As the economy slowly rebuilds itself, the unemployed are discovering
new places of employment to call home and most are embracing the
changes in their careers with open arms. How did these displaced
professionals make ends meet while they interviewed, scouted, returned
phone calls and authored emails with resume attachments for two, four,
sometimes even six or more months? Unemployment assistance is one
route that people choose to handle expenses. After budgets are
revised and temporary lifestyle changes made, the government funds are
sometimes just enough to pay bills and even make it a “Blockbuster”
night one or two times a month.
How do corporate ladder climbers who were making much more than
unemployment kicks out or those who refuse to accept public assistance
handle their, often times, much higher expenses? Some of these
individuals turn to their savings, but those who have the courage,
knowledge, and moxie—hustle. In the past the term “hustle” has
carried a negative connotation. It automatically indicated someone
who made their living dishonestly or whose business practices were
untrustworthy. Today, amongst generation Xers and the up and coming Y
generation (those born after 1979) the term hustler generally
identifies business minded individuals who have entrepreneurial
ambitions and strive to maximize self fulfillment as well as profit.
Read carefully, because selling bootleg copies of Training Day on DVD
and burning Musiq Soulchild’s CD does not apply here.
Anyone can hustle. The key steps are to find something you like to
do, identify the market niche, and charge a fair fee for the service.
Create web pages or graphics in your spare time? Then take on a small
web project for your local music store, favorite mom and pop owned
restaurant or a friend who is starting a business. Chances are they
will pay a small fee for your services or at the least provide some
discount on their product and refer you to other paying customers. Do
you like to shop but feel hindered by a limited income from keeping up
with the latest fashion trends? Take up mystery or secret shopping.
All major department stores use secret shoppers to monitor and track
customer service. Find a reputable company that accepts freelance
shoppers and get reimbursed for purchases or even paid a wage to do
something you like to do anyway. Did you like that gadget Grandpa Joe
bought you last Christmas so much that you have convinced all of your
friends and associates to buy one? Companies are often in need of
quality sales people that are not full time employees. These
opportunities give you some control over your time commitment and
allow you to profit through commissions or free products. So not only
can you possibly make money through these types of activities, but you
keep from becoming idle or complacent as well, while isolating the
skills you would most like to use on your next full time engagement.
There are many ways to positively impact both your monetary income and
overall contentment with your situation when you are in between jobs.
If you make a little money while you explore your hidden skills,
passions, and plain old hobbies that is less of your savings that you
have to tap into to take care of expenses.
The bottom line
when trying to make ends meet in tough economic times is to use your
time and your talents wisely and of course, remain optimistic. Learn
the art of hustling and remember by today’s standards it’s about more
than the money. Focusing on the ideas and aspirations in your head
can lead to unexpected financial gains, but more importantly it allows
most people to take a look themselves and identify the lifelong goals,
which will truly make them happy. The ability to tap into your inner
being and successfully discover the wealth of innovation, creativity,
and dreams within, is the key to unleashing the most desirable
“hustle” of them all, one that can eventually lead to CEO level status
or better yet business ownership. For now, when it creates a little
extra money on the side, that is, as they say, “just icing on the
cake.”
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