9 to Side: Mastering the Art of the Side Hustle

Alexandra
  • 5.0 (10)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join me every week for chats with super amazing and inspirational people who have pounded the pavement before and after their 9 to 5 to get their side hustles off the ground.

  1. 21 - Erin McMurray (ICGMST)

    06/16/2023

    21 - Erin McMurray (ICGMST)

    Meet Season 2 finale guest and the creator and fantastic brains behind the brand, I Can't Get My S*** Together and ALBOE (A Little Bit of Everything), Erin McMurray! This lady is a side hustling master and a serious FORCE with a message that speaks to all those people out there (like myself) that just can't get it together. You can get some awesome swag from her website (below) with that saying on it...go check it out! Online: Website – www.icgmst.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icgmst/ ALBOE Body: https://www.instagram.com/alboebody ALBOE Design: https://www.instagram.com/alboedesign Facebook: I Can’t Get My Sh.t Together Facebook: ALBOEBody Facebook: ALBOEDesign TikTok LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-mcmurray-wings About Erin: In a world perfectly curated by HGTV hostesses, someone has to be the voice for the ones who can't get their shit together. Erin McMurray didn't know it back in 2020, but by posting DIY furniture fixes, fitness accountability content, and a mum planting tutorial that requires zero gardening (and zero s***s), anyone can accidentally start a career doing the things they love. In addition to having 20 years of corporate event planning experience, Erin founded ALBOE (AKA, "A Little Bit Of Everything"), the appropriately-named LLC that encompasses her Body, Design, and Events-focused side hustles. She is also the face of ICGMST, the popular online series/soon-to-be TV show dedicated to sharing realistic, relatable, and hilarious home & garden tips… and her revolutionary cocktail recipe (hint: it's ice and wine.) Erin's journey is for the multi-passion pursuers, the Jacks & Jills of all trades, and those who can't "niche down," because why settle for less when you can have a little bit of everything? You can keep up with Erin on every platform you scroll for hours: IG, FB, and TikTok. 5 fun facts about Erin (in her own words): I’m very proud to be a Pisces! Kind of a snob about it. I work from home and kind of hate it. I can light matches and a lighter with my toes. Not at the same time. LOL! Most of my side hustles came to be because I moved a coffee table for a friend (and subsequently ripped my hamstring off my body). Best thing to ever happen to me and she feels awful to this day. She won’t feel bad one day when we are celebrating a new tv show on a beach somewhere! Even though it looks like I can get my shit together, in real life I can’t.

    39 min
  2. 20 - Vinnie Potestivo (VPEtalent)

    06/16/2023

    20 - Vinnie Potestivo (VPEtalent)

    Meet Vinnie Potestivo, host of "I Have a Podcast" and Founder of VPE, VPEtalent, the Verified Podcast Exchange, and the Discovery to Downloads Mastermind. Vinnie is also an active user on Podmatch, a platform that automatically matches ideal podcasts hosts and guests for interviews. So if you have a podcast and are looking for an amazing guest, you can also connect with him on Podmatch. About Vinnie: Vinnie Potestivo is a talent development & media strategist who is widely known for launching brands that continue to influence modern pop culture. In 1999 he cofound MTV’s Talent Development & Original Programming department, and went on to innovate and impact a new genre of television with original series such as The Osbournes, Newlyweds, Punk’d, 8th & Ocean, Wild ‘n Out, The Ashlee Simpson Show, Laguna Beach, The Hills, and Man & Wife.  Vinnie Potestivo is an industry-leading talent & media development strategist who is widely known for launching celebrity brands & media properties that continue to influence modern pop culture. With over 25 years of experience, he and his teams have become well-trusted connectors who sell, develop, produce, launch, distribute, and amplify some of the most talked-about original Online: Website: https://vpetalent.com/ Podcast: I have a Podcast: ihaveapodcast.com  Instagram: @ihaveapodcast (⁠https://instagram.com/ihaveapodcast⁠ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/vinniepotestivo⁠

    37 min
  3. 19 - Chad Aboud (Chad Aboud Consulting)

    06/16/2023

    19 - Chad Aboud (Chad Aboud Consulting)

    Meet Chad Aboud, former lawyer and the owner of Chad Aboud Consulting. Chad works to help Law Firms and Lawyers create rewarding careers and sticky client relationships by bringing more of themselves into their careers. Before launching his Consulting & Coaching business, for 12 years Chad was a Lawyer, both in a national Law Firm and as General Counsel. Chad provides Lawyers and Law Firms with 1:1 and small group coaching, training, and consulting to show Lawyers how they can create better client relationships, or pursue their next career journey, leveraging their most natural traits and skills. Check out Chad's most recent TEDx Talk from Tedx UCIrvine Websites: Website: ⁠https://www.chadaboud.com/⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadaboud/⁠ About Chad: I’m a former General Counsel and Law Firm Lawyer, with a passion and purpose to help Lawyers uncover their natural traits + skills so that they are more successful and feel happier in their careers. This is my story: Practicing in a national Law Firm, I saw how we could use our natural skills and human connection to drive more successful, impactful and fulfilling careers. But I didn’t see these ideas being taught or implemented. So I left BigLaw to travel the world, searching for new ways to tap into our natural characteristics and the power of human bonds to fuel career success. On my return, I moved in-house, using what I’d learned to create meaningful relationships with business teams and drive their goals forward. When I became General Counsel of an international portfolio of tech companies, I leveraged my natural skills and the power of relationships to build a thriving Legal team, integrate Legal within the business teams, and implement Legal Technology that revolutionized the company’s operations. But my passion and purpose kept calling. And that brings us here. 5 Fun Facts about Chad (in his own words): Failed child actor Was inspired by Matlock and Columbo as a kid - how did they always catch the criminal?! Tried to launch a business while in Law School to help athletes get scholarships that didn't go anywhere Walked away from the Partnership path in a BigLaw to travel around the world for 6 months with no locked in plan when I returned Walked away from my role as General Counsel of an int'l tech company without a locked in plan

    37 min
  4. 18 - Allyson Valentine (Pop Studio Balloons)

    05/11/2023

    18 - Allyson Valentine (Pop Studio Balloons)

    Meet Allyson Valentine, bad a** balloon stylist and owner of Pop Studio Balloons. What started as a little hobby during Covid has turned into a hugely buzzed about business that is celebrating 3 years in business in June. Allyson was just selected out of thousands of balloon professionals to participate in the Big Balloon Build where the team is tasked with creating a gigantic immersive Balloon World using more than 150,000 balloons all in aid of Life Stories Children and Family Advocacy. Check out the press release HERE. Find Pop Studio Balloons online: PopStudioballoons.com Instagram/popstudioballoons allyson@popstudioballoons.com About Allyson: I started playing around with balloons in 2017, making things here and there for family and friends. Some of the first pieces I made were to celebrate milestones for my son! When my twin daughters turned 1 at the beginning of the pandemic, I pulled together a balloon backdrop for their Zoom Cake Smash (gah! never thought I’d say that). I had about 30 balloons in the house left over from other celebrations, and I was determined to make it work. And work it did! After sharing pics, others started seeking out my fun creations for their quarantine celebrations, too. I ordered a bunch of balloons and in the evenings after I finished my day job teaching and tucked my kids in bed, I got to work learning more about building and creating with balloons. I spent my quarantine free time taking virtual classes, learning from other talented balloon artists, and testing out new ideas in my tiny basement studio. I gave away my first creations to friends or through Facebook. Pop Studio was officially born in June of 2020! The first pieces I sold were small balloon bursts and mini garlands for graduation car parades. Soon I was ballooning on nights and weekends, teaching full time from a closet in my house (hello remote learning) and managing my family. My first year in business, I was able to add balloon magic to 285 celebrations! In the summer of 2021, I decided to take a step back from teaching. Pop Studio has grown from a creative outlet and side hustle into a full time business that allows me to do something creative, gives me the flexibility to be with my little ones, and let’s me meet and celebrate with so many amazing people. I love being a part of your most memorable moments and I especially love that my kids get to see me working hard to build something from the ground up. It’s fun to hear them talk about it. My 5 year old’s sales pitch is pretty good! 🙂 Top 5 Fun Facts about Allyson (in her own words): 1. I’ve had two previous careers - one in marketing/events and one as an elementary school teacher. I was a 1st grade teacher and STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts, math) Specialist.  2. When I worked as a STEAM specialist, I taught kids how to work through the Design Process and be creative problem solvers. I use a lot of these skills in my business everyday!  3. At one point in time I had three kids under age 2! My son was 21months old when we welcomed twin girls.  4. I decided to leave CT and go to college in Colorado without ever seeing my school.  5. My dad is an engineer and taught me how to build, create and problem solve.

    36 min
  5. 17 - Mickey Anderson (Hey Mickey Anderson)

    05/04/2023

    17 - Mickey Anderson (Hey Mickey Anderson)

    Meet Mickey Anderson, a marketing strategist and educator, and the owner of Hey Mickey Anderson, a business that helps small and micro businesses find, convert and keep their ideal clients . Her personal mission statement is "Hustle Less. Profit More." And she helps businesses do just that! About Mickey: Mickey Anderson is a marketing strategist and educator. As a military wife, mother and agency owner, she found herself burnt out...extra crispy, after maternity leave, working twice as hard to keep whatever measure of “success” she achieved.  Mickey took everything she learned and left her agency (and toxic hustle culture) behind and transformed her business and life the way she had for countless clients. She now helps small and micro businesses scale with marketing that attracts ideal clients easier, converts them faster and keeps them longer.  Find Mickey Anderson online:  Website: https://www.heymickeyanderson.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heymickeyanderson/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymickeyanderson/  The Hustle Less Profit More Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5pdvIV03w6hfbBfeXBtC6F?si=3f297527025f41b 5 Fun Facts about Mickey (in her own words):  1. Mickey still holds the school record for the 100-yard breaststroke at her Alma Mater, Marshall University, where she earned a full athletic scholarship and was the 2008 Conference USA Champion.  2. She has a graduate certificate as a Paralegal and uses her legal knowledge and negotiation skills in her business.  3. Her dog’s name is Hannibal. Yes, named after you know who.  4. She’s been a military wife for 8-years and still doesn't know the acronyms. 5. She was a CrossFit Coach and managed a CrossFit gym for 8-years.

    40 min
  6. 16 - Angela Rossi-Luciano, Nicole Rossi-Rivera, Danielle Machado, Elizabeth Rossi (Thrift)

    04/27/2023

    16 - Angela Rossi-Luciano, Nicole Rossi-Rivera, Danielle Machado, Elizabeth Rossi (Thrift)

    Meet Angela Rossi-Luciano, Nicole Rossi-Rivera, Danielle Machado and Elizabeth Rossi who who I like to refer to as the "Fabulous Thrift Sisters." These four women are a force and the brains behind the new thrift venture in CT called Thrift. They are born hustlers with an eye for a deal and unique and cool items they know people will love. Thrift sells New, Used, Vintage, and Upcycled  Clothing, Housewares, & Accessories.  They want to provide their customers with the best price and a great shopping experience while saving the planet.  If you're in the CT area go check out the Thrift Store at 5 River Street. Norwalk, CT Follow them online: Thriftct.com  Instagram @Thriftconnecticut  Facebook @Thriftconnecticut  TikTok @Thriftconnecticut About Thrift: My name is Angela Rossi-Luciano I am 38, and a mom of four. I am the youngest of four girls. My sisters are Nicole Rossi-Rivera 48, mom of four. Danielle Machado, 46, a mom of four and Elizabeth Rossi, 40, a mom of two. We are very close and we love to work together and love a good side hustle. We have tried almost everything. We get that from our parents especially our dad: it runs in our blood. My first memory of trying to earn money is when my sister, Elizabeth and I sold iced tea outside of our house as little girls. I had to be around 6 years old. Nicole & Danielle sold Iron- on tee shirts and vintage clothing in The Village in the late 90’s. Elizabeth and I tagged along if it wasn’t too cold. We have always enjoyed a side hustle.  I think what really started our side hustle was having a really big family and loving a good deal. After Christmas we would always stock up for the next year. We would wait for stores to go 90% off. We would buy as much stuff as we could. Between the 4 of us we have 14 children so Christmas can get expensive.  We loved it so much. We would find ourselves shopping in the same aisle not knowing that each other were at the same store. One day my sister Danielle told me she heard her friends at work sold their clothes on the Poshmark app. I decided to download it and list a few items. My 1st item sold the same day. So my sisters and I all downloaded it and we started selling whatever we had in our closets. We had so much stuff between the 4 of us. But our favorite thing to do together was to go thrift shopping to see what we could find to post and sell.  We would travel all over. When you find something amazing, you get so excited. Not only did you score an amazing item you also are helping the environment by keeping it out off a land fill. We realized that all the thrift shops in our area weren’t that great. Nicole kept telling us about the great thrift stores in Texas but we didn’t have anything like that around here in Connecticut. We knew we always wanted to be in business together so we started talking about possibly opening a store. During this time, Nicole went to a Thrift convention in Houston. She was so excited about it that she signed us up to do the next one. It was in Philly. We did it and we were shocked at the success we had. So we did another and another one. That’s when we decided we should open a store. We weren’t sure if after the pandemic it would be a smart idea but we figured why not. We should at least try. So we opened Thrift on May 12th, 2022. It’s located on 5 River Street in Norwalk. It’s going well and we can’t wait to see what happens. Our goal is to be a success and open more stores.  5 Fun Facts About the Thrift Sisters: 1. There is 10 years between the oldest and youngest sister. We have have 14 kids between all of us.  2. Our signature look is a red lip, preferably Russian Red by M.A.C 3. Our favorite thing to do is go to concerts together! 4. Especially New Kids on the Block and Duran Duran.  5. Our Dad is The Famous New York Hot Dog King!

    35 min
  7. 15 - Chris Antista (Crif Dogs)

    04/06/2023

    15 - Chris Antista (Crif Dogs)

    Meet Chris Antista, one of the original founders of the iconic NYC institution, Crif Dogs..a famous late night hot dog restaurant in the heart of the East Village. For any side hustlers out there looking to get started, Chris is the ultimate inspiration...he is an ideas guy who has left his mark on NYC nightlife and restaurants and most recently the fashion industry as the creative force for Fair Harbor Clothing Company. About Chris: Chris Antista, vintage 1971 - a defining force for the aesthetics I love.  Ridgewood, NJ born and raised, I spent my teens being chased by the cops for skateboarding on every piece of cool architecture and infrastructure we could find. Took my outsider status forward, post high school and went to NYU, where against character, graduated from Stern Business School - all the while immersing myself in all aspects of NYC - clubs, art, design, urban adventuring, drinking - just having a blast.  Finished my 4 years and went to work at Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine.  Learned about publishing and advertising and promoting parties.  Quit and went adventuring by motorcycle all over the East Coast.  Returned broke and worked various jobs including being a food runner when the Bower Bar opened - credited with making leather pants the uniform for all runners.  Did some work in the advertising world - promotion type stuff, and then concocted the idea to turn the back room of Ratners Dairy Restaurant on Delancy Street into a Jewish gangster themed nightclub called The Lansky Lounge.  Got a wife outta that - still married to her today, 24 years later.  Opened Crif Dogs - NYC’s most iconic hot dog spot.  Bailed when it got boring and beefing with my partner was too annoying on the daily, so wifey and me went to South Asia for a spell.  Returned to odd design and idea creating jobs and ultimately started Communal Brands with a good friend.  Communal is a wine importing and branding business that continues to grow to this day - though I’m a silent partner now.  Had two kids while living in a brownstone in Bed Stuy, eventually buying my beloved 1978 Porsche 911, which forced me to buy a house in Connecticut to store it.  That was 10 years ago from now.  Moved up here and continue to promote ideas, be a dad, small-time car collector, off-road enthusiast, bocce master, party thrower - from our lovely perch in The Nuthouse - our singular modern house we purchased from Maurice Sendak’s estate.  Of late I’ve been a an at-large creative force for Fair Harbor Clothing Co. - most recently designing their flagship SOHO retail store.  I’m a gun for hire.  Whatever it is you want to do - just so long as you want to stand out and make people feel good. 5 Facts about Chris: 1). Lou Reed got me personally fired from Bowery Bar - good short story.2). Shared a plate of fried calamari with David Bowie3)  Procured and indulged in party favors with David Lee Roth to entice him to perform Just a Gigolo at my Karaoke night at Lansky Lounge.4). Crif Dogs is named after my nom du street - Crif  (Chris with an F, m**********r)5). If you play bocce on my court at the nuthouse, we will get baked and take ERVL, my super rare Volvo miltary van for a ride in the wood you will never forget.6) Spent many a late night with Johnny Depp at Lansky lounge - drinking and chatting, ultimately driving my ’68 Cadillac Convertible across town at dawn to get ‘breakfast’ at Florent. This was always with famous Tattoo artist and bon vivant Jonathan Shaw.l

    30 min
  8. 14 - Richelle Jessey (Richelle Jessey Coaching)

    03/30/2023

    14 - Richelle Jessey (Richelle Jessey Coaching)

    Meet Richelle, a Business and Mindset Coach helping corporate women turn their service-based side hustles into full-time online businesses so they can experience time freedom doing work they love!  Check out her Corporate to Full-time Coach Facebook Group, a place for high-achieving corporate women who want to build a profitable coaching business so they can ditch their day job and experience time and financial freedom doing work they love! Richelle hosts a free live training every week: Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/corporatetocoach Contact Info: Website: richellejessey.com ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richelle.jessey/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richellejessey_coaching/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richelle-jessey/ About Richelle: Richelle is a former Training and Development Manager where she worked for a global medical device manufacturing company for over 7 years.  She always knew she wanted a very "people-centric" job, and found coaching through her time in HR and Training and Development. She fell in love with what the power of coaching could do for individuals so she went for a professional coaching certification through iPEC, and launched a coaching business right as she was completing her certification.  She loves empowering women to create the life and business of their dreams so they can experience time and financial freedom doing work they are passionate about!  She enjoys networking and collaborating with other female business owners, and loves to volunteer her time to different organizations that support business development for those just starting out (SCORE and WiseHer).  She is always looking for ways to develop both personally and professionally, and enjoys bringing new learnings to her business and her clients!  Richelle resides in CT and enjoys the changing seasons that come with living in New England (although fall is her favorite!).  She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, trying out new restaurants, and learning from industry leaders! 5 Fun Facts about Richelle (in her own words): 1. I have been to over a dozen Dave Matthews Band concerts. 2. I've lived in CT my whole life but love to travel and explore new places. 3. I prefer baking over cooking any day! 4. I absolutely love fall in New England and all of the activities that come with it. 5. As a solopreneur I love surrounding myself with as many female entrepreneurs as possible to share ideas and collaborate! Top 5 Tips: 1. Do market research and speak to your audience BEFORE launching your business!  It's common for coaches, and really any service-based entrepreneur, to want to dive into launching a business without getting a pulse on the market interest and the wants and needs of their audience.  This is critical information to make sure you are providing services that your audience will want to buy!  2. Work on your mindset every single day.  If business was easy, everyone would do it!  Make sure you have mindset practice in place to help you when challenges and obstacles arise (meditations, journaling, etc.). 3. Dive deep into your WHY.  Why is having this business so important for you?  What does having this business mean for you and what does having this business allow you to do? Reflect on this often!  4. Choose who you work with carefully.  This is your business which means you get to decide who it is you would ideally like to work with.  Don't take this lightly- you want to enjoy working with your clients, so think about the characteristics that are important for them to have in order to work with you! 5. Enjoy the process.  Starting and scaling a business is a process!  It is a never ending journey.  The more you can embrace the challenges and lessons that come along the way, the better!

    36 min
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Join me every week for chats with super amazing and inspirational people who have pounded the pavement before and after their 9 to 5 to get their side hustles off the ground.

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