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Think you have to quit your day job if you start a side hustle from home?
Nope! It’s not necessary. If all you want is to earn a little extra money from home in your spare time, that’s totally fine.
We all have our reasons for starting a side business. For some of us, it might be to grow into a full-time business so we can leave our 9-to-5 jobs and work from home. For others, it might be to get rid of student loan debt or save for a big purchase. And for others, it might be to have a creative outlet — something to do in the evening besides watching Netflix or playing computer games.
It doesn’t matter what the reason is. What’s important is that you take action to achieve YOUR goal.
Colleen was looking for a creative outlet besides playing computer games. She loves her day job and just wants to fill a hole in her life. Enter Work-At-Home School! Through WAHS, Colleen discovered she could start a virtual assistant side hustle in her spare time. Now she feels fulfilled — and she’s enjoying the extra income!
Keep reading to hear more about her story!
Q: Hi, Colleen! Tell us a little about your background. What did your life look like before Work-At-Home School?
I knew there was a hole in my life, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Working full-time only does so much for me despite how much I love both my job and my coworkers. I wanted a creative outlet beyond writing fan fiction or spending hours upon hours playing Skyrim and Assassin’s Creed. I’d previously bought online courses but did not finish them; they were above my level at the time and were gathering digital dust.
Q: It’s so important to have a creative outlet. What action(s) did you take as a result of being in Work-At-Home School?
I restarted my blog, have consistently posted twice a week since then, joined the Medium Partner Program (first income), started my virtual assistant business, and have collaborated with multiple other bloggers.
Q: Sounds like you’re making great progress so far! What was your favorite course or resource from Work-At-Home School and why?
My favorite course was Gina Horkey’s 30 Days or Less to Virtual Assistant Success because it was the only course I took that provided actionable steps that brought real results. I was maybe halfway through the course and taking the action steps when I landed my first VA client.
Note from Caitlin: The courses included in Work-At-Home School may change from year to year. Work-At-Home School is closed for enrollment right now, but you can sign up here to get on the waitlist!
Q: That’s awesome that you saw results from your virtual assistant side hustle so quickly! What was the most challenging part of getting started?
Working through self-doubt, uncertainty, and fear about what others would think of my venture. It was definitely a mindset thing that requires constant work to get through, even now.
Q: Fear of what people will think has to be one of the biggest reasons people don’t pursue their dreams. Really, the only person whose opinion matters is you! What is the most valuable thing you learned from taking Work-At-Home School?
There are no results without taking action. Passive action (consuming content, buying courses but not following all the action steps, continual learning) is great for helping make decisions later, but nothing will ever change until you start taking MASSIVE action—taking action over and over until reaching the result you want.
Q: So true! You can read all the books and take all the courses you want, but if you don’t implement what you learn, you won’t see any progress. How long did it take you to find your first client? And how many clients do you have now?
I bought WAHS in February 2018 and landed my first client in August 2018. Now, I have two regular clients and one sometimes client.
Q: Well done! How long did it take you to recoup the cost of the course?
Counting income only from VA sources, one year. I also have a full-time corporate job, so I was not hustling as hard as many of the people who invested in WAHS. In 2019, I’ve made over $3K from my VA clients, which is going a long way towards recouping the cost of all the money I’ve invested in my blog over the years, not just the cost for WAHS.
Q: $3K extra income on top of your day job is awesome! Would you recommend Work-At-Home School? Is it worth the money?
Absolutely. If you have the desire to do something more with your life and the dedication and discipline to make it happen, WAHS has plenty of paths to choose from and the community to support you.
Q: What does your life look like now?
I have a lot of things to do to keep me busy! I have a couple of awesome regular VA clients, and I wrote a book during NaNoWriMo 2018 that went to an editor and is now in rewrites. My morning routine is full of things that move me toward where I want to be in life, and that hole is filled up. I’m writing about the things that help me in life and things I wish I’d known years ago.
Q: Congratulations on writing your book! That’s a huge achievement. Is there anything else you’d like to share with the WAHS community?
I’m so grateful for the friends I’ve made through WAHS and the opportunities it’s provided me to do something more with my life.
Our Take
I love that Colleen feels more fulfilled with her life now. She’s proof that you can create the life YOU want — whether that’s completely escaping the 9-to-5 or finding a creative outlet you can work on part-time. Keep up the good work, Colleen!
Your Turn
Looking for money-making side hustle ideas you can work on in your spare time? Work-At-Home School has got everything you need to make it happen!
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