Surviving the Side Hustle

Rob Tracz
  • 4.8 (24)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

  1. 2d ago

    E231 - What 45 Years in Funeral Service Taught Him About Earning Trust with Jay Jacobson

    You have about three minutes to earn someone's trust, and in funeral service that is all you ever get. Jay Jacobson spent 45 years in funeral service, founded Jacobson Professional Staffing, runs the gourmet cookie company Jay's Cookies, and wrote Lead by Legendary Example. He walks Rob through what a lifetime of sitting with families on their hardest days taught him about leadership, trust, and playing the long game. The conversation covers what Jay learned about people as a nine year old paper boy, why young professionals are losing the ability to read a room, and how a simple thank you tray for funeral homes grew into a cookie business shipping all over the country. Rob and Jay also get into how both businesses survived COVID, the 2 AM idea that rebuilt community for remote teams, and the 10 session team course built into the back of his book. Topics Covered: - Why the paper route taught Jay that people needed a visitor more than a newspaper - How phones are replacing the years when we learn to read body language and tone - The three minutes you get to build trust, and why open ended questions come first - Rewarding employees for a satisfied customer instead of only a closed sale - Thinking in generations instead of quarters, the long game of funeral service - Sending thank you gifts on St. Patrick's Day instead of getting lost at Christmas - Delivering cookies to remote employees on the same day to recreate community during COVID - Being brutally honest but kind, and the 10 session leadership course in Lead by Legendary Example Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:39 Welcome and Jay's background 03:37 Leadership lessons from a nine year old paper boy 05:11 Why we are losing the ability to be present 07:13 The three minutes you have to earn trust 09:46 Paying people for the values you say you have 10:52 The generational long game of funeral service 12:15 How a thank you tray became Jay's Cookies 14:50 Send your gifts when nobody else does 16:25 Why tangible thank yous beat AI generated messages 17:16 Keeping two businesses standing through COVID 18:32 Recreating community with same day cookie deliveries 20:02 How COVID changed funerals for good 22:00 Quick break 22:37 Where the ideas come from: solving problems at 2 AM 25:37 Faith, family, and work balance in a high stress profession 26:42 The story behind Lead by Legendary Example 28:24 Brutally honest, done kindly 31:33 The 10 session team course inside the book 32:42 Where to find Jay 34:28 The one thing the next generation needs to learn Connect with Jay Jacobson: Jacobson Professional Staffing: https://jacobsonprostaff.com Jay's Cookies: https://jayscookies.net Lead by Legendary Example is on Amazon and Apple Books, in print and audio. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  2. 6d ago

    E230 - Lessons from Anthony Guastella: Choose Victor Over Victim

    "You have two choices when life knocks you flat. You can be a victim of your circumstances or you can be a victor." Anthony Guastella lived that choice for six years with Lyme disease, through joint pain, thyroid issues, and doctors telling him this was just his life now. He said no, went hunting for answers, and made himself a promise: when he got to the other side, he would do the same for other people. Today he is a health coach, podcaster, speaker, and writer behind Anthony Guastella Wellness. If you have ever felt stuck in your body, stuck in your head, or just stuck, this one is for you. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me most. Podcasts as the tool that taught him when nothing else could. The internal blocks that do not disappear even after you come through something hard, and the frustration of knowing exactly what you want but not getting there as fast as you want to. Why most people quit their podcast watching the numbers instead of holding on to the mission. His belief that your inner world creates your outer world. And his answer to people who confuse short term pleasure with fulfillment: fun is winning. I map it all to the Prime Performance process, especially resilience, intentionality, and why you have to get eyes on where your energy is draining before you can redirect it. Then I close on the one question I want you to sit with next time something goes sideways. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Two choices when life knocks you flat 02:02 Victim or victor 02:06 Meet Anthony Guastella 02:36 Six years with Lyme disease 02:57 Choosing the path of empowerment 03:21 A promise kept 03:41 The internal blocks do not just disappear 04:06 Consistency and holding on to the mission 04:35 Your inner world creates your outer world 05:01 Fun is winning 05:27 The mission is the reward 05:40 Resilience and intentionality 06:05 Energy is a currency 06:25 Get eyes on the drain 06:52 The work is always on the person first 07:08 Who Anthony is for 07:37 Thank you, Anthony 08:02 Am I being a victim or a victor? Connect with Anthony Guastella: Website: https://anthonyguastella.com Podcast: Anthony Guastella Wellness, on your favorite podcast app Listen to the full conversation with Anthony Guastella in E229. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  3. Oct 13

    E229 - Why You Have to Overcome Yourself, Not Your Circumstances with Anthony Guastella

    Six years of Lyme disease, joint pain, thyroid issues and fibromyalgia left Anthony Guastella with two choices: be a victim or be a victor. He chose victor, and the number one tool he used to find answers was podcasting. Today Anthony is the founder of Anthony Guastella Wellness, a certified health coach, speaker, podcaster and the writer of more than 350 articles, and he walks Rob through how taking 100 percent responsibility turned his pain into his purpose. The conversation covers why your mission has to be bigger than your current circumstances, why consistency beats intensity, and why your inner world creates your outer world. Rob and Anthony also get into what inner work actually looks like day to day, Rob's story about playing rugby as "future Rob" instead of "college Rob," and why agency is the first thing Anthony wants every client to walk away with. Topics Covered: - Why it may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility - Holding a long term mission over immediate gratification when nothing seems to be working - How podcasting became Anthony's education and, later, his platform - Doing one set instead of three and still giving yourself credit for showing up - Consistency over intensity: keep the commitment, let the process adapt - Giving yourself space to think and asking empowering questions instead of disempowering ones - Overcoming yourself inside your circumstances, not the circumstances themselves - Why disease does not happen overnight, and neither does health Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Meet Anthony Guastella 02:53 Victim or victor: choosing 100 percent responsibility 04:45 Long term mission over immediate gratification 06:10 How podcasting became his education 07:09 Not your fault, but your responsibility 08:38 Turning pain into purpose 10:35 Reaching the masses and what coaching really is 12:00 Where consistency broke down 14:23 One set instead of three still counts 15:06 Consistency over intensity 16:49 Your inner world creates your outer world 18:09 What inner work looks like right now 20:32 Building capacity and a resilient nervous system 20:56 Quick break 21:33 Rob's rugby story: playing as future you 23:57 Put your energy where you have control 24:25 What clients walk away with 27:44 Disease does not happen overnight, and neither does health 29:08 350 articles and starting before you are ready 30:59 Where to find Anthony Connect with Anthony Guastella: Website: https://anthonyguastella.com Podcast: Anthony Guastella Wellness, on your favorite podcast app Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  4. Oct 9

    E228 - Lessons from Shakti Sharma: The Belief Has to Catch Up With the Business

    "I hold a lot of trauma in my throat." That is how Shakti Sharma described her starting point: a shy kid who wanted to stay in the corner and not be seen. Today she is a serial entrepreneur, a manifestation coach, and the founder of the Feminine Wealth Movement, where she helps women entrepreneurs, coaches, healers, and service providers turn a passion into a 100K offer sold directly to organizations. If you are sitting on a skill or a gift and telling yourself nobody will pay real money for it, this one is for you. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me most. The four years she built on the side while holding a full time job. The yoga studio launch where nobody came on Saturday, and the one person on Sunday who felt like gold. The outreach and marketing that used to freeze her completely, and why she had to heal herself while running a healing business. And her secret, inner state alignment paired with the outer structure of her Feminine Wealth Launch Framework. I map it all to the Prime Performance process, especially resilience, clarity, and opportunity, and why opportunity tends to show up right after clarity does. Then I close on the one idea I want you to sit with: the belief has to catch up with the business. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 I hold a lot of trauma in my throat 02:02 Meet Shakti Sharma and the 100K offer 02:30 Welcome to the Friday recap 02:58 Four years building on the side 03:26 One person on Sunday felt like gold 03:53 Ten thousand dollar months and a second business 04:23 The outreach that used to freeze her 04:52 Healing yourself while running a business 05:20 Inner state alignment 05:47 The Feminine Wealth Launch Framework 06:15 Freedom and a juicier life 06:41 Resilience, clarity, and opportunity 07:09 Clarity is the foundation 07:37 Opportunity shows up after clarity 08:04 Who Shakti is for 08:30 Thank you, Shakti 08:57 The belief has to catch up with the business Connect with Shakti Sharma: Feminine Wealth Movement: https://femininewealthmovement.com Listen to the full conversation with Shakti Sharma in E227. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  5. Oct 6

    E227 - Why Your Side Hustle Is a Rebirth, Not Just a Paycheck with Shakti Sharma

    Nobody showed up to the opening of Shakti Sharma's first yoga studio. One person walked in a day or two later. Shakti spent 12 years in financial services, management consulting, and investment banking, then built an intuition practice on the side before making the leap. From that empty room she grew to consistent $10,000 months, expanded next door, bought a second studio, and watched the pandemic shut both. She rebuilt online, and her Feminine Wealth Movement is now a $600,000 plus business. She walks Rob through how listening to her heart, not another spreadsheet, became her strategy. The conversation covers the quiet argument that sent her to a hotel room and opened her up to her intuition, why a side hustle is a rebirth and not just a paycheck, and the landlord who paid for her entire buildout. Rob and Shakti also get into her three pillars of energetic alignment, marketing, and sales, why your reputation sells before anyone hits your funnel, and the 100K Offer System she teaches. Topics Covered: - Checking every box in consulting and still feeling a void she could not name - The inner voice that told her she had abandoned her heart to accomplish all of it - Starting a side hustle helping women hear their intuition, and why side hustles are about more than money - Why heart-centered relationships are the biggest marketing lever in a small business - Outgrowing a room built for eight, and the landlord who paid for the buildout next door - Losing both studios to the pandemic and choosing to own the story instead of playing the victim - Her three pillars: energetic alignment, marketing that gets people to raise their hand, and selling one to many - How the 100K Offer System helps practitioners sell to hospitals, school systems, and banks Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:39 Meet Shakti Sharma 03:34 Living the consulting dream and still asking what is next 06:08 The night that cracked everything open 10:15 You have abandoned your heart 11:38 How her intuition side hustle began 13:01 Rob on robot mode and the song that broke it open 14:34 Why a side hustle is a rebirth 18:06 Going full time and the launch nobody came to 19:25 Why heart-centered relationships beat any campaign 21:49 Outgrowing the room and the landlord who said yes 26:09 Deeper connections beat more connections 27:52 Quick break 28:28 A second studio, then the pandemic 32:35 Rebuilding online when everyone is screaming for attention 33:48 The three pillars: alignment, marketing, and sales 37:50 Marketing that gets people to raise their hand 41:40 Reputation is the part nobody talks about 42:59 Inside the 100K Offer System 46:13 Where to find Shakti Connect with Shakti Sharma: Free community and trainings: https://femininewealthmovement.com Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  6. Oct 2

    E226 - Lessons from Jeremy Shapiro: Permission Beats Hustle

    What if the thing keeping you stuck is not a lack of hustle but a lack of permission? This week I am unpacking my conversation with Jeremy Shapiro, founder of Your Business Growth Playbook and a serial entrepreneur who has spent three decades in the trenches with seven, eight, and nine figure founders who hit a plateau and cannot figure out why what got them here will not get them there. Jeremy has lived abroad with his family, gone fully offline when his kids were born, and traveled entire summers without the business falling apart, and it all traces back to a quiet line he drew at a dinner table. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me most. The date night phone buzz that showed him how half present he had become. The ant trail image behind how his repeatable playbook finally revealed itself. The mountain biker client he freed with a single part time hire. And the idea I keep coming back to, that the secret is not hustle, it is permission, the permission you give others to reach you and the permission you give yourself to be a human being with limits. I map all of it to the Prime Performance process, especially energy and intentionality and the clarity that only shows up once you stop living one buzz away from reactive mode. Then I close on Jeremy's challenge to define success on your own terms instead of chasing somebody else's finish line. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 The dinner table phone buzz 02:07 Meet Jeremy Shapiro 02:37 Build something real without losing everything 03:02 The ant trail and the hidden playbook 03:30 How the repeatable formula emerged 03:58 Seeing his own system too late 04:26 The date night story every founder feels 04:51 The slow bleed of presence 05:18 Performance runs on the boundaries you enforce 05:46 One hire and the real secret, permission 06:15 The permission you give yourself 06:35 Energy, intentionality, and clarity 07:04 You cannot optimize what you have not faced 07:31 Who the book was written for 07:59 The Profit Blueprint program 08:27 Define success on your own terms 09:00 What does made it actually look like for you Connect with Jeremy Shapiro: Book and Profit Blueprint program: https://yourbusinessgrowthplaybook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyshapiro/ Your Business Growth Playbook is also on Amazon and Audible. Listen to the full conversation with Jeremy Shapiro in E225. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  7. Sep 29

    E225 - How to Build a Business That Runs Without You with Jeremy Shapiro

    Can you build something real without it costing you everything else? Jeremy Shapiro has spent 30 years answering yes. A serial entrepreneur and the author of Your Business Growth Playbook, Jeremy has built companies that let him live abroad, unplug for three months at a time when each of his kids was born, and travel entire summers without the whole thing falling apart. He walks Rob through exactly how he engineered a business that keeps running and growing while he steps away. The conversation covers the dinner table moment that made Jeremy set his first hard boundary with clients, why hustle only gets you off the ground, the "ant trail" idea behind his growth playbook, the pre-sell tactics he used to fund a course before building it, and the different walls that six, seven, eight, and nine figure founders hit. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Meet Jeremy Shapiro and 30 years of serving entrepreneurs 02:55 The first date phone buzz that changed how he worked 03:20 The boundary his clients came to respect 05:06 Give people 24/7 access and they will take it 06:41 The mountain biking client who was burning out 08:12 How helping other founders became his lane 10:06 The ant trail and finding the hidden playbook 11:45 Perfectionism versus shipping the MVP 12:52 Getting real customer feedback before you build 14:16 Pre-selling a course before it existed 17:21 Ten months to publish the book the right way 19:07 The stages of growth from six to nine figures 20:19 Why the wrong-size advice can wreck your business 22:50 Quick break 24:01 Unplugging for three months when his kids were born 27:23 The demolition client whose accident forced systems 30:15 From self-employed to true business owner 31:01 Inside Your Business Growth Playbook 32:34 What is next and the Profit Blueprint program 34:24 The one belief he wants every founder to leave with Connect with Jeremy Shapiro: Book and free first chapter: https://yourbusinessgrowthplaybook.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyshapiro Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  8. Sep 25

    E224 - Lessons from Erica and Julia Christ: Consistency Is How You Build a Legacy

    Passion done with consistency and integrity over a long enough timeline becomes a legacy. That one line from Erica Christ has been sitting with me all week. Erica is a registered dietitian, a diabetes educator, and a classically trained Pilates instructor who has spent twenty years building FMR Wellness in Greenwich, Connecticut, one private session, one client, one word of mouth referral at a time. No franchise, no group classes, no trendy rebrand every couple of years, just conviction and repetition. And now she is bringing her daughter Julia into the business and building a succession plan that is every bit as intentional as everything else she has ever done. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me from our full conversation and how it maps to the Prime Performance process. I get into why Erica taught the why before the what with every single client, why the depth of her understanding is what actually kept people coming back and sending their friends, the quiet tension of wanting Julia in the business her whole life while genuinely letting Julia make her own choice, and how all of it connects to three ideas I keep circling back to: clarity as your protection against every shiny trend (Prime Principle 3), resilience reframed as staying the same through twenty years of an industry that kept changing around you (Prime Principle 1), and taking inventory before you take action. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Passion plus consistency becomes legacy 02:03 Meet Erica Christ, twenty years one client at a time 02:18 No franchise, no trends, just a succession plan 02:47 Finding Pilates through her own injury 03:27 Not about making money, about not losing money 03:54 Word of mouth and Julia earning her certification 04:20 The invisible hard parts nobody sees 04:49 The fear that classical Pilates could disappear 04:59 Wanting Julia in versus letting her choose 05:27 Her secret, teach the why before the what 05:42 Curiosity first, program second 06:41 Awareness is the whole product 06:50 Prime Principle 3, clarity as a trend repellent 07:20 Prime Principle 1, resilience as staying the same 07:44 Take inventory before you take action 08:24 Where to find FMR Wellness 09:18 What are you building, and is it worth passing down Connect with Erica and Julia Christ: Website: https://fmrwell.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmr_wellness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-christ-rd Listen to the full conversation with Erica and Julia in E223. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

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4.8
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About

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Tracz
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    232
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rob Tracz
  • Show Website
    Surviving the Side Hustle