So I never actually shared this information, but I received my first official business cards in the mail a few weeks ago.
At that moment it set in the my side hustle was for real. I had spent months building a portfolio and learning the ropes, and although I did eventually take a plunge into corporate America, it is nice to know that I am building an extra source of income on the side.
This isn’t to say that I don’t get discouraged. The work/life balance is definitely something I am learning as I go a long. However, whenever I feel like giving up and ripping my own hair out there are certain bloggers and entrepreneurs that stick out from the rest.
Below you will find a list of interviews of some of my favorite blogging entrepreneurs where they discuss productivity, branding yourself, freelancing, kicking your blog up a notch, the work/life equation, entrepreneurship, and more.
Top Interviews for Jumping Into Entrepreneurship
Doniree - Another one of my favorite bloggers, this fellow yogini runs a fabulous blog and is her own boss. She did an interview with BlogCast FM about using your blog skills to generate growth and revenue, the importance of personal connections, taking the entrepreneurial plunge, and more.
Thursday Bram & Ali Luke – This duo runs the phenomenal Constructively Productive blog where they discuss productivity advice for the masses. Aside from that they are also freelance writers who decided cubicles and office chairs just weren’t for them. You can check out their awesome interview, How to Be Successful Online When You’re Online When You’re Only Blogging Part-Time on BlogCast FM.
Thursday Bram also did another great interview entitled Managing Your Time as a Professional Blogger.
Jenny Blake – Yes, I know, I rave about Jenny Blake all the time. I can’t help it though. A career coach for Google, a successful blogger, a life coach, a yoga teacher, and a published author who isn’t even close to 30 is quite a person to look up to. Doniree actually has quite a fabulous quote about Jenny Blake and her book on her blog that just about sums it up, “You know when those people, books, and ideas come into your life at EXACTLY the right time? ME TOO. And Jenny Blake’s “Life After College is that book.“
So how does Jenny Blake keep it together while having so much on her plate? Check out her interview on Change Makers.
Ashley Ambirge – If you like pushing your limits and kicking ass while wearing 6 inch heels this is your girl. Ashley Ambirge is the mastermind behind The Middle Finger Project where she rejects the status quo and dives into online entrepreneurship while traveling Latin America. This chick has had a pretty intense life and has still managed to have online success and pen a book, You Don’t Need A Job, You Need Guts: Combining Passion + Self + Passion Through Digital Entrepreneurship. Find out about her philosophy and her success by watching her interview with Freedom Business Summit 2010.
Leo Babauta – When I started my freelancing endeavors back in July I had no idea what I was doing, especially when it came to being productive, managing my time, and ultimately managing my life. Enter Leo Babauta’s exceptional blog, Zen Habits. This guy went from full time cubicle dweller to running one of the top blogs IN THE WORLD. He has since expanded to writing a couple of other blogs, books, and founding the A-List Blogger’s Club. In his interview with BlogCast FM he discusses his successes, his failures, and how he got to where he is.
Chris Guillebeau – Last year when I was having a tough time figuring out my next steps in life one of my good friends handed me a copy of Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity: Set the Rules You Want, Life The Life You Want, and Change the World. This book and it’s accompanying blog lit a fire under my ass and I started taking some serious steps toward accomplishing some of my goals. At first they were mostly financial and getting started in the real world, but since then they have evolved into entrepreneurship and taking tangible steps toward achieving some of my dreams. Find out all about The Art of Non-Conformity in Chris Guillebeau’s interview on Planet Green.
Darren Rowse – perhaps THE authority on being a professional blogger and branding yourself, Darren Rowse makes a living helping other bloggers make a business out of blogging. His interview with BecomeABlogger.com is rather extensive, however he discusses everything that has to do with running a successful blogging business: traffic, balance, content creation, money, and most imporantly having fun.
What a list! I’m sure I will come up with a list of several more interviews in the future. We all know how much I love lists!
Amanda – thank you so much for the great shout-out! I’m honored to be among such a great list of people
Congrats on receiving your first set of business cards!! You’re well on your way to side hustle greatness!
I hope so! I’ve got a good feeling about this