After a big win at the DEMO conference put our business on the map, I figured the next step was obvious: hire more friends and scale our cold-calling efforts. I imagined that a larger team, combined with referrals and organic press, would multiply our revenue. I couldn't have been more wrong.
When I first got the chance to meet Christian Friedland, I was a bit starstruck. He was a big name at Chico State, one of the wealthiest people around, and I had learned a lot from his entrepreneurship seminars. So, when he called a few days after I won a local contest, I was thrilled. He suggested we grab dinner at Tres Hombres, a restaurant I’d actually built an app for. This was a huge step for what was essentially a dorm room operation, and I had no idea what to expect. My project was just a side hustle back then, but this meeting felt like it could be the start of turning my idea from a .
You’ve already done the tough part. You found a concept that works, figured out who your customers are, and started building a brand people recognize. But now you’re at a crossroads. To really grow, your venture needs to become more than just you. This is the moment where you transition from a personal project to a sustainable business—a shift that’s less about simply making more money and more about building an operation that can run without you handling every single detail. It’s the critical step in turning a .
We tend to look down on pennies. Phrases like “penny-pinching” or “penny-wise and pound-foolish” are dripping with contempt. But writing off the humble cent is a huge mistake. Some of today’s most powerful business strategies and biggest opportunities are built on the very idea of thinking small.
You’ve heard their 60-second pitch. You’ve glanced at their website. But let’s be honest—you don’t really know what someone in your networking group does, let alone who they are. To truly understand, you need to go a little deeper, and that’s where the one-on-one meeting comes in. It’s your chance to move beyond the business card and build a real relationship. This is a critical skill for anyone looking to build a successful .
To be honest, I used to hate business networking. When I first started, the idea of walking into a room full of strangers filled me with a special kind of dread. But over time, and after a very shaky start, something shifted. I realized networking wasn’t just a task to check off a list—it was the very thing that could make or break a business.
Let’s be honest: building a business is hard work. And if you're trying to like affiliate marketing, it demands a serious dose of patience and dedication. The first two months are everything. This is where you build the momentum that can carry you forward. If you get it right during this initial sprint, you could be seeing significant income within six months. When managed correctly, this can generate five or even six figures a month.
If you've ever thought about starting an online business, you've probably heard of dropshipping. At its core, it’s an where you act as a matchmaker, connecting a customer who wants a product with a supplier who has it. Unlike a typical retail business, you never have to hold any inventory yourself. Your job is to find a buyer, connect them to a supplier, and facilitate the sale.
When you're starting a side hustle while working full time, the key to making customers happy is simple: understand them. People want to feel valued, whether you’re walking them through a process or just reminding them how important they are to your shop's survival. The first step in building a successful ecommerce side hustle is to get inside your customers' heads.