A year ago, I made the decision that I need to work for myself. Today on the show, I share how I spent the last year gearing up for my quit day.

I got laser-focused on monetizing my content.

I explored multiple revenue streams.

I got busy learning to be a sales team of one.

I studied, I worked, I tried, I failed, I stayed determined.

And then, on November 29, 2017 - I QUIT.

On today’s episode, I share:

• Why I’m betting on myself!
• What went into taking my leap of faith
• My plan to move forward

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Links mentioned on this episode

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

Announcements

Side Hustle Pro is now over 5000 members strong. 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

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Today’s guest is Jewel Burks. As co-founder and CEO of Partpic, an Atlanta based startup designed to streamline the purchase of maintenance and repair parts using computer vision technology, Jewel and her team built groundbreaking technology poised to change the way people everywhere locate products. Partpic raised over $2 million in seed funding to integrate its proprietary technology into mobile apps and websites of parts distributors and retailers.

And then, something incredible happened, Partpic was acquired by Amazon. Currently Jewel serves as Team Lead for Visual Search at A9.com, an Amazon Company. In addition to this role, Jewel is a proud board member at Amplify 4 Good, and spends much of her free time working with startups.

On today’s show, Jewel shares:

• How she came up with the idea for Partpic
• How she recruited a smart and talented team and Co-Founder
• What it was like to juggle working for Google while building Partpic
• And what it’s like to have your company be acquired.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Links mentioned on this episode

• Google Alerts
• Extreme Ownership
• Jasmine Crowe

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

Announcements

Side Hustle Pro is now over 5000 members strong! 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

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Jewel Burks - @jewelmelanie

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Today on the show, we have a real boss. Her name is Dawn Dickson and she is a serial entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience in marketing and business development. She has launched four successful cash flow positive companies since 2002. Her most recent ventures are Flat Out of Heels (which provides rollable flats for women) and Solutions Vending International, recently renamed Pop Com, which provides a software solution to make vending machines more intelligent.

Dawn has received numerous awards and accolades for her Business savvy and pitching skills, including being awarded First place in the PowerMoves NOLA Big Break pitch Competition and second place in the 2016 SBA InnovateHer Challenge.

Additionally, Dawn was selected to participate in some of the nation’s top accelerator programs for entrepreneurs including the NewME(San Francisco),Canopy Boulder (Boulder,Colorado) and Techstars(Los Angeles).

On today’s episode, Dawn gets into:

• How she went from living her best life with her first business to broke and moving in with her cousin
• How she lost $15,000 attempting to start Solutions Vending
• How she became a pitching queen
• And Her best kept secret to find amazing business partners

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Links mentioned on this episode

• Flat Out of Heels
• Solutions Vending
• TechStars
• Y Combinator
• Shark Tank
• LinkedIn
• Afro Tech Conference
• The Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
• Jewel Burks

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

Announcements

Side Hustle Pro is now over 4900 members strong. 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

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Dawn Dickson - @dawnwdickson

Flat Out of Heels - @FlatOutofHeels

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

Today on the show, is the one and only Claire Sulmers, the founder of FashionBombDaily.com, and the industry’s leading fashion blogger chronicling fashionistas of color. Her pioneering work ushered in a new wave of digital journalism that fed and fueled an underserved community of African-American and Latino style lovers.

Claire’s body of work and online following- has allowed her to partner with major corporate brands who want to reach her audience including Toyota, Verizon and others.

In 11 years, Claire has accumulated over 1.2 million followers, written a book “The Bomb Life”, and is now hosting on Revolt.

I first learned about Claire when I started reading the Fashion Bomb blog 11 years ago. Like other readers, I have followed Claire’s evolution from blogger to brand ambassador to business woman.  

One of the reasons I am always so intrigued by Claire, is that at first glance, just looking at her instagram feed, you would have no idea of her story. But she has made some humbling moves  and missteps on her path to getting where she is today and I have much respect for her for how she’s been able to flip fumbles into fortune.

On today’s episode, Claire gets into:

• How she started from the bottom in fashion with unpaid internships and thankless jobs
• Why she took a leap of faith and moved to Paris with no job and barely any money
• How she started and differentiated Fashion Bomb Daily
• All of the revenue streams in her business
• How a rogue ex almost ruined her reputation
• Plus how she’s continuing to grow her brand

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Links mentioned on this episode

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

Announcements

Side Hustle Pro is now over 4900 members strong. 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

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Claire Sulmers - @clairesulmers

Fashion Bomb - @FashionBombDaily

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro

I’m answering your questions on all things side hustle. On this episode I get into:

• What tips and tricks do you have for managing your spare time after the day job is over and hubby is fed?
• How and when did you decide to convert your personal social media pages into public brand/company profiles? Do you have a finsta for your friends and family?
• I’d love to know how you deal with family and friends who want your service for free!
• What tips do you have for those who feel they have plateaued in growing their IG with engaged shoppers?
• What are your tips for finding networking events?
• What’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve ever gotten about being a black female entrepreneur?
• How much money did you invest into your side hustle before it was profitable?
• What do you look for when searching for people to interview? I swear you have the most interesting people on!
• What is your long term goal as it relates to turning the wonderful work you’ve done with the podcast? What will that look like for you? What do you want to do?

Listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

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

Links Mentioned

• Goal Getter Action Plan
• Master the Gram

Announcements

Side Hustle Pro is almost 4900 members strong and the group is growing by hundreds each week. 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

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Side Hustle Pro – @sidehustlepro

#SideHustlePro