Teacher-Friendly Sides
Last weekend, my wife, Jessica, my father-in-law, Travis, and I drove to Murrieta, CA to go checkout some land that was for sale. My father-in-law has developed communities from the ground up and he was interested in these acres. Jessica and I are real estate investors, but the developer’s role is one we have the least working knowledge of. I’ll spare you the details of what we were looking for out of the land to make an offer to the seller. However, if the life of an investor interests you, I highly recommend you subscribe to my blog and always have the latest on my ventures. I’ll start you off with a free copies of my eBooks.
We met the realtor at his Century 21 office, located in a strip mall a few miles from the property. We were in a hurry, so we didn’t spend any time in his office, getting to know each other. Instead, we had him show us the way to the site. I’ve been told by many people, students, parents, and teachers alike, that I’m very easy to talk to. Friendly, in other words. So it was no surprise to my wife that the realtor and I talked more than business. As it turns out, this gentleman was a full-time teacher in Riverside County. He explained to me that he has been a realtor (on the side) for some time, mostly helping his teacher colleagues buy or sell their first home. Family and friends are also some of his clients. The owner of the land that was for sale was a friend of his. He does several deals a year and supplements his teacher’s salary nicely this way. I didn’t ask exactly how much he grosses each year from this side job. Not because I’m respectful of people’s privacy or anything…well…I am it’s just sometimes my social filter is on the fritz…rather, I simply didn’t think of it. Darn!
Not to worry. I happen to work with a teacher who is also a realtor on the side. He too has been working as a realtor as a side-hustle for some time. The man has five children, can you blame him? Similar to the realtor I met in Temecula/Murrieta (we were somewhere in between the two cities), my colleague does deals for friends, peers, and family. He’s been able this year to ramp up his productivity and stated to me that he will gross as much as his teacher’s salary! He’s been teaching for over 25 years so you do the math.
By now I’m sure you get that I’m telling you to consider becoming a real estate professional, a realtor, broker, appraiser, and so on. These are great fits for full-time teachers, and no, I’m not just basing this on two people. I know other teachers who work in this industry part-time. Here are resources to get the ball rolling.
Resources:
How about just renting out a spare room in your house for a few nights a month? Try Airbnb.com
Other side jobs I’ve known teachers to do include…
Event D.J. For the “cool” teacher that knows all the music the kids listen to.
Catering. Find a catering company to work for that will let you work Friday nights and on the weekends. This is when most events, weddings, graduations, parties, etc., happen anyway.
Waiter/Waitress. The mother of one of my long-time friends, the best-man at my wedding, worked a side job as a waitress while being a full-time middle school teacher. She worked both jobs for over 20 years. No choice. She lived in San Jose, CA, was divorced, had a mortgage, and three children.
Bartender. Can you mix a killer cocktail? If you can, this side job is for you. Just think of all the tips you can get. Who doesn’t love a bartender…I mean, c’mon?
Dance Instructor. Can you Salsa, Waltz, Tap, or Tango? Private dance instructors set their own hours and make decent money from people with two left feet. I’ve been known to cut a rug. In fact, I met my wife, Jessica, at the La Jolla Marriott, Salsa Dancing. If you happen to one day see a picture of the two of us, you will see it must have been my dancing that did the trick…certainly not my looks. Ha!
Instructor at a Gym. Zumba, Yoga, you name it. The opportunities to be a health instructor are endless with gyms popping up all over the place.
Network Marketing. Many teachers have retired themselves from teaching doing direct marketing/sales. It’s not just selling cosmetics or jewelry to other people. Out of necessity, people who start these hustles learn valuable skills (selling, presenting, organizing, conversation, e.g.) that transfer to other careers. Never close your mind to opportunities! Simply learn to say, No, once you determine (after hearing things out) something isn’t for you.
Tax Preparer. Okay math teachers, I got one for you. Being a Tax preparer is a cyclical job. You’re busiest just prior to, during, and right after the tax season. I’ve known people with no prior accounting background working at H & R Block. H & R Block will even train you. Work for yourself if you don’t want to be employed by a company.
Retail. Retail stores/shops in malls and outlets provide flexible scheduling and part-time hours. They are always also looking for extra help during the Holiday season.
Other Seasonal Gigs. During the summer you can work as a camp counselor or director. Summer is also the time to become a recreation park leader or work at a rec center.
This is not an all-inclusive list of jobs you can check into, obviously, but it is a great start.
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