MSH #002: What Is A Minimalist Side Hustle
With 10 reasons you should start one, and 10 different ones to choose from.
Welcome to the second edition of the Minimalist Side Hustles newsletter, here’s the inaugural issue if you missed it.
I’m still working out the formatting, sections, graphics, and content.
If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas, please let me know.
I’ve got the next 10 issues planned out, if you read below, you’ll know what’s coming.
What is a minimalist side hustle?
I used to define a "minimalist side hustle" as “a piece of work or a job that you get paid for with as little involvement as possible.”
I was wrong!
It's not about little involvement at all.
It’s a lot more relative to each person, and what they want to do, how they want to do it, and how much time they want to spend doing it.
Now, I define a minimalist side hustle as “a side hustle that works on your terms, prioritizes your lifestyle and preferences above potential income.”
It’s not about "less" unless you want it to be.
The options are limitless, you get to decide how it works.
You just need to accept the results that come with it.
Don’t want to spend a lot of time on your side hustle?
No sweat! Just know that if you spend an hour a week on your side hustle, you can’t expect the same outcome as if you spent 4 hours a day on it.
Don’t want to invest any money to start and/or scale your side hustle?
No problem! Just don’t expect to grow as quickly as if you did.
Want to skip over the guru's advice or way of doing things?
Please do! Your way may not be better when it comes to earning quickly, but it’s likely better for you. It will help you stick to what you’re doing which usually means more success in the long term.
When I started Minimalist Hustler, I decided I would do everything the way I wanted to do it, and I would be more than happy to live with the results.
As time went by, I changed what I did, how I did it, and when I did it.
Always based on what I wanted to do.
I’ve been told that I was wrong many times, even that I was crazy for leaving so much money on the table because I could be doing “easy” things to earn so much more.
And while they may have been right, they weren't right for me!
Everyone, including you, needs to do it their own way.
A way you can sustain for a long time, because success takes time, and if you don’t enjoy the process, it’s not likely to work.
It doesn’t mean you can’t take a course and learn from others, it just means you need to apply “your filter” to what you learn and see.
Adapt your side hustle to you.
Don’t be afraid to try things, and change them as many times as you want.
Make it your own “minimalist side hustle”.
I truly believe everyone can benefit from a side hustle.
A minimalist side hustle is even more appealing as it works on your terms.
You don’t need money to start. You can set your schedule.
The best part is you can choose how you do it, and what it’s about.
Are you interested in starting a minimalist side hustle?
10 reasons you should start a minimalist side hustle.
Extra income (duh!). It can help you pay some bills, get something special, go on a trip, save for retirement, or any other things you can do with some extra money.
Develop skills. It's a great way to develop skills including marketing, accounting, writing, growing an audience, building relationships, and more.
Pursue a passion. There's no better way to get involved in your passion than to start a side hustle with it, you will dive deep into it and get involved so much more.
Build relationships. While this may not be for everyone, I've built relationships with many amazing people in my side hustle travels, and many I've met in person too!
Finding purpose. Without a purpose in life, what's the point? Many may find their purpose elsewhere, and that's great, but some can find it with a side hustle.
Creative outlet. Sometimes you need to get things out of your system to feel better, or maybe because you want others to hear you or see what you've created.
Contribute to society. Your side hustle can be a non-profit or even a for-profit one that helps society in many ways.
Learn new things. A quick way to learn anything is to start a side hustle related to the topic you want to learn about. It can even be a content creator-style business where you document what you learn.
Sense of accomplishment. Nothing feels better than knowing you've achieved something you set out to accomplish. It can be a financial goal or a different one.
Resume (CV) boost. Listing a side hustle you've built or the skills you've acquired thanks to it on your resume can help you land a job you desire.
Not all of these reasons may apply to you, but even if only one of them does, it’s worth starting one since it’s so easy and enjoyable to do!
What are your reasons for starting (or having) a side hustle?
10 minimalist side hustles to choose from.
Minimalist Blogging
Minimalist Books
Minimalist Challenges
Minimalist Clothing
Minimalist Communities
Minimalist Courses
Minimalist Newsletters
Minimalist Products
Minimalist Videos
Minimalist Web Design
I will dive deeper into each one over the next ten weeks.
Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any.
P.S. If you don’t want to wait 10 weeks, buy the Minimalist Side Hustles book today. You can also get the book and other perks by upgrading your subscription.
I love how you’ve broken down the concept of a minimalist side hustle! It's refreshing to see a focus on simplicity and intention rather than constant hustle and grind culture. The idea of aligning a side hustle with your values, and not just focusing on financial gain, really resonates with me. It’s easy to get caught up in overcomplicating things, but this approach is a great reminder to focus on what truly matters. Looking forward to more insights like these!
Looking forward for those following posts, Jamie. I enjoyed reading this! Really cool stuff.