Side Hustle to Small Business

Bryan Clayton has been working in lawn care since he was a teenager. As a way to get him out of the house, his dad encouraged him to cut neighbors’ lawns for some extra cash. Fast forward to a decade ago and Bryan co-founded the technology company GreenPal, an app that connects lawn care professionals to those who need the services at a click of a button. GreenPal is now an 8-figure business and Bryan only sees it growing from here.

Eleven years ago, Jaci Lund quit her job in PR knowing that she wanted to do something different, but with no idea what that was. Three months later, from her kitchen table, she started Treebird Branding, a branding firm “centered around human connection, and elevated through creativity”. Now, eleven years later, Jaci staffs ten employees and has worked with countless clients creating timeless designs and maintaining strong relationships.

Julie Marateck is many things: a freelance copywriter, a photographer, and even a public speaker. However, her true passion is stand-up comedy. Julie first joined the Atlanta stand-up scene six years ago, and she says that it has helped her not only become more confident in herself, but also helped her become a better copywriter and marketer. And while stand-up is not the most lucrative venture, Julie‘s love for the game keeps her going.

Nadia Liu Spellman grew up immersed in the restaurant industry. During the 1980s, her parents owned a thriving Chinese restaurant in Boston, attracting notable patrons such as Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma. As an ode to her parents, she later established her own restaurant, Dumpling Daughter. Today, with three thriving locations across Boston, Nadia has become an accomplished entrepreneur who eats, sleeps, and breathes dumplings.

Growing up in a family business, Andy O’Brien learned that “the truck never unloads itself.” It took years for Andy to unlearn the do it all yourself mindset. In his current business, ActionCOACH of Central Texas, Andy incorporates new ideas daily. By outsourcing tasks that he doesn’t enjoy, setting clear communication boundaries among his family members, and making time for exercise, Andy is redefining how to do business as a family. 

In this episode of Side Hustle to Small Business, we delve into the large and complex world of family businesses, exploring how two entrepreneurs navigate their family businesses, past and present, to ensure that the business is successful. We discuss the role of communication in resolving conflicts within the business and explore how shared values can be the driving force behind sustained success. 

Abbey Griffith is the Owner of Clarity Fitness, Georgia’s first body-positive fitness centre. An Industrial Engineer by trade, Abbey decided to open Clarity after recovering from an eating disorder and seeing a lack of accessibility and inclusiveness in the fitness sector. According to Abbey, “there's a big opportunity in the fitness space to shift how we're addressing movement and shift how we're addressing our bodies.” 

After working in corporate graphic design, Joel Aultman decided to tackle entrepreneurship by founding Monster Munkey. Originally a graphic design firm, Monster Munkey now focuses on the creation of “Crazy Carts,” small drift carts that originated from the company Razor. Now, Joel is working on how to make the carts bigger, faster and more powerful, with a longer lasting battery. 

David Sturgess is the Founder of Foundry Counseling, a counseling clinic he opened after working in hospitals for nearly a decade. Starting as a side hustle to tackle student debt, Foundry Counseling is now David’s full-time gig where he treats approximately 20 patients a week. Sanjay and David discuss dealing with self-doubt, understanding your clients, and overcoming obstacles.

David Walker is the Founder of iCell Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in telecommunications analysis. After a successful career in telecommunications, David decided to start the business by pursuing his skill of analyzing telephone records. Working with multiple telecommunications companies, David has helped solve over 200 criminal cases, bringing him across the country over the last decade.