WEBVTT 00:00:10.830 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host, 00:00:13.589 --> 00:00:16.329 Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and 00:00:16.329 --> 00:00:18.890 I bring you content that's informative, positive, 00:00:19.010 --> 00:00:21.809 fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and 00:00:21.809 --> 00:00:23.969 produced with the help of students from the International 00:00:23.969 --> 00:00:30.649 Community School of Bangkok. Is the career you'll 00:00:30.649 --> 00:00:33.189 have in 10 years something you're studying for 00:00:33.189 --> 00:00:35.750 in school right now? Or is it something you're 00:00:35.750 --> 00:00:38.329 building in your spare time right from your laptop? 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:41.920 For a new generation, that second option is becoming 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:45.100 the new reality. Welcome to the show. Today we 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:47.399 are discussing the reshaping of the future of 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:50.939 work, the side hustle generation. We're talking 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:53.560 about more than just a part -time job. We're 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:55.500 exploring what it means to build a portfolio 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:58.979 of skills, create your own personal brand, and 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:01.939 future -proof your career in a world that's changing 00:01:01.939 --> 00:01:05.469 faster than ever. As someone whose own career 00:01:05.469 --> 00:01:08.109 has been shaped by various side hustles since 00:01:08.109 --> 00:01:11.609 the 1990s, I can tell you the landscape today 00:01:11.609 --> 00:01:14.930 is a world apart. The opportunities, the tools, 00:01:14.969 --> 00:01:17.349 and the very mindset are completely different. 00:01:17.769 --> 00:01:20.269 And to break it all down, I'm joined by co -host 00:01:20.269 --> 00:01:23.390 Josiah and Esther and our show's own producer, 00:01:23.609 --> 00:01:26.689 Highlight. They will help me unpack this fun 00:01:26.689 --> 00:01:29.439 and interesting topic. Together, we're going 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:32.079 to explore why this is happening, how you can 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:34.459 find your own footing in the creator and gig 00:01:34.459 --> 00:01:37.120 economies. And later in the show, we'll count 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:39.939 down a source list of the top 10 most in -demand 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:42.939 side hustles for 2025. You're going to leave 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:45.659 this episode with a lot of new ideas. But first, 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:47.140 let's hear our quote of the day and get some 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:49.459 headline news. The quote for today is from the 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:52.280 celebrated American author Mark Twain. He said, 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:54.659 the secret to getting ahead is getting started. 00:01:55.230 --> 00:01:57.890 This is a powerful reminder that all the planning 00:01:57.890 --> 00:02:00.109 and dreaming in the world can't replace action. 00:02:00.250 --> 00:02:02.689 We can get so caught up in waiting for the perfect 00:02:02.689 --> 00:02:05.189 moment or the perfect idea that we end up never 00:02:05.189 --> 00:02:07.790 doing anything at all. Twain's point is that 00:02:07.790 --> 00:02:10.629 the most difficult and most important step is 00:02:10.629 --> 00:02:13.030 usually the very first one. And that connects 00:02:13.030 --> 00:02:15.370 perfectly to our topic of the side hustle generation. 00:02:15.710 --> 00:02:18.189 The idea of launching your own project can feel 00:02:18.189 --> 00:02:20.349 huge and intimidating, but this quote reminds 00:02:20.349 --> 00:02:22.629 us that you don't need a flawless business plan 00:02:22.629 --> 00:02:25.340 to begin. Progress comes from the simple act 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:27.659 of starting, listing that first item online, 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:30.319 filming that first video, or offering that first 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.039 service. It's all about taking that first small 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.300 step. And that's our quote of the day. Now on 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:37.900 to some headline news. Thanks, Josiah. That quote 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:40.159 is a perfect setup for what's actually happening 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.680 in the world right now. I've got three recent 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:44.979 headlines that dig into the details of how side 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.580 hustle landscape is evolving. Our first story 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:50.300 is from the Forbes Tech Council, and it tracks 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:52.949 a massive shift in freelance work. The headline 00:02:52.949 --> 00:02:56.349 is, AI tools fueling a surge in student -led 00:02:56.349 --> 00:02:59.650 digital services. Now, this goes beyond just 00:02:59.650 --> 00:03:02.270 a simple app. The report details how students 00:03:02.270 --> 00:03:05.250 are leveraging sophisticated AI to offer services 00:03:05.250 --> 00:03:07.509 that were once the domain of professional agencies. 00:03:08.430 --> 00:03:11.090 Think about AI that can generate an entire social 00:03:11.090 --> 00:03:13.590 media marketing campaign from a single prompt, 00:03:13.710 --> 00:03:16.430 or design a professional quality logo in seconds. 00:03:16.669 --> 00:03:18.610 What this means is that the barrier to entry 00:03:18.610 --> 00:03:20.990 for high -skill gigs has essentially vanished. 00:03:21.189 --> 00:03:23.949 A student with a good idea and the right AI tools 00:03:23.949 --> 00:03:26.389 can now deliver work from their basement, bedroom, 00:03:26.550 --> 00:03:28.789 or dorm room that rivals what a small creative 00:03:28.789 --> 00:03:31.550 firm could do just a few years ago. Next, we 00:03:31.550 --> 00:03:34.669 have a trend piece from Wired Magazine. The headline 00:03:34.669 --> 00:03:37.939 reads, Hyper niche is the new buzzword in the 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:40.539 creator economy. This article argues that the 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:43.020 era of the generalist creator is fading. The 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:45.259 real success stories today are coming from individuals 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:48.219 who go incredibly deep on one specific topic. 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:50.520 The piece highlights creators who focus only 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:52.939 on things like restoring vintage fountain pens 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:56.180 or channels dedicated solely to the science of 00:03:56.180 --> 00:03:58.740 baking the perfect sourdough bread. By becoming 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:01.800 the go -to expert in a hyper niche, these creators 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.340 are building incredibly loyal and engaged communities. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.460 that trusts their every recommendation. It is 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:10.020 a shift from trying to please everyone to serving 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:12.500 a small, dedicated audience that you can truly 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:14.860 own. And our final headline today comes from 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:17.360 a major study by the Pew Research Center. It 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.800 shows that it isn't just a trend, it's a fundamental 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.860 change in career ambitions. The headline is, 00:04:22.939 --> 00:04:25.660 Gen Z Values Skill Stacking Over a Single Career 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:28.800 Path. The report defines skill stacking as the 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:31.660 conscious effort to acquire a portfolio of complementary 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:34.939 skills. rather than focusing on a mastery of 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:37.420 just one. Think of it less like climbing a ladder 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:39.439 and more like building a toolkit. For example, 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:41.800 a student might combine coding knowledge with 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:44.360 graphic design and digital marketing. Separately, 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:46.319 those skills are valuable, but stacked together, 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.680 they enable that one person to build and launch 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.120 an entire online business by themselves. The 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:53.779 study suggests this is a direct response to economic 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:56.240 uncertainty and a desire for more control and 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.079 adaptability in one's career. So, from AI democratizing 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.620 high -level skills to new strategies, for finding 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:04.939 an audience, and a complete rethinking of what 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:07.660 a career even is, the working landscape is definitely 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:09.759 shifting. And that ends our headline news for 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.620 this episode. Those headlines on AI, niche markets, 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.079 and skill stacking perfectly set the stage. It's 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.060 clear this isn't just a passing trend. It's a 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:22.060 major shift in how people are thinking about 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:24.879 work, and I'm excited to talk about it today 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.100 with all of you. Also, I almost forgot, but we 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.850 have our own producer. highlight on the show 00:05:30.850 --> 00:05:33.089 today as well. So highlight, I'll start with 00:05:33.089 --> 00:05:35.410 you. As a member of this current youth generation, 00:05:35.769 --> 00:05:39.100 what does the term side hustle mean to you? That's 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:41.779 a great question, Mr. Jason. For me and probably 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:44.740 many of my friends, a side hustle feels different 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:46.920 from a regular job because you're completely 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:50.319 in control. It's your project, your brand, your 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.279 hours. It might be about making extra money for 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:56.560 tuition, sure, but it's just as much about building 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:59.259 a skill or a portfolio that you can't get in 00:05:59.259 --> 00:06:02.620 a classroom. It's learning by doing. Your project, 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.819 your brand, I think that's a key distinction. 00:06:05.259 --> 00:06:07.589 Josiah, what's your take on it? I completely 00:06:07.589 --> 00:06:10.009 agree with Highlight. It's about ownership. To 00:06:10.009 --> 00:06:12.009 me, a part -time job is something you clock in 00:06:12.009 --> 00:06:14.110 and out of. You leave it out the door. But a 00:06:14.110 --> 00:06:15.689 side hustle is something you think about in the 00:06:15.689 --> 00:06:17.790 shower because you're genuinely invested in it. 00:06:17.990 --> 00:06:19.990 It's a piece of you that you're putting out into 00:06:19.990 --> 00:06:22.490 the world. That's a great way to put it. Esther, 00:06:22.670 --> 00:06:24.949 how do you see it? What's the line between a 00:06:24.949 --> 00:06:28.060 passionate hobby and an actual side hustle? For 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.620 me, that line includes making money. A lot of 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:33.100 us have hobbies we love, but the moment you decide 00:06:33.100 --> 00:06:35.800 to sell that piece of pottery or charge a small 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.379 fee for editing a friend's video, it crosses 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:41.139 the line into a hustle. That's the intentional 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:44.819 step of turning a passion into a potential paycheck. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.680 That's a sharp distinction, so thank you. Let 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:51.079 me ask the group this. Does the amount of money 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:53.759 matter? Is it still a hustle if it only makes 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:56.600 enough? To buy one coffee each week? Or does 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.000 it need to have the potential to grow into something 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.720 bigger? Highlight, what do you think? I think 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:04.699 it's still a hustle. The act of creating value 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:07.620 and having someone pay for it, even a small amount, 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:11.079 is a huge mental shift. It validates your skill. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:14.079 Some of the biggest businesses started as tiny 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.540 projects that just covered their own costs. That's 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:19.480 a great way to look at it. It's about the validation. 00:07:20.250 --> 00:07:22.730 Have you guys seen any real -world examples of 00:07:22.730 --> 00:07:25.870 that? A tiny start that proves the concept? Esther, 00:07:25.970 --> 00:07:28.550 what about you? Absolutely. There was a feature 00:07:28.550 --> 00:07:32.050 on a show called Make It about a university student 00:07:32.050 --> 00:07:34.410 in Texas who started creating and selling digital 00:07:34.410 --> 00:07:37.949 planners on Etsy. She initially just designed 00:07:37.949 --> 00:07:40.589 one for her own use, but her friends liked it 00:07:40.589 --> 00:07:43.230 so much she decided to list it for a few dollars. 00:07:43.750 --> 00:07:46.170 According to the article, that single small step 00:07:46.170 --> 00:07:49.079 grew into a six -figure business. It all started 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:51.720 with one template that solved her own problem. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:54.459 That's a perfect example, so thank you. Solving 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:57.000 your own problem first. Josiah, have you seen 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.639 something similar? A recent article in Wired 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:01.759 talked about the growing economy of video game 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:04.040 coaching. They highlighted a college student 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:06.439 who was highly ranked in the game Apex Legends. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.180 He started informally helping his friends improve 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:12.360 and then listed himself on a coaching site. He 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:15.420 charged just $15 for a session. and now it's 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.600 a significant income stream for him, all built 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.060 on a hobby he loves. All right, those examples 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.959 are perfect. Thank you. These examples capture 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.899 the modern definition of a side hustle, ownership, 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.519 passion, and that first step into monetization, 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.519 no matter the scale. It's fascinating because 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.620 when I started my first side hustles in the 1990s 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:39.250 and early 2000s, Doing graphic design and building 00:08:39.250 --> 00:08:42.129 websites for customers, the term side hustle 00:08:42.129 --> 00:08:45.009 didn't exist. We just called it freelancing. 00:08:45.129 --> 00:08:47.990 And freelancing was mostly about earning extra 00:08:47.990 --> 00:08:50.409 money, upskilling and building your professional 00:08:50.409 --> 00:08:54.809 reputation outside of the often stuffy and enclosed 00:08:54.809 --> 00:08:57.429 corporate environment. This brings us to the 00:08:57.429 --> 00:09:00.210 big question. Why is this exploding now? Josiah, 00:09:00.230 --> 00:09:02.570 how much has technology made it easier just to 00:09:02.570 --> 00:09:04.700 get started? It's a night and day difference. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.139 Now the tools of production are in everybody's 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:10.960 pocket, available 24 -7. Absolutely. So what 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.259 took me a week or more of designing and coding 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.679 a simple five -page website for a client back 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:18.879 in 1998? Can you believe it? Well, today a person 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.419 with no designing and coding knowledge can launch 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:24.100 an online e -commerce store on Shopify in one 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:26.820 day or less. And if you don't want to pay for 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:29.580 Shopify, you can have an AI tool now write all 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:32.179 your code for you while you grab a cup of coffee. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.139 But it's not just about the creative tools, is 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:37.460 it? What about the business tools like getting 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:39.779 paid or marketing? Esther, what do you think 00:09:39.779 --> 00:09:42.100 about that? That's maybe an even bigger problem. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:44.759 In the past, how would you have even been able 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:47.299 to accept a payment from someone in another country? 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:50.019 Now you have Stripe and PayPal, not to mention 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:52.340 sometimes having the option to pay with crypto. 00:09:52.830 --> 00:09:55.289 How would you market your product? Now you can 00:09:55.289 --> 00:09:58.009 build an entire audience on TikTok or Instagram, 00:09:58.250 --> 00:10:01.549 YouTube, or Facebook for free. The entire infrastructure 00:10:01.549 --> 00:10:05.929 of conference is now accessible to anyone. Exactly. 00:10:05.929 --> 00:10:09.169 So the technology makes it possible. But let's 00:10:09.169 --> 00:10:11.210 talk about the pressure that makes it necessary. 00:10:11.850 --> 00:10:14.309 Hilah, you mentioned this before. From a student's 00:10:14.309 --> 00:10:16.610 view, how much of this do you think is driven 00:10:16.610 --> 00:10:19.590 by financial need? I think it's a big factor. 00:10:19.669 --> 00:10:22.850 The costs for everything are rising. A traditional 00:10:22.850 --> 00:10:25.590 job isn't always flexible enough with classes 00:10:25.590 --> 00:10:28.950 or other obligations. So finding something you 00:10:28.950 --> 00:10:32.169 can do on your own time isn't just a bonus for 00:10:32.169 --> 00:10:35.250 many. It's a lifeline. A lifeline, absolutely. 00:10:35.610 --> 00:10:37.970 Josiah, do you think there's also an element 00:10:37.970 --> 00:10:41.029 of wanting lifestyle money? Not just to survive, 00:10:41.090 --> 00:10:43.750 but to afford experiences that seem out of reach? 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:46.789 For sure. I think social media plays a big role 00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:49.230 there. You see people traveling or going to concerts, 00:10:49.350 --> 00:10:51.710 and a side hustle can feel like a ticket to participating 00:10:51.710 --> 00:10:54.289 in that. It's a difference between just getting 00:10:54.289 --> 00:10:56.370 by and actually living the life you see online. 00:10:56.929 --> 00:10:59.509 Ooh, that's a key insight. Thank you. And both 00:10:59.509 --> 00:11:01.929 are valid. I once worked as a barista on the 00:11:01.929 --> 00:11:04.330 side for almost a year. It had nothing to do 00:11:04.330 --> 00:11:06.649 with passion. It was just purely about having 00:11:06.649 --> 00:11:09.909 some extra cash and... a little help with health 00:11:09.909 --> 00:11:12.549 insurance. Sometimes a hustle is just a hustle 00:11:12.549 --> 00:11:16.230 and that's okay. So we have tech making it possible, 00:11:16.309 --> 00:11:19.289 finances making it necessary. Let's talk about 00:11:19.289 --> 00:11:22.529 the final piece, the mindset. Esther, the skill 00:11:22.529 --> 00:11:25.289 stacking idea is powerful. Is that trend also 00:11:25.289 --> 00:11:27.509 a rejection of the traditional career path? What 00:11:27.509 --> 00:11:30.799 do you think? I think so. Our generation has 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.480 seen how quickly industries get disrupted and 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:37.620 change. Relying on one employer for 20, 30, or 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:40.639 40 years feels very risky. Having a portfolio 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.580 of skills, being someone who can write, who can 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:46.720 understand videos, and who also sells crafts 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.779 makes you more adaptable. It's about future -proofing 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:51.759 yourself. Oh, that's a great point. It leads 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:54.799 to a bigger idea then. Is the side hustle changing 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:58.360 the very definition of success? Is the new dream 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:01.480 a portfolio of interesting projects instead of 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.259 a corner office? What do you think, Josiah, or 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:07.120 Highlight? I think for many, yes. Success is 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.000 starting to look more like freedom and control 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.299 over your own time rather than a specific job 00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:13.940 title. A successful side hustle, even a small 00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:16.200 one, is proof that you can create that for yourself. 00:12:16.750 --> 00:12:19.509 I would add to Josiah that success is also about 00:12:19.509 --> 00:12:22.269 building a personal brand. Here's an analogy 00:12:22.269 --> 00:12:25.210 that might help. A traditional career path is 00:12:25.210 --> 00:12:27.789 like being a character in a story someone else 00:12:27.789 --> 00:12:30.889 wrote, but a portfolio of side hustles lets you 00:12:30.889 --> 00:12:34.629 be the author of your own story. I see it with 00:12:34.629 --> 00:12:37.429 some of my friends and even in my own side work 00:12:37.429 --> 00:12:41.149 that public -facing projects becomes a huge part 00:12:41.149 --> 00:12:43.850 of our identity and how we start to measure our 00:12:43.850 --> 00:12:47.110 own success. So future -proofing, freedom, upskilling, 00:12:47.269 --> 00:12:50.110 personal brand building, all powerful ideas. 00:12:50.250 --> 00:12:52.769 This is a complex mix of opportunity, necessity, 00:12:53.049 --> 00:12:56.250 and a whole new philosophy on work. We've looked 00:12:56.250 --> 00:12:59.830 at all of it, the what and the why. But the biggest 00:12:59.830 --> 00:13:02.250 question remains, how do you actually do it? 00:13:02.490 --> 00:13:04.330 That's what we'll be talking about after the 00:13:04.330 --> 00:13:06.529 break. We'll give you the practical first steps 00:13:06.529 --> 00:13:09.769 and count down a list of the top 10 most popular 00:13:09.769 --> 00:13:12.549 side hustles you can start today. So don't go 00:13:12.549 --> 00:13:14.690 anywhere. We'll be right back after this short 00:13:14.690 --> 00:13:22.610 PSA. If the first half of our show has you feeling 00:13:22.610 --> 00:13:25.070 inspired, you might be asking yourself, OK, but 00:13:25.070 --> 00:13:27.330 where do I even start? Well, one of the best 00:13:27.330 --> 00:13:29.809 first steps is simply to learn a new skill and 00:13:29.809 --> 00:13:32.080 you don't need to spend a fortune to do it. There 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.419 are incredible free resources online that can 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:36.899 teach you things that are directly valuable for 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:39.500 a side hustle. For example, if you have a creative 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.960 spark, check out the Canva Design School. They 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:44.259 have dozens of free video tutorials on everything 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:46.899 from creating a professional logo to designing 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:49.879 engaging social media posts. If you're more business 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.879 -minded, Google's Digital Garage offers free 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.419 certified courses in fundamentals like digital 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:57.919 marketing and data analytics. These are real 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:00.440 resume -worthy skills that you can learn completely 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.240 at your own pace. right from your laptop. So 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.519 turn that inspiration into action and just take 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.659 30 minutes to explore a free course and add a 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:10.379 new tool to your toolkit. Now, back to the show. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.440 Welcome back to the show. Before the break, we 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:16.360 really unpacked the what and the why of the side 00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:19.500 hustle generation. Now we're going to get practical 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:22.480 and dive into the how. When I look at the landscape 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:25.799 of opportunities today, I see three major overlapping 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:29.059 worlds that have completely changed the game 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:32.509 from when I started back in the 1990s. First, 00:14:32.649 --> 00:14:34.990 there's the classic gig economy. This is about 00:14:34.990 --> 00:14:38.490 task -based work, freelance writing, driving 00:14:38.490 --> 00:14:41.269 for a ride share, or completing a project on 00:14:41.269 --> 00:14:44.350 a platform like Fiverr. Then there's the digital 00:14:44.350 --> 00:14:47.110 services market, which is where you sell your 00:14:47.110 --> 00:14:50.090 skills like graphic design or consulting to a 00:14:50.090 --> 00:14:52.929 global client base. And finally, there's the 00:14:52.929 --> 00:14:56.009 booming creator economy. which is built around 00:14:56.009 --> 00:14:58.769 creating content, building an audience, and then 00:14:58.769 --> 00:15:01.809 monetizing that attention. Esther, I want to 00:15:01.809 --> 00:15:04.250 start with you. Do you see these as separate 00:15:04.250 --> 00:15:06.909 paths or are they starting to blur together for 00:15:06.909 --> 00:15:09.610 most people? They're definitely blurring. Think 00:15:09.610 --> 00:15:12.409 about successful creators on YouTube. They operate 00:15:12.409 --> 00:15:15.509 in the creator economy by making videos. But 00:15:15.509 --> 00:15:17.769 they might also sell digital products like video 00:15:17.769 --> 00:15:21.330 editing presets, which are in the digital service 00:15:21.330 --> 00:15:24.789 markets. And they might take on a one -off sponsorship 00:15:24.789 --> 00:15:27.210 deal which functions like a project in the gig 00:15:27.210 --> 00:15:30.990 economy. It's not one or the other anymore. It's 00:15:30.990 --> 00:15:33.750 a stack. Yeah, it's a stack. That brings up the 00:15:33.750 --> 00:15:36.590 most crucial point about starting. So many people 00:15:36.590 --> 00:15:39.129 get paralyzed trying to find the perfect profitable 00:15:39.129 --> 00:15:42.169 idea right out of the gate. In my experience, 00:15:42.350 --> 00:15:44.309 that's the wrong approach. The most successful 00:15:44.309 --> 00:15:46.809 ventures, including some of my side hustle projects 00:15:46.809 --> 00:15:50.470 from the past, came from a simple place. I was 00:15:50.470 --> 00:15:52.990 just trying to solve a problem. Is it better 00:15:52.990 --> 00:15:55.129 to start by looking for a problem rather than 00:15:55.129 --> 00:15:57.899 a product? What do you think, Josiah? I think 00:15:57.899 --> 00:16:00.100 if you start by trying to invent a product, you 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:02.519 might build something nobody wants. But if you 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.440 start with a problem your friends are having, 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:06.899 like it's too hard to find good study notes for 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:09.700 this class, or all the part -time jobs conflict 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:12.100 with our lab schedule, the potential solutions, 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:15.200 the potential side hustles, become much clearer. 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:17.940 Exactly. And what about the skills needed to 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:20.320 solve that problem? Highlight. How important 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:23.320 is it for someone to do an honest inventory of 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:26.000 what they're already good at before they jump 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.370 into something new? I think it's critical. So 00:16:28.370 --> 00:16:30.690 many students undervalue the skills they already 00:16:30.690 --> 00:16:33.629 have. Maybe you're the person everyone asks to 00:16:33.629 --> 00:16:36.049 proofread their essays. That's a potential editing 00:16:36.049 --> 00:16:38.909 service. Or maybe you're known for your amazing 00:16:38.909 --> 00:16:41.889 presentation slides. That's a design skill business 00:16:41.889 --> 00:16:45.110 will pay for. The easiest way to start is to 00:16:45.110 --> 00:16:47.309 monetize a skill you've already built instead 00:16:47.309 --> 00:16:49.850 of trying to learn something from scratch. Yeah, 00:16:49.870 --> 00:16:52.370 I think that's great advice. So you find a problem, 00:16:52.470 --> 00:16:55.009 you audit your skills, but then you have to act. 00:16:55.110 --> 00:16:59.240 That formula. Problem, skill, action is timeless. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.980 With that framework in mind, let's get into some 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:04.900 specific ideas. Our team did some research digging 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:08.119 into recent 2025 reports from publications like 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.940 Forbes, CNBC, and Wired to compile a list of 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:14.519 the top 10 fastest growing side hustles for students 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:17.460 right now. So Esther, why don't you kick us off 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:20.539 with number 10? At number 10, we have custom 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:24.640 craft goods. Etsy's own market reports show that 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.920 the demand for personalized and handmade items, 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.779 from jewelry to art prints, remains one of the 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:32.779 strongest categories in e -commerce. Number nine 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:35.740 is a classic but with a modern twist. Local task 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:38.480 and delivery services. Gig economy data shows 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:41.099 that the flexibility of using apps like TaskRabbit 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:43.720 for errands or DoorDash for delivery still makes 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.000 this a go -to for immediate, flexible income. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:48.319 And if you are here in Thailand, there are apps 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:51.319 like Grab, Lalamove, and others. Coming in at 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:53.640 number eight is one for our listeners, podcast 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:56.359 production assistant. Media industry reports 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:59.440 from places like PodNews show that with millions 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.299 of podcasts out there, the need for remote help 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:05.599 with audio editing, creating show notes, and 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:08.859 managing social media is at an all -time high. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:11.480 Okay, number seven is a very new and interesting 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:14.259 one. Esther, what do you have? Number seven, 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:17.519 we have UGC, user -generated content creator. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:22.140 Publications like AdAge are all over this. Brands 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:25.019 are not paying everyday people to create authentic 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:28.059 TikTok -style videos for their ad campaigns because 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:30.240 it feels more trustworthy than slick, polished 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:32.640 commercial. At number six, we have niche tutoring 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.519 and coaching. Data from freelance platforms like 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:37.660 Upwork and Fiverr shows that beyond standard 00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:39.839 academic tutoring, there's a huge profitable 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:42.599 market for coaching and specific skills, like 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.460 getting better at a video game, learning music 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:47.210 production, or even public speaking. Number five 00:18:47.210 --> 00:18:49.869 is all about sustainability. It's e -commerce 00:18:49.869 --> 00:18:52.450 reselling. Features in the New York Times and 00:18:52.450 --> 00:18:54.789 other outlets have highlighted the massive boom 00:18:54.789 --> 00:18:57.410 in the second -hand market. Drifting vintage 00:18:57.410 --> 00:18:59.869 clothes, sneakers, or furniture and flipping 00:18:59.869 --> 00:19:02.690 them on platforms like Depop is huge right now. 00:19:02.970 --> 00:19:05.009 All right, we are halfway through at number four, 00:19:05.069 --> 00:19:07.289 another one that's booming because of the creator 00:19:07.289 --> 00:19:10.829 economy, community management. Tech publications 00:19:10.829 --> 00:19:13.509 like Business Insider have pointed out that successful 00:19:13.509 --> 00:19:16.849 online brands and creators need people to manage 00:19:16.849 --> 00:19:19.730 their communities on platforms like Discord or 00:19:19.730 --> 00:19:22.750 on Facebook groups. Esther, back to you for number 00:19:22.750 --> 00:19:25.509 three. At number three, we have a massive demand, 00:19:25.670 --> 00:19:28.109 which is in short -form video editing. Every 00:19:28.109 --> 00:19:31.750 marketing report out there confirms that businesses 00:19:31.750 --> 00:19:34.309 are desperate for freelance editors who can create 00:19:34.309 --> 00:19:36.930 engaging TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube 00:19:36.930 --> 00:19:39.589 Shorts. Number two is a favorite for those who 00:19:39.589 --> 00:19:42.089 like passive income. It's digital template design. 00:19:42.289 --> 00:19:45.049 We've all seen success stories on CNBC Make It 00:19:45.049 --> 00:19:47.289 about students making incredible money selling 00:19:47.289 --> 00:19:49.690 pre -made templates for Notion, Canva, resumes, 00:19:49.849 --> 00:19:52.390 or social media. And that brings us to number 00:19:52.390 --> 00:19:55.930 one, the top trend, which publications from Forbes 00:19:55.930 --> 00:19:58.809 to Wired are calling a massive growth area for 00:19:58.809 --> 00:20:02.329 freelancers, is AI -assisted content services. 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:06.259 This means using powerful new AI tools to help 00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:09.400 you offer services like copywriting, market research, 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:13.519 or presentation design for clients. The AI helps 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:16.079 you work faster and deliver a high -quality product. 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:20.160 So, so many opportunities, but I have to add 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:23.619 a dose of reality. From my own experience, I 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:26.599 know it's not always a smooth ride. What are 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:28.640 some of the biggest challenges we should warn 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.859 students about? Things like time management, 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:34.140 burnout, or even the dreaded topic of taxes. 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:37.519 Time management is the big one. It's so easy 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.019 to let your side hustle bleed into study time 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:42.500 or sleep time, and then both your grades and 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.099 your health can suffer. It's a real balancing 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:48.559 act. And the always -on culture. When you're 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.559 your own boss, your brain never really clocks 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.759 out. It's hard to switch off, and that can lead 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.519 to serious burnout if you're not intentional 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.640 about setting boundaries and scheduling downtime. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:59.920 And taxes is the boring part nobody wants to 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.579 talk about. When you're a freelancer, no one 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:05.059 is withholding taxes for you. You have to be 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:07.440 disciplined enough to set aside a portion of 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.859 everything you earn, or you'll get a very nasty 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:13.019 surprise by the end of the year. All incredibly 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:15.960 important points. It's a marathon, not a sprint. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:18.740 To wrap this up, I want to ask everyone a final 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:21.759 big picture question. Looking five years into 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.420 the future, do you think having a portfolio of 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:27.819 skills from side hustles will be the new expectation 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:31.160 for graduates entering the workforce? Esther, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.299 let's start with you. I think it's heading that 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:36.759 way. It shows initiative, practical skills, and 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:39.559 an ability to self -start, which is what employers 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.680 want. It's like a real -time resume. I agree. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.160 A degree proves that you can learn in a structured 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.559 environment, but a successful side hustle proves 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:49.619 you can do something in the real world. It's 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:51.880 a project you can actually show, not just talk 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:55.190 about. I think it will almost be essential. It 00:21:55.190 --> 00:21:57.529 shows you're adaptable, you're curious, and you've 00:21:57.529 --> 00:21:59.769 built tangible skills outside the traditional 00:21:59.769 --> 00:22:02.849 curriculum. In a competitive job market, that's 00:22:02.849 --> 00:22:06.250 a huge advantage. I think you're all right. What 00:22:06.250 --> 00:22:08.730 we've discussed today isn't a ladder to the top 00:22:08.730 --> 00:22:11.670 of a career. It's a portfolio. It's not about 00:22:11.670 --> 00:22:14.029 climbing. It's about building a collection of 00:22:14.029 --> 00:22:17.289 skills, experiences, and projects that make you 00:22:17.289 --> 00:22:20.289 uniquely valuable and resilient. And whether 00:22:20.289 --> 00:22:23.109 you're driven by financial necessity, a deep 00:22:23.109 --> 00:22:25.990 creative passion, or simply the desire to have 00:22:25.990 --> 00:22:28.650 more control over your future, what's clear from 00:22:28.650 --> 00:22:31.309 our conversation is that the tools and opportunities 00:22:31.309 --> 00:22:33.349 are more accessible than they have ever been. 00:22:33.549 --> 00:22:36.089 The final piece of advice I could offer is this. 00:22:36.170 --> 00:22:39.130 Be curious, be brave enough to start small, and 00:22:39.130 --> 00:22:41.569 don't be afraid to be the author of your own 00:22:41.569 --> 00:22:44.549 story. Building that path for yourself might 00:22:44.549 --> 00:22:46.869 just be the most important project you ever take 00:22:46.869 --> 00:22:57.509 on. And that's a wrap on this episode. We've 00:22:57.509 --> 00:22:59.490 talked about what the side hustle generation 00:22:59.490 --> 00:23:02.230 is, why it's happening, and most importantly, 00:23:02.390 --> 00:23:05.109 how you can be a part of it. The key takeaways 00:23:05.109 --> 00:23:07.950 for me are simple. Start by solving a problem. 00:23:08.170 --> 00:23:10.930 Use the skills you already have and don't be 00:23:10.930 --> 00:23:13.730 afraid to take that first small step. I want 00:23:13.730 --> 00:23:15.950 to give a big thank you to my co -host Josiah 00:23:15.950 --> 00:23:18.410 and Esther and a special thanks to our producer 00:23:18.410 --> 00:23:20.890 Highlight for stepping out from behind the scenes 00:23:20.890 --> 00:23:23.569 and joining us on the mic. And of course, thank 00:23:23.569 --> 00:23:25.809 you to all of you for listening and sharing your 00:23:25.809 --> 00:23:28.109 time with us. If you found this conversation 00:23:28.109 --> 00:23:30.809 valuable, the best way you can support our show 00:23:30.809 --> 00:23:33.190 is by hitting that subscribe or follow button 00:23:33.190 --> 00:23:35.950 on whatever podcast app you're using right now. 00:23:36.069 --> 00:23:38.650 It's free and it means you'll never miss an episode. 00:23:38.869 --> 00:23:41.430 You can also continue the conversation with us 00:23:41.430 --> 00:23:44.329 on our social media channels like Instagram at 00:23:44.329 --> 00:23:47.269 Students Incorporated. We'll be back next week 00:23:47.269 --> 00:23:49.869 with another brand new episode. Until then, keep 00:23:49.869 --> 00:23:53.250 building. And as always, this podcast would not 00:23:53.250 --> 00:23:55.549 be possible without the hard work and support 00:23:55.549 --> 00:23:58.049 of our international student production team. 00:23:58.170 --> 00:24:00.509 All music and sound effects are courtesy of Pixabay 00:24:00.509 --> 00:24:02.930 .com, a vibrant community of creatives sharing 00:24:02.930 --> 00:24:05.609 copyright -free images, videos, and music. And 00:24:05.609 --> 00:24:08.170 we are signing off until next time. We are Students 00:24:08.170 --> 00:24:10.710 Incorporated, because your voice matters.