Angela Yee Shares How To Master The Art Of Side Hustling
As women, we can do it all: make the babies, take care of the babies and our significant others, hold it down in the home and bring home the bacon, too. There is no underestimating a woman determined to thrive in today's society. Despite the persistent pay parity we see across all industries, we still manage to make it work. And while many of us are working longer hours for less pay, some of us have to rely on the side hustle in order to break free of this pay disparity.
Someone who is no stranger to the side hustle is The Breakfast Club's own Angela Yee.
When she's not being the female voice of reason between Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy over the airwaves, she's busy maximizing her talents in a number of side hustles that not only cater to her entrepreneurial spirit but also adds value to her community. Yee says that she learned the value of the side hustle early on after graduating from Wesleyan with a degree in English. She recently spoke Maiysha Kai of The Glow Up/The Root to discuss her approach to the side hustle game, as well as to deliver major keys that we can use in our pursuit of the profitable side gig.
"Side hustles have always been very important to me, because I have so many of them," the 42-year-old radio host says.
From working as an assistant with Wu-Tang Management and Eminem's Shady Limited clothing line, to eventually parlaying her experience to a marketing position with Sirius Satellite Radio, she was able to take her experiences and knowledge to a nationally syndicated radio show. However, Yee says that she needed side hustles for financial reasons. She says:
"I've had side hustles since the first job I ever had, because it was just a necessity for me, financially. It's one thing to complain about not having money, but you can't just complain; you have to do something about it. And if that means you have to go and get your side hustle on, then that's what you have to do."
If you've ever watched any of The Breakfast Club's interviews on YouTube, you might notice that there isn't a morning that Angela doesn't have a cup of "green juice" ready next to her laptop and microphone. That juice is a nod to one of her most recent side hustles turned legitimate business. Recently, she opened up her own franchise of Styles P's Juices for Life in Brooklyn stomping grounds.
Related: Angela Yee Got The Juice: An xoExclusive
The pressed-juice subscription service has garnered great reviews, and it's also a testament to going after your dreams and doing things independently, too. She tells The Glow Up:
"I think it is important for us, because sometimes, we put our dreams on hold and things that we really want to do, just because we feel like we have these other responsibilities that take precedence. But I think side hustles are really important for black women, in particular, because for so long, we haven't been getting equal pay, and we haven't been raised the way that we should—we haven't even been getting the starting salaries that we should. So I think it is important for us, just to make sure that we do these things independently, and make ourselves so great and so valuable that we can't be denied."
So if you are looking for a guide to start your own side hustle, Angela Yee gives us 7 tips to make sure that not only will you build a successful side hustle, but the hustle can be fun, fulfilling and profitable.
1.Find Your Passion
Yee says that she's always been able to find a side hustle that she is incredibly passionate about. When thinking of a side hustle, caring about what you're doing will make a noticeable difference in your drive and determination. We've all had jobs that we dread going to, so why not make your side hustle something that you would do for free, something that you already love? Yee suggests:
"Your side hustle should be something that you really care about and are passionate about—that's what I've always managed to do and find."
Featured Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Michelle Schmitz is a writer and editor based in Washington, DC originally from Ft Lauderdale, FL. A self-described ambivert, you can find her figuring out ways to read more than her monthly limit of The New York Times, attending concerts, and being a badass, multi-tasking supermom. She also runs her own blog MichelleSasha.com. Keep up with her latest moves on IG: @michellesashawrites and Twitter: @michellesashas
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tyler James Williams Explains Why His And Quinta Brunson 'Abbott Elementary' Characters Should Remain Friends
While Abbott Elementary fans are hoping that Janine and Gregory end up together, the show’s star has another take. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory on the Emmy award-winning sitcom, and he recently stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show to share his point of view on his storyline with Janine, which Quinta Brunson plays.
“I hate to say it. I know that everybody’s always mad at me for this. I don’t necessarily want to see them together,” he revealed. “It’s partially an actor’s choice, but also somebody who, like, I read a lot of scripts all the time. I watch a lot of TV, a lot of film. I don’t think that we see displays of platonic love between two people often. I think it’s really easy to go right to they have feelings for each other, therefore they should be together. I like this dynamic of exploring withholding that and just actively loving each other where they are. That I like to see more.”
If you recall, they were co-workers who became friends but were secretly crushing on each other. They’ve had many awkward run-ins during and after school, like the unforgettable club scene where they were dancing nervously with each other in season one, and in season two, they finally kiss. However, it only made things even more awkward, and they decided to just be friends. Tyler further explained why he thinks it’s important to showcase that type of relationship on screen.
“I think it’s time for that. I think TV allows people to see things that could be their lives for the first time, and I think seeing a healthy friendship that is deeply caring about one another in a work atmosphere needs to be shown more than the relationship,” he concluded.
Abbott Elementary comes on every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images