Originally published on The Makery

By Samantha Reichstein

So you want to start a side hustle… but have no idea where to begin. First thing’s first – what IS a side hustle? This buzz-worthy term has taken off like wildfire in the current age of self-starters and motivators, but which definition are we trying to achieve here? According to Merriam Webster, the phrase dates back to the 1950s, but its most recent definition describes passions pursued outside one’s regular 9-to-5.

Unless you’re the ultimate superstar, it’s safe to assume you haven’t quite landed your dream job yet. And by all means, that is more than okay. What’s not okay is feeling like skillsets toward your aspirations are going to waste, and that is where Chameleon Cold-Brew is here to help.

Starting a side hustle is not easy, but setting out a well-mapped plan with steps to achieve those goals can ease the process. Grab a bottle of liquid fuel (yes, we are bragging on ourselves for a bit here!) sit down with a pen and paper, and let your inner #Maker flourish with our 5 Tips to Start a Side Hustle.

1. Lay everything out

First things first: Take time to make a list of everything you’re good at, everything you want to learn, and everything that is currently stopping you from pursuing that goal. It’s important to lay everything out – and by everything we mean what you can and can’t do – and rationalize what needs to happen next. In an age where we have somewhat become jack-of-all-trades in order to get all of our work done in a timely manner, narrow down exact skills you wish to further pursue, and craft a basic business plan that can bring that dream to a joyous reality. The only way you’ll master this side hustle of yours is if you modify your passions down to something specific and spectacular.

2. Ask for advice

Yep, the love-to-hate, hate-to-love step: Ask for advice. By all means not everyone is going to have the same opinions as you do, and if they did then your side hustle would most likely not pan out. Start with those closest to you, your friends and family, because they will be 100% real with you. This step is crucial and should be done as soon as possible, because it’s better to change concepts at the beginning than find problems later on that cannot be solved. After running your ideas by the inner circle, do some research and reach out to those who have succeeded in similar fields before you, and yet again, ask for advice! Run with any and all ideas and suggestions, and piece them together until you find the perfect fit.

3. Set a schedule

Assuming your whole day cannot be devoted to crafting and creating your side hustle, it’s important to carve out time once-a-day toward this passion project. Whether it’s utilizing lunch breaks and lazy Sunday afternoons, or simply devoting fifteen minutes each night to completing a short list of tasks, hold yourself accountable in getting things done in a timely manner. Create a to-do list for yourself each week and place it somewhere you will visibly see it everyday (that way you can feel even better when you see a page of crossed-off items!) If working late and need to refuel, well, let’s just say Chameleon Cold-Brew has a few products that provide some much-needed energy.

4. Delegate

Circle back to step one and look at that list of what you can and can’t do. Remember that? Awesome! Now put it to work. You’ve figured out your side hustle, asked for advice, and have made a conscious effort to re-organize your schedule in order to succeed. Next on the list is to add in what you need but cannot accomplish on your own, and reach out to those who can help you get the job done. Unfortunately this is the task that may require some extra cash, but if you’re savvy enough, can get it done comfortably. Organize and prioritize what you can do yourself, and delegate other tasks to those who can expedite the process.

5. Network, Network, Network!

At the end of the day connections are killer, and no matter how great your side hustle is, it will not get noticed unless you network. Explore social media and find those nearby who are crushing the game, shoot a message, and organize a coffee date. When crafting these messages, don’t ask too much of this person. Simply state you are starting out on this side hustle, admire what they have accomplished, and would love any words of wisdom they have to offer. More often than not a flattery message will get responded to, and once you’ve set the date to chat, present them with your project. After getting the hang of this, venture outside the one-on-one scene and find events made for professionals to mix and mingle. Come prepared, speak confidently, and make as many connections as possible!

Chameleon Cold-Brew is a coffee made for makers, which means we are here to motivate and inspire your aspirations whatever they may be. So take that leap forward and make a plan to pursue your passions; we can’t wait to see what side hustle you choose to conquer!