Dear Siblings: Don’t Be Distracted by Today’s Trendy Side Hustles
It’s funny how almost every ad you see on YouTube these days is about some person trying to sell their online course, or telling you how easy it is to make money from Shopify or Amazon FBA. Tai Lopez, Tanner J Fox, Hayden Bowles, Alex Becker, etc. I don’t have anything against these guys. They’re clearly making money from what they’re doing. I think the problem arises when folks with a large social media following try and sell the idea of “you too can make money online by just following these easy steps!” to the younger generation.
Side hustling isn’t what it used to be. It has been reduced to looking for a quick buck with little effort. It’s no longer accomplished on the “side” and now little to no “hustle” is involved. Side hustling is a misleading trend that’s being sold to the youth. Creating a Shopify account is today’s equivalent of setting up a lemonade stand. However, the lemonade stand was always meant to be stood up at the corner on weekends, and taken down after you made the desired amount of cash. The issue with Shopify and other “side hustles” is that kids are turning their attention to it as a career path. I mean hey, if all you want to do with your life is sit in front of a screen and sell products online, then go right ahead. I’m just here to tell you it’s not an endeavor that will bring fulfillment. No matter how much money you make. At least with a lemonade stand you build important social and sales (persuasion, negotiation, etc.) skills.
Kids don’t need to focus on setting up Shopify and Amazon FBA accounts. While they’re young, while YOU’RE young, you must focus on acquiring relevant skills that will last you a lifetime. It’s called SIDE hustling for a reason. It shouldn’t be a priority. Rather, just an operation you can take up during your free time. If you think you can make money by doing the side hustles of today, then go ahead and try it out. Just remember that it shouldn’t be your plan A, and know when to hop off the train if it isn’t going anywhere. Side hustles are best done if used as stepping stones. Your goals and bigger picture should be much, much more than running a Shopify account.
Building a career is more important than building a side hustle.
Side hustles I think you should take on
I know you guys are interested in making extra cash, so here are some actual side hustles that you can do while having fun and gaining skills at the same time:
Jenna: you just got camera recently and enjoy taking pictures. Heck, you’ve already made some money by taking photos during Rick’s get together and at Nolan’s graduation party. KEEP DOING THAT. Even if you don’t plan on becoming a professional photographer, you’ll still acquire the know-hows of freelancing, and will garner communication skills and even confidence by putting yourself out there into the world. Better yet, photography will undoubtedly enhance your creativity.
Brennan: you’re a dirt bike junky who not only loves riding, but also working on bikes. You too have already made extra cash from fixing up a dirt bike or two and reselling it on craigslist. You have a lot of potential when it comes to working with your hands (a trait that was only passed down to you) and being mechanical. I know the operation of fixing bikes is time consuming, and you need money to buy some of the parts needed. However, I think pursuing this kind of side hustle is much better than setting up and maintaining a Shopify account (which you’ve expressed interest in setting up). Bolstering your mechanical skills are of course important to not only knowing how fix things in day to day life, but also will enable you to jump right into any type of trade school or mechanic job if you so desire. Problem solving, patience, and creativity are all skills that will be developed from tediously working on bikes. Then, going about trying to sell them will aid in establishing sales skills (like those stated above) and introduce you to the know hows of free lancing and owning a small business.
Nolan: you already have the Amway thing going on. You have a lot more knowledge about it than me, but I trust that you know what you’re doing and have a bigger picture for the future. I know you’ve been working on your communication skills with Amway, and of course the selling too. Just remember to build those appropriate life long skills.
