Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days

I don't always review the purchases I make on Amazon, but I am delighted to do so in this case. I have been reading Chris Guillebeau since his first book, the $100 Startup. I find his writing style very enjoyable, his advice actionable and his enthusiasm for the topic really inspiring. Ever since reading the $100 Startup, I have wanted to do some sort of income-generating project on my own. I guess that places me in the ranks of "wantrepreneur" rather than entrepreneur, and I can accept that. I have either been too busy, too tired or too overwhelmed with my day job to actually take the steps to get started on a side hustle. His latest book will help me finally get moving, I think.In early January, I started following Chris' very ambitious and excellent daily(!) podcast. The various stories of hard-working people wanting to find a bit more opportunity and a bit more financial independence really helped rekindle my interest in starting something on the side. When he announced his book, I knew I had to have it.The book meshes very well with the podcast, and they complement each other nicely. There are many things I really appreciate about how the writer approaches this topic:1. His ideas are actionable. Even for someone who is busy with their main occupation. The 27 days are laid out in a logical, easy to follow sequence. They are broken down so that although every day some concrete progress is made, it is not particularly overwhelming. One of the real challenges many people face when launching a side hustle project is the somewhat overwhelming list of things that need to be done. This book provides an excellent framework to follow.2. His ideas are presented heuristically - he doesn't encourage the reader to slavishly copy the examples in the book of a particular side hustle. Instead, he wants the reader to look at it as an example of an approach or technique of income generation. He understands that everyone is different, and not every side hustle is right for each individual. He strongly encourages the readers to take the *principle* from his example, and consider how it may be adapted to better suit that particular reader. I really feel that this principal-centered approach is vital for a side hustle to succeed.3. He is very much focused on the reader's needs. Throughout the book, he encourages the reader to consider what kind of side hustle is right for him/her. Some thoughtful self-reflection in the planning stage can prevent a lot of regret later on. Reminding the reader of that is core to the values of the book.4. He is entirely correct in his views about traditional work. He clearly shows the reader that the financial security and peace of mind the extra income a side hustle can bring makes it worth exploring. Things are changing so rapidly these days. Long gone are the days where you could feel secure with a single source of income. It is most likely going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.Mr. Guillebeau always concludes his podcast episodes with, "Inspiration is good, but inspiration with action is so much better." I think this book will both inspire you AND help you take the logical, actionable, incremental steps necessary to achieve a bit of financial independence! Buy this book!

How many times have you been sitting at your desk or walking outside and, out of nowhere, an idea for a business or additional way to make money pops into your head...then you do nothing with it?I’ve heard this (okay, I’ve been that person) so many times. There is so much mythology and complexity around what it takes to go from idea to income. In the world of entrepreneurship, the lore has become, “you’ve gotta be all-in, all the time” if you want to succeed. Truth is, that’s a complete fiction. And, what if you don’t so much want to built the next mega-company, but instead would love to just do something you enjoy on the side that also happens to generate a nice bit of extra cash?That’s where Chris Guillebeau’s Side Hustle steps in. The term “side hustle” has become all the rage these days, but for Guillebeau, it’s the way he’s lived his life and earned his income for more than a decade. As a friend and colleague, I’ve watched from the sidelines as he’s repeated the process many times, getting better and faster with each iteration (and often looked on in awe). And, I was excited to receive a copy to dive into and learn from.In the book, Chris draws upon his deep well of experience starting different side hustles, then blends that knowledge with the experiences and case-studies of people from many walks of life to distill a step-by-step methodology based on what actually works in the real world. He offers a roadmap that takes you from idea to tested and implemented side hustle in a remarkably short period of time.What I really love is the level of granular action-taking. Sure, there’s enough theory to explain why something is important, but the real value is that the book gives you something very specific to do every day that moves your quest forward. It’s these small daily steps that lead to big outcomes, and also stop you from becoming overwhelmed along the way.If you’re looking for an exhaustive tome on entrepreneurship or a guide to quitting your job and going all in, this is not it. But, if you’re looking for streamlined, effective and actionable wisdom that’ll get you out of dreamer mode and into daily action mode, this book is the perfect place to start!