3 Secrets of Side Hustling No One Tells You.

Side hustling changed my life- From being someone who was clueless about her dream career and the life she wanted to build to becoming her own boss in 2 professions, life surely was a roller coaster for me.

But the best part? My side hustle not only gave me some extra bucks when I needed them the most with my low-paying job, but it turned me into a new person altogether.

For the first time, I was pursuing something despite failing at it repeatedly in the beginning.

Losing clients, missing deadlines and getting rejected often forced me to look within myself for the habits and thoughts that were getting in the way.

It was the most enlightening period of my life. I learned so much about myself I’d have never known otherwise. I'm no expert but experiences taught me a lot.

In the plethora of online advice, there is always a loophole for experiences. What you read online, may not be the only way to do it. But, from my experiences, here’s what I’ve learned the hard way.

1. Priorities matter.

I had a bad habit as a child. I’d chill with my 2–3 friends, watch my favourite shows, and play outside to my heart’s content, all the while keeping my studies on hold.

At the time of exams though, I’d study like crazy, all the while regretting all the time I wasted before.

My mum hated it every time I’d come to her crying about my lack of preparation for my studies.

My initial few months in side hustling were no different. I’d attend every party, every family function and every friend’s meeting, no matter how much my writing suffered.

The school was good to me despite my undisciplined manner of studying, but the real world of side hustling felt ruthless to me. I lost my clients, missed deadlines and just lost all my belief in my skills.

Every side hustler has the same 24 hours as a person with only one job. Squeezing your side hustle into the same 24 hours is possible only if you prioritize it.

It’s impractical to work 10 hours at your job, 2 hours into a side hustle while fulfilling your every social commitment.

The key is not to prioritize your schedule but to schedule your priorities. — Stephen Covey

Obviously, don’t forget to live your life. I’m all for taking enough breaks and spending time with your family and friends. Your work is meaningless if you can’t spend time on the things and people that matter. But as a side hustler, you need to have a balance.

Have systems that can work even if you don’t have to actively spend time on them. Use time-blocking techniques to get more done in less time.

There is no time for excuses. You chose a hard path, but a glorious one.

The bottom line is- Prioritize.

2. Mindset is your best friend.

One of my current clients pays me almost double what he usually pays other writers. The reason?

I believe in my skills, and I’m not ready to settle for less. But this was not the case a year ago. I’ve done double the work for half the amount. Facing rejections often made me so underconfident about my skills, that I could not charge higher even when I knew I should!

You don’t have much time to work on your side hustle. So, whatever valuable time you spend on it, you’d want to make the most of it.

I’m a brand new believer in the power of the law of attraction. You attract what you believe.

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. — J. M. Barrie

Believe in your skills, even if you’re a beginner. respect your skill to be one of a kind, and start appreciating it. Believe your skill is worth making thousands of dollars, put your efforts in that direction, and you’ll see the change.

This one change in my mindset has been the biggest propeller for a drastic change in my writing output and side hustle income.

Also remember, belief without action is like a pretty food dish without salt. It’s good to look at but is of no use.

3. Money as a reason is not powerful enough.

This was the one reason I got rejected so many times as a new side hustler. I was in a miserable job with negligible pay. My first impulse to start a side hustle came purely from my desperate need for a side income.

I chose writing because it was the one skill that I didn’t need to learn from scratch. I was already writing poems and stuff as a hobby. But, a few months into side hustling was enough for me to realize how superficial everything became.

I’d stress over every like and comment, and every vanity metric there is because my income depended on how my posts are received online.

I’d say yes to any project that paid me well, regardless of whether I had the skills for the job or not.

I was so focused on the paycheck that I completely ignored my skill. My writing got so terrible, that I lost all interest in my core skill- writing.

The need for reassessing my priorities arose out of the constant frustration over lost clients and lack of prospects.

I conducted a personal exercise that I learned from a writer I really admire and look up to. I answered 3 questions on a piece of paper.

• Why am I facing so many rejections?

My answer- I’m not focusing on my skill.

• Why side hustling is becoming so stressful?

My answer- I’m just thinking about the money I want to make without having a bigger purpose.

• What do I love the most about side hustling?

My answer- My writing enables me to help and enlighten readers across the globe and that’s what motivates me to write more.

This exercise led me to find that one reason I never felt like quitting even after facing so many rejections- To make a difference with my written word.

Too many people struggle for years in a miserable job environment, only because they get paid.

As a side hustler, you are among the very few who have the opportunity to pursue a bigger purpose than just money. And when you do that, money will be just a byproduct.

You need a bigger reason than money to sit at the desk and put your remaining energy into building something of your own, no matter how drained you are due to your job.

Money alone is not a reason powerful enough to make you do that every single day.

A purpose and willingness to be of service to someone is what gets you through. And when you are laser-focused on your purpose, it doesn’t just remain your stressful side hustle but becomes a breezy stroll in a garden.

Lastly,

The online world is overflowing with stuff teaching you how exactly you can find clients, make more money, and build a presence online.

I learned all that and started my side hustle. But what followed was a nightmare, only because I didn’t know this one thing-

Everything that’s regurgitated a million times online is worth it only if you set the foundation right.

So I’ll not tell you the nitty-gritty of finding clients and building an online presence. There are many who do that better than I can. I’ll tell you the one important thing I learned 2 years ago-

The way you see yourself, your skill and the way you approach your side hustle is the one reason why not everyone succeeds in building a sustainable side hustle, but you can.

Happy Side hustling!

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