From Hustle to Harmony: How Your Main Gig Propels Your Side Gig Forward

You love your job. But you have a burning desire to start something centered around your passion.

Before we get started, get the thought of it being a 'zero-sum game' out of your head. That's the source of unnecessary anxiety.

A thought creeps into your head "Crap, can I collect checks while putting all my energy into my side gig?" You look at it as a fork in the road. There's nothing wrong with that, but it can hinder you if it's pondered prematurely.

Too often, those thoughts are fueled by the age-old cliche of someone building their dream out of a garage. Let's put that to bed right away. Zuck was a Harvard grad, Bezos was an investment banker, and Bill Gates had wealthy parents. You see where I’m headed with this.

None of them had to worry about their next meal or making rent. When you're in survival mode, with no support, you can't afford to brainstorm a product for 10hrs a day.

Yes, they went through hell and worked extremely hard to build their empires, but in a way having the space to do that is a luxury in and of itself.

Here's how you should think about it. The more I excel at my job, the more income I generate. From there I can afford the head space to focus on my passion. Here's how to make it happen:

1. Embrace Reality: It's gonna be hard. Time is tight, you'll be tired, but whining won't help. Accept the challenge, own your limited hours, and stop comparing yourself to everyone else's highlight reels.

2. Define Your Work Boundaries: Schedule "on" and "off" times for work, side hustle, and personal life. Treat these blocks like meetings you can't miss. Rank tasks within each block, focusing on what moves the needle, not just keeps you busy.

3. Protect Your Well-being: Sleep, exercise, and loved ones are non-negotiables. Schedule time for them too, like family dinners or "friend Friday" happy hours. Prioritize your health and relationships – burnout benefits no one.

4. Carve Out Dedicated Time: Mornings, evenings, weekends – pick your power hours and block them in your calendar for a side hustle or grad school. Treat them like meetings with yourself, no excuses allowed.

5. Get Granular: Mornings good for focused writing? Schedule it then. Evenings better for calls? Block them out. Optimize your energy levels for each task, and watch your productivity soar.

Bonus Tip: Remember to Start slow, be kind to yourself, and celebrate even small wins. This marathon is all about progress, not perfection.