Introduction: The Truth Behind Side Hustles and Online Income
As of now, side hustles are viewed as a means of attaining financial independence while also pursuing something you enjoy. But side hustles come with a fair amount of misconceptions. If you have thought of starting a side hustle but were held back by doubts, you are not the only one.
Starting off, I had a $25 broken laptop to my name. Today, I am earning significantly from my side hustles. This goes on to show that side hustles are more plausible than we assume.
I want to debunk the five most common side hustle income myths in this post. These are the myths that stopped people from setting up their side hustles, so let’s change that.
1. You Need to Be an Expert to Earn Passive Income
Myth: In order to start earning passive income, one has to be an authority in a specific area.
Reality: To be honest, I didn’t even know English well when I started in 2020. Nevertheless, with a ‘never give up’ attitude, I made it work. It’s a huge misconception that one needs to be an expert to find any form of success. On the contrary, most side hustlers find success because they start with little, learn as they progress, and develop expertise over time.
It doesn’t take years of experience or being an authority in the field. What you do need is grit, a willingness to learn, and relentless effort. Whether you want to start a freelance business, e-commerce, or blogging, you can dive right in and improve as you go along.
When I started blogging and freelancing, I didn’t have the skills that I do now, but I kept working, learning, and improving. And that’s how you succeed. It’s all about taking that first step. You don’t have to be perfect, just get started.
2. You Must Invest Thousands of Dollars Upfront
Myth: These side businesses need a certain financial checklist to get started; spending thousands in tools, software, or even marketing.
Reality: I did not have a good aficionado! As for my journey, I didn’t own a sleek laptop and I didn’t have deep pockets either. I was equipped with a $25 dismantled laptop devoid of a webcam, battery, CD-ROM, mouse pad, keyboard, and even a working mouse. Despite only functioning as ‘barely a laptop’, it was helpful for what I required at that moment, which was freelancing on Fiverr, blogging, and setting up an e-commerce store.
Those ineffective tools were sufficient to aid me with starting my journey and over time, I was able to reinvest my returns into more valuable resources. Starting a side hustle or venture doesn’t have to set you back financially by thousands of dollars. In fact, in a number of situations, starting with very limited funds is totally an option.
3. Online Income Isn’t Available to Everyone
Reality: Partially true, but let us analyze it further. As in the case with most things, earning money online will require some level of work. Effort. and commitment. If you like to coast through life and trials do not interest you, then earning passive income won’t be straightforward. With that said, the opportunities are available for those determined enough to get their hands dirty.
An example is, everyone has the potential to start join an freelancing or blogging company. Another viable option includes the creation and selling of products. But note; with any opportunity, hard work, failure, and investigation is a necessity most times.
Commitment is paramount. If the obligation towards the cause is sincere, resounding results will follow with claimed achievement. Prior knowledge is thus not a prerequisite, everything learned along the way sets quite an ammazing posture.
4. Setting Up Online Income is Too Complicated
Myth: Earning any form of income on the internet is a hassle, especially in setting one up.
Setting up a successful side hustle, given the right guidance, is not as hard as one might believe. There are a plethora of resources available such as YouTube tutorials, online courses, and even mentors, all of which can walk you through the process. The key is to find the right guidance and take the process step by step.
A common misconception is that starting an online source of income requires very advanced resources or that one must be technically savvy. This has never been the case. One can begin with simple sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, or even social media to advertise their skills or products. There exist freelance platforms, e-commerce stores, and even platforms for content creators that allow a more than easy launching pad.
For those willing to learn, the process can be simple, given that you are equipped with the correct resources. The only requirement is a willingness to adhere to the right steps and perseverance. No degree in technology or business is mandatory.
5. Monthly Running Costs Are Expensive
Myth: Having an online business or side hustle comes with hefty expenses, particularly for tech maintenance.
Reality: This is false! If you think expenses are too steep, perhaps it’s time to rethink your positions. This is only true for a small subset of online side hustles where the biggest expense is internet connectivity. Today, unlimited data plans are reasonably priced, and unless you operate a large-scale e-commerce venture or subscription-based model that requires costly software, your ongoing costs will be minimal.
Take me for example; I have been running my side hustle since 2020 and the only expense that has stuck with me is my internet bill. This is the amazing thing about many online businesses: no need to rent office suites, spend a fortune on equipment or even invest in expensive marketing campaigns to get started.
Starting small presents the lowest overhead costs and enables you to scale alongside revenue as you reinvest profits. In short, managing an online income stream is not as costly as you might think.
The Key to Success: Start Small, Think Big
Here is the bottom line. No undertaking requires deep pockets, abundant resources, or a wealth of experience. All that matters is having the will. As the saying goes, “Starting small is better than nothing at all.” You will notice that with every step taken, new opportunities for earning online will gradually become available. As a freelancer, self-employed vendor, blogger, or content creator, the strides you make in your endeavors today are bound to pay off tomorrow.
People cannot and should not let myths restrict them. There’s determinable truth online to reward those willing to work for what they seek.
