Today’s featured sidepreneur is John Rouda. I heard about John on one of my daily commutes to work listening to my podcasts. He was being interviewed and I connected with him because we both had similar situations: full-time job we like, but also a sidepreneurial itch we must scratch. In John’s case, he has several side businesses…even teaching at local universities! He has an interesting story and so I reached out to him to pick his brain for Sidepreneurial.

Let’s get to it…

1. What Is Your Day Job And What Is Your Side Business?

By day I’m an IT Manager of a web and mobile development team for an Internet Service Provider. My side businesses include: building mobile games, writing non-fiction books on amazon, speaking for profit, and teaching part-time at the local universities.

2. How Did You Choose Your Side Business?

I was teaching full-time before I took my current full-time job so it just stuck with me. Writing and speaking were natural progressions from teaching and I thought it was a good way to share what I know and get some cash on the side.

The apps was more of a learning experiment. I knew that Mobile was coming and I would soon be tasked with leading the mobile development at my company, so I started building mobile apps on the side as a way to learn the skill. I never intended for it to become a business. Then when I started getting lots of downloads, I figured I should monetize it and 5 years later, I’m still making a profit.

3. How Do You Find Time To Work On Your Side Business?

Teaching part-time really only takes the time I’m in the classroom and a few hours for every exam for grading (2 throughout the semester). I don’t think you should teach subjects you don’t really understand, therefore, you should need little prep time to teach them.

As far as the apps and speaking go. I’ve limited myself to only a maximum of 4 hours per week (thanks to Tim Ferris and the 4 hour work week for that) to work on them. I usually end up spending far less than that. Most of the time, I do that work either at lunch 1-2 days a week or after the kids go to bed while my wife is watching some reality show.

4. What’s Working For You Right Now In Growing Your Side Business?

Right now its just getting out there and trying. It’s more about getting over the impostor syndrome and just starting. I used to speak at meetups and tech conferences for free, then one day I thought, maybe I should get paid for this. The next time someone asked me to speak, I threw out what I thought was a large number and they didn’t even bat an eye at it. I never would have thought 2 years ago that people would pay for me to speak to them. Just getting out there is the way to go.

5. What Advice Can You Give Someone Who Is Thinking About Starting A Side Business?

Do it. Running a side business has not only provided me with more income, it has also made me way better at my day job. I have a new perspective on how I look at business in general. It keeps me grounded and on top of things happening, not only in technology, but also in marketing and other areas that I can apply to my day job and make me a better contributor to my company…therefore making me a more valuable investment for them. It also gives you something to be proud of…something that you created. I believe that you grow more as a person when you create than when you consume. Go and create!