how people manage to go from side hustle to main income
they have to hustle a bit, my love.
Let me share a conversation I had with my husband a while back, whilst discussing my work choices post mat leave.
He was asking how people manage to go from side hustle to main income:
”So let me understand this correctly. Now we have kids our priorities have changed and you are working in this new way. And you want clients. To get clients you need time. You also need your own coach which costs money. But in order to get money you need to work. But then if you’re working you don’t have the time to get the clients.
How does anyone get their side hustle to become their main source of income?!?!?!”
To which I answered:
”I think they have to hustle a bit, my love.”
I will always promote rest. But I also want to promote the reality of building a business with young children/ family responsibilities/ a day job (delete as appropriate).
Back then I was the only childcare for my baby and two big kids. I had also been increasing my professional singing work and trying to work out how I can still teach (a job I love) but not much (it’s a bugger with childcare).
So why not just “enjoy mat leave and do less?”
I’d been doing that too, of course.
But until we had the baby I was bringing in a close to full time teacher’s salary, plus a very healthy coaching income, plus a smaller singing income. Since becoming pregnant there’s been a cost of living crisis. However much we tighten our belts I still cannot afford to just “work just a little bit.” We need my wage too.
And. I’m really ambitious for success in my business - that doesn’t mean 6 FIGURE MONTHS #BOSSBABE - it means going to Pizza Express when we fancy, a really nice holiday, giving a chunk of income away to charity, going to a Pilates class in the week day, brunch, a day off in the week “just because”, naps during the day, being able to work in charitable and private sectors as a coach and mentor and teacher… And this business has to work alongside teaching, singing and writing.
So I put the kids to bed and then I get on my laptop.
Or I get on the train for a singing audition and send out invoices.
Or I hang up the washing whilst listening to a training on Substack.
Or I write this by the skin of my teeth but dammit I’m writing it because I’m committed.
I still rested. I still had so much beautiful time with our baby. And belts have been tightened.
But I needed to hustle in that season too. And that’s ok. That’s normal.
I just thought you might need to hear that today too,
With love,
Laura x
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