Ryan Hogue, a former senior web development professional living in northern Virginia, grew frustrated with the amount of time he spent in traffic each day. In 2016, he decided to explore ways to earn passive income and make better use of his time. He started a dropshipping business, which evolved into a print-on-demand company, and later added online courses, coaching services, and a YouTube channel to his income streams. Within three years, these streams began to outpace his two salaries, and he quit his day jobs in 2020. By 2021, Hogue was making over $1,600 per day, or roughly $11,400 per week.
Hogue attributes much of his success to treating his business as a game, with the goal of earning more money each day than he did previously. He started small, making only a few sales per month initially, but worked towards doubling that amount. This incremental approach not only helped him stay motivated but also allowed him to see progress even when the profits were minimal. Hogue recommends this strategy to others looking to start a side hustle and suggests that understanding the value of one’s time is crucial for success.
Even though his businesses are mostly passive once automated, Hogue continues to gamify his side hustles. He works about 60 hours per week, always looking for new challenges and opportunities to increase his yearly income. Once a venture becomes profitable, he scales back his involvement and focuses on developing new income streams to further increase his earnings. Hogue measures his success by tracking his net worth in an Excel spreadsheet and calculating how many Big Macs he earns each day.
While unconventional, Hogue’s method of measuring his net worth with Big Macs aligns with conventional financial advice. Setting small targets, regularly monitoring accounts, and committing to long-term goals are key components of achieving financial success. Experts emphasize the importance of patience and dedication, as it can take years to see significant results. Hogue continues to experiment with new ideas, such as starting print-on-demand businesses for clients and using automation to streamline the process.
Hogue’s current experiment involves offering to build and hand off print-on-demand businesses to clients for a fee. He utilizes artificial intelligence and automation to create these businesses, allowing clients to run them within six months. Several clients have already paid for this service, and Hogue plans to increase the price based on the success of these initial attempts. His innovative approach to side hustles and passive income demonstrates the possibilities of leveraging technology and automation in business ventures.
Overall, Ryan Hogue’s journey from a web development professional stuck in traffic to a successful entrepreneur making over $1,600 per day showcases the power of strategic planning, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt. By treating his businesses as a game and setting incremental goals, Hogue was able to turn his side hustles into primary sources of income. His focus on efficiency, automation, and continuous growth highlights the potential for anyone to achieve financial success through creative thinking and hard work.
