You need to be mindful and aware of your energy & listen to what you need. It is ok to rest!

On the days when my full-time job requires less, I put that energy & focus into my side hustle.

When I have to prep for in-person markets, I pull out all the stops – working whenever I have downtime from my full-time job. I give in-person markets a dedicated focus, as I love what I do & there is so much joy in seeing someone compliment & appreciate your creativity/passion in-person / face-to-face.

5. How has your side hustle impacted your personal and professional life?

My side hustle has given me more confidence in my professional/personal life. It gives me a sense of belonging, community, and the ability to manage my mental health (depression/anxiety). 

As an introvert with social anxiety, my side hustle gives me an outlet and a “voice” when I may not always find the right spoken words. Each piece/product has meaning & represents some part of myself. 

Whenever I do an in-person market, I escape my comfort zone to share my creations with my community/city.

I am also part of a larger, supportive online community of polymer clay jewelry designers/artists. I found community with others interested in sharing their creations, tips/tricks, and guidance/advice. 

I am NOT alone. I belong.

6. What challenges have you faced while working on your side hustle, and how have you overcome them?

My main challenges revolve around making time for administrative work (vs. creative work), such as marketing/social media, product photography, website updates, etc., as I always focus my free time on creating products. 

I overcome this challenge by trying to dedicate 1-2 weeknights every other week to administrative work and/or by breaking those tasks into smaller micro goals.

Other challenges I struggle with:

Creative blocks- when no creative inspiration is flowingImposter syndrome – moments when my perfectionism makes me doubt myself. It makes me question myself, my small business, and my creative process, & makes me question if I am an ‘artist.’ This sometimes happens when a design I am working on doesn't match the idea I envisioned in my head.

I overcome these challenges by giving myself space, looking through past sketches, journaling my thoughts, fears, and anxieties, and being mindful of doubts and reframing my thoughts. 

Sometimes I just need to step away to refocus.

7. Do you have any resources to recommend to someone looking to start a side hustle?

As a handmade/product-based side hustler,  I am part of several Facebook groups geared towards artisans/makers, including:

Chicago Makers Resource GroupAndersonville-Edgewater MakersVendor Display & Inspiration Tips (provides peer guidance for in-person markets/vendor events)Shop My Porch (selling group)Chicago Artists Resource Group

I am also part of several polymer clay-specific Facebook groups that are great for advice, tips/tricks, sharing our works, gathering feedback, etc.

All Things Clay EarringsPolymer Clay LovesClay Craze Community

Other resources I use:

Polymer Week Society The Blue Bottle Tree I recently joined & am learning more about guidance/offerings from The Nest Guild Edgewater Chamber of Commerce Useful AppsCanva – for designing marketing materials/social media postsLater – for scheduling/posting to social media Focus To-Do – uses the Pomodoro method to break up tasks, provide focus/breaksEvernote (for noting my design ideas, collection ideas, hashtags to remember, idea pictures, etc.)Microsoft To Do8. What advice would you give to someone considering a side hustle?Be patient with yourself; it takes time to build a small business.Be KIND to yourself. There will be ups and downs, and downs and ups – give yourself credit for your successes & learn from your failures/struggles.Trust yourself and your instincts.Know that is ok to rest, be mindful of your energy & take a break /pause (short or long) if you need to.It’s ok not to be ok – ask for help if you need it; tap into resources, community, peers, and those around you.Where to find Jenn online:WebsiteInstagramFacebookTikTok

The post Jenn Vyenielo: Resources and Advice on Starting Your Product-Based Side Hustle appeared first on Tech Biz Gurl.

How to Build a Business Around Your Day Job

Have you been dreaming of starting a business? Is it one of the things on your bucket list? Are you worried that you can’t do it with your current day job?

You can. Start it as a side hustle.

I first learned about the concept of a side hustle from Pam Slim, author of Escape From Cubicle Nation and an all-around fantastic person. Side hustles are a super low-risk way to get started on your idea, test it, and grow it into a full-time business. But Pam says, “it can also be part of your backup plan in case you lose your job.”

You can also use it to have some extra monthly income to help pay off student loans, buy your favorite books, or add to your savings.

If this sounds like something you want to start, there will never be a better time than today. Even with the day job. Even with your other commitments.

Here are seven tips on building your side business:

1. Get clear on how much time you can spend on your business.

Time is probably the biggest struggle when you have a day job because you don’t have 12 hours to build your business. So it’s essential to figure out how much time you can spend. And be realistic. If it’s only 15 minutes a day, that’s OK. If it’s only an hour a week or on the weekend, that’s OK. Just figure out what time is business time and stick to it. And if it’s business time, you want to work on things that’ll help you move forward with your business.

2. Figure out what you can offer right now.

Just one thing. What’s the simplest thing you can offer right now? A 30-minute coaching call? An ebook? A class taught at a coffee shop? Figure out one thing you can offer that’s super easy and super fun for you. You could provide the first five calls or products free and get feedback on those before you feel ready to start charging for things. Or you can focus on blogging. Get into a consistent routine with writing and start building your audience and figuring out what they need. You want to focus on one thing to offer right now to get you started.

3. Keep it small. Keep it simple.

When starting, the key is to have a good foundation but only to spend a little money. Money spent on hosting and a WordPress theme is a good start. However, this is not the time for you to pay $3K for a website. Right now, you want to bootstrap as much as you can. 

As you start, you want something super cute (of course) but also super simple because, most likely, your business, your focus, and even your target audience will change. (For example, I thought that techbizgurl.com would be a social media management company when I first started).

4. Start building your tech toolbox.

Yep, I’m a big fan of using technology to help you save time and automate tasks as you build your business. If you want to know what’s in my toolbox, click here. You can grab a hosting plan from Bluehost for less than $100/year if you need a website. You can set up a Mailchimp account for free. You can even use a tool like Calendly to allow folks to schedule time on your calendar for a meeting. You have options here. The goal is to be aware of ways that technology can help you save time and allow you to get things done while you’re at work (or asleep).

5. Get connected.

Use the social media channels that you’re already active on to promote your business. For example, share your latest blog post on Facebook. Start following potential clients on Twitter. Get out in your local community and let people know what you are doing. Add people to your mailing list so they can stay updated on the things you’re working on.

Meet people. Make connections. You never know where your next opportunity may come from.

6. Use your day job’s powers for good.

Once you start doing this side hustle, you might resent the day job or think it’s the enemy. First, this is normal because you can often feel like the job is standing in the way of you doing what you want. The day job is a good thing. It helps you take care of your rent and your basic needs while you build this business on the side. You have the flexibility to experiment and try and fail as much as you want without worrying that you’ll lose everything to live in a van down by the river.

Aside from a source of money, think of your day job as a training ground for your business. Suppose you want to try something new; volunteer for it at your day job. Use the resources and connections to learn as much as you can. You’ll be a better employee, and you’ll rock at your business.

7. Don’t kill yourself doing this.

Sucky days are gonna happen. You’ll constantly feel this tug-of-war between your job and your business. This is why Tip #1 is so important. Figure out the time you have to spend on your business and stick to that. But also take the time to do fun things. This way, you won’t burn yourself out.

There may be days when you are ready to tear down the website and throw the business out the window (trust me, I’ve been there.). That is a sign that you need to pause your business and maybe your day job and have a blanket fort day. Or a day in nature. Or go color.  

There will also be days when you are ready to cry, and your heart feels whole because a client left you a fantastic testimonial. Or a client was prepared to give up until reading your blog post.

These are the moments that will make everything worth it.

—

Building a business can be the most rewarding and exhausting thing, but the point is that you CAN do it, even with a day job.

Do you have a business and a day job? Any tips for juggling both? Tell me about it below!

The post How to Build a Business Around Your Day Job appeared first on Tech Biz Gurl.

30 One-Sentence Mindset Tips for Side Hustlers

Are you looking to start a side hustle but need help figuring out where to start? You’re not alone. Many people are in the same boat, so I’m sharing some mindset tips to help you get started.  

Inspired by Josh Spector’s one-sentence tips posts, I thought it’d be cool to try something similar.  

Here are 30 ideas to keep in mind while building your side hustle. You can focus on one each day for the next month.

When you struggle to work on your business, reconnect to your why.You don’t have to be an expert to start a business.If you don’t know what to do, take a step – clarity comes from taking action.You get to build the business you want in a way that works for you and your lifestyle.Your day job is not the enemy.Baby steps are key.Taking care of yourself is even more important as a side hustler because you give up your free time to build something great.No matter what anyone says, you can watch Netflix and still run a business.If you put good into the world, it’ll come back to you.You’re allowed to do things you love to do without monetizing them.Make time to do the things that fill your soul with joy.Your business will evolve, and that’s OK.You get to define what success looks like for you.What you say no to is just as important as what you say yes to.Just because you have the time to do something doesn’t mean you have the energy.Not everyone wants or needs to become a full-time entrepreneur.A little bit of progress is still progress.As long as you’re learning, you are not a failure. Surround yourself with others who understand the challenges of working a business while juggling a day job.Give yourself grace and kindness – always.Don’t underestimate the power of consistency.Follow your curiosity.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a pause, check in with yourself, and see what you need.Asking for help is more of a sign of strength than weakness.Sharing our journeys, challenges, and struggles can be life-changing to someone looking for inspiration.Nothing gives you greater focus than having a limited amount of time.Whatever you got done this week, this month, this year, and today, no matter how big or small, be proud.Remember that tomorrow is another day.Self-care is crucial. Even when there is no applause, folks are watching you and being inspired – keep going.

Want more side hustler tips and resources?

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The post 30 One-Sentence Mindset Tips for Side Hustlers appeared first on Tech Biz Gurl.

You are a soldier…remember that on the hard days

Sometimes your days can start less than positive. I wrote this poem on one of those hard days.

This is for you if you are having a less-than-perfect day where you feel like you may have to dig deep to get through.

I hope you find strength in these words.

Soldiers

Hard days can be just that:
Hard.
Challenging.
And oh so weary.

You can sit, heavy headed
And shed the tears you know are gathering
Surrendering to the despair
Once and for all.

You can close your eyes
and dig deep for the
reserves of strength
you’ve been saving
for just this moment.

You can do each
Or neither
And realize
That you are both human and warrior.

And while you may be bruised
You are not broken
And even on hard days
You are still a soldier.

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