I was first introduced to the concept of the side hustle during my podcast with Ash Cash in November of last year. The gig labor force is becoming a larger and larger part of our economy as this infographic demonstrates.  Three data points make a trend, so I connected these two dots with this recent article appearing in Quartz about millenials and their “side hustles:”

On weekends, Colleen teaches fitness classes. Mary builds websites. Luke sells vintage video games. Tony designs and 3D-prints custom Star Wars miniatures. I write for the internet.

Among my friends, and 20- and 30-somethings as a whole, the side hustle–the gig you work in addition to your day job–is so ubiquitous that, in April, Glamour Magazine posed the rueful question: “You don’t freelance on the side… What kind of urban-dwelling Millennial are you?” Failing to participate in the trend might even lead one to a “Millennial identity crisis.”

As for why the side hustle is becoming ubiquitous among young people, the author notes the psychological benefits that go beyond a few extra bucks earned from these side jobs:

The side hustle offers something worth much more than money: A hedge against feeling stuck and dull and cheated by life. This psychological benefit is the real reason for the Millennial obsession, I’d argue, and why you might want to consider finding your own side hustle, no matter how old you are.

How to incorporate into your Careers lesson? Ask  your students to identify their “side hustle” and develop a marketing plan to make money from it.

Additional resources on “side hustles:”

• Side Hustle Nation
• Five Side Hustles Even Your Grandmother Could Try (Simple Dollar)

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Be sure to check out the popular NGPF Activity: Create A Famous Person’s LinkedIn Profile

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

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