I also need to give myself space and permission to say “it’s ok if now is not the time” because building out a new business takes a lot of time, research and money. I realized I needed stability before taking the plunge. I gave myself time to really settle into my full time job and then began investing time—and money—into my side hustle. So as I started a new full-time role, gave myself time to settle in, and then began investing time—and money—into my side hustle. As a finance professional, spending money without an immediate return pained me to my core. I had to reframe my thinking: this wasn’t just spending—it was investing in myself and my dreams. If I can spend money on clothing where there is NO return on investment, why can’t I spend money on my goals where I could potentially get a return?
I spent a few months planning and fleshing out the idea for my new side hustle. I wanted to answer - who is my target audience? Who do I really want to help with this endeavor? How do I get my message across? I wanted to provide financial consulting, very specifically to small business owners. But how do I get that message across? I researched the best local groups to join and debated on which chamber of commerce to become a member in Chicago. Do I think I did everything perfectly? No, but I started, got some great initial clients and am slowly building my business. I reached out to my network to ask for feedback on my website, took other small business owners I know and admire out for coffee to pick their brains about networking and marketing in the Chicagoland area and learned what things I like and do not like about growing a business. I do not like marketing myself and my business, but I am learning how important that is.
Starting a side hustle isn’t easy—and it’s certainly not quick. But with planning, persistence, and a willingness to invest in yourself, it’s possible to turn a dream into something real—one client, one step, one coffee chat at a time.