Building A Side Gig - Part Four
Declaring Victory
The Game of Finance is a neat one. There are many wealthy players, who don’t consider themselves wealthy. This is a universal phenomenon explained well in the book, Just Keep Buying (my review).
A similar trap happens with regard to time.
We do such a good job building our position, we are made miserable by our success.
In building your side gig, avoid these common traps:
Becoming so busy we are often miserable.
Raise prices in advance of being over-scheduled.
Higher prices help avoid the next trap…
Allowing admin requirements to take us away from the life we want to live.
Don’t be a cheapskate with subcontracting low-value work.
Remembering Why We Started
The order of this series was intentional.
Part One encouraged you to simplify your existing life and consider what success looks like. Often, we are able to move directly towards our ideal life.
Only a few have the maturity to stop when we achieve the life we wanted at the start.
Add Value By Solving Problems
Part Two was about creating expert knowledge to solve problems.
The next task is figuring out the client’s true needs. Quite often the need is different than the initial problem.
Put differently…
The client’s “problem” brings them in the door.
Figuring out how to address their “needs” builds a long-term mutually beneficial relationship.
What’s been amazing about returning to competitive sport is the discovery that ALL the problems, and mistakes, have remained the same.
The theme of Part Three => Each of us is The Product.
Act Accordingly.
Up-Skill Ourselves.
I ended Part Three by sharing my playbook. Take those ideas and make them your own.
Know When To Say When
…and when to give a nice-no-thanks (NNT).
Once you’ve made my playbook your own… you’ll need to continually simplify.
This is essential if your like-to-do list (from Part One) didn’t include “be super busy.”
Something I’ve seen again, and again…
Talented people become miserable after being promoted away from their talents.
Successful consultants get swamped by admin and low-value tasks.
A simple niche business, focused on client quality, will build a group of like-minded peers.