We held a #RedNotebookHustle tweet chat on Friday 27th November, 2020 where we saw a lot of wisdom and insight shared by some of the people running startups and small businesses. The tweet chat that was meant to highlight the experience; struggles, successes, lessons and everything involved in starting and running side hustles saw a number of hustlers share their experience and some advise with those seeking to start.
The tweet chat focused on a number of aspects upon which we sought to engage the business owners through these 9 questions. We share some of the responses here. Do check out #RedNoteBookHustle on twitter to get a broader sense of what was shared.
1.What made you start your side hustle/additional revenue stream?
From needing an extra income, to the curiosity to explore more avenues of creating solutions to existing problems, different people shared different reasons for starting a side hustle. Here are some of them.
“First of all, my side hustle became farming. Before actively farming, I’d thought about it for a while.
During Lockdown, my business partner for the project & I finally decided to launch into the unknown. We had the blessing of having a lot of time. Of course, we needed to make money, in case the things that gave us money could not any longer because of COVID19. With farming, we had the space & skill. Poultry is what we started but, already had an ongoing piggery project.”
— @benjaahedwards
I had just changed from running my own business which did not work out to full time formal employment, and it was the opportunity for me to add a passive revenue stream to augment the salary as my expenses were going up as my kids started school.
— @ssmusoke
2. How did you raise the capital you needed to start?
The conversation on capital is one of the most relevant ones to be had if we are talking about starting or running a business. It is definitely not an easy one. We hope to broadly explore this subject in future. For now, here are some of the responses.
“Job. My job is where I got very single coin I have poured into my very new business. Very new of it only just got ‘official’ about a month ago. I saved and saved and saved some more.”
— @fionakemi90
I had to switch up my priorities and make sacrifices. Basically cut down on some expenses to make sure I could pay for the jewellery making classes as well as materials.
— @E-hoops
3. Why that specific hustle? Did you consider any other options?
“The Rolex stalls were birthed from my need to take a break from formal employment while not having to worry about daily earnings, but also to create employment for young men so a win win…
I am accepting that I have an entrepreneur bone so it’s a journey.”
— @Omulungi_Hawt
“It started as a need for a specific service intentional gifting and subscription boxes. Being the shopaholic I am, with a love to support artisanal businesses, this business was a no brainer. I did consider other options but this one 1st.”
— @fanceenancyy
4. What lessons can you share with us about starting a side hustle?
Partnerships are very important. For example, I am a digital comms consultant but some businesses can’t afford my businesses and @TheEscentials can’t afford rent so I ask for space to sell my goods in exchange for my services as a digital comms consultant.
— @PeshAhumuza
REFUSE to refer to it as a side hustle. I call mine my LEGACY, and with that simple word play I instinctively became more intentional and committed to seeing it thrive.
— @KandabuShirley
> Starting small is fine. Make that extra 5K, it will add up
— @cmugume
5. What were your toughest moments and/or failures?
1. Managing growth as the side hustle becomes the/a main hustle.
2. Money, money, money. They say never run out of cash in business, but you always run out of cash. Building businesses is not easy.
3. Paying employees when you’ve run out of cash.
— @solomonking
Finding it difficult to separate business money and my money and also that period when I just can/could not come up with anything new.
— @E_hoops
Leaving my job was not breezy. It took a year of thinking and planning and doubting and praying.
Made some major losses at various points too.
Entrepreneurship can be a little lonely. No one really tells you that.
— @fionakemi90
Preparation is key – We recently got an opportunity to lease land that we’d hoped to use for our projects. It was a little over 10 acres. Even with the money and other resources, we didn’t have a plan on how we’d put the land to full utilization before the lease period expires.
— @ivankabandize
6. Any advice for people who’re looking to start a side hustle?
Get into the space you want to do your side hustle. Weekends, after work hours, days off. Don’t delay because you want to “attempt to be perfect”. Just sell the idea/ product to 1 client and do it well.
Once again, “do NOT delay to start!
— @edmokmg
7. How’s your side gig/hustle doing right now? Has it become a substantial source of revenue for you?
3months in & the growth is great – by all means & standards BUT – I could use more sleep & a hustle free day
— @Ruthaine
It’s not yet where I want it to be but it’s getting there… It hasn’t yet become a substantial revenue source. It’s close to 5 months old.
— @fanceenancyy
My side gig turned main gig only a month ago and no, it isn’t substantial yet. I have SOME ways to go.
It is going good. Slow but steady and I can already see growth.
— @fionakemi90
It’s the main hustle now!!
It has grown to employ over 50 people & create a whole new way of healthcare service delivery in Uganda & the E.A region.
Overall, we are more proud of the livelihoods we support through our staff and the millions of lives we serve.
— @drjohnmark_b
8. Was your side hustle affected by COVID 19 and the lockdown and how did it survive?
@TheEscentials is growing slowly. I have so much hope in the partnerships I have been working on. It’s only two months old so I wouldn’t say that it has already become a substantial source of revenue for me.
— @PeshAhumuza
To our amazement, most of the side hustles that featured in the tweet chat were started during the lockdown.
The tweet chat was fill of wisdom and insight shared. Above all, we are proud of all those shared their experience. You can check out the hast tag #RedNoteBookHustle to catch up on some of the nuggets shared.
If you haven’t already, follow us, click that notifications bell, and wait for the next exciting tweet chat. We look forward engaging more.
Don’t forget to support the small business Side Hustles mentioned and those from which this experience has been shared.
