Every month I wait with baited breath for a couple of things: my paycheck, consistently good weather, and Michelle’s (Making Sense of Cents) extra Income Posts. I love them! Why? Because Michelle has mastered the Art of the Hustle and the rest of us could learn a thing or two from her.
What’s the Art of the Hustle? Basically, it’s the eagle-eyed focus that people use to find opportunities, and work like crazy in order to meet their goals. I’m afraid that a lot of people are afraid of “The Hustle.” Why? Because it means a loss of time, incessantly looking for work and getting the work that you find done in a professional, efficient, and timely matter. Last Month Michelle made over $7,000 in income above and beyond her monthly earnings. When I read these posts I get an adrenaline rush and I begin to think that I too can make extra money above and beyond what I was making working part-time retail. These posts tell me that if I choose to lose some sleep, think creatively, and work “the Hustle” that I could take care of a lot of my crap a lot sooner.
I feel like these posts are a call to action. After each post I am left wondering a couple of things: when does she sleep? What is she doing? How do I make this happen for me? I have begun thinking of ways to invite opportunities to make more money. I will be out of town for most of May so I’ve decided to begin focusing on increasing my extra income beginning in June. I used to be great at hustling but only for survival not for moving myself forward. Now, I’m ready to move myself forward and I believe that I’m finally up to the challenge of doing this. I am convinced that the Hustle becomes kind of addictive. If I’m addicted to seeing the amounts go up each month I’m sure that Michelle feels a sort of rush when she is tallying everything up. I feel like I’m watching a basketball game and every time the score changes or in this case her amounts earned go up I want to stand up and cheer and shout for her.
I used to be intimately involved with the Art of the Hustle. I worked full-time at my current job, then, I would go to the olive oil store at the mall (did I mention it was 45 miles away?) I worked like this for three years. Working like this allowed me to stabilize a pretty unstable financial situation, meet some great new people, and learn some new skills. Then, I got tired-as you could imagine. Then, I started enjoying my free time as I discussed in last week’s post: Hate to tell you this, but if you’re in debt your free time isn’t yours.
You can’t be afraid of the Hustle or make up excuses about all of the things that keep you from fully embracing it. The Hustle has a momentum of its own and as you send whatever your intention is to the universe (hippy speak-bear with me!) then what you’re working towards will come to you. Michelle isn’t just working to work. She is working to pay off her student loans, provide a trip for her boyfriend’s parents, and the list goes on. There is no confusion about what she wants. Her intention is very clear. Ultimately she wants success and is willing to work hard for it. The Art of the Hustle is not for the faint of heart.
Russell Simmons tweeted on Sunday the following “Be encouraged. Stay on your hustle. You can’t fail until you quit.” Maybe that’s why people are afraid to embrace the hustle, because there are a lot of opportunities to fail.
Another thing that I realized after reading her posts is the following: Every person has a different Art of the Hustle. There is no one way to get results similar to Michelle’s. We live in different cities, have different skills sets, and different lives. Because of this you have to discover the formula that works best for your life.
My making extra money formula includes and excludes:
1.) No more retail! I work face to face with a ton of people. I just don’t feel like adding more people to my day
2.) Doing surveys-But won’t be doing anything that would harm my health. So, I’m probably going to pass on a lot of medical surveys!
3.) Last minute events. Am more than happy to give some hours infrequently to work some events. This week the Cannabis Cup is in town on 4/20 and they’re looking for people…will pass on this one. LOL.
4.)Virtual Assistant-I have years of administrative experience and take any work that I do seriously. I am looking for short-term and long-term projects
5.) Event Planning-I plan events for International Students these events include: horseback riding, ski days, parties, and camping.
6.) Working with people who come to visit Denver. Hire me as your trip planner/tour guide. I LOVE my town! I would love to work with people coming to Colorado and help create trips tailored to your interests. I started a blog about Colorado two years ago but running a travel blog and a pf blog was too much for me at the time! I will be adding blog posts about Colorado soon.
7.) No babysitting-unless the kids are my friend’s kids. And I would just hang out with them for free. I was shocked to see people looking for nanny’s, babysitters, and elder care givers on Craigslist. Too much liability for my blood!
8.) Fashion consulting-this is something that I have been planning to incorporate in my blog and will be giving away a Shop My Closet Project fashion consultation at the end of this month. I will be shopping people’s closets, giving some advice on their fashion, and following up with my clients. This would be done via SKYPE and FaceTime. Unless they’re in the Denver/Boulder metro area. I would be happy to meet with people in town.
9.) Staff Writing-I would love to contribute content to a well established blog. I am currently writing for a realty company’s online publication. It’s great because I just write about my neighborhood. Really! It has been a lot of fun.
10.) Puppy Sitting-I am not really an animal person. But, the big exception to this is puppies. They are sooo cute and fun. Then, I can give them back to their owner.
Bloggers Who Have Talked About Making Extra Money
Michelle-Making Sense of Cents
Sandy-Yes I Am Cheap
What is your formula for extra money? Have you already started the Art of the Hustle? What are your monthly extra money goals? Do you know people who are making extra $ online and offline? Let me know who they are so that I can add them to my list!
Good luck people 🙂
Latest posts by Michelle (see all)
- How Work Policies Against Black Women Birthed a Love of the Soft Life - 20 March, 2024
- How Taylor Swift’s IP Victory Could Change the Business of Music - 28 February, 2024
- Why Don’t More Personal Finance Content Creators Talk About Policy - 16 January, 2024
I’m trying to make some extra income off my blog, and possibly in the summer if and when things slow down with video editing (and I can already sense that’s happening), I’ll try to pick up some more writing gigs. I also can work as a personal assistant to my friend Dave for up to 10 hours per week for $15/hour, but it can also be kind of a drag sometimes because I end up having to clean his messy place most of the time. But I know it’s there if I need it. I also thought about “training” some people to be better beach runners. Most have problems with motivation, so if I can make them get out there (since I’m already running myself) then bonus for me. I also might start to incorporate video packages on my site, but honestly most people can’t afford my services in that dept. I actually lose money when I think of how much time it normal takes me to edit video.
The running actually sounds like a lot of fun! I have a friend who coaches people in Boulder for races. She charges (I think) around $35-$75. I think she does a pay as you go system. She really enjoys it and the people who run with her really benefit from her guidance. Maybe Dave should just call it what it is: Personal Assistant/House Cleaner!
Michelle’s post sucks me in EVERY SINGLE TIME and motivates me to do better!
I’m starting to think of things to do in June. I wish I could start focusing on the hustle in May but I will be traveling for most of the month. Those extra money posts have motivated me in a way that almost surprises me.
If it wasn’t for other bloggers, then I probably wouldn’t have thought about extra income or side hustles even one time. I’m glad that me and a couple of other bloggers are making you want to increase your side hustles! 🙂
Michelle, I just love these posts!! And you’re right. I probably wouldn’t have thought about making extra money in these sort of ways if I hadn’t started blogging. You ROCK!
Love reading Michelle’s posts. So inspirational. I never would have known that there are people who pay for staff writing and blogging had it not been for Michelle and others who post about ways they make extra income. I’ve been working hard the past few months to increase my own side income.
I am beginning to think that the money made from blogging is from opportunities that come from blogging, not the actual blog itself. Michelle’s posts are awesome. I can’t wait to read her student loan paid off post! Am very excited for her and her fiancee.
Yeah, my side income is a mix of money off my blog and paid writing/blogging gigs.
So far I haven’t made money off of my site. I have made money doing a paid writing/blogging gig though.
Michelle, are you comfortable sharing the name of the publication you write for?
I Julie I write for a Realty Company’s blog. I won’t mention the name as I write specifically about my neighborhood. It’s pretty cool though because I write about anything I find interesting in my specific area.
Michelle’s blog is so insightful and inspirational. But so is yours. You’re so fun and you know what you like and you go for it. More power to you.
Thanks KC, you made my day. It took a really long time to be honest about what I like and to feel comfortable going for it: travel, good meals, helping friends. I’m trying to be unapologetic about my interests and trying to do things a lot more wisely than before, ie. (without credit card debt).
That’s a great list of extra-earning opportunities. I love the one about trip planner/tour guide! Sounds like fun as well as earning!
I’m still thinking of things to add to the list!
Michelle’s articles are very motivating. I’ve made a small amount from my blog. I am trying to get my affiliate sales growing. I also resell items on Ebay. That has done pretty good the last month.
I am looking forward to making money through blogging connections and ideas that I come up with. The affiliate sales are something that I’m exploring. Sadly, I can’t participate in the Amazon Affiliate program because Colorado is one of the few states that they don’t have an affiliate program with.
Thank you for including a link to my site! 🙂
Made my day to find this. And I agree with KC–I love reading your blog for in the inspiration YOU provide!!
You Rocked the Hustle!! Thanks for support, had a rough week so I needed to hear that 🙂
Have you heard of http://www.vayable.com? It’s a site that allows you to offer tours to people visiting your town/city. A great way to put your unique offering in the marketplace- more opportunity for the hustle!
Sorry for the late reply!! I haven’t heard of this site and I will def. be checking this out. Thank you so much for telling me about it.