Chris Guillebeau is a guru of non-conformity, world-wide travel and an advocate for what he calls a“side hustle” or a small businesses.  He captures his advice in his book, Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days.

His suggestions mirror the same advice I give in my book.  I present a more introspective and relaxed process but, if you are in a hurry, you can apply Guillebeau’s time line and create somewhat similar results.

How to Start a Business on Your Lunch Hour

Weeks 1 And 2: Test and Choose The Best Idea

Guillebeau says:

“By focusing on problems and frustrations you encounter in daily life, as well as taking a detailed inventory of your own knowledge and life experience, you’ll walk away with at least several good ideas.”

I say, pack my book with your sandwich and follow my process. You will find coaching and guidance for this exploratory process, in my book in Chapters 3 and 4.

By the end of the first two weeks of lunch hours Guillebeau expects you to be ready to answer these questions:

• What’s your product or service?
• How much will it cost?
• How will you get paid?

If you would like a bit more direction, you will find step by step instructions about how to establish your answers to these questions this in my book,Chapters 5.

Weeks 3 And 4: Develop and Launch Your Idea

Says, Guillebeau,

“Your goal in the beginning of this third week is to understand each deliverable, resource, and tool you need—and every action you need to take to launch your offer soon. The goal for the rest of the week is to create those deliverables and take those actions.”

This sounds to me like nothing more than a strategy and an action plan. Again, you will find tools, a respect for the quality of the process and specific directions in my book,Chapter 6.

According to Guillebeau’s accelerated process, in week four of your focused lunch hours you should start checking off your action items until your product is out in the world, making money.

Try completing the simple business plan available in my book,(Chapter 4)you will get the same results in a format you can share.

Week 5: Regroup and Refine

Here is where your rapid development might hit a rough patch.  Guillebeau says;

“So, your main task the week after launch is simply to decide whether to keep investing time in this project or head back to week two and try a different one instead. Knowing when to quit and when to keep going is key to making any side hustle successful. But even if you decide to abandon the project and choose something different, the experience you’ve gained will help you be more successful with the next one.”

It is true that this rapid hustle may or may not result in a profitable endeavor.  It is entirely possible your results will not meet your expectations. If so, you will need to regroup (Chapter 9 in my book) and refine – or start all over.

Oh Well!

Really it doesn’t matter if you hit it out of the park, or if you need to revisit your list of ideas and try something new. Either way, you’ve accomplished something on your lunch hour.  Now that you’ve seen what is possible, how will you ever go back to spending your lunch hours scrolling through your phone.

Though, really, I think you will learn a lot more if you read my book and do my processes with thoughtfulness and serious intention.

Photo by Sander Dalhuisen on Unsplash