PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

Let’s say you’re staring down an enormous task. Maybe you’re hoping to write a book, start a nonprofit, switch career paths, or design a new product. When you think about your endeavor, you’re sometimes excited…and sometimes so overwhelmed you want to stress-eat ice cream or take a nap. I understand. Big goals can be daunting, especially if they are particularly meaningful or heart-driven. Instead of being intimidated every time you think about your goal, I suggest breaking the goal down into bite-sized pieces or micro-actions. Studies reveal that when a goal or task is highly specific, an individual is much more likely to achieve it. So, breaking down your big-picture goals is a great way to enable your success.

If you’re like many Purposeful Hustlers I know, you tend to burn the candle at both ends. You juggle work responsibilities with family, volunteering, side hustles, hobbies, and community engagement. If you’re not keeping busy, you feel slightly guilty and immediately fill up any downtime you may have. I definitely support ambition, but here’s the thing: engaging in constant busy work does not necessarily get you ahead. There’s truth in the phrase, “It’s better to work smarter than harder.” And to increase your output—to work smarter—you have to practice a little self-care.

It’s challenging enough to make your business stand out from a crowd of competitors, but what if you, as an entrepreneur, want to distinguish yourself from others? What if you want to drum up awareness or attention about YOU, the force behind your business (or future business)? How can you begin to garner attention from potential customers or investors? How can you stand apart from everyone else who is hustling to create a business? There are few shortcuts when it comes to creating a solid personal brand and reputation. You must build them little by little, interaction by interaction. Here are 6 impactful ways to get started on your journey to becoming a standout entrepreneur…

I often have conversations with people who have a strong vision or sense of purpose. They’re driven by a particular passion or cause; they know what they want to achieve in life. Where these passionate individuals tend to run into trouble, however, is activating their vision. They have broad, grandiose ideas…but they need to give those ideas wings and coax them to fly. How can you transition from the idea phase to the action phase? Let’s discuss some of my tried-and-true methods for activating your purpose.

Jessica Faust founded BookEnds, a literary agency, in 1999. Since then, the agency has represented over 300 authors and illustrators, some of which are New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. BookEnds is dedicated to inclusivity and strives to represent diverse voices across all genres. Today, BookEnds is a team of 16, comprised of literary agents and support staff. Jessica is the president of BookEnds and a literary agent.

Nicole Saavedra is the founder of Nicole Christine Styling LLC, where she helps unlock inner potential with outer transformations. Focusing on makeup artistry, hairstyling, and skincare, Nicole uses quality products to style her clients for special occasions such as weddings, work functions, anniversary parties, and professional photo sessions. Operating since 2012, Nicole Christine Styling has won several awards and accolades, including the Couples’ Choice Award from Wedding Wire, the Editor’s Choice Award from Wedding Rule, and a recent “Best of” Award for makeup artistry from the City of Milwaukee. Recently, the company has added a high-quality, proprietary skincare and cosmetic line. Nicole is passionate about her work and aims to infuse her clients with the confidence to let their inner beauty shine.

Photo by The Malicotes Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, is the founder and CEO of Evidence Based Birth® and the author of Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered! Dr. Dekker has earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD in Nursing. Previously, Dr. Dekker was an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. In 2016, Dr. Dekker left academia to focus full time on the mission of Evidence Based Birth. The team she leads at Evidence Based Birth is working to create a world in which all families have access to safe, respectful, evidence-based, and empowering care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

“Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” -Anonymous You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to exercise creativity and innovation. And you don’t have to quit your job and start your own company to live in your purpose. It is possible (and often less risky) to make meaningful change from within your current organization. It’s not necessary to switch roles or gain a promotion—you can unearth purpose-driven opportunities from exactly where you are today. It only takes some strategizing and a healthy dose of intrapreneurship.

“My MOWA Choctaw roots are everything. Absolutely everything.” Holly Nolan is the owner of Lillie Nell, a Minneapolis-based beadworks company that creates handwoven, Native-made earrings. We recently interviewed her about her business, her personal journey, and how she keeps purpose at the center of her work.

If you’re like many Purposeful Hustlers, you’ve started (or want to start) a meaningful side project. Your intentions for the project might be to earn extra money, make a positive impact, or simply do something you enjoy. But what happens when your side project is so enriching that you decide to make it your full-time focus? How can you take the leap from side hustle to full-time gig? Starting a business can give you greater freedom and flexibility, a stronger sense of purpose, and help you flex your creative muscles, but it often comes with risks. A major reason people resist converting their passion project into a full-time business is because of financial risk. And that makes sense, since many businesses fail within the first few years. To set yourself up for financial success and overcome other potential obstacles (changing markets, the fear of striking out on your own, etc.), it pays to come up with a solid plan. Here are 4 steps for turning your side hustle into a full-fledged business: