S2#5 Your Competitors

In this final episode of season 2, I give a much needed breakdown of some of the lessons I've discussed from episodes 1-9. I also have a special and encouraging message at the end of this episode.

One of the trickiest things is to do is to decide if and when you should leave your job and pursue your side hustle as a full time business. Most people dream of this moment but lack the understanding and preparation required to successfully make this move. If you are lucky enough to get to this point in your side hustle, then this episode is for you. Having been here before, these are the topics that I explore in this episode: Signs that you are ready to leave your job. The downside of making this transition. 3 Key things to help you run a successful business.

After making your first sale or atleast attempting to, your side hustle may not be all that you thought it would be. Most side hustles don't immediately become money making machines and require changes to be made. Sometimes, they need to be abandoned altogether.  In this episode I cover these 3 main topics: Continue Quit Change (Pivot)

Making your first sale is the biggest and scariest step. But it is necessary and does not have to be an obstacle. When you view this step as getting paid for all of your hard work, then it seems much less daunting. The key to making your first sale is to start by pointing out the benefits of what you are selling. Nobody buys features without knowing how the thing will make their lives better. Here's what you can look forward to: How to make the first sale. How to show the benefit of what you are selling. How to sell a product vs how to sell a service.   What reviews can do for you.

Marketing to your ideal customer is the step right before making your first sale. Here the focus is on reaching and engaging with your customer on social media because this is where the greatest reach can be achieved with the least amount of effort upfront. Some of the key points I'll be discussing are: Selecting your preferred method of marketing. Choosing just one platform to market through. Focusing on specific outcomes and objectives including:  targeting,  gathering intel,  educating,  and being consistent. 

Episode 5 is about your competitors. We naturally tend to view our competitors as the enemy but in the early startup stages they are a very useful resource. Among other key points I cover the 3 topics below to help you fast-track your research and get closer to starting your side hustle in record time: 1. Competitors proving an addressable market exists 2. Competitors nurturing your addressable market 3. Competitors setting benchmarks for you 

Episode 4 is about your business plan. Business plans are a minefield for many would-be side hustlers and entrepreneurs alike. Should yours be 5 pages? Maybe 10? Should you even write a business plan? I address the 1 page business plan and how to structure it so that you can get it out of the way and get started with making money as quickly as possible in 2 easy steps.  Step 1: Pricing structure & your target income Step 2: Answering the Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. 

Episode 3 is about your side hustle idea. Often we get stuck in trying to come up with an idea that we love but is actually flawed, or is a weak idea, when tested against a checklist. I explore a checklist that I call the 3 P's which will help you to pre-validate your idea before you can take action and start making money. The 3 P's are: 1. Profit 2. Passion 3. Practical

Episode 2 is all about how failing does not need to cripple our abilities to get started. I scratch a little under the surface to discuss how fear evolves with us as we grow up and how to overcome the fear of failure in 3 practical and easy to execute options. The outlined steps are: 1. Talking to people 2. Writing things down 3. Taking it step by step

Season 2 is a monologue-style podcast that is more punchy and all about teaching lessons so you receive more actionable advice and steps to help you prepare for a successful side hustle life. In this episode I discuss 5 main factors pertaining to the mindset and getting to know yourself better because any successful journey needs you to be at your best. The topics that I discuss are: 1. Excuses 2. Time 3. Lifestyle 4. Emotions 5. Stress