Scaling my side hustle to six figures took some major shifts in lifestyle to grow without burning … [+]
I started my side hustle in 2020 and grew the business to $500,000 in revenue. This success was thanks to four counterculture ideas about money goals that every aspiring business owner should consider over traditional advice.
Keeping Steady Motion Is More Important Than Motivation
According to a study of 600 entrepreneurs by Kajabi, 84% said they experience imposter syndrome. I’ve seen many side hustlers in my financial education classes avoid sales because of these feelings, which can be particularly detrimental if they create fear around selling new products or services, and prevent them from getting feedback to iterate faster.
Confront your fears by establishing positive habits that keep you moving forward, even if it’s a little at a time. As an entrepreneur, you should embrace discomfort and face your fears head-on by cultivating habits in the business you do no matter what. Some examples of habits I’ve created over the years include:
- Posting on social media every weekday, even with content I knew wasn’t great;
- Reaching out to ten prospects a day, even if you know they will reject you;
- Planning a personal and a business budget every month, even when I was not making a lot of money; and
- Applying for a speaking gig every quarter where it feels out of reach to even land.
The key takeaway is to push through fear not just by listening to more podcasts and seeking more advice, but to take action before you feel motivated, in case that motivation never comes.
Limit Your Availability To Attract More Clients
One counterintuitive approach to scale faster is being less available to customers, not more available. I learned firsthand that limiting one’s availability debunks the myth that constantly being accessible leads to success. Instead, you can set distinct boundaries between personal and professional obligations and allocate specific times to focus on work and personal life.
By limiting availability your availability, you can create a sense of exclusivity and value for your time. Using my own schedule as an example, I aim to work only on Tuesdays and Thursdays as full days along with Wednesday mornings. This intentional limitation sends a message to clients and potential customers that my time is valuable and in high demand.
The lesson here is that setting boundaries can actually attract more clients and create a better work-life balance. It’s not about being available 24/7 but about being available when it truly matters. By prioritizing personal time and limiting availability, you can focus on what truly drives your success.
Own Your Income And Stop Giving Out Discounts Nobody Asked For
You don’t need a business plan to start a business, but you do need real, paying customers who aren’t just buying from you as your friend or family member.
Another philosophy I had to adopt as an entrepreneur is the importance of taking control of one’s income. I challenge the notion that uncertain income streams hinder budgeting efforts. From my own experience working for multiple companies, I realized the only time I received a steady paycheck from a woman of color was when I became CEO of my own business.
If you’re starting a new businesses, stop offering unnecessary discounts and undervaluing your work from the get-go. You are allowed to prioritize your financial well-being and charge according to the value of the results you produce.
The key is to break away from the mindset that discounts are necessary to attract clients. Instead, focus on providing value and delivering exceptional results that justify your rates.
Make Worth A Verb
Lastly, I encourage you to shift your mindset from merely working to the concept of “worthing”. You recognize the importance of identifying what’s worth it to do yourself versus seeking expertise when needed.
Rather than attempting to do everything on your own, new entrepreneurs should consider paying for services from experts who can deliver superior results to work smarter, not harder. For example, I outsourced the following items early in my business, even though I was capable of doing them on my own:
- Building a website;
- Bookkeeping and tax preparation;
- Applying for trademarks and copyrights to protect my intellectual property;
- Landing press on national television; and
- Producing my podcast
Working would have been trying to learn all of these critical skills on my own. But by embracing the worthing concept, you value your own time and skills and increase revenue by focusing on what you’re best at. This also involves asking for fair compensation, setting appropriate rates, and being confident in the worth you bring to the table. Framing worth as a verb instead of a noun in your vocabulary is a powerful mindset shift that leads to financial growth and success.
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