191: Why a Side Hustle Gets You Noticed at Work
If you want to get noticed at work, this episode shows how a side hustle can change how you’re seen. Hear how Roger Smith’s side projects led to new opportunities and an exciting career path, so that you can follow his lead.
So what makes someone get noticed at work?
If you’re doing good work, showing up, and delivering results, you’d think that would be enough! But often, it’s not. And this is where side hustles come in, because what you do outside your job can start to change how you’re viewed at work.
Today you’ll hear how Roger Smith’s side hustles changed the trajectory of his career.
Roger is a computer scientist who went on to become Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Army, worked inside a surgical training center, and now consults in robotic surgery.
As he explains, none of that came from applying for jobs in the traditional way. He started to get noticed and stand out from his peers because of what he was doing on the side.
I first sat down with Roger a couple of years ago, and for this episode, I pulled key excerpts from that conversation that show how it all came together.
In this episode:
- How a side hustle can lead to unexpected opportunities
- Why you don’t need to have everything figured out to start
- One way to stand out without changing jobs
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Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things.
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How to Get Noticed at Work (Without Working More Hours)
If you’re doing good work, showing up, and delivering results, you’d think that would be enough to get noticed at work.
But often, it’s not.
There are a lot of capable people in most workplaces. People who are smart, reliable, and doing exactly what’s expected of them. And yet, only a handful seem to stand out.
So what’s the difference?
One of the clearest answers can come from what you do outside your job.
In this episode, Roger Smith shares how a side hustle changed the trajectory of his career, not because he was trying to get promoted, but because it changed how people saw him.
Why Doing Good Work Isn’t Always Enough
Most people assume that if they just keep doing a good job, someone will eventually notice.
Sometimes that happens. But not always.
The challenge is that doing your job well usually keeps you in the same category as everyone else who is also doing their job well. It doesn’t separate you.
That’s where a side hustle can start to make a difference.
How a Side Hustle Helps You Get Noticed at Work
Roger didn’t set out with a big plan. He started teaching because he had knowledge that other people needed.
That’s it.
He didn’t know how to market it. He didn’t know how to build a full business around it. He focused on the part he could do and figured out the rest along the way.
Over time, people started to hear about him. His name came up in conversations, and others began to associate him with a specific area of expertise.
That’s what changed things.
He wasn’t just someone doing his job well anymore. He was someone known for something.
1. It gives people something to point to
When you create something outside of your job, whether that’s teaching, writing, consulting, or building a small business, you’re giving people a clear example of what you know.
Instead of explaining your skills, you’re showing them, and that’s a different kind of credibility.
2. It builds recognition over time
Roger’s side work led to more people hearing about him. Not because he was promoting himself aggressively, but because others were talking about what he was doing.
That kind of recognition builds slowly, but it compounds.
3. It creates opportunities you can’t apply for
One of the biggest opportunities in Roger’s career came when he was invited into a Chief Technology Officer role for the U.S. Army.
There was no job posting. He didn’t apply, because you can't apply for that job. He was selected (or "plucked out" as Roger describes it), because people already knew who he was and what he could do.
That’s a direct result of visibility.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything Yourself
One of the practical takeaways from Roger’s story is how simple he kept his role.
When he turned his course into something bigger, he partnered with a company that handled the logistics, marketing, and operations, so he could focus on what he did know - his topic.
That allowed him to move faster and avoid getting stuck trying to figure out every piece of the puzzle.
If you’ve been holding back because you don’t know how to do everything, know that there are people out there who can fill in those gaps for you.
Start With What You Already Know
A side hustle doesn’t have to be complicated.
It can start with something simple:
- Teaching what you already know
- Sharing insights from your field
- Helping others solve a problem you understand well
Roger didn’t begin with a long-term plan. He just started with one step, which was to ask a university if he could teach a course, and the next step became clearer after that. "Now I have to write the course!"
The Real Value Goes Beyond Income
Most people think of a side hustle as a way to earn extra money. While that can be a main driver, it’s not the whole picture.
What you build on the side can:
- change how people see you
- expand your network
- open doors that wouldn’t otherwise be available
It becomes a way to get noticed at work without relying solely on your day-to-day role.
Final Thought
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.
You just need a way to put what you know into the world so other people can see it.
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Connect with Roger:
His book website - Medical Thrillers of the Near Future
Connect with Joan:
Be on the show!
Tell us about your side hustle success story!
