Lessons My Child Taught Me About Starting a Side Hustle
Sometimes, the Wisdom Comes From the Playroom, and there was that moment somewhere between tidying LEGO and reheating tea for the third time when my daughter looked up from her colouring and said, “You could sell these, you know.” She was talking about the little hand-drawn affirmations I’d started slipping into her lunchbox.
Just small bits of encouragement I sketched while waiting for the laundry to finish and hopping between meetings. I laughed at the time, but the idea wouldn’t leave my mind
Side Hustles Don’t Have to Be Serious to Be Real
She’s five. She knows nothing about tax returns or digital strategy. But she has a rock-solid belief that if something makes you happy, then you should probably do more of it. And in her world, if it makes someone else happy, too, then of course you can sell it. That pure confidence caught me off guard and reminded me how unnecessarily complicated I’d made things.
She’s Braver Than I Am
What impressed me most wasn’t the kind compliment. It was the fact that she saw value in something I’d written off as “just a hobby.” I’ve spent years treating my ideas like background noise. She treats hers like a full-blown production. She creates, announces, displays, and freely offers them to whoever’s wandering through the living room. If someone’s not interested? She shrugs and tries again the next day.
Playing Shop is Alarmingly Accurate
Last week, she set up a mock café in the corridor. It had a menu, price list, and even a loyalty program (every fourth invisible coffee was free). It was adorable but also bizarrely effective. She knew what she was selling. She made it look good. She understood customer service, even if her only customers were stuffed animals. Meanwhile, I was on my eighth re-edit of my ‘About’ page.
From Pretend Play to Actual Possibilities
Her fictional business reminded me that side hustles don’t need to begin with a plan. They can begin with curiosity, a bit of playfulness, or even a nudge from a five-year-old. I’ve had three ideas this year that I dismissed before they ever got off the ground. She reminded me that you can start messy. You can start small. You just have to start.
Let the Experts Do the Bits You Can’t
And if I ever do turn one of those ideas into something real, whether it’s a blog, a craft business, or a tutoring venture, I know I don’t have to do everything myself. Some parts I’ll gladly learn, and others I’ll happily hand over. When it comes to creating a real website, I’ll be turning to a web design company to sort the tech so I can stay focused on what I enjoy.
She Doesn’t Need to Know She Inspired Me, But She Did
She might forget all of this. But I won’t. I’ll remember the small, quiet reminder that being proud of what you create and sharing it anyway is a perfectly good place to begin, even if you’re still reheating the same cup of tea while thinking it through.
This is a collaborative post.
