Not as discouraging as you think….
I have read “You Absolutely Shouldn’t Start a Side Hustle” by Zulie Rane and thanked her for sharing so ingeniously and ingenuously. There were many points of view which I agree wholeheartedly.
While I agree that a side hustle is not easy to embark on, I would still work at it but on the premise that I would hold on to my stable, main job.
To me, a side hustle is an extra source of income, preferably something different from one’s main job such as writing which brings immense joy and benefits.
My point however is; Do it anyway. Even if it is difficult. Even if fails. Even if it pays me less than $2 a month so far. Especially with writing which I am passionate about.
Nike says, “Just do it”
“Never, never, never give up!” — Winston Churchill.
These two quotes are my credo for meaningful living. We will never know what hidden talent we have until we try.
Just don’t do it for the money. You will be disappointed and discouraged if that is your first aim.
Having written on Medium for one and a half years, I am grateful and excited even with one clap. It means that out of this big, vast world, someone finds my article worth reading.
That pushes me on. It makes me discover my interest and forte in a certain arena and I will focus on that.
Meanwhile, I love my job too much to ever go full-time on writing. But if I qualify to become a writer in due time, maybe when I retire, it would be exhilarating!
Meanwhile, I think that if writing is your passion and dream, you need to continue to hone this skill, one article at a time.
As they say, “Time and patience are the two most powerful warriors.” Everything that turns out good, will take time. Patience will ensure quality in your work. It takes time to understand how the system works. It takes time to read other good authors’ works and learn from them.
Writing has been a self-discovery journey for me. I found that I could write! Or at least it seems to me and that is very encouraging.
It makes me reflect on my past activities, mistakes, and decisions. Some may be regrettable, some amazing. It makes me realizes what pursuits are worth continuing, what activities are worth letting go of.
A side hustle like writing is most suitable because it does not cause you much outlay, only your brain work. Our brain works wonders when we think and when we write, more truths are revealed.
Our lives are enriched by everyday events of our own and others around the world. We need to filter them and share the best lessons with the world through our writings.
I am glad that when I was told not to do something, I would analyze and think for myself. It is the most sensible thing to do as we live our lives independently of others who have different aspirations and fears.
From Zulie’s advice about writing as a side-hustle, I would critically sieve out her ‘gems’ that I could apply and avoid the pitfalls experienced by her.
She was not discouraging in any way. She was truthful.
You need to “give and give and give” in her parlance. Absolute commitment. Sacrifices with personal time and relationships were needed to get results. She saw results after a few years and is a successful writer which she earns deservedly through her hard work and dedication.
Every piece of advice is a double-edged sword; do not get defensive nor offensive. We like to listen to the good stuff but someone else’s negative experiences or perspectives may not become ours.
I started an e-commerce website as a side hustle to understand how it works on the backend. I was curious to understand how the transaction works and whether I could find a good product that serves the public. Of course, it would be nice if it makes money.
Though it is not profitable to date, I have learned much in the process — about website building, creation of good images, writing suitable content, digital marketing, and many other features that I must pick up to really make it successful.
My writing on Medium pales in comparison with some writers who already earn shortly after starting writing. Some authors could unleash as many as two articles daily! I am not discouraged as the unseen benefits of this potential side hustle override the monetary aspects.
Success depends on the total commitment and thirst for more learning which eats into your private time if you also have a full-time job.
I have not tried my best in this eCommerce side hustle nor writing platform as I had not been fully committed. It is purely my own doing. Daily self-prodding, motivation, and persistence are key to getting desired results.
I am made much aware of what is required for a side hustle to work after reading Zulie Rane’s article. The balls are all in my court.
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