⚡ Key Timestamps
[00:00:00] Meet the engineering entrepreneurs who'll transform your career!
[00:01:15] My podcast journey: from zero to partnerships!
[00:03:36] Nicolai's secret: turning coaching into a thriving firm!
[00:07:04] The bare minimum that unlocks massive potential!
[00:09:50] Test ideas fast with just LinkedIn and Notion!
[00:12:41] Coffee business secrets: family venture revealed!
[00:15:20] Perfectionism kills businesses - Nicolai's eye-opening warning!
[00:18:00] Beyond money: the real reason entrepreneurs succeed!
[00:21:45] Final inspiration to launch your engineering side-hustle today!
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Welcome to the first installment of our series on Personal Businesses for Engineers.
Between Nicolai and myself, we've accumulated nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience in the engineering space. We've converted technical expertise into sustainable businesses, navigated numerous failures, and distilled valuable lessons along the way. My goal is to help you develop a venture that generates supplementary income while aligning with your passions and enhancing your professional capabilities.
This series offers a methodical approach to launching an engineering side venture without unnecessary complexity—featuring evidence-based strategies we've personally validated.
Building a business requires significant effort, but mastering this process yields far more than financial returns. You'll develop a robust professional network, cultivate leadership abilities, and potentially fund personal interests. Moreover, you'll acquire competencies that accelerate career advancement while forming meaningful connections with professionals who share your mindset.
I’ll show you how to start your engineering side hustle with minimal friction, using practical steps rooted in our real-world trials and errors.
But here’s the kicker: too many engineers freeze before they start. The biggest hurdle? We overthink, stuck in analysis paralysis, endlessly tweaking plans that never see daylight.
Here’s why we stall:
Fear of failure: Engineers crave control, and the uncertainty of a new venture feels like chaos.
Chasing perfection: We want every piece in place before moving, delaying action indefinitely.
Doubting our uniqueness: We question what makes us stand out in a crowded field.
Going solo: Without a crew to lean on, the journey feels lonely and progress slows.
Sounds like you? I definitely sounded like me years ago!
Your step-by-step plan:
Step 1: Pinpoint Your Idea and Own Your Strengths
Find a problem you’re wired to solve, rooted in your experience, and lean hard into what you do best. This matters because authenticity fuels persistence, as Newport stresses in Deep Work. Nicolai launched Engineering YOU by tapping his early career missteps to coach young engineers. His skills for leading small group discussions—where everyone got a chance to shine—turned clients into fans. That focus grew his venture from one-on-one coaching to group courses, funding his lifestyle while helping others.
Step 2: Build a Lean Online Presence
Set up a LinkedIn profile to test ideas and create a simple landing page with tools like Notion. Share your concept to see what sticks. This validates your idea fast, without sinking cash into overbuilt systems. A classic mistake is getting bogged down in complex platforms, like early WordPress, which I wrestled with years ago. Instead, I started my podcast on free tools like Anchor, later moving to Notion for simplicity. Dodge this trap by starting small—post a LinkedIn poll to gauge interest, refine based on feedback, and hold off on a fancy site until you’ve got traction.
Step 3: Launch Small, Iterate Fast
Put out a bare-bones offering, gather feedback, and pivot as needed, echoing Holiday’s advice to embrace the process in The Obstacle Is the Way. Stay consistent—weekly posts or product tests keep you moving. You’ll see steady growth and surprises, like partnerships or paid gigs. These steps connect: your idea shapes your online presence, feedback refines it, and iteration builds a thriving hustle. I started my podcast on a whim, scaled to collabs with firms like PPI, and now I’m selling family-grown Colombian coffee—learning logistics, connecting with family, and landing orders in just a month.
⚡ Actionable Takeaways
Audit your skills: List three career lessons you wish you knew earlier and brainstorm a side business around them.
Test one idea: Post on LinkedIn this week and track engagement.
Launch minimally: Create a Notion page outlining your offering by week's end.
Network: Connect with one mentor or peer for feedback.
Track progress: Set a monthly review to pivot based on results.
Apply these today to engineer your entrepreneurial breakthrough. Reach out via the newsletter for personalized advice—your future venture awaits.
