Is feeling like a fraud keeping you from succeeding in your side hustle? Get unstuck, ditch doubt and capture confidence.

Remember your first day on a new job? You likely didn’t understand the lingo or follow the flow of the job. Everyone around you seemed to know exactly what to do and when to do it. While you still trying to fit into the flow, everyone buzzed around you, a hive of activity. On your first day, no one expected you to know everything. You could rest on the simple phrase, “I’m new” for a good few weeks, sometimes months, and one lady said it for a full year!

You’re not an imposter when you’re starting out. Every business had a day one.
Some of the biggest brand names today (Apple and Amazon) proudly tell of their humble beginnings working out of their garages.

Maybe your dreams aren’t that enormous yet but you can’t always know how far reaching your side hustle will be. Many stories exist about people working side hustles to make ends meet or just get through college only to create a multimillion dollar empire.

Let’s say you’re a new writer and that’s your passion. What you might do is ask around and see who has a writing project they would let you do pro-bono. Consider writing for your local church, newspaper, or company newsletter. Get a few clips you can show those to prospective clients to get paid work. By treating each assignment in a professional manner, you will catch the notice of others who need your services.

Want to be a dog walker? If you’ve walked your own dog, you already have proven ability.  If not, ask your neighbor if you can walk their do in exchange for a reference. Your love of dogs should be apparent from the first meeting with prospective clients.  Get recommendations from those clients you’ve worked with before. By showing future clients that former clients were happy with your work, you’re proving yourself. Every bit of experience counts. Be sure to get recommendations from each new client and build your resume.

Coaching or teaching online? Consider a free podcast or YouTube video to people interested in your area of expertise. See what others are doing that you can implement in your classes. Are they vlogging? Using live feed Q&A? Get testimonials, positive comments and feedback and post them where that your potential clients can easily find them. Whether that’s your website, LinkedIn or another social media platform your prospects frequent. If your services are pricey, over a few hundred dollars, you may ask some of your former clients if they would be open to talking to curious future clients by phone.

Begin thinking of all the ways you can get past feeling like an imposter,  and become confident in your hustle. Relax and be yourself. By being honest, helpful and looking people in the eye, you’ll exude self-assurance, and more clients will be willing to take a shot on you.

Some very gifted and even established writers had days where they felt like absolute frauds. At the beginning of each project, they wondered how they would complete their assignment.  While some online coaches and teachers may not have the pedigree that some others would be looking for but they make up for it in passion and perseverance and a lot of experience.  One instructor told me, I don’t have to know it all, I just have to stay ahead of the class.

Passion vs. Imposter

Have you ever heard the expression bloom where you’re planted? No matter where you are in your journey of side hustling, you’re further ahead of the majority of people trading their hours for dollars. Trust in what you know, what you don’t know can be learned.

As you continue learning, you increase your value and your expertise. If you desire to increase your income base you could ask current clients what other related services they might be interested in. One writer I know generated another stream of income by writing LinkedIn synopses and recommendation letters for coworkers. And now, it’s part of a marketing package she offers to new authors and busy clients who want a presence but don’t have the desire, time or inclination to write their own.

Side hustle writing

You might discover a recipe for healthy dog treats. This is a way to upsell to your busy, canine loving clients and develop another stream of income from your hustle.  Invest in educating yourself about trends or additional ways to be of service to your clients. See what others are doing to increase their revenue.

If you’re coaching for fitness or weight loss, you might provide a monthly menu of quick and healthy dinners, or easy to pack lunches on your website.  By being interested in solving problems for your clients, you will create more ways to add value your services. Listen to what your client’s needs are. This will go a long way toward making you a much-preferred professional.

Reach Out

Sometimes a mentor can help. There are small business associations all over the country. This can facilitate exponential growth, and help support confidence. A mentor believing in your abilities can help you get over the imposter syndrome. Good news, that could be considered a business expense related to ongoing education in your field—and a potential tax write off. (Check with your accountant or tax preparer.)

Feeling like a fraud doesn’t mean you are one. We all suffer with doubt from time to time. You might be having an off day or a string of bad ones. Or, it could mean you lack something that would help you progress. Find out what you need and own it. None of us are born with all the knowledge we need to get through life. We have to be intentional about gathering that at the appropriate time.

Some hustles are like on-the-job-training, you learn what you need to know as you work. A side hustle is no different. Lucky for you, there’s loads of videos, websites and podcasts from people willing to share information, much of it for free.

It is extremely unwise in the information age to pad your resume or inflate any aspect of your side hustle history.  The truth has a way of coming out. Just starting your side hustle but it’s been a life-long dream? Or a passion for years? That’ okay.  A lot of people have those dreams. You’re one of the adventurous ones that gave yours traction. If a prospect isn’t interested in what you have to offer, don’t take it personally. It’s part of the package that you can’t be all things to all people.

Being honest, using best practices in your field and working with integrity will take you farther than being dishonest or taking shortcuts. If you’re just starting out, charge prices that reflect that and increase them as you become more skilled and educated.

Make it a habit to be generous, gracious and above board in every aspect of your hustle. You never know when that prospect will have a change of circumstance and suddenly need your services. Keep meticulous records, and if you need to collect taxes, be sure to do so. If you need to get a permit, it’s better to follow the letter of the law rather than incur fines. Be diligent in discovering the requirements of your hustle. It can save you legal headaches down the line. If you aren’t certain what steps you need to take, you can contact the Small Business Administration for help or resources.

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