Side gigs for fun & profit

Author: Ian Mikutel, March Rogers, Darren Austin
Published: Mon 05 Mar 2018
Episode Link: https://www.bettershow.io/

We talk about the reasons & strategies for taking on work outside your day job, whether it's for creative fulfillment or to earn extra cash. We explore the aspects to consider before you begin, while you're getting going and once you're rolling. We also learn about some of the side gigs our listeners are pursuing and how they can inspire you.

Show Notes

2:36 —We learn that as many as 1 in 7 Americans have a paid side gig.

4:46 —March shares research revealing how much people earn operating a side gig and how side gig earnings change across age demographics.

5:26 — March reflects on how side gigs often either feed one’s soul or feed one’s bank account. (Pro tip: the best ones feed both)

5:54 — Ian shares two hypotheses on why side gigs are more common among younger generations.

7:26 — March observes that side gigs were once the norm prior to the industrial age and, in fact, are the norm today in many cultures around the world.

11:18 — Darren shares his experience with operating side gigs and the influence his parents’ entrepreneurial spirit had on his mindset about maintaining multiple sources of income.

13:27 — Darren talks about the concept of “serial homesteading” and shares the story of his brother, Russ’, side gig as a serial homesteader.

16:33 — We hear a little about the time that Darren stumbled his way into the spy business. Hear the rest of the story in The Better Show newsletter.

18:02 — March takes us on a trip through the big history of the universe and his perspective on his place in it so far.

19:16 —We talk about doing an entire episode on Ray Kurzweil, theories of longevity, and the pursuit of eternal life through technology.

21:25 — March shares his list of current side gigs including being on the board of directors for a non-profit, writing his first novel, and building an app to help autistic children better communicate.

22:42 — Ian shares his family’s culture of entrepreneurship from his grandfather the inventor, to his family’s ice cream shop and sister’s massage therapy practice, to his lemonade stand as a kid and ultimately to his side ventures today.

24:29 — March shares his experience interviewing successful entrepreneurs in Ireland and the common traits they shared.

27:36 — Ian shares how he balances his entrepreneurial desires with his nature for risk aversion.

28:45 — We share the responses from The Better Show community on their experiences with side gigs.

29:43 — Listener Stephanie’s new housewares company and upcoming Kickstarter campaign.

31:03 — Listener Cassi’s side gig creating bean-to-bar artisan chocolate including single-origin chocolate (some of Darren’s favorite.)

33:36 — Ryan’s side gig selling Lego bricks on Bricklink.com and earning enough to buy the Millennium Falcon Lego kit.

36:38 — March shares the story of AmericanScrew.com.

40:40 — Kristen’s side gig of creating handmade greeting cards on Etsy. and another listener who roasts and sells coffee as their side gig.

41:31 — Listener Rick who does music for podcast productions.

42:36 — Ian sends a shout out to his buddy Greg Koeberg, the king of side gigs, who recently launched his own escape room business.

44:49 — Darren shares a few tips on getting started in your own side gig.

46:57 — March shares tips on managing a current side gig including budgeting your financial commitment up front, and not to shy away from self-promotion.

49:33 — We discuss our inhibitions around promoting our own side gigs and how to overcome them.

52:09 — March and Darren share their #1 piece of advice they would give to someone considering a side gig.

54:09 — Using money and budgeting as a way to filter out the ideas that you might be less committed to than you think.

54:30 — Ian shares his insight on ideas being a dime a dozen so make sure that you are choosing the right thing to spend your time on.

55:53 — Ian shares an fascinating insight into how the gig economy might actually make the traditional measure of GDP less relevant and what new technologies can do to eventually expand easy side gig opportunities to everyone.

59:41 — March shares that one of the things he wants to do is redouble his commitments to his most important side gig activities and cut out a few of the one’s he’s less committed to right now so he can come back to them later.

1:00:27 —We learn about Darren’s long list of ideas and how this discussion has inspired him to pick one of those things and pursue it in earnest.

1:01:18 — Ian shares his desire to now do more things better and describes how Elon Musk’s many activities serves as inspiration for him to realize more of his ideas and dreams.