73 - Why I Still Keep My Job While Making $300k/Yr from My Side Hustle with Alex Lathery
Oct 21, 2024
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Alex Lathery, founder of a thriving digital agency generating $300,000 annually, shares his remarkable journey of balancing a full-time job at Procter & Gamble with entrepreneurship. He discusses why he hasn't quit his stable job, highlighting the importance of financial stability. The conversation reveals insights on acquiring clients through Twitter, the challenges of working with family, and the intricacies of rank and rent SEO. Lathery's tips on juggling work, family, and a growing business provide a fresh perspective for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Alex Lathery's journey demonstrates that maintaining a corporate job while running a successful side hustle allows for financial security and strategic risk-taking.
Utilizing social media platforms like Twitter for client acquisition has proven essential for Alex's agency, highlighting the effectiveness of networking over traditional marketing methods.
Deep dives
Building a Successful Side Hustle
A digital agency can be established as a lucrative side hustle, with Alex Lathery exemplifying this by creating a $300,000 annual income alongside a traditional job. Over four years, he successfully launched his agency, graduating from college and completing internships while mastering web development. Initially lacking sales skills and the confidence to set prices, Lathery learned to adapt by engaging a business coach who guided him through the complexities of running an agency. This shift in approach enabled him to grow rapidly, transforming from initial modest sales to reaching impressive monthly revenues.
Customer Acquisition Strategy
Alex primarily acquires clients through Twitter and referrals, which contribute around 80% and 20% to his client base, respectively. By focusing on mastering a single channel for customer acquisition, he avoided the common trap of spreading resources too thin. His decision to leverage social media effectively showcased the true potential of networking within the digital space, proving to be more fruitful than conventional marketing methods. This strategic focus not only simplified his customer outreach but also built strong connections that enhanced his business credibility.
Balancing Corporate Role and Entrepreneurship
Despite running a successful agency, Alex maintains a job at Procter & Gamble, citing the security and flexibility it provides. This dual approach enables him to explore new ventures within his agency without the pressure to generate immediate income, allowing for calculated risks. He values the experience and skills gained from his corporate role, believing it enhances his capabilities in the entrepreneurial world. For Alex, this balance presents a unique opportunity to learn from both corporate structure and small business dynamics simultaneously.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation
Alex’s journey highlights the importance of continuous learning in both web development and the challenges of entrepreneurship. Initially driven by curiosity, he pivoted towards learning web design when he realized the potential to monetize his skills quickly. His learning process involved taking self-study courses and evolving his skill set as he tackled real-world client projects, thus turning theoretical knowledge into practical experience. Moreover, his commitment to marrying engineering skills with business knowledge has been key to navigating challenges and experimenting with new service offerings like lead generation.
Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I sit down with Alex Lathery (https://x.com/AlexLathery), who’s built a $300,000/year digital agency, while still holding down his full-time job at Procter & Gamble! In this episode, we explore Alex's journey from a side hustle to a thriving business, why he decided to keep his 9-5 job, and how he manages to scale his agency while balancing work and family life.
We also discuss the challenges of working with family, the power of Twitter for client acquisition, and Alex’s experiments with rank and rent SEO. If you've ever wondered whether you should quit your job for your side hustle, this episode is a must-listen.
Questions this Episode Answers:
How did Alex build a $300k/year agency while still employed full-time?
Why hasn’t Alex quit his job at Procter & Gamble?
How does rank and rent SEO work, and is it worth it?
What’s it like working with family in a business?
How can Twitter and referrals be powerful tools for growing a digital agency?
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Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback. Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or send me an email at Nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts. __________________________
00:00 Building a Side Hustle: Alex's Journey 10:09 From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: The Transition 19:46 Navigating Challenges: Sales Skills and Client Acquisition 29:50 Scaling the Business: Strategies and Growth 35:37 Balancing Act: Job Security vs. Entrepreneurial Freedom
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