I turned my side-hustle into a £130k a year job – but not everyone’s happy for me, trolls say I just got lucky
A WOMAN has revealed how her side-hustle became her full-time job.
Gabby Beckford, 26, started a travel blog back in 2020 and just two years after its creation, it brought in £130k a year.
Starting her blog, Packs Light, was the best career decision she ever made.
Although the blog started as nothing more than a hobby, Gabby has seen it grow and attract readers and clients around the world.
Speaking to CNBC, Gabbi said thanks to sponsored social media posts, blog articles and B2B marketing consultations she was able to earn £130k last year.
Gabbi admits that hasn’t always been an easy ride for her, and many people haven’t been happy or her success.
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She said: “When I shared that I’d brought in $170,000 in my blog’s first year of full-time business, I got a lot of congratulatory messages.
“But some were less supportive.
People online said I was wasting my engineering degree, while others suggested I had just gotten lucky with my success.
Now, when I face criticism for my business or my entrepreneurial lifestyle, I don’t allow myself to feel down.”
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But the exponential growth of her company has proved them wrong, and now Gabbi is able to share some of her top tips on making a side-hustle a successful, full-time business.
She added: “The key to success is to be a self-starter and continuous learner.
“I regularly applied to business grants and pitch competitions.
“And to save money by not hiring a web designer, I launched the Packs Light website on my own.”
But Gabbi notes it was also important to get a team together once her business had grown.
The content creator says money shouldn’t be your only driving force when running a business.
She explained: “It’s more satisfying to be able to say “I’m financially free” or “I’m doing what I love every day” or “I’m making an impact.”
Enjoy the milestone, but don’t get caught up in the race to your next dollar figure.
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“To be successful, you have to remember your “why” and keep going. The financial success will eventually follow.”
Gabby Beckford is a digital nomad, travel blogger, content creator and TEDx speaker, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.