Hi friend,
If you've been 'thinking', or at your side hustle for a while and it isn't going, this one's for you.
Lets be honest - most of you are still in the thinking stage.
And it's time to get out from there. This will help you.
Your side hustle won’t grow if you keep doing this one thing:
Overconsuming instead of creating.
Quick story
Back in 2020, when I was cheating on my 9–5 with Medium, I didn’t have a:
- course
- strategy
- content plan
I had one simple routine: edit before work, write after work, outline during chai breaks.
I also had maybe 5 creators I looked up to and kept reading about their journey.
That was it.
And that’s exactly why I grew.
Here’s how overconsumption doesn't just kill your side hustle but prevents many of you over-thinkers from starting it:
1 / You confuse learning with doing
Most people keep reading about how to make money online and go down the rabbit hole.
All those podcasts, newsletters, and videos.
Everything except actually building your skill that could help you make money online 🤦🏻♀️
To do:
- Make a list of 5 creators
- Read newsletters only one day a week
- Learn from them + books
- Apply what you learn
Do more, learn less. Because you'll learn the most by doing.
2 / You're creating your perfect 'strategy'
When I was starting out, I didn't have a strategy. But I did have a system for consistency:
- Write today evening
- Edit tomorrow morning
- Outline during tea breaks
- Write 3-5 articles a week
This built my momentum.
Today - we have more people thinking of their strategy.
So much that many people will never start because they're busy finding their perfect strategy.
It’s not strategy... it’s noise.
To do
Honestly - just start.
In LinkedIn Growth Toolkit, I have everything to help you start and create your own strategy. As it should be.
3 / You compare your day 1 to someone’s day 1000
If you compare with me, please note that
- I've been writing since I was 7
- Writing online since I was 18
- Took 3 years to get $1500/post brand collab posts
- Got rejected multiple times a week on Medium
- Deleted my Instagram and practice strict digital minimalism for my focus and creativity
Listen - I know its normal.
Sometimes, I too slip off because I question why I am not making millions a year like Justin Welsh...
Then, I think that he's a decade older, plus has so much more experience + effort on the internet than I do.
So it's an unfair comparison.
Finally
Read all 3 of Austin Kleon books.
You will thank me.
My 2020 rule still works for me today:
- Intentional consumption
- Less noise
- More writing
Don't overthink your writing, please. Just hit publish.
Start now, and figure it out later.
Love,
N