Chris Guillebeau’s latest book points readers to resources on his website, including The Third Way Manifesto and a reader’s guide to his The Money Tree book.
Reminder: These aren’t affiliated links. I just want to point you to helpful content from successful folks.
Challenge: Give even a single minute to an item and nail down some positive lesson, additional link, or reminder.
Okay, I’ll do that riiiiight now with the manifesto…
There! During that 60 seconds, I scanned the three-page manifesto [big font size…I liked that.] and these points popped out at me.
Don’t be vague—tell people exactly what you’re offering, why it will help them, and how they can buy it.
Launch before you’re ready and improve as you go.
Had I come across these points before? Yep. Still, they were valuable reminders to not get stuck on the small details and occasionally keep a ‘minimum viable product’ mentality.
I had two Economics degrees and no economic/business experience. I almost felt like a fraud. I decided to start the photography business to a.) prove it to myself that I could run a business, b.) put my degrees to use, and c.) pay off the camera.
Advice and Lessons: Four key questions: “What skill set do I have that I can market?” “What am I so passionate about or interested in that I wouldn’t mind pursuing this interest the rest of my life regardless if I got paid?” “With this skill, what problem can I solve?” “How can I add value to my customer beyond what others are doing?”
Turning point: My first solo wedding once I started the business, I charged $2100, which was almost how much I was making in three weeks. If I could make three weeks worth of income in a weekend, I knew something was there.
Lesson: Volunteering introduces you to great people and supports great causes.
Lesson: Seek information and feedback from veterans in your industry.
As I get older, I value and am protective of my sleep. As soon as I feel my productivity slowing, I shut down for the night and go to bed. No Netflix, no Instagram, just bed.
The Golden Rule is really the only rule you need in business, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Be kind. Delight your customers. Listen with intention.
What could have gone better? Marketing. Sometimes, your competition will be marketing or branding experts even though their product or service is sub-par. Doesn’t matter. Something they are doing in their marketing resonates with the customer.
this book–coming from behance.net[an Adobe site…their resources are worth a whole other three or four posts]–could give you a boost when you’re in idea-formation phase.
Just thought I’d explore a few of the Pinterest boards to see what could be shared with readers.
Then I thought, ‘why not put it on video?’.
Click the image above. I hope you get an idea or latch onto a site that might move you forward.
Other thoughts:
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain
Side Hustle Curator 