Last Christmas, I bought a Cricut. For those who don’t know what that is, picture all those rustic farmhouse signs that are so trendy, the mugs with clever sayings popping up in the lunchroom at your office, and the colourful bows and headbands your granddaughter is now sporting. Chances are a Cricut made these, and this is just a small sampling of what this DIY powerhouse can do.
For several years now I’ve been a crafter, enjoying creating gifts for friends and family and little pieces of décor for my home, and I saw the Cricut as a natural next step in my hobby. I didn’t really have a plan, beyond doing a deeper dive into the world of crafts, but somehow, three months ago, my Cricut inspired me to start my own business.
In this issue writer Jesse Holth explores the growing trend of the “side hustle,” whereby over a third of adults, either through necessity or passion, are becoming small business owners while still maintaining a more traditional day job. I’ve now joined the ranks of these entrepreneurs, and a love of a particular pair of earrings led to a series which led to a business name (Left Shore Creative), more styles, some home décor, and, most importantly, sales! A local business, Spruce Clothing in Brentwood Bay, has even recently started carrying my earrings.
A side hustle doesn’t have to be about money. These extra entrepreneurial “gigs” are often called passion projects for good reason – they may not make a lot of profit, but they give the people behind them an outlet for their creativity, a stress reliever, or simply something to look forward to at the end of a long day.
Our day job no longer needs to be the only way we define ourselves, which is important in a job market where people tend to change careers more frequently and job security is more tenuous. Having something else that we love to do, whether a side business, hobby or sport we play, can be the thing that helps keep us feel fulfilled and inspired. Maybe now is the perfect time for you to try a little business on the side!
