The Dark Side of Side Hustles: The Ruin of Time and Financial Futures

The Reality Check

Side hustles can be a massive debt-building process. There’s a reason most new businesses fail in the first year. And yet, modern workers find themselves in increasingly unstable positions where mass firings occur, benefits are reduced, productivity is measures to such a minute degree, and we’re accessible 24/7 via phone and email that we’re unable to stop working, stop thinking, and stop breathing for the companies that really have little nourishment for our health and wealth beyond the warm diaper of a check on the 1st and the 15th. While side hustles feel like an inevitability and a need in this world to give yourself a soft landing when your employer screws you over, or you retire still with insufficient funds to live… Here's the dark side to be aware of.

You'll Stop Spending Money on Stupid Shit

One of the most dreadful outcomes of having a side hustle is that you'll start to value your hard-earned money more. Gone will be the days of rolling your car loan into a new car every few years. Instead, you'll find yourself making more thoughtful financial decisions. How tragic!

You'll Distance Yourself from Dead Weight

Another horrifying consequence is that you'll naturally gravitate towards people who share your drive and ambition. Want to see your life in 5 years? Look to your left, and right and the top 5 you spend your time with. Your friends will determine your ambition, weight, income, etc. 12. You'll stop spending time with those who don't want you to grow and who lack goals of their own. The reality is you may have been the one holding others back in the past, so don’t forget that everyone is on their own journey and they may catch up or surpass you in the future too.

You'll Start Focusing on What Really Matters

With a side hustle, you'll begin to dial in on what truly matters in life. You'll learn to prioritize your time and energy, focusing on how you can help others and create more time freedom for yourself. Yes, binging on Netflix can be a great respite from the world… but the hours wasted while simultaneously claiming there’s no time to intentionally develop yourself and financial future is not a pass you want to give yourself. This newfound clarity might even allow you to continue working your W2 job without feeling the need to say yes to every extra project, out-of-scope task, and work trip that takes you away from loved ones. The danger is getting so goal-oriented that you chase goals with the idea that reaching the goal will change your life instead of realizing the person you become as you chase the goals is the real reward.

You'll Get Cocky and Want to Burn the Boat

The most terrifying aspect of all is that a side hustle can lead to financial independence. You'll no longer be at the mercy of a single income stream. Instead, you'll have the freedom to make choices that align with your values and long-term goals. Ever heard of ‘f*ck you money’? How about reaching for ‘no thank you’ money. The inclination to take the worst advice ever is to ‘burn the boats’. You do not have to burn the boats, you need to dig deep and use your time, money, and skills to YOUR benefit and often that means helping others in a sustainable way that’s mutually beneficial.

Embrace the "Dark Side"

So, there you have it. The "dark side" of side hustles is filled with the test, trials, tribulations suffering and… AND… the delights. Financial prudence, personal growth, and meaningful relationships are simple to strive for, but not easy to achieve. It’s exhausting, and yet rewarding. If you're brave enough to face these terrifying prospects, a side hustle might just be the best decision you ever make. But beware, you might just end up happier, wealthier, and more fulfilled than you ever imagined.