How to start and run your side hustle straight from your iPhone (pt1)
Say hello to your new mobile money machine
My intentions are to share a jumpstart to your side hustle success quickly from your iPhone with this letter. I’ll cover:
[PART 1]
- Why starting a side hustle is key
- Starting with a why
- How to — Come up with a name
- How to — Design your logo in 5 minutes on your iPhone
[PART 2]
- How to — Launch your website
- Setup payment processors
- Draft invoices and contracts
- Extras — Discover productivity apps & recommended books
Allow me to reintroduce myself
A lil bit about me. Hi I’m Eric. I help people start or restart brands by designing digital + product experiences. I have worked with a variety of notable companies from Nike, adidas, Complex Media to TDE.
While living in New York City as a designer since 2008, after being an employee for years, in 2015 I took the leap, moved to Los Angeles and began to work for myself delivering web design, branding and e-commerce solutions to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
During that time, I wrote a book to help people start their own business or hustle so they can enjoy the rewarding feelings of solving problems for themselves and others and being able to have more freedom in their daily lives. That book and it’s purpose has turned into my life’s work. The book Fire Your Designer has now become an actionable resource.
Adding a second source of income
This is why starting a side hustle (or full hustle) is key. If you have a job it may feel safe. That’s cool. Do you. What’s even cooler and safer though, is having a second or even third stream of income coming in while you still make your 9–5 money.
I’m bout to show you how to get the side hustle started straight from your iPhone so you can curate your freedom, increase your options & choices + lessen the dependency of needing your boss to pay you.
It is important to know that an employer can make a quick decision that can heavily impact your life, negatively in a second.
If you’re fired, laid off or get a pay decrease like today, what will you do?
Why not make the decision to build something of your own and while doing it, increase your confidence, awareness, business skills and of course your bank account all at the same time?
Yes you’ll need a logo, some extra time, a product or service, a little money and an iPhone to do this. But you have all of these things.
We will start with something you may not have. A why.
Beyond the 💰 have a reason why you’re working.
Starting with why
Yes we want the money. And we want it now! We’re aligned on that. If we add consistent high value and purpose, we’re golden. Forever.
Ask these questions to help you figure out what your why is.
- Why does my product or service exist?
- How does my product or service help me?
- How does my product or service help others?
- What value does my product or service bring?
How I found my why
As an example, my why came to me as an enlightening moment on vacation in Denver with my wife and our friends where she told me my mission is to help people.
I was like 🧐 … you’re right!
I want to help people live richer lives through designing positive, peaceful products — getting people away from regret and closer to freedom and happiness by way of them curating their life through additional streams of income.
Download your Find My Why Worksheet right here.
Now that you’ve found your why. Let’s get to naming your side hustle.
Your New Name
Pick a name. Do it quickly. Keep it memorable, classic, easy to pronounce and then move on.
You can select a name that is in tune with what you’re offering or not.
You can just pick your government name and add Company to the end of it.
You can add two words together like Internet + Flicks = (adapted slightly) Netflix.
Or pick like a word: Supreme. Or a fruit: Apple.
The trick is to pick it, like it & move forward with it.
Tools & apps to help name the hustle
🔗 Namelix
With these resources, type in your hustle keyword, words that describe your offering or what you want included in the name and let it do the work for you.
A snippet from a naming your hustle presentation
2 Syllable New Hustle Name Example
Right Now
The 2 syllable name picked as an example is “Right Now”. Simple and to the point.
The reasoning behind it is, when should we get started on the ideas, projects and priority items in our lives?
Answer? Yup, right now.
So with that, on to the next one. The logo.
The Logo
Remember what’s so cool about this is we’re designing on the iPhone. We will use the app Hatchful.
Go to the App store and search Hatchful.
🔗 Hatchful
This is an app made by Shopify that helps you design your own logo, for free on either desktop or the iPhone.
Super fun, easy and quick!
Here is the logo I made as an example for Right Now.
This is the end of part 1. With the info shared above here’s what you’ve accomplished:
- Working with a sense of meaning and purpose
- You have solidified why you’re working beyond the 💰
- You have picked a name for your hustle
- You have designed your new logo
And maybe you’ve not only done all of this from your iPhone but you’ve also helped yourself secure an additional stream of income thus helping yourself and others all at once!
HOORAY!
Coming up the next, the website…
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Happy Hustling.
-Eric
