Creativity and skills go hand in hand, and if you’re restless for change in your routine, side hustles and home projects can be the cure. Technically strong individuals have the option to turn ideas into reality, and aside from serving as hobbies or improving their homes, these side projects could lead to additional income.
For example, a software program you have helped automate your daily tasks might be marketable and have an audience. In other cases, if you’re more enthusiastic about at-home prototyping, exploring the opportunities with 3D printing or Arduino/Raspberry Pi could serve as a starting point for greater things!
Exploring the AI-powered tool market
AI-powered solutions have been emerging in the market for some time now. Yet, there’s no way of knowing what new products will emerge, and you could be the one joining this phenomenon. Of course, you need an idea that could be improved/automated with the use of AI. For example, popular AI tools have improved developers’ workflows, such as enhancing the design and testing of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
3D printing opportunities
3D printing enables the creation of a wide range of items. Thus, you can use them to create unique products and sell them. Of course, you do need 3D modeling and CAD skills, as well as practice operating the necessary technologies. Fortunately, you can find numerous beginner 3D printing resources that provide the essential information you need.
Freelancing for people and companies
People might have ideas for apps or other tools. Yet, they might not possess the necessary programming skills. This is where you might come in. Explore popular freelancing platforms for additional projects that you would love to participate in. Of course, this option may not grant you ownership, but you can negotiate the terms and agree to be listed as the creator.
Ethical hacking
Bug bounty programs can be a rewarding experience. For you, it means rewards if you discover bugs or vulnerabilities in software. For companies, it helps them grow and avoid more costly consequences of unresolved issues. You can find plenty of bug bounty programs and use your excellent penetration testing abilities to boost growth.
Coaching and consulting
In addition to freelancing, you might also take a more relaxed seat. In this case, we refer to the possibility of consulting or teaching others. Of course, the coaching aspect could refer to individual lessons or creating online courses. Consulting might be more specialized when you have specific clients and require more in-depth involvement.
Using your current assets for income
As a developer, you already have options to earn passive income . For one, you might appreciate (and pay for) high-speed internet to avoid any unnecessary performance issues. If you like, you can sell unused internet bandwidth through services like Honeygain to receive some money back from your investment. If you’re concerned about lag related to this internet sharing, it is highly optimized, meaning you shouldn’t experience any impact on your actual activities.
Additionally, you likely have a variety of developer tools that you use to enhance your workflow. Consider whether you could sell such assistants to others.
Turn your engineering hobby into a digital creator career
Sometimes, your hobby of turning everyday objects into more innovative or more convenient ones could lead to millions of views on social media. For example, your personal projects aimed at lowering household energy usage can be inspirational to others. However, even more quirky projects could generate attention (or, sometimes, these are the most popular).
Of course, don’t just show your final product. Document your progress and share the process in pieces or as a whole, inspirational video. If you’re not particularly keen on being filmed, consider starting a blog to showcase your work.
Build an app and sell it
All developers should try building a mobile or desktop application. Not only is this excellent practice, but it might also lead to a sellable product. On Reddit, you can find plenty of inspirational stories of developers about their journey to receiving a stable income from their creations. All it takes is having an idea and the patience to sustain it (through additional improvements or general maintenance).
In this case, it is also crucial for developers to learn more about marketing . Even if you have an outstanding product, you will need to put in some effort to spread the word about its existence. Marketing is exactly that, and your product is the best chance to succeed at its launch and beyond.
Benefits of side projects besides earning
All of these opportunities have the potential to yield substantial monetary gains. Besides this goal of improving your financial situation, personal projects or side hustles have plenty of additional advantages:
You improve your critical thinking and become faster at solving problems. After all, working on your own means a lot of independent work, whether it's research or reviewing your own work.
Options like freelancing, tutoring, or consulting can broaden your social circle. Then, you can surround yourself with like-minded people or even eventually turn these connections into business prospects. Besides receiving job offers, it could also mean collaborating with others and starting your own companies.
Side projects also give you plenty of creative freedom, meaning you can make executive decisions.
Excellent additions to your portfolio and experience in your resume/CV.
Successfully planning and executing side projects gives you confidence in your skills and knowledge!
Conclusion
All in all, personal projects are excellent for improving your confidence in your skills and letting you enjoy the ultimate creative freedom. Besides being rewarding at this scale, they also have the potential to generate additional income. Of course, these earnings may be modest at first. However, you can never predict the outcome!
So, explore the opportunities introduced by AI, 3D printing, freelancing, consulting, and ethical hacking, and leverage your assets. Alternatively, consider becoming a digital content creator or selling products. With any of these opportunities, we guarantee you will polish your skills, expand your social circle, and discover options to no longer rely on your regular 9-5 job!
