Five Terrible Side Hustle Lies I Wish People Will Stop Sharing

They appear harmless. But they’re not harmless

In over five years of side hustling, I’ve seen many down moments and high-flying times. But those experiences have also taught me a lot.

The biggest is that the side hustling corridors are brimming with many tidbits.

Some are valid, helpful, defining even. However, many others are cruelly misleading. They appear reasonable, but they’re anything but right. And it’s easy to see people following these ideas and ending up in the land of regrets.

Here are five big lies I’ve heard about side hustles that I wish people stop sharing.

The harder you work, the bigger your victory

Fundamentally, hard work will blow laziness out of any contest. And I do not advocate that people stop working hard on their side hustles.

Whatever qualifies as hard work to you, by all means, do it. But realize that while it plays a part in your success, you don’t always succeed because you’re the hardest-working person.

In chasing the ideal picture of what hard work means, too many people have ended up with creative burnout. Others end up alienating their families and friends.

The working smart principle is still valid, and it’s far better than mindless hard work. Further, the 80/20 principle — or whatever variant works for you — will serve you immensely if you know the everyday moves fall into each category.

Nail those fine details before you jump into some baseless hard work routine. If you haven’t experienced it yet, you’ll soon learn that all hard is not created equal.

You’re not in competition with anyone

That’s only true where you’re the only person providing a super niche service for a thinly targeted audience.

However, given that’s rarely the case, your side hustle is always in competition, whether you accept it or not.

The level of competition may vary. Yes, it may not be as fierce as the two leading internet providers in your country. But if others are doing the same thing you do, they’re your competitors.

You can always look at ways to collaborate with them for mutual benefit. You can even pass business around to them, promote their products and all the nice things.

But never forget that as new customers search online, they’re probably comparing your offerings with the next person’s. They’re looking around for better deals and nicer promises.

And if they don’t get what they want from you, they’re going to your competitors.

You don’t have to employ any dark arts or gimmicky tactics to outwit the competitors. But you also want to know what they do and how to set yourself apart.

Ignoring your competitors and staying only in your lane won’t work. Study your competition and see what they’re doing, and how you can be different.

Or at least see where you have comparative advantages over the next person. These little things will get you out of their shadows and make you more visible.

You’re a different entity from what you do

Okay, you can register your side hustle as a business, making it a different entity. That’s on the legal front.

In the side hustling field, the lines are blurring by the day, and the days of massive distinctions between person and business are gone.

Thanks to the power of the internet, you can no longer separate yourself from what you do. At least it’s much harder to do. Plus, it’s not always the best move.

Also, according to this New York Post poll, people love and trust the indie creator/face of the business more than that giant conglomerate downtown.

And you can’t afford to miss out on this top opportunity to become one with what you do.

You’re your side hustle, and your side hustle is you. Don’t complicate things and fall for the overly business talk. Don’t be afraid to make your quirks shine through. And by all means, be authentic, be human, be personal.

You’re a creator/service provider but not a marketer

When I started my photography side hustle, I heard many people advise I prioritize my photography ahead of the marketing side.

Also, in the digital writing space, I’ve seen others emphasize the need to hone your writing and let the quality of the writing sell itself. Well, not quite.

Once your side hustle needs revenue to keep running, no other role takes the place of marketing at the top spot. Seeing it any other way and suffocating your marketing moves will go against you.

Only a few exceptional folks will thrive on that tactic. For many everyday Joes and Janes, marketing is as much part of the business as the product/service you offer. It’s what gets your offering in front of interested customers.

And you must care about the business side of things.

Just follow your passion

Follow your passion to where exactly? Your passion may not always be the most rewarding line you take. And it’s okay to switch courses.

Don’t contain yourself. Never limit yourself to only what you feel you’re super excited about. Give yourself the freedom to try new things.

You can always ditch your passion for practically new ones. Allow yourself to pick up new skills unrelated to your trusted passion. And watch how that transforms your passion.

Over these five years, I’ve received lots of side hustling advice and given a few. But that highlights a big risk many will face on their side hustling journeys — what advice to trust or discard.

I admit some of these tips may well work for you. But that’s if you exercise an abundance of caution and relate it best to your situation. It sure helps to watch what you accept as advice.

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