Not All Side Hustles Are About Hustling - Sometimes They're About Creating Breathing Room.

There's a certain narrative out there that says if you're not quitting your 9-5 and going all-in on your dream, you're not really serious about building a business. That you're playing small. That you're letting fear win.

And to that, I say, Nope. Not true. Not helpful. Not the full picture.

Because here's what I know: for so many women, the idea of stepping away from the stability of a full-time job isn't scary - it's unrealistic.

Not because they don't believe in themselves.

Not because they're not talented enough.

Not because they're not willing to work hard.

But because they have mortgages, kids, debt, goals, and responsibilities. Because they want to build something more, and they need to keep food on the table. And, honestly? That's smart.

There's no one-size-fits-all path to building a meaningful business or creating a fulfilling life. And if your path starts (or stays) as a side hustle, there is zero shame in that.

Truthfully, I can't write this without acknowledging that my own path looked different. I didn't ease in. I jumped.

Shortly after my first son was born, I left my job and launched into full-time entrepreneurship. No safety net, no "side hustle" strategy. Just a whole lot of ambition, a newborn i my arms, and a belief that I'd figure it out.

Looking back, part of what made that leap doable at the time was that I was starting a business in the same field I had already been working in. It didn't feel like I was reinventing myself - it just felt like an extension of the work I already knew how to do. I could jump in and do the work, but running a business? That was a whole different skillset that was a "learn as you go" exercise.

I did figure it out - eventually. But, hindsight? It's a wise teacher! I've learned how important stability is in certain seasons of life - not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and relationally. And how sometimes, giving yourself space to grow something on the side isn't about playing it safe. It's about playing it well.

In my case, I knew I couldn't keep working for someone else doing the same kind of work I was trying to build for myself. It didn't feel right - like I was out of alignment with my values. But that's not what everyone is navigating. For many women I work with now, the side hustle is about exploring something new. Something they're evolving into. It's a slow, thoughtful unfolding, and it's a beautiful thing to witness.

So no, I've never had a side hustle. But I've coached many women who do. And they continue to show me that a side hustle can be life-giving, empowering, aligned, and profitable! I've seen women use it as a safe place to experiment, to evolve, to rediscover part of themselves they've set aside for years. For some, it's a steady stream of additional income that supports their family or funds future goals. For others, it's a stepping stone - a testing ground for what may eventually become their full-time path.

I've also seen how much pressure we put on ourselves to do it all overnight and how freeing it can be to give yourself permission to take it one small, purposeful step at a time.

Whether you're stepping into something entirely new or slowly shaping a bigger vision, a side hustle can be a powerful and personal part of your journey. And as you consider what role it might play in your life, it's worth exploring what a side hustle can truly offer - creatively, financially, and personally.

The Power of a Side Hustle

A side hustle can be a creative outlet. A way to reconnect with parts of yourself that feel buried in the day-to-day grind. It can be a way to test the waters, explore your skills, serve others, and start something on your own terms.

It can also be a deeply practical move. Maybe you need extra income to get ahead, or to get out of debt, or to give your kids an experience you never had. Maybe the cost of groceries feels like a gut punch every week, and you're simply trying to breathe a little easier.

Whatever your reason, it's valid. Full stop.

While it's easy to romanticize the leap into full-time entrepreneurship, the truth is that sometimes the most courageous move is a strategic one - one that aligns with your current season of life, your values, and your reality. A side hustle can be a steady, intentional step forward without needing to overhaul everything overnight.

You Don't Have to Go All In to Be All In

There's the idea floating around that unless you're devoting 40+ hours a week to your business, you're not "serious" about it. Can we just stop with that nonsense?!

Time does not equal intention. Commitment isn't measured in hours logged.

You can build something incredible in the margins of your life. Before work. After bedtime. On weekends. In the car while waiting for practice to end. You can take small, consistent steps that move you forward in a way that still honours the rest of your life.

You know what else I believe?

Success isn't just about revenue. It's not about how big your audience is or how many launches you've done. Success is about alignment. It's about feeling proud of what you're building and how you're building it. It's about honouring your own values and goals - not someone else's idea of what you "should" be doing (in fact, we all need to remove "should" from our inner dialogue).

Not All Hustles Have to Be Hustle Culture

Let's also address the word "hustle" while we're here. Honestly, I don't love it. It's got a bad rap lately - and for good reason. Hustle culture has glamorized burnout, pushed us towards overwork, and made it seem like rest is only earned after you've hit some arbitrary milestone.

But a side hustle doesn't have to mean constant motion or exhaustion.

Done right, it can be intentional. It can be nourishing. It can stretch you without breaking you. And that's the kind of work I care about - work that aligns with who you are, the season you're in, and the life you're building.

Your Story Is Yours to Write

I've worked with women at all different stages: the ones just getting started, the ones juggling multiple jobs, and the ones running six-figure businesses. There's no "right way" to do this. There's just your way.

And if your way means building a business alongside your 9-5, so be it. Maybe it

stays a side gig forever, and it fulfills you in ways you can't even explain. Maybe it becomes something more down the line, when the time and conditions are right. Or maybe you explore it and realize it's not the path you want to continue to pursue.

That doesn't make it a waste. It makes it part of your journey. It makes it real.

You're allowed to want more. You're allowed to explore. You're allowed to stay rooted in security while stretching into something new.

If You Want to Do It Well, I'm Here

If you're here because you feel that nudge - that tug that says there's more you want to do, offer, or create - know that I see you.

And if you want help figuring out what this could look like in your real life, with your real constraints, I'd love to support you.

Not by giving you a 5-step blueprint to six figures.

Not by telling you to just manifest it and quit your job tomorrow.

But by meeting you where you're at. Helping you map it out. Adding a layer of strategy and intention to the passion you already feel. That's what I do. That's what I love.

Success isn't just about revenue. It's about alignment.

Whether you're dreaming of something small and steady or eventually expansive and full-time, I'm here to walk the path with you.

Your dreams are valid. Your timing is your own. Your story gets to be yours.

And I'm here to help you write the next chapter - whatever that looks like for you.

Explore coaching options or book a complimentary exploration session to take the next small, intentional step.