The Power of the Side Hustle: How Creative Professionals Can Use their Existing Skills to Reinvent Themselves Without Burning Out
Side Hustle. Side Gig. Side Work. Side Venture.
No matter how you slice it, people are getting creative with their “extra” time to make money.
Side Hustles are more prevalent than ever. Rising costs are driving people to start Side Hustles after their 9-to-5. In fact, according to Bloomberg, “half of US employees earn extra cash on the side.”
I think it comes down to one thing everyone is looking for—
Freedom.
Side Hustles give us flexibility to reshape our lives.
A Side Hustle can be about money, but it doesn’t have to be.
Developing a Side Hustle can help us develop professional skills, act as a creative outlet, provide networking opportunities, and build self-esteem.
Side Hustles for Creative Professionals
Creative Pros in particular are primed to reinvent themselves with Side Hustles.
The average person might consider shuttling people around after work as an Uber driver or delivering food for DoorDash on the weekends. These aren’t bad options. But they lack one key ingredient—creative skill.
As Creative Professionals, we can leverage the skills we already have to build experience and make extra money at the same time. Here are just a few of the things Creative Pros can do for Side Hustles:
Freelancing
Graphic Design
Writing
Public Speaking
Teaching
Podcasting
Crafting
Teaching
Web Development
Consulting
Editing (Video / Written)
Blogging
Template Creation
Video Creation
I’ve been Side Hustling for years.
While it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, it’s also a complicated dance that can cause creatives to burn out.
And if we’re already Creative Pros, why can’t we have a Side Hustle and do it in a way that’s more balanced?
Recently, I asked myself this question:
How do you get started with a Creative Side Hustle to improve your life without burning out?
Lessons Learned from a Creative Side Hustle
I’ve had several Side Hustles for the better part of a decade.
Since 2015, I’ve been consistently Side Hustling in some capacity or another.
First it was blogging.
Then it was podcasting.
Then course creation.
Then website design.
Then public speaking.
Then book auditing.
Over the years, my Side Hustles have given me a secondary (albeit small) source of income, a creative outlet beyond my 9-to-5, an expanded network, and a new set of skills.
I started Side Hustling two weeks after I got my license as an Architect. I decided that I was going to become a blogger and share my insights on the profession of Architecture as an Emerging Professional. I wrote 1-3x per week for about a year and a half.
It wasn’t about the money. It was about getting my ideas out there and connecting with Creatives that shared my passion for learning.
The Side Hustle went from fun to unsustainable when I created my first product. It was a comprehensive 7+hour course called “SketchUp Architecture.” It taught everything I knew about the 3D Modeling program, SketchUp.
I put everything I had into it. I spent almost all of my time after work and on weekends working on this “sure thing” I thought was helping me shape my future. But it took everything I had to get it done.
I didn’t take care of myself.
I didn’t take care of my relationships.
I launched the course.
Days later, I burned out—hard.
To recover:
I stopped writing for a year.
I got back to basics.
I tended to my relationships.
I lost 75+ lbs.
Lessons Learned:
Adding a Side Hustle to a Creative Life may feel creative in the moment, but it can cause a Creative Person to spiral if they’re not careful.
Something’s got to give. If you spend time on a Side Hustle, that time has to come from somewhere else.
Work/Life Balance is hard enough without adding in a Side Hustle. You have to be creative with how you spend your time in order to have one—period.
Now, I “Side Hustle” using a simple framework to keep my Work/Life stable while I pursue Creative endeavors outside my 9-to-5.
Here it is for you so you can do the same.
How to Integrate a Side-Hustle into Your Creative Life in 5 Steps without Burning Out
The problem: Create a Sustainable Side-Hustle that has meaningful impact to your future.
The solution: Take meaningful steps before you start to integrate the side hustle into your life as seamlessly as possible.
Step #1 — Understand why you want a Side Hustle, what you want from it
Everything starts with self-awareness. Get clear on the reason behind your side hustle.
Ask yourself:
Why do you want a side hustle?
Are you simply trying to increase your income?
Or are you looking for something more?
What skills do you already have?
Ex: Design, Management, Communication, Teaching
What interests outside your 9-to-5 could become a side hustle?
Ex: Hobbies, Obsessions, Volunteering
How and when will you do the side hustle?
What will you remove from your schedule to make room for a side hustle?
How many hours a week will you dedicate to a side hustle?
What does success look like?
Money (How much?)
Education (For a new career? To gain a new skill?)
Networking (To build relationships? To find another job?)
This is the initial step, so don’t worry if you can’t answer all of these questions immediately. We’ll evaluate a few in more detail over the next few steps. Right now it’s about writing out all of the ideas so we can sculpt a better way of Side Hustling.
Step #2 — Evaluate what skills you have to offer the Side Hustle already
Now that you have a better sense of why you’re side-hustling, consider what skills might help you get there. Also think of how you can use those skills to branch out from your 9-to-5 job.
If your primary job is as a Graphic Designer, maybe your Side Hustle is teaching others how to design typography or sharing your insights on how to become one.
If your primary job is as an Architect, maybe your Side Hustle is creating templates for project management or teaching others how to sketch.
If your primary job is as a Writer, maybe your Side Hustle is editing manuscripts for other Authors or Ghost Writing for CEOs.
Think of:
A skill you do everyday
A skill that is valuable to others
A skill that help you build new ones
Step #3 — Get clear on how and when you’ll invest energy into a Side Hustle
Burnout happens we keep our lives out of balance for too long. Most people see “Side Hustle” and think in terms of addition. But an integrated “Side Hustle” actually requires subtraction.
What time can you effectively give away to the side hustle?
Are you waking up earlier?
Are you cancelling Netflix?
Are you spending less time with your friends?
Consider for a moment that your Side Hustle does NOT need to be forever. What are you willing to remove from your schedule temporarily that will give you space for a Side Hustle.
As the Side Hustle evolves, you can adjust the time allotted to it.
But right now, you need to figure out what can stay and what can go from your day-to-day life.
Step #4 — Plan out the minimum amount of tasks it takes to get started
Every side hustle will be different.
If you’re providing consultations, you’ll need a way to meet with prospective clients.
If you’re designing websites, you’ll need a platform to develop them on.
If you’re making physical goods, you’ll need materials, storage, and a place to work.
Consider what the absolute minimal version of your side hustle looks like.
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Don’t worry about the gritty little details.
Don’t design an entire branding package for your future business.
Just focus on what it takes to make or do the thing you want to and then get someone else to reciprocate payment (monetary or otherwise) back to you.
Step #5 — Try it out for a set amount of time
Like with any new habit, you need to create momentum to provide adequate breathing room for it to grow and form.
A side hustle is the same.
You need to get started and commit to enough time for the Side Hustle to take hold. It may take a week, a month, a year. There’s no real way of knowing. The thing to always bring yourself back to is “Why” you’re doing the side hustle in the first place.
Personally, I would recommend trying a Side Hustle for 4 weeks minimum. This will give you enough time to see what’s working and what’s not.
Ideally, I would recommend giving yourself a year to “Side Hustling.” If something isn’t working, try slotting in a different Side Hustle. Give yourself the full 365 days to try things, fail, and try again.
Final Thoughts
By the way, there’s nothing saying you have to have a Side Hustle.
Side Hustles are a way to infuse the creative journey you’re on with a jolt.
They can help us build wealth and build better futures.
And though I’ve had one bad experience, Side Hustles have drastically improved my life and taught me a few things along the way. I’m at a point with my Side Hustling, that I can manage and adapt. When I need to slow down, I do.
For me, the benefits of sustainable Side Hustling far outweigh not Side Hustling at all.
I’ve met hundreds of Creative Pros, built a name for myself, and pushed my Creative Side farther than I would have if I only had my primary job.
It’s just a matter of easing a Side Hustle into your life organically so you can get the most out of it and prevent burnout.
TL; DR
Goals are good to push your life forward
Setbacks are inevitable
Control what you can
Learn from the experience
Break the goal into smaller pieces
Practice self-compassion
Don’t lose sight of the bigger goal
Let it sting a bit
Go for it
Quote of the Week
Motivation for the days ahead of you.
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
— Unknown
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
