From Side Hustle to Success with Luke Van Der Veer


In this episode of Keep Hustling, host Aaron Gordon sits down with Luke Van Der Veer to explore the journey from a traditional 9-to-5 job to forging a successful path as an entrepreneur. Luke candidly shares how early side hustles and a restless dissatisfaction with corporate life pushed him to search for alternative ways to achieve both time and financial freedom. He details his progression through various online business models—including a stint in multi-level marketing—before discovering his niche in website rental, where he creates and ranks websites for local service niches, then rents them to contractors for passive income. Aaron and Luke discuss the risk, perseverance, and mindset required to break away from the "safe" route in favor of chasing long-term fulfillment, emphasizing that entrepreneurship isn't for everyone and the importance of self-discovery. Luke leaves listeners with the advice to accept short-term sacrifices for long-term gains and to define success on their own terms. This episode is packed with practical insights and motivational takeaways for anyone considering a non-traditional career path.

Get To Know Luke Van Der Veer

Luke Van Der Veer is the founder of Website Rental Coaching, where he teaches everyday people how to generate passive income by building and renting lead generation websites to local businesses. Over the past four years, he has helped hundreds of individuals escape the grind, grow their wealth, and design a life of freedom.

Luke’s students have built six and seven-figure incomes, quit their jobs, and completely transformed their lifestyles. His proven system allows people to take control of their financial future without relying on traditional employment or high-risk investments. LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Website Rental Coaching

3 Episode Key Takeaways 1. Redefine Your Career Path: Luke Van Der Veer's story highlights the importance of questioning the traditional 9-to-5 trajectory. Instead of settling for the well-worn path, he actively explored unconventional ways to earn both time and financial freedom, ultimately discovering online business models that matched his aspirations and individuality.

2. Side Hustle with Strategic Vision: Luke demonstrates that building a successful side hustle isn't about reckless risk but about smart, stepwise progress. By experimenting with various online business models and not abandoning his day job prematurely, he maximized stability while reaching for greater freedom—all fueled by long-term vision and resilience through early setbacks.

3. Harness the Power of Persistence: Throughout Luke's journey, he faced skepticism from friends, family, and even failed ventures. However, his unwavering drive to "prove them wrong" and methodically test new ideas led to breakthrough moments. His experience underscores that perseverance and adaptability are critical for turning short-term sacrifices into long-term gains.

Show Overview: 00:00 The Non-Traditional Career Path

04:34 Realizing and Pursuing Career Change

07:16 Rethinking the Corporate Ladder

11:06 Prioritizing Early Career Risks

15:21 Digital Real Estate Strategy

17:49 Evaluating Niche Market Opportunities

21:39 Introspection and Self-Empowerment

22:56 Entrepreneurship Requires Thoughtful Planning