Dr. Jenny Woo, a Harvard-trained educator, EQ researcher, and founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, launched a side hustle selling card games on Amazon to help people build “human skills” like emotional intelligence and critical thinking. This side hustle helped her through the next five years while she completed her Ph.D. Starting with limited knowledge about running a business, Dr. Woo now has five income streams, including speaking engagements, teaching, consulting, and selling card games through her site and on Amazon, bringing in $142,000 a month from the Amazon business alone.
When starting a side hustle, Dr. Woo advises aspiring entrepreneurs to avoid three common mistakes. The first mistake is overcomplicating the product. Instead of piling on features, it is important to understand the core value of your brand and focus on the fundamental need your product or service fulfills. Getting real-world feedback and iterating based on customer needs is crucial for success. The second mistake to avoid is settling for subpar service, even if you’re on a budget. It’s essential to be diligent about who you collaborate with and not be afraid to make a change if something is no longer serving you.
Another common mistake is relying too heavily on networking to move your idea forward. While external validation and feedback can be helpful, ultimately the responsibility to act and make decisions rests with the entrepreneur. Dr. Woo recommends paying attention to skepticism and feedback in meetings but not being swayed by ideas thrown at you. Trusting your own judgment and staying true to your vision is key. She also stresses the importance of learning through experience and personal growth, rather than solely relying on external advice and validation.
As a solo entrepreneur, Dr. Woo sought out opportunities for growth and mentorship, attending incubators at top universities. While these opportunities provided access to executives and advisers, she found that many projected their own ambitions and mistakes onto her. The experience taught her to be cautious of external influences and to trust her own judgment. Dr. Woo emphasizes the importance of taking ownership of your journey, sifting through advice, and staying true to your vision in the face of skepticism and external pressures.
Dr. Jenny Woo’s journey as an entrepreneur and educator has been filled with challenges and opportunities for growth. Through her experiences, she has learned valuable lessons about creating successful side hustles, avoiding common mistakes, and staying true to her vision. By focusing on the core value of her brand, being diligent about collaborations, and trusting her own judgment, Dr. Woo has built a successful business that continues to thrive. Her story serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to navigate the world of side hustles and entrepreneurship.
