I don’t know too many people nowadays that don’t have a little something on the side.  I’m not talking about a side piece here, I’m talking about another way for you to make income, besides your main gig.  Yes, side hustles are all the rage, and for good reason.  A side hustle not only brings in extra income but it can be a great way to experiment with other interests you may have.

For years, my side hustle has been freelance writing.  It's been a great way for me to do something that I love and am passionate about while earning some extra cash.  But the biggest takeway from my side hustle has been everything I've learned, not just about writing but about myself.  And years later, I feel I'm not only learning every day but there's still so much more to learn about this business.  The opportunities are endless.  I won't lie, that realization is exciting and scary at the same time, but work that evokes those emotions keeps us on our toes and makes us grow!

Here are 5 reasons you should get a side hustle:

Test The Waters

If you’ve thought about going out on your own but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, doing the work on the side is a great way to test the waters.  Maybe that design business you keep thinking about seems like a great idea but after moonlighting for a few months you decide it's not for you.  That's perfectly OK.  Now you can move onto something else.

Develop New Skills 

At work, your learning development is at the mercy of your employer. If they don’t think a new skill is going to benefit the company, they won’t be willing to invest in it for you.  But you can do this on your own.  If you’re interested in learning about anything you haven’t yet mastered or anything that piques your interest, that’s something you can do on the side.  Take that video editing class, register for Toastmasters or spend a weekend bingeing on YouTube tutorials and put those skills to work.  You may discover a skillset you never knew you had.

Build Your Business  

For some, the goal of a side hustle is to make that their main gig.  Starting a business part-time, while still employed with a full-time job, is a great way to build your business and get your name out there while still having the luxury (read: CASH) of a full-time job. It's a win-win situation.

Give Yourself Job Stability 

With more and more employees being laid off from their jobs , people are seeing the value in creating businesses for themselves.  The notion of “job security” is a huge myth and people are learning that the only stability they can count on is the work they create and own themselves.

Networking Opportunities

Working on a passion project can lead to meeting a lot of influential people.  It’s a great opportunity to network with people in your industry. Hey, if you're at a loss for work, connect with people from your network.  Even better, be sure to always stay connected with your network.  You never know what opportunities are available unless you stay connected and keep your ear to the ground.

Check out one of my favorite resources for all things "side hustle."

Do you have a side hustle?  Have you thought of doing some work on the side?

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