How to Build a Successful Web Design Side-Hustle Without Working to Death

Most people begin to build a web design side-hustle without thinking much past the “How do I get started?” phase.

There are a ton of resources out there all about how to learn web design or development, how to land your first client or build your portfolio. And, all of that is super important to build a successful web design side-hustle.

But, something that is equally as important is thinking about your end goal.

If you start a web design side-hustle without having a clear idea of where you’d like to see it go you run the risk of accidentally ending up working a ton of extra hours and not really knowing why.

This week on the Self-Made Web Designer podcast I talk to an awesome side hustle couple: Craig Clickner and Carrie Bohlig.

Craig and Carrie have built multiple, successful side-hustles and now they’re teaching other folks how to do the same in their book: So You Want to Start a Side Hustle.

Start Your Side-Hustle with the End in Mind

The main way to build a successful web design side-hustle without working to death is to start with your end goal in mind. The more specific you can get the better.

It’s important to know if:

• You want your web design side hustle to help fund a full-time job that you’re passionate about but don’t get paid to much for just yet
• You just need a little bit more disposable income to fund certain aspects of your life
• You want to build up your web design side-hustle to take over your full-time job one day
• You want to use your web design side-hustle to get out of debt and eventually go back to only working on your full-time job

Knowing the answers to all of those questions can really help you determine the path you take with your web design side-hustle. Without those answers, your web design side-hustle could really morph into something you never wanted it to be and you could end up feeling stuck.

For instance, Carrie was passionate about doing work that made a difference. She loved working as a teacher and impacting the lives of kids BUT she needed more than a teacher’s salary to build the life she wanted.

Craig on the other hand loved the idea of being his own boss one day.

Both two very end goals BUT they were able to use a side-hustle to accomplish them.

Build Relationships that Will Help Your Web Design Side-Hustle Succeed

No one builds a successful web design side-hustle in a vacuum.

What does that mean? You can’t do it by yourself. You’re going to need to build relationships in order to really succeed.

Having a solid community that you can lean on or be mentored in is an essential part of becoming successful at whatever you do really. So, if you really want to have a successful web design side-hustle you’ve got to be willing to go out there and meet new people.

This can be a bit nerve-wracking but Carrie mentions that in order to build a side-hustle you have to learn how to put yourself out there and face rejection. A good way to know whether or not you’ve got it in you is to start building personal relationships through networking.

This will get you used to putting yourself out there AND it has the added benefit of finding help along the journey.

Adapt Your Side-Hustle to the Different Seasons of Your Life

Carrie and Craig have had side-hustles in every season imaginable:

• When they were single
• When they were newly married
• Now that they’re parents

If you’re going to build a successful web design side-hustle you’ve got to know how to adapt it to the different seasons of your life. Sometimes you might have to scale back in one area of your life while you build up another.

The great news is you can take your family on the journey with you. Your spouse and your kids don’t have to keep you from being successful at your side-hustle they can work with you to make it even better.

Craig and Carrie talk about how they have a family slogan every year AND they encourage their kids to have an entrepreneur mindset.

You Don’t Have to Work Yourself to Death to have a Successful Side-Hustle

The idea that if you’re going to be successful you need to kill yourself and do nothing but work is 100% wrong.

You can have a balanced life while also building something amazing on the side. Thankfully, Carrie and Craig have done that themselves and they give a lot of solid wisdom on how you can do the same.

In this episode:

You’ll Learn

• Why it’s important to have an end goal in mind with your side-hustle
• How to use a side-hustle to make space for a full-time career your passionate about but don’t make a lot of money from
• Why it’s important to determine what type of lifestyle you’d like to have when starting a side-hustle
• Why it’s important to find other people who can mentor you in your new side-hustle
• How to create relationships with people in your side-hustle space
• How to have a side-hustle but maintain healthy family relationships
• How to adapt your side-hustle to different seasons of your life

Resources

• Carrie and Craig’s Website
• So You Want to Start a Side Hustle Book
• Tandem Talks Podcas
• Carrie and Craig’s Insta
• Craig’s Linkedin
• Carrie’s Linkedin

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