She Strengthens

Pursuing Passion and Profit: The Rise of Side Hustles

In today’s fast-paced world, many young professionals are seeking ways to supplement their income and fuel their passions. With the cost of living increasing, especially in popular cities, it’s no wonder that side hustles have become a popular trend.

Aligning Passion with Purpose

The key to a successful side hustle lies in pursuing a field that aligns with your passions. While it’s not necessary for your full-time career and passion to be one and the same, choosing a supplementary job that you’re genuinely excited about can make all the difference. When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like “work” in the traditional sense.

Real-Life Examples of Side Hustles

I spoke with 12 young professionals from various industries to learn about their side hustles and how they’re using them to feed their souls and wallets. Here’s what they had to say:

Sam: Music Director and Teacher

As a choral director and music coordinator, Sam also freelances as a music director, accompanist, and vocal coach. He believes that doing what he loves is essential to his happiness and financial comfort.

Alicia: Freelance Writer and Editor

Alicia works full-time in marketing and freelances as a writer and editor for artists who self-publish. Her writing has helped raise awareness about drug addiction and has even gone viral.

Patrick: Accountant and Small Business Consultant

Patrick uses his accounting skills to help friends and family with their small businesses. He finds it fulfilling to help others while earning extra income.

Kimberly: Boutique Associate and Visual Merchandiser

Kimberly took up a job at Francesca’s Collections as a boutique associate, but soon discovered her passion for visual merchandising. She now creates visual guidelines for the store and dresses mannequins.

Kate: Lifestyle Blogger

Kate co-founded a lifestyle blog with her sister-in-law, where they share topics like food, fashion, and fitness. Writing fulfills her passion to express herself creatively.

Erin: Service Dog Trainer

Erin trains service dogs on weekends, which encourages her to get involved with her community and opens up new experiences.

Roberta: Jewelry Designer

Roberta designs and produces jewelry for her own line, Temerity. She loves the design process, freedom of working in her own studio, and connecting with customers.

Connor: Freelance Photographer

Connor works as a freelance photographer, which allows him to focus on the craft itself and pursue photography for the joy of it.

Deanne: Theater Workshop Leader

Deanne teaches theater workshops and classes to children of all ages. She finds it fun and fulfilling to adapt her theater degree to teaching kids.

Lauren: Marathon Running Coach

Lauren coaches marathon runners for Team in Training, which helps individuals fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She finds it inspiring to work out while helping others reach their goals.

Jess: Zombie Actor

Jess works at a team-building organization called “Trapped In A Room With A Zombie,” where she gets to channel her aggression from her day job.

Eric: Ride Share Driver

Eric drives for Lyft and Uber to earn extra money. He likes the flexibility of driving whenever he wants and working for as long as he wants.

These individuals are just a few examples of people who have successfully turned their passions into profitable side hustles. By pursuing what they love, they’re able to supplement their income and live more fulfilling lives.