Hustle Your Side Gig

It’s hard to make a living from just one thing. LAUREN FLESHMAN —champion middle-distance runner, cofounder of Picky Bars, coach, and mother of two—lets us in on how she juggles it all, while CHRIS GUILLEBEAU , creator of the Side Hustle School podcast series, weighs in on how you can, too.

- Kate Siber

LAUREN FLESHMAN AGONIZED as she was deciding whether to end her career as a professional distance runner—but not because she was nervous about money. While amassing an impressive array of podium finishes at national and international races, she was also cultivating a few passion projects on the margins. By 2016, when she retired from competing at 34, she had lined up enough work for a new career.

Fleshman had the advantage of a brand name, but she’s part of a growing trend in the American workforce. Nearly a third of U.S. workers now have side gigs, including 41 percent of those under 35, according to a 2017 survey commissioned by the online employment clearinghouse CareerBuilder. “The side hustle is the new job security,” writes author Chris Guillebeau (CG) inSide Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days. “More income means more options. More options mean more freedom.”

For Fleshman, the whole thing started with a blog. In 2009, she launched Ask Lauren Fleshman, sharing behind-the-scenes stories with fans and offer ing something of value even when she was recovering from injuries. Her authenticity—Fleshman doesn’t shy away from discussing topics like body image, performance pressure, and even post-pregnancy thighs—quickly earned her a devoted following. It also