Side Hustling In 2023

Hi there, 

A very happy 2023 to everyone. My name is Ram. If you’ve noticed a change in article tone and phrasing, that’s me. Originally a copywriter, I took an interest in finance — and was waddling through its shady, scary terrain before I met T.U.B and offered to write in exchange for him being my finance compass. Unlike T.U.B, my writing is more clunky. I like to use analogies and sometimes go a little too wild with them. The pieces from today will be an experiment in amalgamating our vastly different narrative style, and I would appreciate any comments them. And if you enjoy this style of writing, I do freelance, and you can contact me at ramdonri.freelance@gmail.com

Beyond our shared interest in finance, I think our passion for side hustling is what has made this partnership quite seamless so far. A wise man once said that “the only people who think that money is not the answer, are the ones who are running from problems or are the problem.” While not as extreme, we do believe that there is a strong correlation between the number in your bank account and the one’s quality of life, and often meet up to discuss about how to earn more to provide. Given that this is the start of 2023, we’d like to share our “findings” in hope that it will help you do the same for your loved ones. 

Finding #1: Know who you are

We are all given certain gifts, that we hopefully learn about as we experience things in life. For example, you might naturally be stronger than your siblings and are always the one that they call when they need help moving. Your auntie might be more artistically-inclined and was the one that designed a custom shirt for the family, featuring your embarrassing baby photos. Or, your partner might be better with numbers and always knows how to eke out the best deals when it comes to dates. 

Finding #2: Focus on who you are

Beyond just stating the obvious fact that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, I’m here to encourage you to embrace them. It can be difficult given that certain strengths work better today, than others. For example, the same auntie who made your family shirt would be a really good graphic designer, and your partner who’s great with numbers would be a fantastic banker. However, bankers make far more than graphic designers (in most cases), and given a choice one would rather have the skillset needed for a better paying. Or worse, ignore the fact that were meant to do something completely different, and gun for a high-paying job that they are not exactly built for. 

Finding #3: Be who you are

We are asking you to avoid the “shiny-item” trap. Not all that glitters is gold. Just because a job might pay higher on the surface, does not mean that it will not come at an extreme cost. It could mean spending more time than your peers just to do as well as them. That time could be spent with family, taking care of your mental health and a myriad of other ways that would good for you. Also, what happens when your naturally-gifted colleagues decide to work a little harder? How much are you willing to cut to just be average or moderately competitive. Instead, forget about the job and focus on building a skill that you are naturally good at. 

Finding #4: Consider being contrarian

“So Ram, are you just telling to accept the fact that I was made for a lower-paying job? And that my family should not expect me to provide them with a higher quality of life?” 

Hold up, hold up. That’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s true that you might not be able to compete for and in a high-paying job given your inclinations, but I am not saying that you will not get paid more. As contrarians, we are to take the path less trodden and to think about why not all is as it seems. We are not our jobs. Instead, we are people with unique skillsets. And we can always do things outside our jobs that use the same skillset. Blogging, consulting, freelancing and giving tuition are just a few that I can think of right now. Why relegate yourself to the income constraints that an organization sets for you. Do thinks outside of the box that is your job. 

Finding #5: Have a higher risk appetite

That being said, we still think that the best way to do more with your natural inclinations is to team up. This is because you will no longer be “tied down” by your natural strengths. Unlike being a single employee who has to rely wholly on themselves to fend for themselves, you can assemble a team made of people with complementary strengths.

Of course, things get riskier when a relationship is involved, especially when it comes to shared assets. But it doesn’t have to be an all-in or all-out situation right from the start. You could do what T.U.B and I are doing now to find your team. And once you’ve that trust, and shared desire for doing more with your individual strengths, go into business. 

Finding #6: Be Strong

You know what they call people who are easily contrarian? Crazy. 

If having a side hustle and properly backed opinion against common sentiment was that easy, everyone would do it. If you haven’t already realized, our journey is a tough, risky one. And I cannot say that this will definitely pan out for everyone. What I can say is it has panned out for some, such as Ray Dalio, who are now living great lives. So if you still think that going against the grain is worth it, then welcome to the team. We hope you hang on — we’re right there with you. 

Image: Forbes.com

Stay sane. Stay strong. Stay tuned. 

Contrary to popular belief, 

Ram and T.U.B