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How to Have a Happy Hustle: The Complete Guide to Making Your Ideas Happen
How to Have a Happy Hustle shares the secrets of innovation experts and startup founders to help you make your ideas happen.
If you’re looking for fulfilment outside the day job, have an idea but don’t know where to start, or are held back by a lack of confidence, experience, time or money, Bec Evans will help you get off the starting blocks with this complete guide to making your ideas happen.
There’s no getting away from it – hustling is hard work – but with practical tools, inspiring stories, science-backed research and guidance every step of the way, you’ll find what makes you happy as you build your side hustle.
If you’re looking for fulfilment outside the day job, have an idea but don’t know where to start, or are held back by a lack of confidence, experience, time or money, Bec Evans will help you get off the starting blocks with this complete guide to making your ideas happen.
There’s no getting away from it – hustling is hard work – but with practical tools, inspiring stories, science-backed research and guidance every step of the way, you’ll find what makes you happy as you build your side hustle.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2019
20 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Bec Evans
7 books9 followersBec Evans is a writer, coach and consultant who helps writers keep writing.
From her first job in a bookshop, to a career in publishing, several years managing a writers’ retreat centre for Arvon, and now as co-founder of Prolifiko, she’s obsessed with creative persistence. Bec works with individuals, writing groups, publishers and universities to build the skills and confidence to make their ideas happen.
Her new book ‘Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts’ was published in January 2023.
Her first book, ‘How to Have a Happy Hustle’ won the startup Inspiration category of the Business Book Awards 2020.
From her first job in a bookshop, to a career in publishing, several years managing a writers’ retreat centre for Arvon, and now as co-founder of Prolifiko, she’s obsessed with creative persistence. Bec works with individuals, writing groups, publishers and universities to build the skills and confidence to make their ideas happen.
Her new book ‘Written: How to Keep Writing and Build a Habit That Lasts’ was published in January 2023.
Her first book, ‘How to Have a Happy Hustle’ won the startup Inspiration category of the Business Book Awards 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 5, 2019
This book is brilliant - I picked it up at a launch event Bec did and read it cover to cover immediately to soak up the overall message which is inspiring in itself. I'm now going back through it working through each section. What I love is that it is laid out in such an easy to follow way with really inspiring real life examples that make the point clearly. And it guides you through each of the stages step by step to help take away the overwhelm and sense of challenge. I've been running my own business for 5 years and wish I had had this book at the start of my journey, but actually it's still perfect right now as I'm working on a pivot and a new idea/project. I'm sure I'm going to be coming back to it and referring to is loads!!
October 30, 2019
Such a positive and practical book! It guides you through, step by step, with lots of research and inspiring stories. Even if you don’t yet know what your side hustle or big idea will be, give this a go, and you soon will! Highly recommended!
April 27, 2020
I Highly recommend this book ! Having met the author in person, I can hear her speaking every word! Super enjoyable easy reading book , simple to follow and full of real case studies.
I think it is a great book for anybody, also if you are not so interested in opening a startup as I am. I think it can also be used by anyone who wants to understand how to launch an idea in general, how to involve people and evaluate what the best way to implement it. I've read it once and I fully intend to read it again.
October 24, 2019
I really liked this book, it was very inspiring and easy to read, I don't read much non-fiction but this actually was a bit of a page-turner for me. I'm looking forward to trying her suggestions!
December 2, 2019
The book is aimed at those looking to build a side hustle alongside their 9-5 job, taking them from pre-idea to quitting their 9-5 job. Especially in the early stages of the book, it does this very well. However, as the book progresses into the later stages, it felt less “happy hustle” and more “hard slog” at times. I can’t imagine many side hustlers having the time, confidence, or skills to complete some of these stages, especially on their own.
One of the key elements of the book is its “completeness”, with “guidance every step of the way”, and that’s certainly the case. It’s incredibly comprehensive, detailing the whole journey of developing a side hustle. As it’s so detailed, it would benefit from being read as you progress on your side hustle journey, rather than all at once.
In fact, I found it a little too “complete” at 304 pages. I couldn’t help but wonder whether the publisher had asked the author to reach a magic word count, as some points were repetitive and over-laboured, making the book about 50 pages longer than it needed to be. There are a lot of start-up stories included in the book, and while they were interesting at the beginning, they got a bit boring and “samey” over time, so I ended up skimming or skipping them. Rather than longer stories, I’d have preferred snippets of useful tips on certain topics from these founders.
Thankfully, Evans’ writing style is really natural and easy to read—and her casual language and occasional swearing certainly made the book feel more approachable than most business books on offer from traditional publishers. This book refreshingly avoids the jargon and dryness of most business books you’ll find on book shop shelves (vs. self-published).
The book promises to deliver “science-backed research” and “the secrets of innovation experts and startup founders…”. While it does include these in abundance, none of them were “secrets” as such. Although the book didn’t tell me anything new, it served as a handy reminder of things I’d read elsewhere. Overall, it provides a really helpful overview of other sources to save you reading multiple books, and it’s presented in a simple, easy-to-understand way, with adorable illustrations.
One of the key elements of the book is its “completeness”, with “guidance every step of the way”, and that’s certainly the case. It’s incredibly comprehensive, detailing the whole journey of developing a side hustle. As it’s so detailed, it would benefit from being read as you progress on your side hustle journey, rather than all at once.
In fact, I found it a little too “complete” at 304 pages. I couldn’t help but wonder whether the publisher had asked the author to reach a magic word count, as some points were repetitive and over-laboured, making the book about 50 pages longer than it needed to be. There are a lot of start-up stories included in the book, and while they were interesting at the beginning, they got a bit boring and “samey” over time, so I ended up skimming or skipping them. Rather than longer stories, I’d have preferred snippets of useful tips on certain topics from these founders.
Thankfully, Evans’ writing style is really natural and easy to read—and her casual language and occasional swearing certainly made the book feel more approachable than most business books on offer from traditional publishers. This book refreshingly avoids the jargon and dryness of most business books you’ll find on book shop shelves (vs. self-published).
The book promises to deliver “science-backed research” and “the secrets of innovation experts and startup founders…”. While it does include these in abundance, none of them were “secrets” as such. Although the book didn’t tell me anything new, it served as a handy reminder of things I’d read elsewhere. Overall, it provides a really helpful overview of other sources to save you reading multiple books, and it’s presented in a simple, easy-to-understand way, with adorable illustrations.
July 1, 2019
How to Have a Happy Hustle by Bec Evans is my new favorite business book. Full disclosure, I worked with Bec in an innovation group while many of the concepts in the book were tested and validated. I can speak from experience that these processes work in the real world. Pulled together in a clear flow this book is a must read for anyone looking to succeed in their side-hustle but also for entrepreneurs, product managers, and innovators at traditional organizations. I will be giving copies of this book to future associates and colleagues.
December 29, 2019
This book is such a joy to read: it perfectly balances the energy and optimism you need to get your hustle on with the clarity of thinking and the practicalities that are essential to making it work. Bec Evans brings in cutting-edge innovation and productivity thinking but with such a sure touch that it always feels doable. This is a handbook for anybody with an idea or an itch to scratch about how to start making a dent in the universe. Brilliant.
December 9, 2019
Amazing book. I would highly recommend ‘How To Have a Happy Hustle’ as a great read for anybody interested in business, whether or not you have a business idea in mind. It will inspire you and, unlike other books, it is funny which makes it so enjoyable and easy to read. The book contains case studies of real-life examples of start-ups and the processes involved - really helpful in guiding you with your own ideas. Thanks to the talented author, Bec Evans!
June 10, 2019
"How To Have A Happy Hustle" is very inspiring and I particularly like the way it is simple to follow and full of real case studies.
January 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this, it is well-researched and Bec makes it digestible. Lots of great tips, good structure, VERY readable style and plenty of real examples bring it to life.
October 7, 2020
Yeah, I liked it.
Lots of examples of what does and doesn't work. Many of the problems with Hustling are explored and potential solutions are also given.
Very readable and easy to get through.
Lots of examples of what does and doesn't work. Many of the problems with Hustling are explored and potential solutions are also given.
Very readable and easy to get through.
May 18, 2021
For anyone who wants to get their idea beyond being just that, an beautiful idea, something that could have been, How to Have a Happy Hustle will guide you through the process of turning that idea into something real that exists in the world, and not only that, it looks at it from a truly human viewpoint. Positive and punchy, it immediately made me start looking at my own practices in a new way. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It is very motivating, loaded with great examples of all sorts of start-up attempts and failures. The author presents ideas in a very clear and entertaining way. I think she really gets how entrepreneurs and creative people think, and the books flows very well. Lots of great advice for a range of creative thinkers.
April 7, 2020
Great book for anyone who have many ideas but not sure how to make it happen.
I like that there's a chapter summary for every chapter, easy to read.
I like that there's a chapter summary for every chapter, easy to read.
March 27, 2024
[B]I found some of the ideas can be useful. I guess the point is to get started. I may want to read part of the books
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews