From Side Hustle to Main Hustle: My Journey to Financial Independence
- primology4
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
Not too long ago, I was juggling my day job (running my appraisal and real estate business), parenting duties, and what I then called “just a little side hustle.” That hustle? Writing blog posts, helping other small businesses with their marketing using what I’d learned in my business, and experimenting with affiliate marketing. At the time, I was simply trying to make ends meet. But over time, that little experiment in extra income became something much more—a full-on lifestyle shift.
The Early Roots
I didn’t wake up one day and decide to close down my business. Like many of you, I started small. I helped a few business friends here and there showing them things I’d learned and earning a few extra dollars doing so. And along the way, testing this thing called affiliate marketing.Most importantly, I began tracking my time and dollars with more intention than I ever had before.
I viewed each dollar I earned or saved as a seed—one that could be planted in a garden of income-producing assets.
Why “Gardener”?
Because it’s the most fitting metaphor for building wealth slowly and intentionally. Some people chase windfalls. I learned to cultivate. Side hustles are the compost. Passive income is the fruit. And the weeds? Well, those are the distractions and liabilities we all deal with. Especially, me! I was always experimenting. Success…failure, success…failure. But always “learning”.
The Tipping Point
It took me several years to see consistent side income that matched a part-time job. But that income didn’t require a time clock or a manager’s approval. It gave me options—and options are the first true signs of financial independence. I didn’t have to be tied down to my office, 8 – 5, Monday – Friday and often on the weekends.
Eventually, I began transitioning away from my business. I still have it but it’s a totally different paradigm today. It wasn’t about getting rich. It was about designing a life where I could choose how to spend my days, who I worked with, and where my energy went.
Tools That Helped
One of the most pivotal moments in my journey came when I started exploring tools that worked with me—like automation tools early on and over the last few years, this amazing tool we call AI. I was able to generate content faster, test marketing strategies, and better understand market needs.
If you want a peek into how tools like ChatGPT and other AI services can help you grow a side hustle or streamline a business, check out our sister site’s article here:
Lessons Learned
Start with what you know. Your best side hustle may come from skills you're already using for free.
Treat it like a business—even if it’s just evenings and weekends.
Track what’s working and double down. Ditch what’s not. Work the 80/20 rule.
Talk to others. Whether it’s a forum, a mastermind group, or a like-minded blog reader, your journey speeds up when you’re not alone in it.
Plant Your Own
If you’re dabbling with the idea of starting something new, do it. Don’t wait for a perfect time. Don’t wait for a full business plan or 100 email subscribers.
Just start! And nurture what you plant. Use your Garden to create the lifestyle YOU want!
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