I fee like we’ve discussed this before. I also feel like you didn’t listen before, either.
Celebrate your wins. ALL your wins.
Stop waiting until a big win happens. Big wins don’t happen without the small wins first. That’s like waiting to lose 100lbs but ignoring the fact you lost 20, drop to 2 clothing sizes and get regular compliments. So… all of this isn’t enough for you? You need that 100lb win that you’re already on track for? Yeesh!
Stop downplaying your hard work, your smart moves, your growing network, getting outside your comfort zone, the shout-outs, your new opportunities because it’s not “the one”. Your wins, no matter their size, deserve a celebration as much as you do. Literally, stop and smell the roses because, my dear, you are building a beautiful garden. You just need to realize it.
Followed all safety and sanitation policies when handling food and beverages
Engaged in guest conversation to build rapport
Welcomed, acknowledged and greeted all guests who came to the bar
Upsold food and beverages to guests
Processed cash and all card payments
Turn your bartending experience into a new hustle
The pandemic that started in 2020 decimated many industries and businesses. Some businesses were able to pivot and ride the tide of the various quarantine measures. Others, we’ll never see again. One of the hardest hit industries was the restaurant industry. At the start of the pandemic, they could no longer seat customers in their establishment. For those that were quick to react, they were able to stay afloat offering takeout but the waitstaff suffered because they had no one to serve and weren’t collecting tips, the very blood of their income.
Those that also suffered in a very similar manner were bars. They too were used to have patrons come in, drink, socialize, and tip and that went right out the window when the quarantines went into effect. But that doesn’t mean bartenders, then or now, have to continue to suffer the remnants of 2020 pandemic and hope that foot traffic picks up. They can use their current skills and transform it into a hustle, full time or alongside their job.
The above bullet point list is a description from an actual resume of a former client of mine (I update and polish people’s resumes for career transitions or new employment opportunities). This particular client had worked overseas in a number of roles, mostly in a hospitality capacity but wanted to transition into a corporate office position. She wanted to keep all of her employment experience on her resume to show the transferrable skills she possessed. Looking over her resume, I thought bar tender would be the most lucrative jobs she could turn into a side hustle or business. And no, I wouldn’t advise her to open a bar herself, unless that was her goal.
Here’s how I see the hustle: Either as a trainer, helping bars that are opening and have bar tenders for who are new to the work get familiar with the job. Or, as a beverage “consultant”, for lack of a better word. As a beverage consultant, this can be done virtually or in-person. All you would focus on is teaching small groups how to make drinks, where to buy the best tasting alcohol on a budget and how to be a great host while are also serving drinks. Which, in itself, can grow into party or event planning hustle. This skill doesn’t have to be trapped behind a counter. Turn it on its head by looking all the skills — the things you do in a role — and pulling the best and lucrative parts from it.
I’d love to help you figure out how to take your job and pull a side hustle from it. Want the help? Send me a message at: femalesinglehustlin@gmail.com! Love to hear from you!
It takes more time to build a mansion than it does to build a shack
To reach your goals?
To manifest your dreams?
To live the lifestyle you want?
To work for yourself full-time?
To live life on your own terms?
To be done with the bull– already?
Remember… it takes more lumber and time to build a mansion than it does to build a shack. The loftier your dreams and goals, the more time it’s going to take. Be patient. If you wanted average and mediocre, you would’ve already been happy. Keep working. It’s coming.
It’s been a rocky and interesting 18 months for all of us navigating this new and similar world. And, probably like so many others, I’ve slouched a bit. A lot of bit, really, on some personal passion projects. Things that meant something, even if only to me.
So I figured I’d close out 2021 the way I wanted 2020 to start and roll out as. Taking some of these precious moments back. Because they’re mine. And things to do, goals to accomplish.
From it all, if only momentarily. But as we already know, it’s the moments that count. They offer a chance to regroup, rejuvenate and come back with a clearer mind and focus.
Get away, if you can.
The half moon rising over the mountains in La Quinta
I don’t know about you… but I relish time away from projects. To clear my head, explore ideas, re-align with my goals an basically… untangle myself from additional work.
Yes, even things hustles and projects I’m passionate about are work. Not like the 9-5 work many of us are familiar with that require us to clock in and clock out. But the kind of work that requires one’s time, one’s patience, perseverance, calculated moves. Time is everything and I thought I love and preach about how everyone should have a side hustle, it will help you begin to free yourself from the confines of employment and debt (via extra income), staying on the grind with no intermittent rest or rejuvenation is just as bad as working for dead-end job and boss you can’t stand
Take a break. Take a breath. Disappear for a little. Find ways to get some clarity. Find ways to get some peace.
Yesterday morning, I opened up my day with a shower, some smooth Jazz with Alexa and avocado toast for breakfast. I wanted to lay in bed and luxuriate, but I also wanted to set my week up for success. So I choose the later. Put things away (laundry), cleaned out shelves, took my trash out, swept, mopped, sent over some links to a colleague of mine who’s putting together an app to feature the services of select business people (myself included).
I’ve been getting steady general notary work. I’m continuing to perfect and get creative with the marketing. Writing another e-Book, not about side hustling and freelancing, but more tailored my full time roll to help others like me. And I’m working on releasing another poetry book later this year. Oh, and I’m upping my networking game because I plan to make some important moves between now and March of 2022.
Keeping my eye focused on the goal and the prize. Even if you don’t see or hear from, every day I’m hustlin’. But I still remember to breathe!
Let’s get back to having better financial conversations – about money, how are we spending it, how are we saving it, what outside resources have we come across that have been beneficial on our personal financial journey and what advice have we had to move away from because it was no longer serving us.
Below is a tool I created for myself after attending the Girl Boss event at UCLA in 2019 – gosh, I miss those pre-COVID days – and I’ve made some tweaks to it to make it simpler and easier for you to use. No, that wasn’t me throwing shade calling you simple. It’s just over time, my tracking tool could’ve been improved and thus, I improved it.
You don’t have to use it but I wanted to give it you to get started with so you can get an idea of where you’re standing when it comes to money. You know all those big boss moves we’re planning on making this year? How can we make boss money moves when we don’t even know what our money looks like? Let’s cut that out. Let’s get serious about actually managing our money.
This tool has three (3) components so you can map out a budget by first seeing what your expenses are and see if it’s truly a need or just a want. Then you’ll be able to track what’s in all your accounts every week of every month. So then you can road map where you financially want to go. This template is completely customizable. You’ll be able to get a sneak peak at how I manage my money once a week for 30 minutes. It’s a like game. I want to see how much more I can keep in these accounts and to what dollar figure it can grow. Hopefully, you’ll want to play the game too!
Yes, I know easier said than done. And many people, myself included, are or can be, a little reserved about our personal financial sheet. Like, the people who know exactly how much money I have right down to the penny, is myself and Chase bank. I don’t even want Uncle Sam to know how I have.
But if we don’t learn to share some of the lessons we’ve learned from our money decisions – good, bad or different – with those we love and care about, they could be doomed to repeat avoidable, costly mistakes. Or miss out on a great financial opportunity.
We need to learn to have better money conversations (yes, I’m going to keep saying that). And we don’t have to divulge everything. Now, if someone asks you point blank how much you make a year, I could understand you’d be put off by that. And having answered this question a few times a few different ways, the best answer I’ve given, to my recollection:
I make enough money to allow myself to build an emergency fund, save for a long term goal, save for retirement, pay all my bills, invest in the stock market, pay down my student loans, and have a little left to hang out and treat myself, if I choose to.
Now, I never disclosed the exact dollar amount I earn, but I shared how that dollar amount is broken down in categories that are important to me. So, I’ve opened the conversation to discuss savings,investing, paying off debt, thinking about the future and living in the moment. All of which are tied to my finances and overall well-being. And these conversations get better when I someone follows up their question asking how much am I saving. Again, I don’t have to say how that figure is, but I can share where and what I’ve learned about saving, what my savings journey has been like and what milestones I’ve reached.
The conversation needs to happen because that’s where we find our support and courage to make the changes we know we need to.
A former friend of mine, Elissa, use to tell me it was me talking in her ear about having an emergency fund that encouraged her to get through a month where she wasn’t working because she had saved and prepared ahead of time by building an emergency fund. I’m no financial advisor, but I was willing to have that conversation with her. Do the same. Both parties can benefit from it.
Have better financial conversations with your siblings, your parents, your friends, your significant others, your colleagues, your fellow hustlers. And always, with yourself.
