There are two things I’d note:
Don’t let your ego stop you from earning more money. Money is money.
If people come to you for advice or need your help on something, lean into it more and see if people would pay for your services. Some won’t pay for it full-time, but perhaps a couple hours here and there may turn into something bigger. If you’re like me and enjoy tracking your expenses and income, you can check out EMPOWER (an app / platform that helps you track your entire networth by pulling in all your accounts together).
Time is money. Money is power. Power is pizza. Pizza is knowledge.
– April Ludgate from Parks and Rec
Figure Out What Problem You Can Solve for Others
Most often time, we go to others to ask for help because we need something from them.
I need this job. I need a favor. I need a recommendation.
While it’s totally fine asking for someone for something, I always try to see how it can be of value to that person in the future as well. Even if I can’t help out with anything in that moment, I always ask if there’s anything I can do towards the end of the convo.
We should think about..
How can I help this person with their business? What are their pain points? How can I deliver value and trust in the most efficient way? Even if this person can’t hire me now, what lasting impression should I give?
Don’t be Shy, Just Ask
I got this side gig simply by being curious.
When I was at a gift shop in Chinatown, I saw the hiring poster specifically for a sales cashier. Interested in working for the store, I emailed them asking if they’d want a social media person rather than a cashier; I proposed an idea of a social media manager after taking a look at their socials and sporadic posting. I felt like there was something I could do here.
In this instance, it was a great way to come to them with a proper role, and define what I’d like to help them with. I hopped on a call with the hiring team, and they got to better understand me and my capabilities. I even sent some examples of what I could do for them and that was helpful.
I ended up getting the role, and was hired quite quickly. I go into the gift shop from time to time, but do the majority of the work remotely. I wanted a side gig that was easy for me to do from home, gave me meaning, and let me connect with the greater AAPI community in San Francisco.
Story of the Oyster Shucking Girl in San Francisco
There was a girl on TikTok who shared her journey from losing her job in tech to shucking oysters as a side hustle. Her video blew up as people were fascinated by how she got into this very niche gig, and many respected how she didn’t complain about losing her job and held her head up high. Instead of crying about it, she went on to work more parties and events, explaining how shucking oysters at events was actually fun—she got to meet new people, share cool oyster facts, and pay her bills.
While the tech employment market takes a beating, I wonder how people are covering their bills and expenses, especially if you have children or mortgages to pay. As someone who doesn’t have a stable income at the moment, I am trying to make as much money as possible in various ways.
Is a full-time not enough these days?
Honestly, full-time jobs are unstable. I say this and I say it with love, but companies don’t care about you. They will replace you as soon as you leave, or fire you to cut the bottom line. It makes sense to have back up plans and if you can monetize your talents to increase your income streams, then maybe you should.
I’m currently 30 with no major responsibilities, ie no dog whose vet bills I need to pay for or any kids I need to put through school. Being at this age has allowed me to see what life could be like with all these responsibilities and sometimes it scares me.
Having children is expensive; no wonder millennials are more hesitant to have kids these days. We’re facing job insecurity, rent instability, climate change, ongoing wars, and the current political climate we have to endure the next 4 years. When I think about making some extra income, I think about how having side income contributes to my investments, how a little can go a long way over time, and it helps me build my portfolio.
My Last Thoughts
When I think of why I’m doing this side income, it comes down to two things:
- It keeps me learning or exposed to new things. For example, I have no idea how bookshops are ran, how they choice or select inventory, how they work with authors and creators, and how they monetize—now these are all things I get to learn because I am closer to it.
- It serves as my fun money. Fun money can be anything, from plane tickets, new bag, restaurants to try out, or anything that would be considered discretionary spending. Even that, or just extra income I can use to invest back into the stock market and contribute to my future.
