Side-hustle energy
I stole the blog headline from a picture posted on Pinterest and it validated my side-hustle feelings from last week. Now, I had a full day at my day job last week. I pulled out many dead cedars (Thuja occidentalis), and then I had to drive for forty-five minutes to a nursery to pick-up a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum).
Then I drove right back to install the maple, and it took some time. The planting hole was full of clay so I removed as much of it as I could. Then I amended the backfill soil with lawn and garden mix. Recall that clay doesn’t allow water to percolate down easily so there’s always the danger of the tree suffocating as water collects and displaces oxygen.
After carefully planting the tree, I backfilled the hole and then I gently heeled it in. Next came a nice layer of fluffy amender which improves the look and gives the tree an extra “kick”. I also built a temporary berm around the tree so I could water it with a gentle slow-soak.
Decisions
As I drove home, I felt exhausted, but I knew I had a residential client waiting for me. She’s an awesome lady, a referral from a former boss. She has a nice corner lot and I cut her grass when it gets long; or when her neighbors start whispering. I’m too busy for weekly cuts; and, to be honest, I don’t even like to do lawn care. I prefer gardening work for my side-hustles.
When I pulled up, I was dead tired, so I had to suck it up and cut her grass tired. By the way, this is how it should be. You have to give full attention to your day job and then to your side-hustle. You can’t take it easy during the day to save yourself for after-hours. This especially applies in my case because my day job and side-work are both physically demanding landscape jobs.
Here we go
I cut my client’s lawn fairly quickly because it’s been dry for months. Currently, British Columbia’s Lower Mainland is experiencing drought conditions. Then came a quick line trim job and clean-up blow.
Now, before I arrived, my client told me through text that she wanted to be home when I came. So, I thought maybe my mow lines were off-unlikely- or I’ve been missing something-also unlikely. But I needn’t have worried. When I was packing up to finally drive home, she walked over with a large fruit pie. The plums came from her tree, and she thanked me for helping her all year! Fantastic. That’s what I like: satisfied customers.
By the time I got home, I had a payment e-transferred to my bank account.
Conclusion
When you’re side-hustling and you feel tired after your day-job, suck it up and do it tired. You never know, you might get a fruit pie from your clients.
When you’re tired, do it tired.
