{"id":11256,"date":"2022-07-18T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libsyn.com\/blog\/?p=11256"},"modified":"2025-12-12T10:52:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T15:52:00","slug":"rochelle-sanchez-compassionate-side-hustle-strategy","status":"archive","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libsyn.com\/blog\/rochelle-sanchez-compassionate-side-hustle-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Rochelle Sanchez | Compassionate Side Hustle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cCompassion is what will help you and your side hustle business grow intentionally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Q & A with Rochelle from Compassionate Side Hustle Strategy<\/span><\/h2>\n
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When did you start Compassionate Side Hustle Strategy?<\/span><\/h3>\n

I started it in June 2019, under its previous name, The Self-Employed Nerd. I sold my first digital workbook to a stranger on the other side of the world via the internet in 2013. From that moment, I knew the side hustle, entrepreneurial lifestyle was for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-employment forced me to think about earning money in ways that didn’t involve becoming someone else at a day job, working for a supervisor I didn’t respect, or waking up at any time before 9 am. I’m a true night owl, says the girl starting to write this at 9 pm.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have grown, evolved, and even pod-faded since then (I mean, pandemic living, right?). But I’m holding strong now in 2022 as the host of Compassionate Side Hustle Strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n

What made you think about starting a podcast?<\/span><\/h3>\n

I started Compassionate Side Hustle Strategy because I was bored with my business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-employed for several years by then, I was doing virtual assistant and account management for a handful of private clients. I thought it would be a good time to shake up my content strategy a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of my energy seemed to be going into my clients’ brands and I wanted to make some magic for myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had seen research that showed how (for marketing purposes) trust can be built at much faster rates with a podcast than with any other medium. This is because\u00a0 you have the listener’s private attention for much longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a podcaster, I’m literally the only person in their ears while they’re working out, driving, or doing something else. On the internet, the odds of them paying attention to me for a whole minute (much less 20+ minutes) is pretty slim.<\/span><\/p>\n

For my business, it made sense. If I want to help people learn about how to start an entrepreneurial career, then I may as well show up in their ear buds while they’re on their way to and from their soul-sucking day job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, I would get complimented a lot on the sound of my voice in videos, and several people had told me that I should start a podcast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I figured I’d try it, and if I didn’t like it, I could stop. (Spoiler: I didn’t!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Fun fact: I discovered podcasts and listened to them on my way to and from work at a construction firm in Napa.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was running out of audiobook options at the library (and carrying multi-CD boxes around wasn’t super portable or inconspicuous, either). Then, I discovered that I could learn more about myself and my desired career path via these things called podcasts. They were created by people just like me rather than from the usual (white, male, cis, het) gurus and their books from decades ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was like a treasure chest in my pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the name of your show and what is it about?<\/span><\/h3>\n

My podcast evolved (as they do!) and has a different name from when I first started: Compassionate Side Hustle Strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s a mouthful, I know, but it gets the point across quickly and clearly. And ironically, I don’t actually like to talk that much (despite being a podcaster!), so the faster I can explain a thing, the better.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since that Australian stranger on the internet bought my workbook in 2013, I’ve been riding what I call, “the entrepreneurial roller coaster of emotions and challenges.”<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m fascinated by us self-employed folks and why we choose to live this lifestyle. If you’ve been devoted to your side hustle for enough time, you know what I’m talking about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The mindset, the slumps, the highs and wins, followed by breakdowns and drama and yet another algorithm change. Yippee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not to mention the financial risk and instability. Why would anyone CHOOSE to do this to ourselves?!<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, we love it. Well, some of us who have figured out how to manage, anyway.<\/span><\/p>\n

My intention with CSHS is to help you infuse more compassion into your business, whether it’s having compassion for yourself as the CEO or for your intended customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

It turns out that the hustle-driven, nose-to-the-grindstone, <\/span>SLAAAAY GIRLBOSS<\/span><\/i> culture isn’t what keeps successful small businesses afloat, much less thriving.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does help? Being kind. Practicing self-care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saying no to salesy, sleazy hacks even if they made that one guy a millionaire in like, 42 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s paying attention to the world and the communities that need our help, using talents to make GOOD change, and surrounding yourself with like-minded people who share your mission and can support you along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s what it means to run your business with compassion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, self-confidence, visibility, sales, bookkeeping, and all that stuff matters too (and are what I’ve talked about in past episodes).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But compassion is what will help you and your business grow intentionally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Describe your podcast set up? Hardware, software, CMS, etc.<\/span><\/h3>\n