Taking the first step is always hard, especially when that first step is deciding to turn your side hustle into your full-time career.
Today, I am starting something new, I am bringing some of the topics and conversations we have during our weekly coffee chats, here, so others can join in. If you’re not already meeting us each week, join us here, my peeps on the list are always the first to know.
So, settle in and grab a cup of joe, green tea, or heck, grab some wine, and join me as I share my journey of going from side hustle to full time.
FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY
Last October, I listened to the whispers and followed my curiosity.
I remember asking my husband if I should turn my lifestyle blog into a marketing hub for creatives. And, his response was one only a loving husband could give…
“sure, honey, that sounds great.”
We continued to discuss what this could look like and the internal struggles I had already been facing with what Simply Sianne had become. And, let me just say, when you don’t know your own identity, you’ll become whatever you think you should be.
Often times, you’ll just do what everyone else is doing. Yup – that’s how I felt with my blog – I started focusing on fashion posts, and I’m no fashionista, but I am someone who is obsessed with marketing.
BE YOURSELF. EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN
As a full-time marketing manager, I read all the latest information to stay up-to-date. I’m fascinated by the way campaigns and brands can make a person feel, I love testing marketing hypothesis to see what works and what doesn’t. I’m a stickler for branding, because I know a consistent brand presence can create a tribe of followers that not only love the brand but become ambassadors of it.
Needless, to say, marketing is my jam.
And last October, the stars started to align.
I was asked to present the Importance of Blogging for Your Creative Biz in our local Tuesdays Together meetup, and this is where it all began.
Since then, I stopped trying to do what others were doing and focused on my gifts: helping creative entrepreneurs market and brand their business. Little did I realize, there was a need and I had been quietly helping them along each month, answering questions during our meetups, and assisting fellow creatives build their brand over coffee chats.
After more talks with the hubs, by January, we decided this is something I wanted to pursue, full time. I had no clients, my blog was still focused on lifestyle content, and I had to re-imagine everything.
But, I knew, just three months after presenting, that I wanted to go full time in a side hustle that I haven’t even started.
BUILD YOUR PRESENCE WHILE BUILDING YOUR SIDE HUSTLE
Before I could even proclaim the transition to the world I booked my first client – wait, what?!
Yup, you read that correctly – I booked Amber, from Oh My! Occasions, as my first client.
I was fortunate enough to have Amber come to me, looking for assistance in her rebrand.
Although, it may seem like this came out of nowhere. It was a year of building the know, like, and trust factor every month during our Tuesdays Together meetups. I showed up, I shared my experiences, I provided valuable content and information, with no expectation of anything in return.
By the time she knew she was ready to rebrand, she came to me because of my background and experience, because I had given without any hesitation, because she knew, liked, and trusted me, even before I ever said I offered marketing and branding services.
EMBRACE THE RIDE
It has been a year of many emotions, very much like a roller coaster ride, and if you know me, you know how much I hate roller coasters – like cue the tears, and hyperventilating, because the idea of a roller coaster makes me want to cry – sadly, this is no exaggeration #dontlaugh
I am currently writing this a year later, 10 months into managing a side hustle and a full-time job, I haven’t transitioned yet, BUT we have a plan.
And, I am sharing the transition, the plan, and the not so pretty parts of trying to juggle a full-time job and a side hustle in this new coffee chat series.
This is just the beginning. If you are managing a side hustle and a full-time gig, I feel your pain. I know how hard it can be, the long nights and the early mornings. The weekends filled with work and the sacrifices that come along with trying to make it happen.
I’m here for you. I may not have it all figured out, but we can figure it out together, and embrace the ride.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
If you’re just starting your side hustle and you already know you want to take it full time, invest in yourself. Learn what you need to learn, do what you need to do, and allow your current full-time job to help support your side hustle.
Last January, I invested in Kat Schomoyer’s On The Road To Full Time course. This was a great way to help me kick start my biz and build a strong foundation! It was extremely helpful in guiding me in the right direction when it came to some of the backend pieces, like accounting and legal.
Doors are open for her upcoming course! Unfortunately, they are only open until the end of the month, so if you’re interested, don’t wait! Kat made a few updates to her 6-month program, turning it into a 7-module course that can be done before the end of the year! Learn more about her course here.
Besides investing in a 6-month course, I very quickly realized I needed to automate and streamline my workflows to maximize my time. Once I started booking clients, which happened quicker than I anticipated, I didn’t have time to waste. I needed to focus on working with my clients, not on spending my time actually pushing my social media and blog content live or going back and forth onboarding these new clients. These are my favorite resources to help me run my business and can help you streamline yours.
I know we barely scratched the surface of this topic and this little coffee chat isn’t really over – well, it is for today. But we’ll sip our favorite beverages together and continue this conversation about going full time in your side hustle during our next coffee chat! Until then, keep on keepin’ on girl!
xo,
Sianne
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PS – are you currently chasing your passions while working a full-time job? Introduce yourself in the comments below, I’d love to get to know you and what you’re dreaming up!
