How I Created Independence & Flourished in a Digital World
What did you need to be once you grew up?
Inside all of us is a calling and a present. However many people by no means understand our passionate goal or discover true which means in our lives. Why is that?
Once I was ten years previous, changing into a health care provider appeared like a terrific thought.
In any case, my next-door neighbour was a health care provider, and he had a elaborate home and a automobile. Very interesting to my ten-year-old self. Sadly, I might later uncover that I hated the sight of blood. So I crossed that profession pathway firmly off my record.
However it was a dialog with my instructor in Grade 5 that I keep in mind was a quiet trace and a promise that didn’t reveal itself till nearly 4 many years later.
She mentioned, “Jeff, you’re author. I like your tales, and you must write extra.”
To a ten-year-old, who had solely found writing and studying a number of years earlier than, I didn’t know what to do with that assertion. Would my tales enable me to at some point purchase a elaborate home and automobile just like the physician subsequent door may? As a toddler, I used to be too unaware to ask.
So I continued with my education, remembering her phrases however failing to place them into motion…

Free Obtain
The Final Information to Web site Site visitors for Enterprise
Chasing cash
I navigated college somewhat directionlessly and graduated with precisely zero clues as to what I wished to do with my life.
So I made a decision to enroll in an accounting diploma. It appeared nearly as good an thought as any. Plus, I believed accountants made some huge cash, in order that was my main motivation for beginning. However I quickly found that I quietly despised accounting. I additionally wasn’t superb at it. Bugger.
Many people spend our entire lives in careers we don’t take pleasure in. However I wasn’t going to be a kind of individuals. So I made a decision to stop partway by way of my course and take a look at one thing else.
The instructing pivot
I then pivoted to instructing. Why? Effectively…as a result of I got here from a conservative non secular upbringing that solely had a small buffet of profession choices. I may actually solely choose from instructing, nursing and changing into an accountant as a result of these careers allowed me to work inside the non secular ecosystem (extra on this later).
So I armed myself with a highschool instructing diploma, and on the ripe previous age of twenty-one I proceeded to instruct youngsters with my huge life expertise and experience (joke). Inside mere days I found that instructing wasn’t enjoyable, didn’t make me completely satisfied and was truly torture. Oh pricey.
However as a result of I had invested 4 years of schooling and was underneath stress from my conservative dad and mom, the choice to go away was sluggish and drawn out. Giving up can really feel rather a lot like failure.
I used to be nervous what my dad and mom would take into consideration me ditching my second vocation, and searching again, I ought to have minimize the twine sooner.
When you’ve drifted right into a life path that’s extra about safety and what buddies, household, and society suppose, you’re definitely not alone.
I stepped proper into that pondering, expectation and template. Our younger self usually enters a profession extra about consolation, safety, and what others need for us.
I additionally had the added stress of organized faith.
I felt stress to suit into the anticipated function mannequin of a conservative. I grew up with a closed and imposed taste of Christianity, which means that the profession choices have been extra typical than most.
One other a part of the rationale I ended up instructing was that the church had a system of colleges. That means I may work within the fortress of a closed ecosystem that saved us secure from the temptations of the surface world.
After years of profession agony, I took the courageous step of constructing a choice for myself. The world felt too small and the alternatives too restricted. I wished to stay an even bigger life, and the psychological and emotional ache of taking part in the sport lastly turned an excessive amount of.
So I left.
My dad and mom weren’t completely satisfied about my resolution and didn’t perceive what I used to be doing. Neither did I. However I knew that if I didn’t make a change, life can be depressing for a really very long time.
You may additionally have an itch that must be scratched, a beckoning that you’ve got ignored, a need to create a life that you’ve got dreamed about however by no means dared to behave upon.
What if I may present you easy methods to convey that unexpressed a part of your self out into the sunshine with none threat? Would you have an interest?
Earlier than we go into that, I needed to study a number of extra painful classes to study.
What to do subsequent?
Because the profession instructor in school, I used to be answerable for organizing work expertise for the scholars. Work expertise is the place youngsters check out a possible profession path for 2 weeks. So I made a decision to use the ‘work expertise’ mannequin to my profession search. Through the summer season holidays, I examined three forms of business careers. And for the primary time, I listened to my coronary heart somewhat than my dad and mom.
This resolution was step one in the direction of private freedom and independence. It was freedom with a small ‘f’.
“I didn’t intend to get wealthy. I simply wished to get unbiased” – Charlie Munger (Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway)
What I found subsequent was the significance of low-risk profession testing. The small voice inside me saying “sure” was heard and acted upon. So I examined out careers within the laptop tech, life insurance coverage and actual property industries.
Right here’s the factor about selecting a profession, usually you don’t know whether or not you’ll take pleasure in a job till you attempt it out. Exploring totally different profession choices by way of ‘work expertise’ is a good, low-risk technique to check out a profession earlier than going all in.
By no means one to waste disaster
So I selected a brand new profession in gross sales within the laptop business. On the time, the non-public laptop sector was exploding. Apple and IBM have been at battle. And I found that the spoils of that battle have been excessive commissions and journey for among the foot troopers. My wage went from paltry to powder kegging. I basked in that business and its downstream results for a decade or so.
However a number of quick years later, all the things modified.
I had an existential disaster sparked by the crumbling of my first marriage and a monetary meltdown. It compelled me to begin once more. I wasn’t going to waste disaster.
So, whereas making an attempt to outlive, I learn and mirrored on what to do subsequent. A brand new enterprise thought emerged, impressed by a number of influences that intersected:
- I learn a e book titled “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferriss. This e book opened my eyes to the quick rising alternatives to create a digital enterprise.
- Throughout this time (2008), I additionally signed up for social media, together with Fb and Twitter. I seen how obsessed individuals have been and the way a lot it occupied their time. I sensed an rising pattern that I believed can be highly effective and alter the world. These platforms have been no fad.
- I additionally devoured a e book referred to as “The New Guidelines of Advertising and PR” By David Meerman Scott. He opened my eyes to the efficiency of publishing on-line content material to draw an viewers and potential clients. Immediately we name it content material advertising.
- The ultimate piece of the puzzle that pushed me over the sting from inaction to motion was an article by HubSpot. It mentioned, “When you have an inkling of what kind of enterprise you need to start, begin a weblog.” Okay then!
So in March 2009, I launched my weblog JeffBullas.com, and I began writing. Whereas sharing one put up at a time, I remembered what my Grade 5 instructor had seen as an innate capability. I had ignored it for 40+ years, and now I used to be lastly placing my expertise into observe.
I had found why I used to be on this planet. The writing was imperfect, and I used to be studying as I went. However I used to be persistently creating.
The weblog didn’t really feel like work. It felt extra like a mission that I had been referred to as to. It was the intersection of my expertise, innate capability and my ardour.
For 4 years, I set the alarm for 4.30 am and created, wrote, revealed and shared my (initially) novice insights in regards to the burgeoning revolution of social media.
Was I being profitable from it immediately? No. However my ardour fuelled my need to maintain turning as much as the web page and hitting publish day-after-day.
The enterprise mannequin revealed itself two years later.
A really quick e mail from ‘Jonny’ popped into my inbox one morning. It mentioned, ‘Love your writing and insights on social media. Would you be excited about working a workshop in New Zealand? We can pay you for it.’
He had my consideration, and I all of a sudden stumbled into my first monetization alternative. On checking Jonny’s “bona fides” (I googled him), I used to be stunned to find that he was one among New Zealand’s wealthiest males. So my first ever paid talking gig was held at Jonny’s golf property, touted as having the world’s most scenic par 3. Not unhealthy!
From there, the alternatives continued to develop, the visitors to my weblog had reached 5 million guests a yr, I had gained over 560,000 Twitter followers and I used to be invited and paid to talk all around the globe. All that from my little facet hustle.
What’s a facet hustle, and why may you need to begin one?
We might imagine the time period “facet hustle” is new and belongs to the digital age, however actually, the primary use of the time period was in 1950 (in response to Merriam Webster’s analysis).
Its normal definition is: Work carried out for revenue supplementary to at least one’s main job.
However as work has developed, know-how has taken us globally. The character of enterprise has modified, and the which means of facet hustle has develop into a bit extra muddled, mystified and glorified.
It’s moved from the easy which means of ‘An exercise to make some extra cash‘ to one thing larger and extra thrilling.
Facet hustles are born from the next motivations, needs and ache factors:
- I’m profitable however sad, and I would like extra from life. The small, gnawing voice that wakes you up within the predawn darkness.
- I would like an additional job to pay the payments and get forward financially. You need extra money.
- I would like an outlet to indulge my artistic and curious spirit. I hope to have the ability to generate profits from my artistry at some point. You could possibly be a musician, photographer, blogger or creator.
- I need a bridge from my boring day job to a profession that gives the liberty to stay the place I would like and work autonomously. You need Independence.
- I need to construct and scale a startup that adjustments the world. You may have the Large Dream.
My facet hustle was born from the third motivation, however we’re all totally different and have totally different hopes and goals. So your motive for beginning a facet hustle is yours to personal.
How did I discover success?
So a number of years into my facet hustle ardour mission, I used to be being invited and paid to talk all around the globe. How did this occur? All this visitors and a focus?
There are a number of components right here that contributed to my success.
I used to be working from my strengths. This included a capability to speak with phrases, each written and spoken. I used to be additionally capable of sense and see traits.
So I used to be “Futuristic” minded and inquisitive about what was across the nook and over the horizon. I used to be “Strategic” and large image oriented (element annoys me). I used to be additionally a “Maximizer” (this leads me to maintain altering lanes to get forward of the visitors). I’m additionally an “Activator” that desires to go from an thought to motion.
My undiscovered strengths have been revealed, and I used to be beginning to obtain some validation from different individuals. My facet hustle had develop into my fundamental hustle. I had independence and freedom.
I had determined to decide on happiness. I used to be doing one thing that I used to be inquisitive about. I used to be creating, and my creations have been getting a constructive response.
From that have, I’ve created a framework that can assist you begin your personal facet hustle, and we’ll get into that in a second.
Why you must create out of your strengths
A couple of years after I launched the weblog, I got here throughout a e book titled Strengths Finder. It was a revelation. The outcomes it returned listed what I had felt, sensed and found by way of a lot trial and error all through my profession.
My facet hustle ticked nearly each power in my software package. On prime of that, the brand new world of social media had affirmed that I used to be on monitor.
Earlier than you begin any facet hustle, I extremely suggest you reply the 170+ questionnaire and discover out what makes you tick and what your strengths are. Working from power is empowering, invigorating and revealing. I received it the incorrect method round.
I stumbled into my strengths after over 50 years of not understanding what they have been. Till then, I had been working and surviving due to what others wished and never what I used to be truly good at.
Right here’s what the founder and father of Constructive Psychology Martin Seligman says in regards to the significance of your strengths in his e book titled Genuine Happiness.
“All of us need a good life and Aristotle posed this two thousand 5 hundred years in the past: “What’s the good life?” …..I ask this nice query anew, then present a recent and scientifically grounded reply. My reply is tied up within the identification and the usage of your signature strengths.” – From the e book “Genuine Happiness: Utilizing the New Constructive Psychology to Notice Your Potential for Lasting Success.
Introducing The Freedom Code
My facet hustle journey has taught me many classes that I’ve distilled right into a philosophy and framework referred to as “The Freedom Code”.
My imaginative and prescient is to supply the inspiration, foundations, sources and neighborhood to find and assist your ardour and declare your independence. It has 5 pillars. However earlier than we unveil that, what’s freedom?
What’s freedom?
Freedom is a phrase tossed round rather a lot, and its which means is distorted and fragmented.
Listed here are a number of phrases and interpretations of Freedom with a capital F.
- Freedom from tyranny
- Freedom from autocrats and dictators. Humanity nonetheless has some extra work to do on this.
- Freedom from being a slave and servant to the lord of the manor (or company).
For probably the most half, nearly all of the world has moved on from these locations. These days, Freedom may seem like this:
- Freedom to be unbiased of a boss
- Freedom to do what you like.
- Freedom to pursue no matter brings you sustainable pleasure and gratification
- Freedom to decide on the way you spend your day
- Freedom to work from anyplace you need
Freedom to inform the boss, “I’m leaving the company treadmill and hamster wheel behind”.
“Freedom is the prize we’re working for,” Seneca wrote, “not being a slave to something—to not compulsion, to not probability occasions.” Then he mentioned, “present me a person who isn’t a slave.”
“To cash. To work. To worry. To no matter everybody else is doing. To alcohol, to cigarettes, soda, materials possessions, unhealthy habits, followers on social media, anchors on cable information. Certainly, we’ve got many masters”.
My want for you is the liberty to be totally human. To be free from the tyranny of the rat race of the economic and company overlords. To create the life that you just’ve imagined and dreamed about.
In essence, I would like you to be free to be you. True to you. Impartial however linked. To comprehend your potential and goal.
Why do you have to care?
Many people have profitable jobs and careers. We’ve got payments to pay and a household to take care of. However beginning a facet hustle is a low-risk technique to do what you like with out giving up your day job.
That’s what the “Freedom code” is about. Offering a pathway and framework that can assist you transition and begin doing what you like with minimal threat.
So what are the 5 pillars on the coronary heart of the “Freedom Code” framework?
Pillar 1: Uncover
“Your greatest aim in life is to find why you might be right here, act on that mission, after which the magic occurs.”
Discovering your life goal and why you might be on this planet means uncovering your reward. And they are often plural somewhat than singular.
As Steven Spielberg mirrored, “Goals come from behind you… It’s only a whisper and by no means shouts“.
This implies you will want to study, observe, quietly mirror, and hearken to the whisper. There isn’t any template or precise system for this, however some life habits and techniques will provide help to on this discovery part.
I might gently encourage you to begin your Freedom Code journey. It could be a creation, a enterprise or a facet hustle constructed upon the intersection of your ardour, innate items, and expertise.
The Uncover Pillar Ideas
The Uncover pillar is significant. It’s about discovering out why you might be right here on this planet. When you discover the important thing to unlock that door, life might be play and never work.
The core ideas of the “Uncover” Pillar embody the next:
- Innate capability – What did nature provide you with – Your strengths. Chances are you’ll have to experientially discover extra to unearth these or use some instruments and science to mine the deep veins of your genius.
- Expertise – What are the abilities you’ve developed throughout your life journey? Are you able to apply them to this journey?
- Ardour – What do you like doing? This may maintain you throughout the marathon.
- Attitudes – Your angle will carry you from the preliminary thought and dream to the achievement of the aim. Constructive as an alternative of destructive. Development as an alternative of shortage.
- Take a look at and experiment – You don’t know what you want till you go into the world and see if it resonates along with your soul and instinct. That dream job could possibly be a nightmare profession.
- Silence/Cease – Hear the whisper because it doesn’t shout. Distraction, busyness and noise will drown the whisper.
- Inspiration – You’ll need to search out inspiration, and that might be from books, movies, podcasts and conversations with a tribe of like-minded colleagues.
- Who’s your tribe? – That is exhausting to know till you take part conversations and discussions. Be a part of some golf equipment, on-line boards and teams. Once you discover your individuals, you’ll know and say, “I’m dwelling. I belong. That is my tribe.”
Pillar 2: Create
“Artwork is something which means creating and sharing your reward with the world” – Steven Pressfield.
We’re innately artistic as people, however one way or the other our creativity is misplaced as we become older. We’re informed to cease taking part in as kids and reminded to get “severe” and be accountable. Go to high school, get a job and take care of your loved ones.
In order adults, after we hear the phrase “create”, we often consider artists. However we neglect that the artwork and science of making are usually not restricted to the same old definition and accepted model of creatives!
Entrepreneurs (and facet hustlers) are sometimes neglected of that dialog. We expect extra about painters, artists, writers and traditional artwork.
The fact is that the entrepreneur, the startup dreamer and the “facet hustler” are all artists and creators. You’re additionally a creator. You’ll be able to take an thought and switch that right into a enterprise.
Artists and entrepreneurs take an inside imagined thought and make it a actuality. “The magic occurs when the ephemeral creativeness turns into a manifested seen creation.”
They know that dreaming, concepts and creativeness can take type. As people, we’re all dreamers and creators. However a few of us act, and others dither. The fact? If it isn’t seen, then it doesn’t exist.
Who’re the creators?
The fact is that all of us are.
- Architects are creators. They think about a constructing.
- Builders are creators. They take a design from paper to manufacturing.
- Scientists are creators. They see a world and the universe after which pose questions and potential solutions to life’s huge mysteries. This has led to the creation of units and instruments of magic and even Quantum Mechanics.
- Entrepreneurs are creators. They see an issue and create an answer that turns into an actual service or product that may be seen and felt.
- Photographers are creators. They take us on a journey and permit us to see the world’s magnificence.
When you’ve settled on the subject space you need to pursue, it’s time to do the work and create. Creativeness is an inside job, and creativity is the exterior manifestation of your concepts. Creativity is about making the invisible seen.
This pillar is all in regards to the product, service and even artwork you’ll create. This pillar would require you to decide on how you’ll create and the time and sources wanted. That is the place you go from concepts to motion.
There may be magic in movement. Don’t overcomplicate this step. Simply begin.
The “Create” Pillar Ideas
Creating is the place you progress from creativeness to motion. Placing pen to paper or paint to canvas.
- Dream – creativeness. That is the place all of it begins. However don’t cease right here.
- Act – from creativeness to creation.
- Routine – Every day Habits that assist creating. In his e book, “Deep Work”, Cal Newport mentions the significance of setting apart devoted time to do the work. That behavior and routine modified my life.
- Inventive Area – Your artistic nook for creation could possibly be a devoted desk or a devoted espresso store (that’s how J.Okay. Rowling wrote Harry Potter). You simply have to discover a house that works for you.
- Simplicity – Hold your creation easy and check totally different MVCs (Minimal Viable Creations)
Pillar 3: Share
“The which means of life is to search out your reward; the aim of life is to offer it away.” Pablo Picasso
Making a product is one factor, however to see if individuals care about it, you should persistently place your product or artwork in entrance of the world. That’s the solely technique to discover out if it solves an issue, is an object of magnificence that’s desired and wished… or if it wants extra work.
Don’t look ahead to it to be excellent. As a substitute, create both a “Minimal Viable Product” (MVP) or “Minimal Lovable Product” (MLP) and see if individuals need it or share it. Releasing it into the wild is the one technique to check your thought and see if it really works.
There are a lot of methods to do this; social media, e mail, engines like google (web optimization), influencers and plenty of extra. You may additionally have to get into the trenches and arrange a desk at an area market or knock on doorways.
Once you share your creation with the world, it would change you, and you’ll change the world. It would additionally validate your thought and provide the suggestions you want to evolve and develop.
“Share” Pillar Ideas
There is just one technique to discover in case your creation resonates and touches hearts and minds. So what are among the advantages and ideas you want to pay attention to when sharing?
- Affirmation – Constructive suggestions that sustains and motivates you each head to head (Eg: conferences) and digital (Eg: social media)
- Be taught – from the tribe of followers’ suggestions and sharing
- Digital platforms are the brand new village city sq.
- Contribution – Share your time (assist individuals who can’t assist themselves) in addition to your creation
And when you like, you possibly can cease proper right here!
Many individuals I’ve spoken to have raised this level: “However I don’t need to begin a facet hustle or begin a enterprise”. And that’s fantastic!
The primary three pillars of The Freedom Code, “Uncover, Create and Share”, could possibly be the place you need to begin and cease.
You might not be motivated by cash in any respect. Simply discovering your innate skills, creating artwork and sharing it with the world might be sufficient. Sharing your creations might be sufficient to supply a satisfying and completely satisfied life.
However if you wish to generate profits out of your facet hustle, preserve studying…
Pillar 4: Monetize
“I didn’t intend to get wealthy. I simply wished to get unbiased” – Charlie Munger (Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway)
If you wish to flip your facet hustle into your fundamental hustle and fireplace your boss, chances are you’ll need to discover out if the world can pay you to your creation. Being a ravenous artist isn’t a spot of freedom however desperation. And I don’t learn about you, however that’s not a contented place.
Sustaining the sharing of your reward and amplifying your mission means you will want to receives a commission. In a number of phrases, which means “Gross sales”, “Income”, or, to be blunt, the underside line is “Revenue”.
There are a lot of totally different enterprise fashions in a contemporary digital financial system. It’s by no means been simpler to promote your reward to the world. The web and social media have supplied us with low-cost and free instruments, distribution networks and advertising platforms that we didn’t have earlier than.
The “Monetize” Pillar Ideas
So how do you create one thing that the world can pay you for?
- Take a look at totally different enterprise fashions. What you suppose will create income might not work. Hold making an attempt!
- Embrace the brand new enterprise fashions in our digital world. Ecommerce, FBA, On-line teaching, Subscription-based fashions, Freelancing and even changing into an Instagram Influencer!
- Begin Easy – MVP (Minimal Viable Product) and MLP (Minimal Lovable Product)
Pillar 5: Amplify
“To make an even bigger distinction on the planet, amplifying and rising your creation comes right down to gross sales. And gross sales is the place the magic occurs.”
If you wish to put a dent within the universe, you’ll need to amplify your reward after determining one of the best ways to monetize it. Methods to amplify embody; Fb promoting, Google promoting, Instagram promoting, and paid influencer advertising.
Inside this tent, additionally, you will want to make sure that you’ve got the methods and processes to deal with the scaling and amplifying of your artwork and creation gross sales. Processes and methods will preserve you free from burnout and stress.
The “Amplify” Pillar Ideas
To take advantage of vital change and contribution to the world, you want to amplify your reward.
- International is the brand new native – Prior to now, you can solely attain a small world. Now you possibly can present your work anyplace with paid internet marketing.
- Democratized Promoting – Paid digital media that you may entry and management.
- Course of and Methods – Fall in love with the method of making if you wish to scale and amplify.
Wrapping it up
I designed The Freedom Code that can assist you discover your goal, which means and mission in life regardless of who you might be, the place you might be, or how previous you might be. Inside all of us is our calling and reward. It could be dormant, or it’s a whisper drowned out within the noise of life. Many people don’t or by no means understand that passionate goal or which means.
You may additionally have an itch that must be scratched or a beckoning that you’ve got ignored. You need to create a life you’ve got dreamed about however by no means dared to behave on. But.
You may additionally be trapped in a profession that you just quietly hate and doesn’t fulfill you. Chances are you’ll really feel like you might be on a treadmill that you may’t escape.
Chances are you’ll achieve success however sad. However you don’t have to remain that method.
I’m making a neighborhood designed to encourage you. To push you to behave on the innate creator that lies dormant inside you.
I need to provide help to to launch and develop your facet hustle.
Facet Hustle Methods
SideHustleStrategies.co. is an evolution of Jeffbullas.com that I’ve at all times dreamed about. It’s dedicated to serving to you develop personally and professionally (when you select). Facet Hustle Methods exists that can assist you flourish.
Since I launched Jeffbullas.com, it has been learn by over 40 million individuals. That web site and weblog was initially a ardour mission that began as a facet hustle. As I grew my weblog, I found the monetary freedom it gave me and the way I designed and lived my life.
After experiencing that freedom, I wished to assist others get management of their life. That’s the place the inspiration began for creating SideHustleStrategies.co.
So what’s going to you get once you be part of Facet Hustle Methods?
For a low month-to-month payment, you’ll obtain:
- Concepts and inspiration that can assist you uncover your mission and reward in life.
- A neighborhood that may assist to behave somewhat than procrastinate. To maneuver ahead somewhat than be caught and paralyzed unsure and worry.
- The most recent on-line startup enterprise methods to generate new income streams.
- A weekly publication devoted to particular matters to speed up your private data and enterprise development.
- Membership to a neighborhood of like-minded individuals wanting to begin and develop a facet hustle in our non-public Fb group.
- Proprietary analysis and the outcomes for traits, enterprise concepts and advertising generated from a number of testing, not obtainable anyplace else on the web.
- Help and the chance to have your questions answered by skilled entrepreneurs who’ve solid the identical path.
- Entry to our library of publication again points and different sources to proceed your schooling.
- Bonus content material is persistently added, equivalent to skilled recommendation and instruments, so you might be at all times updated with the brand new know-how and traits as they occur.
- And a lot extra.