Why People Working a 9-to-5 Should Think About a Side Hustle

And How It Can Change Your Life

We all know the drill: you clock in, you grind through the workday, and then you clock out. Rinse, repeat. But let’s be honest, this traditional 9-to-5 hustle doesn’t always check the boxes. The paycheck? Sure, it’s there. But is it enough to meet your dreams, secure your future, or even give you the freedom you crave?

For many, the answer is no. That’s where the side hustle comes in. It’s not just about making extra money but about gaining control over your life. Here’s why working a 9-to-5 should be the catalyst for thinking about your side hustle, not an excuse to settle for less.

Multiple Income Streams = Financial Security

The world is uncertain. Economic instability, job layoffs, inflation, these are just some of the risks we face every day. But a side hustle? That’s your financial safety net.

According to a 2023 survey by Bankrate, 45% of Americans say they have side hustles to supplement their main income. It’s a smart move. Having an extra source of income cushions you from unexpected expenses and gives you financial flexibility.

And it’s not just about emergencies. A side hustle could enable you to hit financial milestones faster, whether that’s saving for a down payment on a home, paying off debt, building your emergency fund, or simply padding your retirement account.

A traditional 9-to-5 paycheck may be enough to get by, but it’s unlikely to build the kind of wealth you dream about. According to a report from Credit Suisse, the top 1% of wealthiest Americans own 40% of the nation’s wealth, and they didn’t get there just by sticking to their 9-5 day jobs.

Side hustles give you an opportunity to diversify your wealth-building strategies, whether it’s through real estate, stocks, or launching an online business. Multiple streams of income are a cornerstone of building wealth. A side hustle is an investment in your future.

Unlock Your Passion and Potential

How many times have you daydreamed about something other than your 9-to-5 job? Maybe it's photography, graphic design, writing, or teaching. A side hustle allows you to explore your passions without quitting your main gig.

A side hustle can also help you develop new skills that can improve your current job performance, or a new passion. You might discover that your hobby is actually an untapped talent that can take you far beyond your 9-to-5.  Maybe you want to work from home or spend more time traveling, the beauty of a side hustle is that you get to control the hours, location, and pace.

Starting a side hustle isn’t just about making more money, it’s also about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. It requires you to develop new skills, take risks, and learn the ins and outs of running a business. Whether it’s learning about digital marketing, customer service, or time management, a side hustle forces you to grow.

Think about it: you’re no longer just following a set of instructions you are actually creating something. You’re learning by doing. This process not only builds your confidence but opens doors to new opportunities in your career and beyond.

It’s time to stop thinking of a side hustle as an afterthought. It’s your opportunity to start building the life you truly want, on your terms. If you’re still on the fence, consider this: start small. Whether it’s selling a few products online, freelancing in your area of expertise, or launching a service, the journey to financial freedom and personal growth begins the moment you take action.

So, what’s your side hustle going to be?

Master the Art of Influence: Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Lead Effectively

Are you ready to become the brand of choice for top customers and employees? Kevin Sidebottom—keynote speaker, trainer, and author—shares proven strategies to elevate your sales success and leadership impact.

In this blog, Kevin reveals why influence is the ultimate currency in building lasting relationships. Learn how to:
✅ Motivate customers to stay loyal to your brand
✅ Build trust and engagement with your team
✅ Transform your approach to leadership and sales

With decades of experience studying why people buy and how to inspire loyalty, Kevin equips sales professionals and leaders to deliver exceptional value, ensuring customers return again and again.

Featured Links to Grow Your Influence:

Winning With Others:  https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/stopgambling

Kevin’s website: https://www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

The Power of Small Businesses: Driving the Job Market in Today’s Economy

Small businesses are often seen as the backbone of the economy, but their true impact is more profound than we might realize. In 2024, small businesses employ nearly half of the workforce in the United States, with over 60 million Americans working for businesses with fewer than 500 employees. These businesses are not just small players, they are the lifeblood of job creation and economic growth.

As large corporations scale back and automation continues to rise, small businesses are taking up a bigger portion of the labor market. Let’s break down why small businesses matter more than ever and how they are driving job creation.

Over the last decade, the role of small businesses in the job market has expanded rapidly, especially in response to major economic shifts. According to a 2019 survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), nearly 90% of small business owners reported that they were actively hiring or planned to hire within the next six months. This trend has only grown, especially as businesses increasingly focus on resilience, innovation, and agility in the face of challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends, pushing many people toward entrepreneurship or remote work. Small businesses were pivotal in the recovery of the labor market, with an estimated 1.4 million new businesses being created in the U.S. alone in 2020. This number was a 24% increase from the previous year, proving that when larger businesses faltered, small businesses rose to fill the gap.  A great deal of this happened from individuals staring their side hustles that have flourished into full time small businesses.

Small Businesses as the Engine of Innovation

Small businesses often drive innovation in ways that large corporations can’t. Without the red tape and corporate structure, small businesses are able to pivot quickly, try new things, and take risks that lead to new jobs and new industries. A study by McKinsey & Company found that small businesses are more likely to innovate than larger companies, particularly in sectors like technology and creative industries.

This spirit of innovation not only leads to new products and services but also creates jobs that didn’t exist before. Think about the rise of remote work tools or e-commerce platforms—many of these innovations came from small businesses seeking to fill a gap in the market. As these innovations grow, so too do the opportunities for employment.

Small Businesses Are Bigger Than Ever

From providing the bulk of new job opportunities to driving local economic growth and innovation, small businesses are not just surviving they are thriving and expanding their role in the job market. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a job seeker, or someone looking to make an impact, small businesses offer opportunities that larger corporations simply can’t match.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses are responsible for 66% of all new jobs in the private sector. In fact, the number of small businesses continues to rise, with over 30 million small businesses operating in the U.S. today. This includes everything from mom-and-pop shops to tech startups, restaurants, and family-owned enterprises.

The diversity of industries in which small businesses operate means that they are constantly creating new opportunities across the board. They don’t just create jobs, they create opportunities for growth, innovation, and a wide range of specialized positions.  There are businesses that pick up dog poop and clean garbage cans in my neighborhood.  The possibilities are endless at this point.

The job market is no longer dominated by just a few large corporations. Small businesses are the true job creators, and they’re changing the face of work as we know it.

Master the Art of Influence: Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Lead Effectively

Are you ready to become the brand of choice for top customers and employees? Kevin Sidebottom—keynote speaker, trainer, and author—shares proven strategies to elevate your sales success and leadership impact.

In this blog, Kevin reveals why influence is the ultimate currency in building lasting relationships. Learn how to:
✅ Motivate customers to stay loyal to your brand
✅ Build trust and engagement with your team
✅ Transform your approach to leadership and sales

With decades of experience studying why people buy and how to inspire loyalty, Kevin equips sales professionals and leaders to deliver exceptional value, ensuring customers return again and again.

Featured Links to Grow Your Influence:

Winning With Others:  https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/stopgambling

Kevin’s website: https://www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

How Entrepreneurs Can Find Opportunity During the Pandemic Recovery

I am grateful for Curtis Fisher and his support of young entrepreneurs. This week’s blog post has been written by Curtis and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Small business owners everywhere have dealt with the economic impact of the pandemic. If your small business was considered “non-essential,” you may have had to close your doors for a period of months, only to return to limited operations afterwards.

Now, as the world begins to open up again and restrictions are gradually rolled back, you can slowly prepare for a return to normal. Maybe you need to revise your budget, get in touch with business and leadership consultant Kevin Sidebottom, or change your approach to marketing. No matter what you plan to do next, these tips will help you navigate this period of the pandemic.

Administrative Items

Business might not be back in full swing yet, but you can take advantage of this lull by working on administrative tasks instead. For instance, this might be a good time to go over your business plan and determine how you can tweak it for the upcoming year. You could also spend some time getting your digital files and paper documents organized.

In addition, now’s the time to register your business with the state in which you operate. Choosing to structure as a limited liability company (LLC) is optimal for many small businesses, primarily due to benefits like reduced risk to personal assets, less paperwork and greater tax advantages. You can use an affordable online formation service to get this done quickly and easily. Zenbusiness not only walks you through this process and helps you file, the site provides information on items like getting a statutory or registered agent.

Budgeting and Finances

The past year may have been rather lean for your business. Some sectors have benefitted from the pandemic while others have struggled. And if your business was categorized as non-essential, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering how to make up for lost profits.

First, it’s a good idea to create new financial projections for the coming year to see what you can expect in terms of your finances. Next, you’ll need to update your business budget by cutting expenses. What can you reasonably cut? Clean Tech Loops recommends nixing any software programs that you do not use regularly, switching to paperless files whenever possible, and considering a long-term remote work plan or renting an office space in a cheaper location.

Develop a Safety Plan

Depending on COVID case counts in your area, it might be time to bring your employees back to work in-person. It’s a good idea to consult with your employees before you make this decision. If everyone is on board to come back, Work Design recommends spacing out workstations with six feet in between them, stocking up on hand sanitizer, and having the office cleaned regularly. And if you have a retail space or waiting room where you’ll be allowing customers, make sure to put signs indicating that they are required to wear masks.

You may find that some workers aren’t ready to ditch telecommuting, especially those who live with people who are particularly vulnerable to the virus or those who simply feel much more productive while working from home. If this is the case, you’ll need to develop a plan for permanent remote work. Virtual Vocations recommends working with your employees to establish codes of conduct and decide which communication tools should become standard.

Delivery and Pickup Systems

Even though restrictions on businesses are slowly coming to an end, some of your customers or clients still might not be able to conduct transactions in person yet. Some people may still want to take care of business online or purchase items through a delivery or curbside pickup system. Make sure that you continue making efforts to accommodate this for the foreseeable future so as not to lose any customers.

New Offerings

The world is turning over a new leaf, and this could be the perfect time to introduce new offerings from your business. For instance, you could invite your customers or clients to a series of workshops that are held virtually for the time being and will shift to in-person gatherings as soon as it is safe. If you run a retail business, you could launch products that customers can easily enjoy outdoors this summer, since people will be looking forward to getting back outside.

Sales consultant and speaker Kevin Sidebottom blogs about the importance of knowing what customers crave. “What is the customer really asking us each time they interact with us whether [it’s] face to face meetings, calling customer service, on social media, etc. What is it that the customer is trying to communicate to us? We need to be intentional to reach out to them to figure out what they need. It’s that simple.”

Marketing Strategy

As people continue shopping online while others venture out, you’ll need to focus on combining both digital and offline advertising in your marketing strategy. You can rely on social media marketing, email campaigns, and search engine optimization to bring in new customers through the internet. In addition, set up fun window displays to attract more foot traffic to your store!

As restrictions are rolled back during the recovery phase of the pandemic, small business owners will have some breathing room to expand. You may want to use this time for administrative tasks, reworking your budget, or finetuning your marketing strategy so that you can speak to what your customers need right now. By looking forward with an optimistic attitude, you can prepare for profitable months ahead!