164: How To Find The Right Side Hustle Idea

How to find the right side hustle

How do you know which side hustle idea is right for you? It’s a question nearly every aspiring entrepreneur wrestles with. The temptation is to look around for whatever seems easy or profitable, but as Jason VanDevere, author of Dream Driven, explained in this episode, that approach rarely works.

Jason’s point is simple: when the hard days come (and they will), the only thing strong enough to keep you moving forward is building a side hustle around something you truly care about. That’s the difference between chasing “easy money” and building a dream-driven business.

Start with daily dream time

One of Jason’s most powerful practices is something he calls “dream time.” Each day, he sets aside ten quiet minutes. No phone. No laptop. Just time to let his mind wander.

It isn’t about goals or to-do lists. It’s about asking: What would I love to experience? What would I love to create? Over time, you’ll notice some ideas drift away, while others keep coming back. Those recurring dreams are the ones that light a fire inside you — and that staying power is what makes them worth pursuing.

If you want to find the right side hustle, consider adopting this daily habit. Protecting that space gives you clarity about which ideas are fleeting and which ones are truly meaningful.

The 3 L’s test

Jason also shared a simple framework to evaluate potential ideas: the “3 L’s.”

• Longing – Do you want it badly enough to get up at your first alarm?
• Lifting – Will it raise you to the next level, forcing you to grow?
• Light – Even if it’s hard work, does it feel fun and energizing rather than heavy?

An idea that passes this test is much more likely to be sustainable when the initial excitement wears off.

Validating in the market

Of course, passion alone isn’t enough. Once you’ve identified an idea that excites you, the next step is to validate it in the market. Jason outlined a few practical strategies:

• Run focus groups or beta tests to see if your product or service actually solves a problem.
• Pre-sell to confirm demand — nothing validates like someone willing to pay.
• Use surveys to test interest and price points, especially if you don’t yet have an audience.
• And when an idea doesn’t sell, follow up and ask why. That feedback can save you from chasing the wrong direction.

Validation isn’t about being perfect the first time; it’s about learning quickly and cheaply whether your idea can work.

The power of mentors

Another theme in this conversation was the importance of mentors. When Jason considered buying a mobile home park, he admitted he knew nothing about the industry. So he cold-called local owners. Most brushed him off, but a handful gave him invaluable advice and contacts. That insider knowledge shaped his decisions.

Mentorship doesn’t always come from cold calls. Sometimes it happens when you simply put yourself in the right rooms. I shared my own experience from the self-storage industry, where at a conference I sat next to someone who wasn’t even in the business yet. He was just curious, touring facilities and learning all he could. It was a brilliant move — showing up to a convention before committing gave him knowledge and connections he could never get from a search engine.

If you want to find the right side hustle, don’t just dream and validate on your own. Seek out people who’ve already walked the path. Their insights can accelerate your learning curve and open doors you wouldn’t find alone.

Putting it all together

Finding the right side hustle isn’t about picking the easiest product to sell. It’s about discovering what inspires you, testing it smartly, and surrounding yourself with people who can guide you.

So take Jason’s advice: protect ten minutes a day for dreaming. Put your ideas through the 3 L’s test. Validate them in the real world. And don’t be afraid to reach out to potential mentors — whether by phone, email, or showing up at industry events.

Because the side hustle that lasts, the one that can truly change your life, won’t just be profitable. It will be the one that excites you enough to keep going, even when the challenges show up.