Side Hustle to Main Hustle

The Owner's Manual to Full-Time Entrepreneurship

Angel N. Livas

• Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781631951077
• eBook ISBN: 9781631951084
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Business Development
• Index: Business

Side Hustle to Main Hustle helps women successfully transition to full-time entrepreneurship today.

Throughout Side Hustle to Main Hustle, author and award-winning host of The Woman Behind the Business Talk Show, Angel N. Livas shows women how a "B.E.A.S.T. Mentality" can aid them on their journey to full-time entrepreneurship. Within Side Hustle to Main Hustle, women learn how to:

• Transition their side hustle into a full-time business

• Build a sustainable business that's structurally sound
  
• Develop strategies to address their business objectives
  
• Identify and attract their target audience to increase clientele
  
• Establish a brand that's trustworthy and authentic

CHAPTER 1:

Straddling the Fence

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

– SHERYL SANDBERG

There are people who are placed in our lives for a purpose and others we merely choose to allow on our journey. I believe that my line sister, from the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, was orchestrated to be in my life. She grew up as an only child in Saudi Arabia; however, today she calls Virginia home. It’s the place that she and her husband, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, decided to raise their two amazing kids. She works hard and continues to strive for excellence as she climbs the corporate ladder. At the end of the day, her job pays the bills and allows her to live a successful life. Not just in the traditional sense, either. She’s a stellar mom, supportive wife, compassionate daughter, and an amazing friend. Yet somehow she still manages to feel as if something is missing.

My halfsie, as I affectionately call my line sister, is the epitome of a responsible adult. She considers her options carefully and only makes moves after thoroughly calculating her risks. Before marriage and the kids, she dreamed of traveling the world and working in some form of foreign services. For instance, she would have been an amazing diplomat or even United States Ambassador. But then the reality of what it would take to live out her dreams set in…and well, things change. She had to make some hard decisions. Either opt for a life that would make it nearly impossible to settle down and have a family or put her dreams on hold to fulfill the life that she could live with, while also making her family and friends proud.

Ultimately, she chose the latter and was content with her decision; however, a small part of her wanted more. She researched a few possible business ideas but, got stuck in the “learning” phase. She participated in seminars, dozens of online webinars, purchased memberships, and yet she couldn’t seem to get past the “gathering information” phase. She read books, scheduled meetings with potential clients to understand their needs, yet something held her back from officially launching her business.

Now, some might say that it would be absolutely ludicrous to leave your corporate career (i.e., steady paycheck) for an idea and a hunch that your business venture will work. But, at some point you have to trust yourself enough to own the path that God has laid before you…no matter how crazy it might seem. This isn’t to say that you don’t need vision and a strategy, because you do. But, you also have to be willing to do the hard work of putting your research and knowledge into tangible actions.

One day, while I was talking with my line sister about her craft room, a sacred space that she builds and manages her crafting projects, I realized that her passion for arts and crafts could actually be a lucrative side business. It wouldn’t require her to research anything because she loves creating homemade cards, scrapbooks and other artsy projects. It was the perfect side hustle to ease her into becoming familiar and comfortable with entrepreneurship.

That’s where she started. Plus, unbeknown to me, she already had certifications as a crafter—who knew there was such a thing. Her side hustle met her in a space that she was comfortable and already well-versed in the products, pricing, and potential clients. So, she started small, selling a variety of special occasion cards to friends and family. Eventually she started hosting classes to teach adults how to make scrapbooks, holiday cards, and other specialty craft projects. As her confidence grew, so did her visibility. She launched her social media pages to highlight her artistic projects and she was super excited about posting (for all of two months), and then she found herself right where she started. Unenthused. Tired. Wanting more, and back to researching the business idea she’s been sleeping on for years.

My line sister couldn’t just up and walk away from corporate America, because she’s responsible. No sane, responsible person would leave their “good job” to pursue entrepreneurship. Who in their right mind would leave the financial security of a guaranteed paycheck for the uncertainty of not knowing how much money you may or may not make?

Then there are the voices of your family and friends who will surely question your sanity if you decided to walk away from it all. Trust me, I know. Their doubts fuel you to stay within a safe space, because you can’t handle the ridicule if you gave up on everything and it doesn’t work. How will you ever face your family or friends? They will laugh. They will talk, and you just might lose a few of them along the way.

You start a side hustle. In this case, my line sister allowed her passion to direct the path of her business. She started selling products, teaching classes, and doing an amazing job growing her side hustle.

It is possible to become content with managing a side business alongside your full-time job. Well, that’s what you tell yourself to calm down all the negative chatter that seems to take over your psyche.

As I said earlier, I believe God ordains certain people to come into your life. Just like my line sister was called to be in my life to teach me many lessons, I believe I was guided to walk in her path. I’ve been able to help show her the possibilities of what can happen if you ever decide you’re ready to walk in your purpose completely.

The beautiful thing about our relationship is she’s watched me grow as an entrepreneur. She’s been there for my wins and my setbacks. Yet, through it all, she keeps me motivated and pressing forward. I know she has what it takes to see the true manifestations of her heart come to life. You know those silent thoughts you keep self-contained that you only allow to come out to play when you feel like you are in a safe space? What if I told you it’s possible to transition your side hustle to your main hustle and, better yet, into your full-time business?

I know it’s possible because I’ve helped several people in this position soar as entrepreneurs. A year or so ago, one of my clients, Bianca Wise, was the first African-American lieutenant for the Baltimore Fire Department. She had the type of entrepreneurial mind that made her ready to leap, but she just wanted some guidance to help her along the way. I was so proud of her because despite the position, the title, and the money, she had gotten to a place where she was ready to bet one hundred percent on herself.

Today, my client has two phenomenal businesses. One is hobby-based, and the other is based on passion. Bianca utilized the tools from our sessions to make the transition. I wanted to share Bianca’s story because, like many women, on the outside, it looked like she had everything, but not on the inside. If your soul is crying out to do more or be more, you must answer the calling. You won’t feel satisfied until you do.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to have multiple businesses. My mentor once asked me if I wanted my business to be a lifestyle business or a money-generating business. Of course, I chose the latter, but “feel good” businesses can also be lucrative.

About three years ago, I decided I wanted to create a platform for women business owners to have a safe space to learn, grow, and share their entrepreneurial experience. Going into it, I had no desire to start another business. But shortly after our first event, which had nearly 150 women registered to attend, I realized there was a need for what I was doing. That is how my second business, The Woman Behind The Business^®, which is a 501c(3), was born. There are a number of ways for you to build your business. There is no right way—the only directive is you must start.

Imagine being like my friend. Leisel, a real estate beast. She joined me on my radio show, The Woman Behind the Business talk show, which airs on 96.3FM-HD4 in Washington, DC, and is now available on podcast! At one point, she shared how she could barely afford to pay for her son’s formula back when we used to work together at AARP. She and her husband were working, but they just couldn’t find a way to make ends meet. She would crawl into work at wee hours of the morning to study for her realtor’s license. Once she got her license, she was using those early mornings to create marketing materials for her business. She realized it would be too hard for her to straddle the careers too long, so she chose to soar. She chose to bet one hundred percent on herself and today she is one of the top producers at Keller Williams Realty.

What is the potential for your story? How do you want your story to play out? I want to be able to include your transitional story in one of my upcoming trainings or seminars. You don’t have to keep straddling the fence. You can make a commitment to choose you and the vision that’s been placed on your heart. I am a firm believer that God gives each of us visions, but it’s up to us to work to build them out. I know if he gives us the vision; he won’t stop there. He’ll also provide the provisions for us to be successful. But, you can’t just sit around waiting for something magical to happen, you have to put in work.

Have you ever decided to do something for someone who couldn’t decide if they wanted to go in one direction over another? Well, you know if they work with you, you will be one hundred percent committed to their success. Whatever resources you need to put in their path or investments you need to make, you are committed to doing so, but because the person is teetering and hasn’t fully committed, you stop taking them seriously. You start to shift your attention to people who are more respectful of your time.

I think this is similar to how you attract what you want from the Universe. If you’re serious and ready to trust the process, the Universe will be there to provide you with everything you need to be successful, but you have to be ready. You have to be intentional with your requests and purposeful with your walk. When you act according to the desires of your heart, you can and will manifest abundance in ways beyond your wildest dreams.

The quote that led you into this chapter could not have been more perfect. Sheryl Sandberg once said, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” I think it’s such a simple, yet profound question. Many people walk around operating from a place of fear, and it’s so debilitating. You have so much potential, but you allow your mind to control your progress, and ultimately it stifles you. You allow the fear of what others might say control your output, instead of considering the cons of not reaching your greatest potential.

Don’t get me wrong, I know you have fears. We all do. The difference is you probably attempt to justify most of them and defend the others as if your life depends on it. The Bible says, that “God didn’t give us a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7 WEB). Do you believe that faith and fear can’t coexist? If so, which is stronger for you? And if it’s fear—have you identified what your fears are? Is it money? If so, I get it. But, can I tell you a little secret? You will make it. Here’s how I know.

I was married for nine years. He was with me through my high times, and we divorced when I was probably at my lowest. I have been in business for four and a half years, and overall business is great, but going through a divorce in the midst of having a fairly new business wasn’t an easy feat. Everything that had been my constant turned into uncharted waters. Money seemed to come and go as quickly as I was making it. Still, I managed to rent a new house, pay my kid’s private school tuition, and do as much “normal” as I knew possible.

If money is holding you back from living your best life, then you must not want it bad enough. Building a business takes sacrifice, the ability to plan, money management, and the willingness to humble yourself. If you’re building a business for an opportunity to show off or just to let the world know how great you are, you’re doing it with the wrong intentions. You should want to scale your business because you know there are people out there in need of what you’re selling or offering.

Society doesn’t need another arrogant business owner who just wants to show off how amazing they are. Our world is in need of leaders or business owners with a servant’s heart. Society needs individuals who want to do good in the world and want the universe to benefit from their innate gifts.

What are your innate gifts, you ask? Well, they are the things you seem to be able to do without guidance, direction, or instruction. They are part of your natural abilities. For instance, when I was a child, I used to organize plays for my family to attend on Sunday evenings, and I put on a show. Somehow, I talked my two siblings into being the stars of the show, while I directed and handled all of the marketing. It was great. I created tickets, complete with the barcode scanner. The attendees received program books organized by scene, and it came complete with a personal invitation. This is something I had been doing since I was about eight years old. Fast-forward almost thirty years, and that’s in such alignment with my career. No one ever taught me how to do those things; they came naturally to me. They are part of my innate gifts.

Do you know what your innate gifts are? Try to recall some of your early memories. Can you think of some things you enjoyed doing that were second nature to you? Now, I want you to think about your side-hustle. Does it have anything to do with your innate gifts? If you’re interested in starting a business, does your business idea align with one of your natural gifts? If not, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go into business. However, I do believe if your passion is in alignment with your innate gifts, well then, you’re walking in your purpose. Which, in turn, means you’re in alignment with your earthly calling.

Let’s go back to my line sister for a second. She has all of the aesthetics of living a bountiful life. I know, in time, she will make it to exactly where she wants to be as a business owner. I believe that researching your industry is incredibly important, as it helps you learn ahead of the curve instead of while you’re going through it. I’m so happy to know that, when the time is right, she’ll be well versed in her industry to build and maintain success. I’m also ecstatic to know that she is not rushing into something. And I’ll know, whenever it happens, that I played an integral role in her transition from employee to full-time boss.

I know she is one of my greatest fans. I also know that the same greatness, happiness, and fulfillment she seeks for me in my life, I desire for her. Now, I don’t doubt that she is successful and happy. But when you’re walking in your purpose, it’s a different kind of happiness. Your appreciation for time becomes magnified. Your value becomes undeniable. Your purpose? Well, you own that.

Your life dials up from contentment to fulfillment. The same light you once saw in people you admired well, you’re now radiating it at your highest frequency. The best part about it is that you know you are. You’re operating from a place of great intention, and now, when people come in contact with you, they’re attracted to your energy. Your passion begins to shine through in everything you do. People want to hear what you have to say because they can see the passion behind every word. You’ll be able to walk into rooms you never knew you’d ever enter because you’re taking ownership of the magnificent person that you are.

You’re no longer worried about what people are saying about you because they have now joined the bandwagon. They will tell you they always knew you had it in you (but, only after you make it). We’ll dive into your support system a little later in Chapter 7. But for now, just know that they mean well.

Regardless, all of these reasons that you’re still on the fence—it just means that you still have trepidation about relinquishing the B.E.A.S.T. It’s inside of you, trust me. By the end of this book, you’ll know just what you need to do to release it.

CHAPTER 2:

Leaning Not on My Own Understanding

“I’ve got a dream that’s worth more than my sleep.”

– UNKNOWN

I had to b...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Foreword
• Chapter 1: Straddling the Fence
• Chapter 2: Leaning Not on My Own Understanding
• Chapter 3: Relinquish the B.E.A.S.T.
• Chapter 4: Believe—You Are Enough
• Chapter 5: Execute—Plan Like A Boss
• Chapter 6: Account—Mind Your Business
• Chapter 7: Support—Build Your Village
• Chapter 8: Transparent—Walk in Your Truth
• Chapter 9: Get out of Your Own Way
• Chapter 10: B.E.A.S.T. Mentality Unleashed
• Acknowledgments
• Thank You
• About the Author