The Side-Hustle Dad

Bryan Steele
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Entrepreneurship

We are helping dads find financial freedom without sacrificing their families in the process. You want to provide more for your kids and create a legacy of wealth, but the thought of starting a business feels overwhelming. You’re afraid that chasing financial freedom means missing out on bedtime stories, soccer games, and quality time with your wife. The Side-Hustle Dad is here to show you a different way. Hosted by Bryan Steele—entrepreneur and founder of Forge Podcast Co.—this show is a masterclass in building a profitable side-hustle without sacrificing the relationships that matter most. Each week, we cover the mindset, strategies and tactics needed to create a thriving side-hustle. Whether you want to get out of debt, save for your children’s college, or build enough passive income to choose how you spend your days, this podcast provides the blueprint. Subscribe to The Side-Hustle Dad and start building your extra income stream today.

  1. 5d ago

    Becoming the Manager with the Help of Parkinson’s Law

    Should you actually be working fewer hours in your business? In this episode, I dig into the "manager" role from Michael Gerber's E-Myth framework and why having only a few hours a week to work on your business might actually be your biggest advantage. I walk through how Parkinson's Law shapes the way we use our time, and break down the systems every side-hustler should be tightening up — from admin and invoicing to marketing, client onboarding, and delivery. If you've ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this one's for you. Highlights The three roles every solo business owner plays: technician, manager, and ownerWhy Parkinson's Law works in your favor when you only have limited hours to run your businessRevisiting the boundaries concept and the Easy Ates (automate, delegate, eliminate) frameworkAuditing your admin systems: invoicing, proposals, scheduling, and financial reportingTightening up marketing and client onboarding to make it easier for people to work with youStreamlining client delivery and documenting standard operating proceduresInvesting in the right tools to buy back time instead of overspending on unnecessary software Chapters 0:00 – Welcome and Recap 1:17 – Meet the Manager Role 1:50 – Parkinson's Law Advantage 2:41 – Time Boundaries and Easy Ates 3:45 – Systems and Admin Efficiency 6:02 – Marketing and Client Onboarding 7:27 – Streamlining Client Delivery 8:54 – Lean Tools and Wrap Up Resources Mentioned QuickBooks — for online financial reporting vs. manual spreadsheetsCalendly — scheduling tool for eliminating back-and-forth emailsAcuity Scheduling — alternative scheduling toolGoogle Business Profile — for managing your online listing, photos, and reviewsClaude — AI automation tool mentioned for handling manual workZapier — automation tool for connecting workflows Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  2. Aug 14

    Making Time for Ownership: You Are Not Just the Technician

    What do you actually say when someone asks, "What do you do?" If your answer is just your task — "I paint houses," "I do landscaping," "I'm a consultant" — you might be missing the identity shift that separates a freelancer from a true business owner. Building on last week's conversation about the three roles inside every small business (technician, manager, and owner), I dig into what it really means to own your business rather than just work in it — and I lay out exactly how to carve out "owner time" so you can step back, evaluate your business's health, and make sure it's still serving the goals that made you start it in the first place. Highlights Why saying "I paint houses" instead of "I own a house painting business" reflects a mindset gap, not just semanticsThe critical difference between working in your business and working on your businessFour things to evaluate during dedicated owner time: strategic vision, economics/business model, and boundariesWhy regularly checking your business against its original mission and "why" prevents driftHow to know when a boundary is being broken — and why that's your signal to hit the "emergency brake"A simple system for scheduling owner time: start with 30 minutes to an hour a week, distraction-freeWhy protecting this time leads to better decisions for your business and your family Chapters 0:00 – Recap: E-Myth Roles1:25 – Owner Identity Shift3:50 – In vs. On the Business5:41 – Strategic Vision Check7:21 – Economics and Business Model9:09 – Boundaries: The Emergency Brake11:13 – Scheduling Owner Time12:56 – You Are the Owner Resources Mentioned The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  3. Aug 7

    The E-Myth for Dads | Filling Each Role in Your Business

    What if the reason you feel constantly overwhelmed in your business isn't about time management at all, but about never realizing you're actually playing three completely different jobs? Every entrepreneur — even a side hustler — is really the owner, the manager, and the technician all rolled into one person. Today I'm breaking down what each of those roles actually means, why bouncing between them creates so much chaos, and the practical guardrails you can put in place to switch between them without losing your focus or your flow. Highlights Every business owner unknowingly plays three roles: the entrepreneur/owner, the manager, and the technician.Constantly flipping between roles without structure is what causes stress, overwhelm, and disorganization.A rough time breakdown for an early-stage side hustle: 1–3 hours/week as owner, 2–5 hours/week as manager, and 7–15 hours/week as technician.It's natural (and necessary) to default to technician work early on, but neglecting the owner and manager roles keeps your business on a "feast or famine" rollercoaster.Block your time into dedicated 60+ minute sessions for each role instead of mixing them together.Set guardrails for each role (e.g., turning off email notifications during technician time, staying out of project software during owner time).Use the last few minutes of each block to jot notes for your next role so information transfers smoothly between "yourself as owner," "yourself as manager," and "yourself as technician."Closing out tabs, notebooks, and open loops before switching roles helps you get back into flow state faster. Chapters 0:00 — Welcome Entrepreneurs 0:42 — E-Myth Seizure 1:33 — Three Business Roles 3:15 — Role Switching Stress 4:14 — Time Constraints Plan 4:47 — Owner Manager Technician Hours 6:40 — Avoid Technician Trap 8:42 — Block Your Roles 10:26 — Guardrails Against Distraction 11:23 — Smooth Role Transitions 13:39 — Wrap Up and Next Steps 15:25 — Closing and Teaser Resources Mentioned The E-Myth Revisited by Michael GerberEpisode 3 Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  4. Jul 31

    Break the Chains of Busyness: It’s Time to Eliminate, Delegate, Automate

    Are you stuck doing everything in your business — and wondering why you never seem to have any time left over? If you feel like busyness has become your full-time job, it might be time to take a hard look at where your effort is actually going. I break down a simple framework called the "Easy Ates" — eliminate, delegate, and automate — that helps you find the 20% of your work that's driving 80% of your results, and cut or offload the rest. By the end, you'll have a clear, ten-minute exercise to start freeing up real capacity in your business. Highlights The 80/20 rule (Pareto's Principle): 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort — find that 20% and double down.The "Easy Ates" framework: Eliminate, Delegate, Automate.Eliminate non-revenue-generating busywork like endless website tweaks and excessive content consumption.Delegate tasks to freelancers, admins, coaches, or a CPA — even if they only do it 80% as well as you, that frees you up for higher-value work.Automate repeatable processes: scheduling links, email templates, and intake forms can turn multi-step tasks into a single click.A real example of using a website form + Zapier automation to pre-qualify leads before ever getting on a call.Use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to help identify what in your business could be automated.The assignment: take 10 minutes to list what you did this week, then sort it into eliminate, delegate, or automate. Chapters 0:00 — Stop Doing Everything 0:48 — 80/20 Focus 1:38 — The Easy-Ates Framework 3:15 — Eliminate Busywork 5:21 — Delegate for Growth 10:02 — Automate Repeats 12:02 — Forms and Zapier 15:37 — Recap and Assignment 17:17 — Use AI to Streamline 18:37 — Final Takeaways Resources Mentioned Calendly — scheduling tool mentioned for automating meeting bookingsZapier — used to automate email responses based on form submissionsChatGPT — recommended for identifying automation opportunitiesClaude — recommended for identifying automation opportunitiesGemini — recommended for identifying automation opportunities Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  5. Jul 24

    Don't Leave Money on the Table | The Power of Consistent Follow-Ups

    Ever left a great sales conversation feeling excited, only to watch it go completely silent? You're not imagining things — most people aren't thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are, and that's exactly why your follow-up game needs work. I'm breaking down why following up is the single surest way to grow your business, and the seven-touchpoint sequence that takes the guesswork (and the ick factor) out of staying in front of leads who've gone quiet. Highlights Reframe follow-up: if someone expressed interest, you're providing value by staying in touch — not being pushy.The real goal of following up isn't a "yes," it's clarity — a clear yes, a clear no, or nothing until one of you is dead.The seven-touchpoint framework covers roughly 30+ days of spaced-out, purposeful outreach.Touchpoint 1 is a same-day/next-day email full of gratitude, a recap, and one clear next step.Touchpoint 2 (3-4 days later) is the "objection killer" — proactively answering the 1-2 objections you hear most.Touchpoint 3 (1 week later) shares a relevant client testimonial to build trust without asking for anything.Touchpoint 4 (10-14 days later) makes a warm referral or connection with zero strings attached.The "pre-breakup" email (3-4 weeks out) introduces gentle scarcity around your proposal's expiration date.The professional "breakup" email closes the loop respectfully and often prompts a response due to loss aversion.Leads who go completely cold still get added to a long-term nurture list — a lead isn't dead until it's a clear no. Chapters 0:19 – Why Follow-Up Feels Awkward 1:58 – Reframing Follow-Up as a Value-Add 3:04 – The Real Goal: Clarity, Not Just a Yes 4:04 – Introducing the 7-Touchpoint Framework 4:34 – Setting the Next Step & Your First Follow-Up Email 7:23 – Touchpoint 2: The Objection Killer 8:42 – Touchpoint 3: The Client Testimonial 10:06 – Touchpoint 4: The Connection/Referral 12:34 – The Pre-Breakup Email & Scarcity 15:42 – The Professional Breakup Email 17:31 – Moving Leads to Your Nurture List 19:25 – Recap: The Full Sequence Step-by-Step 22:25 – Final Thoughts & Your Homework Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  6. Jul 17

    Don't Be a Bill Collector: Keys to Receiving Payment

    Ever pitched a client, gotten the "yes," started the work... and then watched them go silent when it's time to pay? If you've ever found yourself playing bill collector after finishing a project, this one's for you. This episode breaks down exactly why so many freelancers and service providers avoid asking for payment upfront — usually a mix of awkwardness and imposter syndrome — and lays out a clear, repeatable system for getting paid before you ever start the work: non-refundable deposits, simple invoicing templates, and how to handle pushback (or spot a red-flag client) before it costs you time and money. Highlights Why clients ghost after saying "yes" — and how skipping an upfront payment sets that upThe mindset shift: if a client won't pay upfront, they likely won't pay on the back end eitherHow to introduce a non-refundable deposit without it feeling like an awkward conversationBuilding in reschedule clauses so clients feel confident committing to a depositWhy a deposit protects your time even if a client backs outA simple, repeatable invoicing process: contract → deposit invoice → no work begins until paidSetting up retainer/auto-pay arrangements for recurring consulting or service workA 20-minute action item: build a reusable deposit invoice template today Chapters 0:19 — The client ghosting problem 2:33 — Why we avoid asking for payment upfront 4:52 — Introducing the non-refundable deposit 6:45 — Handling reschedule requests and excuses 7:58 — How to actually implement it: contracts and invoicing 10:03 — Retainers and auto-pay for recurring clients 11:02 — Today's challenge: build your deposit invoice template Resources Mentioned PayPal — invoicing tool mentioned for sending deposit invoicesStripe — invoicing software mentioned as an optionQuickBooks — invoicing software mentioned for managing payments Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  7. Jul 10

    Embracing Side Quests: Finding Opportunity in Unexpected Places

    Have you ever gotten an email that seemed too good to be true — and almost deleted it? That's exactly what happened to me a few years back, and following that hunch instead of hitting delete turned into one of the most unexpected side quests of my career. Welcome back — hope you had a great 4th of July with the family (and kept all your fingers intact). Today I'm telling you the story of the time a random email led to recording an entire audiobook, and I'm breaking down the five filters I use to decide whether an unexpected opportunity is worth chasing or worth letting go. Highlights The suspicious email that turned out to be a legitimate audiobook recording opportunity from a major New York publisherHow I verified the opportunity was real using LinkedIn before committing to anythingWhat the actual recording workflow looked like — including a director joining remotely via ZoomThe five filters for evaluating any side quest: legitimacy, honesty, long-term potential, asset leverage, and family marginWhy being upfront about your limited experience actually builds more trust with a clientHow to tell the difference between a side quest worth pursuing and one that's a distraction Chapters 0:32 — Side Quest Idea 1:29 — Suspicious Email 2:33 — Verifying It's Real 3:18 — Taking The Gig 4:42 — Recording Workflow 5:31 — Why Say Yes 6:17 — Five Filters Intro 6:24 — Filter One: Legit Check 7:47 — Filter Two: Be Honest 10:18 — Filter Three: Long Term 11:37 — Filter Four: Asset Leverage 14:09 — Filter Five: Family Margin 15:36 — Quick Recap 16:31 — Share Your Side Quests Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

  8. Jun 26

    Building Your Digital Business Card | A Website Guide

    Your website is your digital business card, and when it's built with the right framework, it introduces you, builds trust, and converts visitors into paying clients — even while you sleep. Here's exactly what needs to be on it. Highlights Why you have five seconds (or less) to capture a visitor's attention — and what to say in that windowThe difference between a portfolio and social proof, and why you need both on your siteHow to build a landing page that's easy to scan, scroll, and act onWhat supporting pages (About, Services, FAQ, Case Studies) actually do for your buyersWhy your call to action should appear everywhere — and why there should only be oneThe shift from SEO to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and how AI is changing how clients find youThe fastest tools to build your website today, including AI-powered buildersWhy "done" beats "perfect" — and how to iterate your way to a great site over time Chapters 0:19 – Website As Business Card 1:14 – Avoid the Perfectionism Trap 1:59 – Hook Visitors in Five Seconds 3:50 – Portfolio: Show Your Proof 5:44 – Reviews & Testimonials 7:15 – Landing Page Layout 7:55 – Extra Pages for Detail 9:29 – One Clear Call to Action 11:52 – AI Search & Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) 16:06 – Tools to Build Fast 18:38 – Publish Then Iterate 20:53 – The Two-Hour Website Challenge 21:13 – Holiday Break & Wrap Up Resources Mentioned Squarespace – Drag-and-drop website builder with templatesWix – Drag-and-drop website builder with templatesShopify – E-commerce platform for product-based businessesChatGPT – AI tool that can help draft and build website contentClaude – AI tool that can help draft and build website contentGemini – AI tool that can help draft and build website contentBe sure to subscribe and leave us a review! For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dad Remember, build the business, but be the dad! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

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About

We are helping dads find financial freedom without sacrificing their families in the process. You want to provide more for your kids and create a legacy of wealth, but the thought of starting a business feels overwhelming. You’re afraid that chasing financial freedom means missing out on bedtime stories, soccer games, and quality time with your wife. The Side-Hustle Dad is here to show you a different way. Hosted by Bryan Steele—entrepreneur and founder of Forge Podcast Co.—this show is a masterclass in building a profitable side-hustle without sacrificing the relationships that matter most. Each week, we cover the mindset, strategies and tactics needed to create a thriving side-hustle. Whether you want to get out of debt, save for your children’s college, or build enough passive income to choose how you spend your days, this podcast provides the blueprint. Subscribe to The Side-Hustle Dad and start building your extra income stream today.

Information

  • Creator
    Bryan Steele
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (c) 2026 Bryan Steele
  • Show Website
    The Side-Hustle Dad