Day 1: Commitment and Clarity
Morning: The Declaration - Write your side hustle statement: "I help [who] achieve [what] through [how]" - Set income goal for month 1 (realistic: $250-500) - Block out 10-15 hours in your calendar this week - Tell one supportive person about your commitment
Evening: Environment Setup - Create dedicated workspace (even just a corner) - Set up basic filing system (digital and physical) - Remove one distraction (app, subscription, etc.) - Prepare your tools/equipment
Day 2: Business Basics
Essential Setup: - [ ] Professional email address - [ ] Payment method (PayPal, Stripe, Venmo Business) - [ ] Basic spreadsheet for tracking - [ ] Simple contract template - [ ] Invoice template
Legal Minimums: - Research business license requirements - Understand tax obligations - Consider business banking - Review insurance needs
Day 3: Skill Assessment
Morning: Honest Evaluation - List your transferable skills - Identify top 3 gaps to fill - Find free resources for each gap - Create learning schedule
Evening: Quick Training - Watch 2 YouTube tutorials - Read 1 detailed guide - Practice 1 new skill - Join 1 relevant community
Day 4: Market Research
Competitive Intelligence: - Find 10 competitors - Note their pricing - Analyze their offerings - Read their reviews - Identify gaps you can fill
Customer Understanding: - Join 3 Facebook groups where customers hang out - Read 20 posts about their problems - Note common complaints - List frequently asked questions
Day 5: Portfolio Creation
The MVP Portfolio: - Create 3 sample pieces - Use free tools available - Focus on solving real problems - Quality over quantity
Portfolio Formats by Side Hustle: - Writing: 3 blog posts on Medium - Design: 3 concepts on Behance - VA: Service menu PDF - Tutoring: 1 sample lesson video - Social Media: 1 mock campaign
Day 6: Online Presence
Minimum Viable Presence: - LinkedIn profile optimization - Simple portfolio (Google Doc is fine) - Professional photo (smartphone quality OK) - Clear bio explaining your service
Optional But Helpful: - Basic website (Carrd.co free) - Instagram business account - Facebook business page - Google My Business listing
Day 7: Systems and Reflection
Create Your Workflows: - Client onboarding checklist - Service delivery process - Communication templates - Time tracking method
Week 1 Review: - What got completed? - What was harder than expected? - What was easier? - What needs adjustment?