Welcome back to the Side Hustle Pro podcast, your headquarters for turning passion projects into profitable businesses! I’m Nicaila, and today we’re talking about how to find (and protect) the time you need to build your side hustle.

I get it: Working a full-time job, juggling family commitments, and trying to live your life can make your side hustle goals feel impossible. But trust me, it’s not. I used to think I had zero free hours, but as soon as I did a reality check, I found pockets of time I could reclaim. Here’s how you can do the same.

In this episode I share about:

• The time you’re losing and how to identify your top time wasters
• The 3-Step Hustler’s Time Plan: how to maximize your time
• How to build a system and schedule that work for you

Highlights include:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:45 Identify your biggest time traps
• 06:42 Reclaim your time
• 12:35 Power hour: get more done in less time
• 16:15 Leverage your days off
• 18:30 Protect your side hustle hours
• 21:20 Choose a schedule that fits your life
• 23:40 Final thoughts and recap

Check out episode 486 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Nicaila’s Website: https://sidehustlepro.co/
• Nicaila’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustlepro/
• Nicaila’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicailamatthewsokome
• Brown Ambition Podcast: https://brownambitionpodcast.com/

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: https://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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Always wanted to start a side hustle but didn’t know what industry to try? This week I’m breaking down the exact process of identifying the skills you do effortlessly and turning them into a profitable side hustle.

In this episode I share:

• How to pinpoint the skills hiding in your “blind spot”
• The importance of surveying your network to confirm your strengths
• Different service-based ideas you can launch today
• How to validate your offers quickly and start getting paid sooner

Highlights include:

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:00 Three key steps
• 05:30 Monetizable skills
• 09:30 How to get paid sooner, not later
• 15:00 Actionable homework

Check out episode 485 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Portia Obeng SHP episode: https://youtu.be/4qkgObsQ7pA?si=BySviTQaeTqgVa01
• Nicaila’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidehustlepro/
• Nicaila’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicailamatthewsokome
• FREE Survey Template: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/side-hustle-survey/

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

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If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: https://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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This week we’re airing my first ever live podcast! I had the opportunity to sit down with author, journalist, and media powerhouse Demetria Lucas at the On Air Fest in Brooklyn, NY.

From launching A Belle in BK to building an empire that spans books, film, podcasting, and more, Demetria has mastered the art of evolving and thriving as a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur. Taking risks and flawlessly pivoting has paid off.

In this episode she shares:

• How prioritizing steady income through podcasting, owning a travel company, and more gives her freedom to enjoy life outside of working
• The enormous impact traveling the world has had on her work, leading her to author three books on travel
• How she stayed resilient through personal challenges and self-doubt

Highlights Include:

00:00 Intro

03:36 Breaking into the book industry

08:20 Streams of steady income

13:45 Building a personal brand and podcast

24:08 Traveling the world

27:00 The ups and downs of finances in freelancing

36:15 Tips for entrepreneurs

Check out episode 484 of Side Hustle Pro podcast out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Links mentioned in this episode

• Demetria’s Website: https://www.demetriallucas.com/
• Demetria’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demetriallucas
• Demetria’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/demetriallucas
• Ratchet and Respectable Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ratchet-respectable/id1449001372
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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In this solo episode, I’m sharing the first three moves I’d make if I were starting a side hustle today and it’s not what you think.

Over the years, I’ve seen so many new side hustlers get caught up in the wrong things (logos, websites, Instagram aesthetic), and miss the real work that actually builds momentum and income. So I’m breaking down what I’d focus on right now if I had to start all over again.

These are the same foundational steps that helped me build Side Hustle Pro from an idea into a full-fledged business, and they’re the same ones I teach my clients today.

In this episode, I share:

• The number one mistake new side hustlers make (and how to avoid it)
• How to get laser-focused on the problem you solve and who you serve
• Why validation calls will change the way you approach your business
• The difference between a website and a funnel (and why the latter matters more)
• How I started selling a $50 course before I ever built a website

00:00 Intro

02:10 Getting clear on the problem you solve

06:00 Finding your target audience

08:36 Validating your idea fast

11:09 What to ask during validation calls

14:41 Pricing with confidence

15:00 Building a simple funnel, not a website

19:03 How one simple email list changed everything

21:02 Recap: The 3 moves to start your side hustle today

• Leadpages
• Fireflies.ai – My favorite meeting note-taker
• Gemini for Google Meet

Join our Facebook Community

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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Being out of work can feel scary, the bills don’t stop, and self-doubt creeps in. But here’s the thing: this doesn’t have to be the end of your story. It can be the beginning of your expansion. Today, I’m sharing seven side hustles you can start right now to rebuild your confidence, earn income, and remind yourself that you have options.

Each of these hustles has the potential to bring in quick cash this month or grow into a long-term business. Momentum builds confidence, and confidence builds opportunity.

• Seven side hustles you can start right now if you’re unemployed or need extra cash—from digital products to service-based opportunities.
• How to use your existing skills and everyday tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and social platforms to quickly generate income.
• Why momentum matters more than perfection, and how even a small win can rebuild your confidence.
• The importance of direct outreach—emails, texts, and personal asks—when you need to make money fast, instead of relying solely on social media.

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:20 Side Hustle #1: Career Story Studio
• 04:40 Side Hustle #2: Digital Templates Shop
• 07:06 Side Hustle #3: TikTok Shop Seller
• 09:29 Side Hustle #4: Airbnb Co-Host
• 13:59 Side Hustle #5: UGC Creator
• 16:20 Side Hustle #6: AI Consultant
• 18:44 Side Hustle #7: Fractional Ops Manager
• 23:28 Final thoughts on making money now
• 25:32 Closing thoughts + live class invite

• Register for my free class: Start the Podcast That Builds Your Exit Plan: https://sidehustlepro.co/freetraining
• 
  

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

Side Hustle Pro Nicaila Matthews Okome

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For a long time, I believed pivoting meant I had failed. But now, I’ve learned that pivoting is actually proof that you’re still growing, still expanding, and still in motion.

In this episode, I open up about why I recently applied for a job, how it connects to everything I’ve built with Side Hustle Pro, and the lessons I’m learning in this new season.

In this episode, I share:

• Why pivoting is feedback, not failure
• How every pivot stacks and nothing is wasted
• The dangers of comparison and how to release shame
• Why pivots prepare you for your next expansion season

Highlights include:

00:00 Intro

02:20 What pivoting really means

07:05 Why I applied for a new role

11:45 Lessons from past pivots that shaped Side Hustle Pro

16:20 How comparison creates false shame

20:59 Why pivots keep you in motion

25:00 The role of podcasting in creating new opportunities

28:00 Closing thoughts + live class invite

Watch episode 481 on YouTube and listen on all podcast apps

Links mentioned in this episode

• Register for my free class: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloads/

Announcements

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

Social Media

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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In this solo Expansion Era episode, I’m opening up about a turning point in my journey: when I realized my life was running me, not the other way around. I share the step I took to shift that dynamic and the five powerful lessons that continue to guide me today. From building discipline like a muscle, to falling in love with the process, to tracking effort over outcomes, these lessons are helping me reclaim balance, confidence, and control. I’m still in the process myself, but I know these insights can help you start running your life, too.

In this episode I share:

• Why focusing on the muscle you’re building matters more than the result
• How to fall in love with the process and romanticize the mundane
• The importance of tracking the process, not just the outcomes
• How to recognize and adjust for your shortcomings
• Why letting go of rigid expectations opens the door to more wins

Highlights include:

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:26 Lesson 1: Focus on the muscle, not the results
• 07:12 Lesson 2: Fall in love with the process
• 11:24 Lesson 3: Track the process, not the result
• 16:05 Lesson 4: Adjust for your shortcomings
• 21:16 Lesson 5: Let go of expectations & celebrate small wins
• 25:32 Closing thoughts + invitation to my live class

Links mentioned on this episode

Register for my free class: https://sidehustlepro.lpages.co/your-first-1000-downloads/

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): http://sidehustlepro.libsyn.com/rss

If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/facebook

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

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This week, I’m back in the Expansion Era to go deeper into how to slow down without quitting, especially when business (or life) feels heavy. I’m sharing my own experiences navigating tough seasons in entrepreneurship, what it means to identify and pull your levers, and how I stabilize myself before getting back into action. From sponsorship slowdowns to shifting income streams, I walk you through the real strategies I use to find balance and keep moving forward.

In this episode, I share:

• Why slowing down is not failure and how to recognize the season you’re in
• What it means to identify and pull your three key levers for income
• How I use AI tools to simplify the job search when needed
• The importance of pausing before making big decisions
• Why your revenue is flexible, but your identity is not

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:00 When business slows down and how to stabilize
• 05:00 Understanding and defining your three levers
• 08:00 Tabitha Brown’s advice on getting a job as a lever
• 12:00 How AI can help tailor resumes and applications
• 15:00 Deciding which lever to pull each week
• 17:00 Why revenue is flexible but your identity isn’t
• 20:00 Closing encouragement: You are not alone

• LinkedIn Job Board
• Etsy Resume Templates
• ChatGPT by OpenAI

• Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro
• #SideHustlePro

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