Many of you are probably sitting at home on your couch reading this. Our industry is at a standstill and maybe you have lost your job. Everything seems uncertain and its hard to know what to do next. But I have some ideas. These ideas will help you today, and down the road when your tourism career picks back up. Let’s take this time to develop a side hustle.
What is a side hustle?
A side hustle is another stream of income besides your full-time job. Side hustles should be fun and not take a lot of your time. I have always had side hustles- selling home-baked cookies to local businesses, writing e-newsletters, renting a room in my home, and selling items on Craigslist. Sometimes these side hustles were needed to help me pay the bills, and sometimes they were creative outlets. When you find yourself out of work, a side hustle can be a small beacon of hope and a bit of a cash flow.
Need some ideas?
One of the best known ‘Side Hustlers’ I know of is Chris Guillebeau. He has written a series of books that are helpful in finding your best side hustle.
Like all his other books, he uses real-life examples to show how starting a small venture can be possible- and doable without a huge investment. This book is easy to pick up from time to time to remind yourself of possibilities and give you a boost of momentum if you need it.
Don’t feel like reading a book? Then try his free daily podcast – the Side Hustle School. These short episodes are fun to listen to and will amaze you with people’s creativity. I am always surprised at the tiny niches of interests that can pay big time! Believe me, after you listen to this a week or two, you will start thinking of many ways to make a few bucks.
Airbnb Experiences – with a Twist
I have written about Airbnb before – and why you should have an account. But now I want you to look at it from the standpoint of a way to make money. True, this is not a great time to convert a space to a rental, but the “Experiences” section has a new area. Online Experiences! How about these experiences:
Sangria and Secrets with Drag Queens
Goal Setting with an Olympic Gold Medalist
Cooking with a Moroccan Family
All of these are conducted over a computer and were thought up by people who had to become creative in order to find a way to make money. Do you have a special talent or skill? So many of you in Tourism are naturally outgoing and connect easily with others. Your personality would shine through if you went this route!
Some other sites to check out.
Etsy – are you crafty?
Fiverr- this started as a ‘gig’ site where people would perform tasks for $5. It has grown and evolved but there are still some quirky offers on there. Check out this page for some inspiration – and laughs!
My goal is for this post is to give you some ideas of ways to bring in a bit of money, create a long time opportunity for creativity and increase your skills and knowledge. I know that writing it gave me some new ideas!
How can I help you this month?
Have you checked out Tourism Pro Academy? There are free resources, online courses and more. Take some time to learn something new during our National “Pause”. I am adding new courses this month so check it out! Click here to access the site for free.
DMO’s – Are you looking for ways to provide some value to your members during this time? I know many of you are struggling to find ways to support your partners. I am developing a series of 3 webinars called Take Action- Plan for Tomorrow that your organization can offer now. Reply to this email and we can set up a time to answer your questions about the Online Tourism Training Program.
New! Profile Sheet 911. We know that your profile sheet is your sales ambassador in the Group Tour market. Is yours doing it all it should? Is it effective in answering tour operator questions and making your business sound appealing? Get ready now for when group tours start picking back up. Get ready now for the upcoming trade show season! Sign up for the new Profile sheet 911 program. For only $69 you will get a customized review that is also recorded. Click here for more details. This will be fun!
Can I ask a favor?
I would love it if you would share this post with at least 2 people who would benefit from the information. And then they can sign up here to receive posts delivered straight to their inbox. Thank you! 😁