There is so much talk about the ever-elusive “side hustle” these days. What does it really mean to spark a personal passion, have a side hustle, and potentially grow a business from it.
It takes guts to look deep inside of yourself and feel empowered to chase after what you love. There is no better time than that particular time to step back, take a few deep breaths, and focus on yourself .Keep an open mind while exploring your passions, let go of ridiculous expectations, give back to your community, and take one action every day to spark your fire and discover your side hustle. Here are 5 steps to finding your side hustle
1. Start right now
Like, today. Because life is never going to stop moving. Whether you’re going a kilometer a minute or barely treading water, now is the time to take charge of your life. Start that Facebook page, create that first Instagram post, and write that first blog article. Even if it will take you seven years to accomplish your goal . Time will pass anyway, so just start doing something moving towards it today
2. Release perfection
Let go of the perfect end goal and start sorting through things as they are right now. Most people just want to solidify their passions, have a concrete game plan, and go full blast towards ultimate side hustle success. However, life doesn’t work that way; there are obstacles and delays around every corner, and if you expect immediate perfection and success right away, you will never get anywhere.
3. Brainstorm freely
Keep an open mind as you explore what makes you tick. Set aside one hour to brainstorm. Take the first 15 minutes to just breathe and let go of any fears or stresses. It’s simple, but it will catapult you in the right direction. Draft a business plan; think about your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
See where your visions takes you, let it all out ― draw whatever comes to mind, write every thought, love, passion, and crazy idea that pops into your brain. When you’re done, soak it all in and see what sticks out to you and what makes your heart race. You are unique and your vision will be unique as well.
4.Get involved in your community
Try out your passions and business skill set through offering your services to help others; it’s a great way to put yourself out there, give back, and quickly test your ideas within your community. If you love graphic design, offer to help a nonprofit with marketing materials; if you are great at event planning, volunteer to help an industry group at their next event; if you are an outstanding baker, donate treats to small businesses in your area for community events.
By putting yourself out into the world you will not only gain personal momentum, but by helping others along the way, grow a strong community of supporters as you grow your side hustle.
5. Take one action step every day
Once you have your vision and know what you are working towards, break down your goals into small action sized bites. Accept what extra time you have to put towards your goal, even if it’s 20 minutes each day and work with what you have.
Determine what you want to accomplish in the next few month, then break each monthly goal into smaller weekly daily steps that you will actually be able to do. Biting off more than you can chew will only hold you back; it’s better to do one small thing than nothing at all. If you’re ready to launch your side hustle business, finalize a launch date and work backwards from there on the steps you need to go live.
Don’t aim to win the side hustle short-term game. Be eager , but don’t expect it all right away . Figuring out “what you want” and what your passions are will take a lifetime and will constantly evolve so just follow what makes you happy these days.