3 reasons why I'm shutting down my side hustle
For just shy of 4 years now, I've been running a small online publication called The 88 as my side hustle.
What started out as a slice of internet where I could just write down my thoughts about culture and social difference quickly evolved into a modest community of creatives - sharing their experiences in our diverse world through words, video and photography.
I'm incredibly proud of what The 88 represented and the voice it gave for those around the world; especially for those that didn't have a voice in the first place. However, as I approach the 4th year of The 88's conception - I've made the heart wrenching decision to shut it down.
Heart wrenching not only because of the time and effort it took for The 88 to take shape, but because of the creatives that now inhabited the space with me. Some of which have become friends, mentors and inspirations for my own creative journey.
Making this decision felt selfish - it was their platform just as much mine.
But after being approached by Rarlo Magazine to unify our storytelling efforts, the merger was formalised by shutting down The 88 and firmly entrenching the cultural ethos of The 88 in Rarlo.
And upon reflection, here are the 3 main reasons why I'm shutting down my side hustle:
1) I don't know everything
When I started developing and writing for The 88, I was brazen in my approach. Modelling Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook mantra, I simply wanted to bring my vision to life:
“Move fast and break things”
SEO - who cares?
Alt text for images - doesn't matter!
Distribution strategy - that'll take shape on its own!
As time went on, I realised very quickly that a desire to create did not necessarily equate to having the tools to execute. Sure, there were plenty of things I taught myself over the resulting four years but there were other things that I simply didn't have time to grasp.
As I slowly nailed down a framework that would soon resemble a content strategy, I realised I had no idea how to scale something like this.
Is this an online magazine? Or is it a publication? Or is it an online, digital magazine publication?
Do I run ads? Do I get sponsors? Do I run ads to find sponsors?
The team at Rarlo however had a monetization model already in place - ad revenue that paid for their exclusive print runs with partners that believed in their vision; a structure that I lacked the nous to create.
I don't know everything - I only know some things. But I'm glad that there are other people that can teach me and help fill in those gaps.
2) Many hands make light work
The longer that The 88 ran, the more work it became. This became especially apparent once I had developed the proper structures for it to be a self sustaining publication:
reading pitches sent to The 88
reaching out to creatives and pitching them to share with The 88
editing and proofing the creative
scheduling and planning
being consistent on social (this was the most demanding of the lot!)
A few years ago, I would have done anything to protect my side hustle and allow it to maintain a life of its own. But four years deep, I've come to realise that an idea is only as good as the people that strive to sustain it.
And as I was burning the candle at both ends (working full time while side hustling while freelancing; can candles have three ends?), The 88 could've ended up in a situation much worse than it is now.
Now, the team at Rarlo Magazine can continue to tell stories inspired by the ethos of The 88, working collaboratively to make sure that all aspects of the creative process get the adequate time and care required to make it the best it can be.
The idea is only as good as the people that strive to sustain it.
That sentiment fills me with a sense of relief.
3) The evolution of storytelling
The final reason I decided to call an end to The 88 and focus on building a partnership with Rarlo Magazine is that over my time as a content creator, I've come to appreciate the multifaceted nature of storytelling.
Coming onboard to help Rarlo bring print stories to life digitally represents a new and unique challenge, how do you amalgamate two vastly different mediums? I don't have an answer at the time of writing...
Moreover, the thought of seeing stories that I had worked on previously come to life in print, in physical copy - is an exciting thrill.
In my mind, The 88 isn't coming to an end - it's simply evolving.
A print magazine is just as much for the reader as it is for the creative. There's nothing quite like getting a print of your photo on a beautiful canvas board, or seeing your poem printed in a boutique literary journal on soft, recycled paper. There's nothing like holding your work in your own hands - it's physical, tactile, real.
To some print may be dead, but the art of storytelling is not.
And as the social media machine continues to churn out a hasty diet of clickbait, memes and Ola ads, the age of digital distrust will continue to cry out for stories that make a difference.
Stories that bring value.
Stories that engender empathy.
Stories that ring true.
Be it through video, digital or print - the best stories always find a way.