189: Make Your Side Hustle Pay - What to Focus on First
If you’ve been putting time into your side hustle but not seeing much return yet, this condensed episode will help you take a step back and refocus on what matters.
You’ll hear 4 simple areas to focus on so you can zero in on what actually brings in revenue, and buy back your time.
If you’ve been putting time into your side hustle but not seeing much return yet, this condensed episode will help you take a step back and refocus.
You’ll hear four simple areas to focus on so you can zero in on what actually brings in revenue, along with a practical way to start buying back your time so you’re not doing everything yourself.
We also get into what it really costs to get help, and why it may be more accessible than you think.
If you’ve been struggling to get traction and make your side hustle pay, this conversation is a good place to start.
Do you like what you're hearing? Consider giving it a caffeinated thumbs up. We'd really appreciate it!
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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Make Your Side Hustle Pay by Focusing on the Right Things
If you’ve been putting time into your side hustle but not seeing much return yet, it’s worth taking a step back and asking a simple question. What are you actually focusing on?
Start With Revenue
When you start a side hustle, the major goal is often to make additional money. That sounds obvious, but it’s where many people lose their way.
Instead of focusing on what brings in revenue, they spend time on tasks that feel productive but don’t actually lead to sales.
If your side hustle isn’t making money yet, this is the first place to look. What are you doing each week that directly contributes to revenue?
Set a Timeline to Make Money
Side hustles don’t always generate income right away. But that doesn’t mean you should leave it open-ended.
Setting a timeline creates urgency and helps you stay focused. It also forces you to make decisions about where your time and energy should go.
Without that, it’s easy to stay busy without making progress.
Audit Your Time
One of the most practical ways to move forward is to take a close look at how you’re spending your time.
Document what you do over a set period, then assign a dollar value to your time. As George Rivera points out, this makes it much easier to see which tasks are actually worth your attention and which ones are not.
Many people realize they’re spending a large portion of their time on work that could be delegated.
Eliminate, Automate, Delegate
Once you know where your time is going, the next step is simple.
Eliminate anything that doesn’t move things forward. Automate what repeats. Delegate the rest.
This is how you free up time to focus on what actually drives revenue.
You Can Afford Help Sooner Than You Think
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need to be making significant income before you can get help.
In reality, there are options at different price points, both globally and locally.
Whether it’s hiring someone remotely or working with someone in your community, getting help allows you to spend more time on the work that matters most.
That could be as simple as reaching out to a local high school or community college and finding a student who’s strong in social media or marketing. You may not need a seasoned professional right away. At this stage, it’s often more about getting consistent support at a reasonable rate so you can stay focused on revenue-generating work.
The higher-priced, more experienced help can come later, once you have the income to support it and a clearer sense of what you need.
Getting help allows you to spend more time on the work that matters most.
Make Your Side Hustle Pay by Doing Less of the Wrong Work
If your side hustle depends on you doing everything, it will slow you down. That’s often the case in the beginning, but over time, if you don’t start getting help, it will limit your ability to grow because your time is finite.
Focus on revenue and be intentional with how you spend your time, gradually removing the tasks that don’t move things forward.
That’s how you build momentum and start seeing results.
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Connect with George:
(at his website and for his book)
Connect with Joan:
Be on the show!
Tell us about your side hustle success story!
