There's enough for everyone. This is the premise of an abundance mindset, and modern entrepreneurship is perhaps the most tangible example. Digital nomads, full-time freelancers, and contractors have all seized on the countless opportunities to develop a side hustle for extra cash, professional growth, or even just for kicks. Whatever the motivation, there's plenty of pie – somewhere in the billions – to go around.
But the opportunity is not the same ease. Each decision comes with a price that goes beyond the financial framework. Say you want to start a daily travel blog. Your accompanying bill will include the time and creative energy needed to write, publish, and market the blog. You will also have fixed costs, such as website hosting, image editing, and research. You might factor in the physical cost, such as neck and back pain from being sedentary for a long time. Don't forget the mental and emotional toll of the inherent risk that sideways hustle brings. You are ready to pay that bill and move on.
Fast forward six months. Maybe the money isn't flowing the way it once was. Perhaps the unrest seems to be stagnating. Maybe you're not as excited as you were six months ago. It's part of the entrepreneurial trend, right? An obstacle is simply an opportunity to pass, go around or jump over. By definition, those throwing side hustle have to, well, hustle. That's what you signed up for, right?
But maybe you have a feeling growing deep inside you. It whispers to you in the middle of a sleepless night about missed birthday parties, date nights, and free time. You can't remember the last time you did absolutely nothing. The idea of giving up your hustle sounds alluring and terrifying. You are used to extra money. What would your family think? How would this affect your reputation? How can you be sure that ending your sideways hustle is the right move when success might be just around the corner?
The answer to the question of whether to end your sideways hustle isn't easy or straightforward. Just as the decision to start your hustle was born out of feelings of risk and gut, so is the decision to end it. There are hundreds of factors at play, but they can ultimately determine one thing:Is your stampede still worth the mental, emotional, physical, financial, and social investment?
To explore this idea further, consider the following questions. Spend time alone with them. Log your responses. Talk to friends and family you trust.
You started your stampede for a reason. Do you still believe in this reason? Where do you see your hustle in six months? What parts of your sideline activity do you enjoy the most? Less? What are your first thoughts when you wake up in the morning? Before going to bed? How would you rate your health – mental, emotional and physical – compared to six months ago? How would you compare your relationships to your relationships before starting a side hustle? How much time is spent on your side hustle versus other endeavors? How much free time, if any, do you have each day? How do you spend it? If money and time were no object, what would you do? Leaving a side hustle might feel like admitting failure, but it can also be the most healing thing you can do for yourself. Identify your true priorities, then adjust your life to those priorities. A side hustle should never be something you adapt to, but rather something that works for you.
Learn from three side scammers who found bending, while difficult, was ultimately rewarding and often led to bigger and better things.
Giuseppe Frustaci
Founder of the Stick Shift Driving Academy
I was user #3553 on Airbnb, only signed up a few months after it launched. At one point, I was living in three properties in Boston and earning a comfortable income. But in 2016 I started cutting it down and by August 2019 I was out.
There is simply an income cap for Airbnb hosts. Developing more skills was neither significantly profitable nor emotionally fulfilling. I could become the best host with the most efficient process and the best customer service skills, but that investment wouldn't scale. I also stopped enjoying the work itself. There was a time when I loved meeting people and I got a sense of helping people. But then it became a job and I had no love for it anymore.
I started a manual transmission driving school while hosting and expanded it to 87 locations across the country. The growth of this business required me to develop all kinds of skills and knowledge that satisfied my curiosity
Getting out of an Airbnb host has been a mixed bag. I had a lot more time and energy to focus on my growth opportunities, but giving up some income and easy work for uncertain income and hard work was, well, difficult. I was worried after abandoning my backup plan. But stronger than the anxiety was the certainty that I was making the right decision. I never guessed that.
Mike Miller
Founder and Editor of Wilderness Times, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I wanted to make more money, so I started freelancing. I did this regularly for six months to create a business book. I quit because I was overworked and underpaid – I was burnt out.
I was making money, but the income was far below my expectations. I could have gone on, but there was a problem:I was miserable. Side hustle no longer felt like a hobby. It has become a job. I was constantly working 12 hours a day. I wasn't sleeping well due to stress and ended up with a few too many beers to wind down. That's when I knew I had to quit.
It was hard. At first, I felt like a failure. It was hard to give up. I changed my scramble from freelancing to running my own website. It's 100% more fun and relaxing, and I love it. I make my own schedule and my own decisions. I don't have a customer barking orders 24/7. Instead, I make the rules.
My advice? Do something you could see yourself doing for a long time. Don't do contract work unless you clearly define your client's expectations regarding timelines and workload. Choose to run your own business rather than doing freelance work for someone else's business. Trust me.
Melanie Oates
Speaker, Advocate for Special Needs Parents, and Founder of Here for a Reason, Inc., Washington, D.C.
I have been running my side business, TwinMomHair, a home-based braiding salon, for 20 years. On December 31, 2019, I closed the doors of my hustle to focus on raising my children, growing my new business, the nonprofit I founded, and my career as a speaker.
During those 20 years, I graduated from high school and college. I got married, had a pair of twins, got divorced and became a single parent. I knew the living room had no more value when I experienced a level of exhaustion like no other. Both of my children have special needs so the demand as a single parent while running a side business was at an all time high.
The decision to close my salon was bittersweet. I've made so many connections as a stylist and so many clients have been inspired by me and my routine while raising my kids.
My advice to other entrepreneurs in similar situations is to trust your instincts. If your passion is starting to become a problem, take that as a red flag. It can be a sign that you either need to focus on something else or let something go so you can continue the grind.
Cecilia Meis
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Cecilia Meis is the built-in content editor for SUCCESS magazine and Moyens.net. She recently earned a bachelor's degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. Originally from Kansas City, Cecilia loves sand volleyball, new stationery and a big plate of burnt bits.
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