Hustle with Heels Podcast

Ep16. How a Side Hustle Can Be the Game Changer for Your Career

• Cindy Excell

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What would you do if you walked into work tomorrow and your role no longer existed?

This was the reality I faced in 2018 when a sudden redundancy completely shifted the trajectory of my career.

That moment taught me a lesson that changed everything: the control I thought I had over my corporate career was just an illusion.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into why having a side business is the ultimate career power move.

I’m sharing how my own redundancy became the catalyst for exploring a world beyond the corporate ladder, and why creating something outside your nine-to-five isn’t just a backup plan—it’s a step toward freedom and empowerment.

We’ll talk about the shifts in the corporate world, from the rise of automation and AI to the unpredictability of economic changes, and why job security isn’t what it used to be.

I’ll show you how starting a side hustle can help you diversify your income, monetize your existing skills, and take back control of your career and future.


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Free 30-minute side hustle clarity call

Connect with me on LinkedIn here

Check out my Instagram here

Welcome to the Hustle with Heels podcast. I'm your host, Cindy Excelll, a corporate girl, start hustler, wife, and a mom of two. In 2020, I started my first start hustle as an online fitness coach while working in my corporate job as a private wealth manager. Over the years, I have been living proof that a corporate career And a side hustle can absolutely co exist in harmony.

Today, I'm helping corporate women and early stage entrepreneurs create wealth beyond their nine to five jobs and build an online business on their terms. On this podcast, I'll share my knowledge, strategies, and the stories that will help you start and grow your side hustle. Whether you are ready to diversify your income streams or are looking to build a startup business that aligns with your goals, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Now let's get started.  Hi friend, welcome back to another episode of Hustle with Heels podcast. To kick off today's episode, let me ask you this. What would you do if you walked into work tomorrow and your role no longer existed? Would you feel panicked or would you feel prepared?  This is exactly what happened to me in 2018 that completely changed my perspective about climbing a corporate ladder and the trajectory of my corporate career.

I talked about my redundancy in the very first episode of this podcast. If you haven't listened to it, you can go back and check it out. Now, going back to that question, it was the one that completely changed my life back in 2018 when I was made redundant from a corporate career. I thought that was unshakable.

It was in that moment I realized that the control I thought I had over my 12 years of career back then was just an illusion. But here's the thing. There is a way to protect yourself. And no, I'm not talking about saving more money or working harder in your nine to five. And I'm not even talking about finding another job.

What I'm talking about here is to create something outside your nine to five job, something that is yours.  Today on this episode, we are going to talk about why having a start business is the ultimate career power move. Now let's get into it. Okay, let's rewind to 2018  just a little bit. I was 12 years into my career back then in financial services, climbing a corporate ladder and thought I was in a very secure position because I was good at my job.

I was a top performer, but then out of blue redundancy happened and it hit me like a truck. I remember sitting in that meeting room with a person from HR who I never met and with another person who wasn't even my manager. Again, you can check out the first episode if you want to know more details. Here in the words, your role is no longer needed because we have this, you know, big business merge.

My mind was racing at that time. I thought I did everything right. Being a good employee, worked hard, followed the path I was told would lead to success. And yet, here I was, completely blindsided. That day, I made a decision. I was done putting all my eggs in the corporate basket. I wanted to take back control of my career, my income, and my future.

That's when I started exploring the idea of a side hustle. Now, let me tell you, it's been a game changer. Not just for my finances, it's But for my confidence and freedom, not only that, it's like a whole new world of side hustles, online businesses, and the coaching practices opened up for me, a world I didn't even know existed.

Suddenly, I had options instead of relying on someone else to give me a job or to pay me a salary.  Now, I know that many of you consider starting a side hustle for different reasons. Some of you might be feeling stuck in a job that is unfulfilling, or maybe you have seen your friends or colleagues get laid off and are worried about that might happen to you one day.

Or maybe you just want to diversify your income instead of relying on one employer alone. So, whatever your reasons might be, this episode is for you. In this day and age, the corporate world isn't the same as it was 20 years ago. Well, it's not even the same as it was 5 years ago. I want to unpack this because the changes are massive.

So, the job security does not exist. Did you know that the average tenure of employees at a single company has dropped To just about 4. 1 years in the United States and the 3. 3 years in Australia. Gone are the days of working for the same employer for decades and the retiring with a gold watch and a pension.

Well, I still see some people still kind of, um, have a very long tenure, but it's certainly not happened to most of us anymore these days. Companies are going through mergers and acquisitions and restructuring faster than ever. And employees are often the first ones to feel the pinch. Then you have the rise of the economic shifts.

Think about the pandemic, GFC, global recessions, and even some industry specific disruptions. These shifts can actually upend careers in an instant. A 2022 study showed that over 40 percent of workers experienced some form of job instability within the last five years. Then you've got automation and AI.

They are also reshaping job markets. It is estimated that up to 30 percent of jobs could be automated by 2030. This doesn't just apply to Factory work, white collar roles in finance, marketing, or even management are also being impacted by these AI tools as well. We also see shifts in work values.

Millennials and Gen Z are prioritizing flexibility, for example, and meaningful work. Over the traditional nine to five or corporate grind and post COVID more and more people also are getting so used to working from home as well. This all changed the dynamics of the work values and the job market. This means more people are looking outside the nine to five job for fulfillment and for flexibility.

Now, let's not forget about our social media. That is changing the game. There are over 4. 8 billion people are active on social media. That's like over half of the planet. Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have made it easier than ever to monetize your skills and reach a global audience.

In Australia alone, over 79 percent of the population actively using social media, which offers endless opportunities to showcase your expertise, your skills, your knowledge, connect with potential clients at the building, a personal brand. With all this dynamic change around us, according to the recent research, over 50 percent of corporate professionals in the United States and over 35 percent in Australia are now exploring side businesses in order to safeguard their careers.

Why? Because they've realized that relying solely on one's salary is a risky game. Here is one question for you, my friend. What is your backup plan? Some people may say, well, I can always find another job, which is true, but that's just going to put you in the same situation over and over again, because your future will be always controlled by other people.

But since you are here, I presume that's not the solution you're looking for. The fact is most people don't have a backup plan and that is okay because now is the time to start building one. Think of a side hustle or a side business as a career insurance. It's not just about money. It's about creating options.

It's about resilience in the face of uncertainty. And trust me, the shifts we are seeing in the corporate world are only accelerating. If you are not adapting, you are falling behind. Now, let's talk about how you can push yourself back in control. The answer is simple, creating your future by starting a startup business while you are still having your 9 to 5 job.

Here are three reasons why a startup business is the ultimate power move that you can push yourself back in the driver's seat. Reason number one is to help you diversify income streams. Your paycheck or your regular income might feel like a safety net for the moment, but it is really just one fragile thread.

A side business, that is your safety plan. It's what gives you options when life throws a curve ball. Imagine this, your corporate role changes and your hours gets cut. Potentially, instead of panicking, you've got money coming in from your side business. That is the kind of freedom I want for you. While you still have a corporate job, you might build your side of business on the very small scale.

You might only work for a couple of hours a week. As a side note, that's all you need to get started. When you do not need your side hustle to pay your bills, you may work a few hours a week, get it off the ground, learn the skills of running an online business on the side, bringing a few thousand dollars A month or maybe more, or you can make it a bigger to replace your corporate income.

If that's your goal, or one day you can turn your side hustle into the main hustle and the goal all in just depends on how much time you're willing to invest in your side business. The point is a side hustle allows you to invest in things that matter to you, creating that financial security and even your family's financial future.

Reason number two is that having a start business is a perfect avenue to monetize your skills. You've spent years and years building incredible skills in your corporate job through years of education and experience accrued through your career. The skills you've learned, maybe it's in leadership, in problem solving, in communication, they're all what you already have and it can be turned into a profitable online coaching business.

One of my clients was a project manager who started coaching other professionals on productivity. She's now making extra three grand a month, still counting from her side of business in addition to her nine to five job. The beauty of this is that you don't need to invent something groundbreaking. You don't need to reinvent the wheel at all.

Start with what you already know. What do people come to you for advice on? What's that one thing you are so good at that others are struggling with? Chances are that is your side hustle waiting to happen. If you don't know what kind of existing skills you can turn into an online business, I have a perfect free resource for you.

It's a free ebook called unlock your first profitable side hustle ideas in just five simple steps. I put the link in the show note below it's free and go check it out. You're going to get so much clarity once you go through the step by step in that ebook. Now let's move on to reason number three, starting a side hustle allows you to take back control of the power.

This is the big one. When you build a side business, you stop waiting for someone else to give you a raise, a promotion or validation. You become the CEO of your own career. Yeah. And let me tell you, that shift is liberating. You are no longer tied to someone else's timeline or decisions. You are creating something that's yours, something no one can take away.

More importantly, this is not just about money, it is about confidence. The moment you make that first dollar on your own terms, something clicks. You realize that you actually can make money without relying on your employer. That you are capable of so much more than you've been giving yourself credit for.

Now, no doubt that building a startup business while working full time isn't easy. It's going to take effort, discipline, and a lot of coffee in the early days, if you are like me, wanting to make it happen faster. But here's the thing, it is absolutely worth it. And how much time you spend, On your side of business, really depending on how quick or slow you wanted to grow.

Here's what I've learned about managing the overwhelm where you have so much going on your plate. You can time block, treat your side hustle like an important meeting with yourself, block out time and show up. This isn't about working 24 seven. It's about being intentional with your time and staying focused in those blocked time.

A small time block of 30 minutes a day can add up to something that is incredible over time for your business. You can also outsource. You don't have to do everything. Start small and hire someone on favor or upwork for tasks you don't love or you're not expert in, or you don't have time for potentially.

Think of that as an investment, not an expense. You also need to set boundaries, set a clear boundaries at work and at home, let your family know that you are working on your side hustle so they can support you, not distract you. And don't be afraid to say no to actual projects or to overtime at your nine to five job if they are not aligned with your bigger goals.

Sometimes saying no is hard, but you need to say no to things that don't align with your goals so that you can free time to do the things can move you forward. This could mean cutting back on Netflix, for example, or skipping a night out. Remember, it's only temporary. Most importantly, give yourself grace.

You don't have to get it perfect. You just need to get started. If you want more about, if you want more tips about how to build a side hustle while working in corporate, I have another episode dedicated to this topic. Go check out episode seven, five game changing habits for side hustlers with full time jobs.

Thanks. Now, before we wrap up this episode, I want to have a heart to heart here. I have seen so many people holding themselves back from chasing that sad hustle dream. They hold themselves back from starting a sad business of their own as if they are waiting for somewhere else to tell them it is okay to start.

But guess what? You don't need anywhere else permission. This is your life, your career, your dreams. You don't owe anyone an explanation for wanting more. And let me tell you, you deserve more. You deserve to build something that lights you up, that gives you options, that makes you excited to wake up in the morning.

And starting a stud hustle is one of the most empowering things that you can do for yourself and your family. Because when you show up for yourself, you show up as a better version of you for everyone else as well. Start small, take messy and imperfect actions. As I said that all the time, the important thing is to start.

Because every step forward, no matter how small is a progress. And speaking of first steps, if you need some guidance or just to have a chat about what that might look like for you, I'm offering a free 30 minutes start hustle clarity call. It is not a sales pitch. I promise. It's just a chance for us to connect.

To brainstorm your ideas and map out your first steps if that's what you're looking for. Think of it like having a coffee with a friend who just gets it because I do get it. Someone who's been where you are and knows what it's like to juggle a million things while building something new. You don't have to do this alone.

I'm here to help. The call link is in the short note below. Here is something that took me 12 years to understand. Your career doesn't have to be at the mercy of someone else's decisions. You are capable of creating options, opportunities, and freedom for yourself. And it starts today with one small decision to bet on you.

You've got this, and I will see you in the next episode. Until then. Take care and keep hustling with intention. Thank you so much for listening to the Hustle with Heels podcast. I hope this episode has inspired you to take action towards your sad hustle dream. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to rate and review it.

Each review helps me help more corporate women and early stage entrepreneurs just like you. Don't forget to take a screenshot, share it in your Instagram stories. All on LinkedIn and the check me at Cindy Excell. I will see you next week.