How to Build a Successful Side Hustle While Working a 9-5 Job
Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you want to make more money but don't know where to start? If you're like many people, you have a 9-5 job that pays the bills but doesn't leave much room for financial freedom. The good news is that you can build a successful side hustle while working your day job. In this article, we'll talk to five different individuals who have built businesses while keeping their 9-5 jobs. We'll ask them questions like how they got started, how much they make, what side hustle people should start, and how others can do what they do. By the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of how to build a successful side hustle while working a 9-5 job.
🚀 Rafael Hernandez: From Notary to AI Automation Agency
Rafael Hernandez is a software engineer at Microsoft who also runs several businesses on the side. He started by scaling his now-fiancé's notary business, which now makes around $100-120k per year. He also manages an Airbnb in Los Angeles and recently started an AI automation agency that helps businesses implement automations and AI into their operations.
For Rafael, the key to success is custom automation. He works with a lot of loan officers to automate the entire loan mortgage process for clients. From A to Z, everything is automated, including updates for clients and realtors and an AI booking appointment bot that helps book appointments for them.
On a monthly basis, Rafael brings in around $40-50k from his full-time job and his three businesses. He manages his time by working on his businesses between 5-9 am before going into his day job at Microsoft. He plans to quit his job once his AI automation agency is established and making more than what Microsoft is paying him.
When asked what skills people should learn if they want to branch off from their 9-5 job and start their own business, Rafael recommends going harder on marketing and sales. He learned a lot from Alex Heros' books, "100 Million Offers" and "100 Million Leads," and believes that understanding the importance of marketing and sales is critical for any business.
If you're starting from scratch, Rafael recommends launching an online course, online community, or helping people with their marketing. He also believes that the AI automation space is a great opportunity, especially since it's still new and barely taking off.
When it comes to taking risks, Rafael believes that the most successful business owners are usually pretty risky. They tend to take more risk than the average person, and it comes down to believing in yourself. If you take the risk and it doesn't work out, at least you learned something from that experience that you can take on to your next venture.
Rafael's advice for people who have a 9-5 job but want to work for themselves in the future is to work on their side business every single day, even if it's just an hour or two. It will compound over time, and eventually, if it all works out, they'll be able to leave their 9-5 and work for their business full-time.
🏠 Nicole: From Sneaker Flipping to Real Estate Investing
Nicole is a program coordinator for her company and has several side hustles, including a tutoring business, flipping sneakers, lending money to peers, and helping her brother flip cars.
Nicole got into selling sneakers in college and realized that there were quick ways to make money. She also enjoys math, so tutoring math was a no-brainer. When it comes to flipping cars, she uses her AMX Platinum to purchase cars, and her brother sells them within 30 days.
Nicole manages her time by using a planner and her iPad to stay organized. She prioritizes herself and takes time for herself to avoid burnout.
When it comes to real estate investing, Nicole started with one house and rented out the rooms to roommates. Now, she has a portfolio of real estate that she rents out. She recommends starting with house hacking, which is renting out rooms or buying a multifamily property and living in one unit while renting out the rest.
Nicole believes that the best way to get started in real estate investing is to call the bank where you bank locally and talk to someone to understand your options. She also recommends doing the math and figuring out what you can afford and having an emergency fund that can carry you for a few months as you're looking for a renter.
Nicole's final advice for people who have a job but are looking to make some money on the side is to get started and not let analysis prevent them from getting going. She believes that having a side hustle will pay off, even if it fails, because it offers a lot of good opportunities.
💼 John Rafael Pichardo: From Attorney to Virtual Law Firm
John Rafael Pichardo is an attorney who runs a virtual law firm on the side. He started with a brick and mortar location and then moved to Tennessee to work under an apprenticeship under another attorney to learn how to run a business.
John manages his time by working on his side business after 5 pm and committing to it as much as possible. He takes time for himself and prioritizes himself to avoid burnout.
When it comes to getting started with a side hustle, John believes that you just have to do it and not let analysis prevent you from getting started. He recommends finding something that you're good at and figuring out a way to monetize it.
John's final advice for people who want to start their own business is to take the risk and go for it. He believes that you won't be fully prepared for it, but you'll learn as you go.
📈 Rin: From Physical Therapist to Stock Market Trader
Rin is a physical therapist who also trades stocks on the side. She got into trading stocks after her dad passed away and she became fully responsible for taking care of her family.
Rin manages her time by starting her day at 5 am and going to the gym for the first session of the day. She works on her side hustle from 8-10:30 am and makes her stock analysis.
When it comes to trading stocks, Rin can make five figures per month, but there are also months where it can be negative. She believes that trading stocks is a time game, and the more time you have to build equity, the better off you are.
Rin's final advice for people who want to start a side hustle is to take the risk and go for it. She believes that you have to get started and not let analysis prevent you from getting going.
🏢 Rebecca Tongen: From Product Manager to Real Estate Investor
Rebecca Tongen is a principal product manager at a software company who also does real estate investing on the side. She started by renting out rooms in her house to roommates and now has a portfolio of real estate that she rents out.
Rebecca manages her time by working on her side hustle during busy times, like move-outs and looking for tenants. She doesn't have a consistent team but has a team of people that she knows who to call.
When it comes to getting started in real estate investing, Rebecca recommends starting with house hacking and calling the bank where you bank locally to understand your options. She also believes that you have to get started and not let analysis prevent you from getting going.
Rebecca's final advice for people who want to start a side hustle is to do the research and not let analysis prevent you from getting started. She believes that having a side hustle will pay off, even if it fails, and offers a lot of good opportunities.
🎉 Highlights
- Building a successful side hustle while working a 9-5 job is possible.
- Custom automation is the key to success in the AI automation space.
- House hacking is a great way to get started in real estate investing.
- You have to get started and not let analysis prevent you from getting going.
- Having a side hustle will pay off, even if it fails, and offers a lot of good opportunities.
❓ FAQ
Q: What is house hacking?
A: House hacking is renting out rooms or buying a multifamily property and living in one unit while renting out the rest.
Q: What is the key to success in the AI automation space?
A: Custom automation is the key to success in the AI automation space.
Q: How much money can you make from trading stocks?
A: You can make five figures per month from trading stocks, but there are also months where it can be negative.
Q: What is the best way to get started in real estate investing?
A: The best way to get started in real estate investing is to call the bank where you bank locally and talk to someone to understand your options.
Q: What is the final advice for people who want to start a side hustle?
A: The final advice for people who want to start a side hustle is to get started and not let analysis prevent you from getting going.
