I checked out one of the events for Side Hustle Week today. Organized by Secrets of a Side Hustler founder, Chivon John, it brought all the side hustlers together here in Toronto. I was pretty bummed to have missed the week’s events but was super happy to have made it to Artscape Young Place today! It is a beautiful community space located on 180 Shaw Street and all of you should check it out.

So what is a side hustle?
It means different things to different people. For me it is my passion, something I do outside of my job. To be honest, my day job is the same as my side hustle and I feel blessed every single day.
We learnt a ton during today’s workshop, which was titled Passion to Paycheque, but I am going to share a few key learnings here. Led by LC Johnson and Shereen Ashman, the top learning is already shared in the quote above, which I created with Notegraphy (cause there is an app for that! :p I couldn’t stop myself haha)

The workshop was mainly about pitching yourself, be it to media, investors or a potential client. The following 5 steps are key pointers for that.

1. Why should they care
   You need to nail your why down. As LC Johnson put it, “There is a reason why your work needs to exist in the world” but you need to be able to articulate why!
2. Make your pitch as visual and tangible as you can
   Video pitches to media were suggested.
3. Establish your credibility
   You need to know what you are talking about. LC recommended starting a blog or having a portfolio of some sort.
4. Embrace what makes you unique
   You are you, so just be you.
5. Leave them wanting more
   Your pitch doesn’t need to have EVERY TINY DETAIL about you and your business in it.

   LC also mentioned an activity she calls “In a nutshell” which basically helps you clarify your “why”.
   I help ___________________ do _________________ because ______________.
   Fill in the blanks to figure out your “why”!

   Here is mine:
   I work with startups to create communities online and offline because for any business to succeed you need a tribe, a community that gives a damn.

   
   Do you have a side hustle? Share it with us!