Finding your perfect side can be easier than you think – and it only takes 15 minutes, say. Alice Everdeen.

In 2020, Everdeen began a side hustle. As a freelance voice over artist. He grew it into a full-time business. That earns up to $15,000 per month, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It — and when her earnings dipped slightly last year, she decided to look for another source of cash on the side.

He took a freelance job facilitating skill-building workshops for a company that hosts career training. In these classes, she teaches her simple strategy for figuring out which side gig to start.

“I have two separate lists from people: one is what people’s skills are, what they’re good at, then other things they enjoy, their hobbies and interests,” says Everdeen, 33. ” says Everdeen, 33. List sides and try to combine them.”

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If you love dogs and own your home, you can try dog ​​sitting, for example. If you are strong and like to help your friends, you can consider becoming a professional mover. In Everdeen’s case, the strategy helped them find skills-building workshops in the first place, she says.

“I wanted to speak more … but I really enjoy the aspect of presenting to people and providing virtual facilitation,” says Everdeen. “I looked for facilitation jobs, and I found one that was kind of in the middle.”

The strategy worked for her: The new side hustle helped stabilize her income, which is extremely valuable for any freelancer, she says.

More Americans than ever are having trouble financing a variety of goals—such as growing a business, paying off bills and debt, or affording cars, homes, and big-ticket items. Saving for Holidays.

Everdeen’s strategy can be a good starting point for anyone looking to join the side hustle craze. Kathy Kristoff, whose blog SideHusl.com has reviewed more than 500 side gags, also recommends asking yourself two more questions.

1. How much work do I want to do? This can help you decide between more active and passive side hustles.
2. Do I want to run a business alone? Sidehustle platforms big and small, from Fiverr to Contently, can often bring you clients, taking some of the marketing and advertising work off your plate—but at the expense of your earnings.

Then, make sure your side hustle solves a problem or falls into a niche, Christoph says. Its website offers a quiz that helps visitors narrow down their side hustle options based on interests, skills and available time.

“There are too many generalists,” says Kristoff. “Be specific about what you offer and just take the time, even if it’s a month, to nail down your elevator pitch.”

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban offers similar advice to Everdeen: Instead of following your passion, “follow your passion,” he said. 2017 Amazon Entrepreneurship Video Series.

“A lot of people talk about passion, but that’s not what you need to focus on,” he said. Instead, “Look at where you put your time, where you put your effort — those are the things you’re good at. And if you put enough time in, you’re really good at it.”

Cuban put aside his childhood dream of becoming a professional basketball player when he “realized I had a 7-inch vertical,” he said. Years later, after selling audio streaming company Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999, Cuban bought a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.

“It was all about fun,” Cuban, 65, told NBA player Draymond Green’s podcast.The Draymond Green Show“In April.” It was like a dream… I didn’t even communicate, I was just like, ‘Yeah, whatever.’

Cuban sold most of his stake in Mavericks last year to the Adelson and Dumont families, who run the Las Vegas Sands casino and resort company, in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. Cuba Allegedly Retained a 27 percent minority stake in the team, as well as control of basketball operations.

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