Introducing the Side Hustle Social Worker Book Club

“Wanting can be done sitting on the couch with a bong in your hand and a travel magazine in your lap. Deciding means jumping in all the way, doing whatever it takes, and going after your dreams with the tenacity of a dateless cheerleader a week before prom night.”

Jen Sincero, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.

I immediately texted my best friend after reading this quote found in the introduction of the book. A few minutes later after reading more, I called her insisting that she read the book with me. I have since recommended this book to several colleagues and friends who want to move out of their self imposed comfort zones. You are a Badass is an in your face, speak the truth, poop or get off the pot treatise that provides the steps to do just that.

This is the reason the book You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life is the first book the Side Hustle Social Worker Book Club will read and discuss. We will not only discuss the book, but members will also be encouraged to put the suggestions and directions into action. Social workers who want to build sustainable, successful, and satisfying side hustles must be fearless as they wade into unknown territory. Reading this book reminded me of a something that happened while vacationing with a friend.

My best friend and I traveled to Jamaica years ago. When we went to the beach, I was content to sit on a lounge chair and watch the ocean waves. My friend insisted that I get in the water, so I did. I left my comfortable chair and walked toward the ocean. I stopped when the waves started washing over my feet. My friend kept urging me to venture further into the ocean. At first the water came to my ankles and then it came to my knees. I stopped walking when I found myself in waist deep water. Although the water felt soothingly warm, I began to feel tense uncertain that my swimming skills would sustain me. I wanted the certainty of solid ground.

My friend was not satisfied. She grabbed my arm and dragged me farther than I could imagine going. I began to float feeling as if my feet could not touch the bottom. I panicked at first knowing that the water would cover my head if I didn’t continue to float. I expressed my angst as my muscles tightened along with my grasp of my friend’s hand. My friend continued to hold my hand and told me to put my feet down. I touched the bottom and found that we were in neck deep water. I felt somewhat foolish seeing that my panic prevented me from realizing that I could actually touch the bottom. I would never have ventured that far had my friend not insisted.

The purpose of the Side Hustle Social Worker Book Club is to provide resources for you to learn practical, cutting edge ideas and processes to launch and maintain a sustainable, successful and satisfying side hustle. We are going to read, discuss and practically apply the information by putting it to use in our own unique side hustle situations. We will learn from each other, encourage each other and build supportive business relationships in the process.

You must be a member of the Side Hustle Social Worker private Facebook group to participate. In order to join the group, you must complete a short questionnaire. Membership may be denied if you do not complete the questionnaire before submitting a request to join.

Marcyline Bailey, ACSW, LCSW is the author of Five Smart Questions Social Workers Should Ask if They Want to Boost Their Social Work Income e-book Starter Guide and Planner. These free downloads contain five strategic questions to consider before taking on a side hustle. You may want to view Side Hustle Success as a Full Time Social Worker one of the webinars in the Side Hustle Social Worker Webinar Series.

“I work with social workers and hard working professionals who want to be happy. I would love to hear from you.” You may join the conversation by commenting on this post or on our Facebook fan page REAL Social Workers Online Magazine or connecting with me on LinkedIn.