An Introverts Guide to Turning Your Side Hustle into Your Full-time Job - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / An Introverts Guide to Turning Your Side Hustle into Your Full-time Job - Introvert Whisperer An Introverts Guide to Turning Your Side Hustle into Your Full-time Job Being an introvert in our society requires an immense level of resiliency. This can be attributed to the fact that society naturally makes it difficult for introverts to succeed, whether that be in social or professional situations. These environments are prime for overlap, most notably in corporate life, where oftentimes it’s not always what you know but who you know: something extroverts are adept at embracing and something introverts are known for struggling with. It’s no surprise then that many introverts don’t end up sticking around their corporate jobs for too long, even if they map their careers out perfectly. They usually end up leaving for a non-profit organization or a more purposeful form of employment, such as a side hustle business that turns into their full-time job, in search of something a corporate life could never deliver. Why Corporate Life Can Be Challenging For Introverts First, it’s important to understand why corporate life is such a conflict for introverts. Time and again introverts find corporate life to be the antithesis to what they believe in. While introverts tend to believe in fairness and openness, a corporation may have the propensity to believe in generating profit and sustaining a rigid structure, often at the expense of their workers. But which workers get it the worst? The introverts! In essence, the workers who are least likely to build surface level relationships and stand up for themselves. In other words, introverts see corporate life as the epitome of growing a profit-driven entity that rewards extroverts and social ladder climbers and shuns introverts because they’re more authentic and emotional. Introverts also prefer to avoid situations that can be slightly intimidating, like dealing with a confrontation head-on or running a meeting â€" skills that are needed to excel in corporate institutions. While it’s certainly less difficult in a non-profit organization, the fundamentals of a hierarchical structure are still ingrained in a non-profit organization’s DNA, furthering the innate challenge for introverts. What introverts truly want is to be a part of something bigger than themselves and make a positive impact. This is particularly why introverts look outside of Corporate America and look for ways to live their lives on their own terms, which is at the heart of turning your side hustle into your full-time job. What is a Side Hustle and Why is it Beneficial for Introverts to Start One? The silver lining is that all hope is not lost; there is still the side hustle. According to side hustle extraordinaire Lauren Greutman, a side hustle is a second job that not only brings in money but also allows you the flexibility to work your full-time. A few examples of common side hustles: Becoming an online marketing specialist Freelance writing about health-related articles Teaching an online course on LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as Lynda.com) Tutoring on the weekends for kids in inner cities Teaching your own fashion or beauty course like an eyelash training course Pursuing a side hustle is beneficial to introverts because it allows them to tap into fields that they strongly care about. Introverts struggle with the typical 9-to-5 jobs because those jobs command an insurmountable amount of social interaction. Not only that, but that interaction is half of the battle for moving up the corporate ladder. Furthermore, introverts can benefit from side hustles because side hustles can become a creative and emotional outlet. If these individuals are lucky enough, their side hustles will eventually become their full-time jobs, and from there they can decide when and how they will interact with other people (an introvert’s dream). Actionable Steps for Introverts to Turn Their Side Hustles into Full-Time Jobs Managing a full-time job, nonetheless one that you dislike, with a part-time business, that you hope you’ll one day make your full-time job, demands time, energy, effort, and investment. It’s honestly harder for introverts because all of these aspects necessitate putting yourself out there and stepping out of your comfort zone: things that don’t come easily to most introverts. The good news is that there are real, actionable steps for an introvert to turn his or her side hustle into a full-time job. Step 1: Find Your Why Introverts devote their lives to being purposeful; however, a person cannot be purposeful if he or she does not embody a purpose. The Start With Why organization believe that it’s crucial for people to know what they’re fighting for, otherwise it’s too easy to give up or lose focus. This could not be more accurate than in the world of business, where battling and fighting for ground is a daily occurrence. Every single day is about the hustle and the grind to get things done and get closer to the person you want to be. That’s why you need to know your purpose. Doing so will allow you to be resilient in the face of defeat and adversity. Step 2: Find Your Idea and Figure Out How to Make Income from It It’s not just about having a business idea that you’re passionate about. That’s only the beginning. As an introvert, it’s imperative that the idea is aligned with your passion, if not, you’ll run the risk of abandoning it once the going gets tough. It won’t be your fault; it’s human nature, especially for introverts. But your idea has to make an income or else it’s not worth pursuing. If you’re not making income from it, then it’s really just a hobby. Find your idea (and make sure it’s important to you), do your research, and trace each and every step of the customer’s journey. Go from the moment a user interacts with you or your product and every step afterwards. Then, figure out where your users are and how you can attract them to you. It might be a lot at first, but with substantial research and experimentation, you won’t only be on your way to turning your side hustle into your full-time job â€" you’ll be turning your dream into your reality. Step 3: Absorb Information from People Who’ve Succeeded What they never teach you in business school is that it’s impossible to maintain high levels of success day in, day out. We’re only human, and humans have the proclivity to get tired, emotional, and overwhelmed. But if you stay in tune with the business world through the eyes of people who have turned their side hustles into their full-time jobs and have never looked back, you’ll be around good company (literally and figuratively). That’s why you should read as many career books, business books, podcasts, interviews, and blog posts as you can. Absorb it all. The more you take in, the clearer your vision will be. You’ll be able to split the information that resonates with you and the information that doesn’t. You’ll find your truth, and you’ll use it for inspiration as you fully turn your side hustle into your job as the career you’ve dreamt of your life. And, of course, you’ll learn things you never thought of from people who have done what you’re looking to do, one step at a time. And we all know introverts love to learn! Bio: