We Turned Our Side Gig Into a Full-Time Career -- Here's How
Wondering if your side gig is ready to become your full-time job? Making the leap is possible, but it takes more than passion to leave the 9-to-5 behind. In fact, there are several important factors to consider.
Kelly Belknap and his wife Matilda are familiar with this transition. The two founded Adventurist Backpack Co. in 2017. The endeavor started as a way to fill the gap in the backpack market, but became a full-time career.
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Here’s how they did it.
How To Begin
Kelly and Matilda were travel enthusiasts who not only wanted to solve a practical problem (economical yet effective backpacks), but also wanted to solve the social problem of food insecurity. They began creating backpack prototypes in 2017.
“It’s very wise to get proof of concept via a side gig before attempting to do something full time,” Kelly advised. “Once you know there's a market for your product or service, it's much easier to safely take the leap to full-time.”
When To Make the Leap
All told, it took Kelly and Matilda two years and four months to transition Adventurist from a side gig into a full-time one. They were anxious about making the switch, but Kelly described the jump as trading temporary financial anxiety for freedom and future financial gain.
The perseverance paid off, as they broke even about three months after starting the company. Nine years later, the company still has its ups and downs, but has encountered a lot of success.
“Our income varies month to month, as we have busy seasons and slower seasons, but year over year we are seeing continual growth,” Kelly said of the company now.
Adventurist is sold in 100 retailers across the country, including Kohl's and WHSmith. They’ve also partnered with many companies on collaborations such as Google, HBOMax, Microsoft, SketchUp, and Urban Outfitters. The Belknap’s also made good on their desire to help those struggling with food insecurity: For every backpack sold, Adventurist provides 25 meals to families in need.
Give Yourself Time
If you really believe in your side gig, don’t give up just because it’s not going to be profitable right away.
“Getting started and not waiting for the perfect time is underrated advice,” Kelly said. “It's so easy to convince yourself to get started later, but time is limited and the best time to get to work is yesterday!”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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