Creative ways to Make Money During Difficult Times

Life is unpredictable. Markets take a turn, opportunities disappear, and unforeseen circumstances prevent us from being able to follow through with business-as-usual. Adaptability is sometimes the key to survival in an ever-changing world, and you as a leader are capable of adjusting to the new economic challenge that faces you today.

If external pressures force you to completely redirect your source of income, please remember, this IS NOT a failure, it IS an opportunity to be creative.

When financial ends do not meet, this IS NOT the moment to give up, but rather, to adjust. Some creative adjustments to financial difficulty could be to...

1.) Go Online

There are many possibilities of a completely virtual career, ranging from Wellness Coaching, Digital Marketing, On-call Interpreting, Freelance Article Writing, and many others!

Consider your specific skill set, and how it may be applied to the virtual world. Udemy.com is “the leading global marketplace for learning and instruction. By connecting students all over the world to the best instructors, Udemy is helping individuals reach their goals and pursue their dreams.”

You can immediately enroll in affordable or FREE courses that equip you to practically jumpstart your new career endeavor. Or, you can even begin your own course and teach practically anything on this platform!

2.) Invest in your own academic pursuits

Additionally, accredited platforms such as Coursera.com offer Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses and certificates from top-ranked Universities. If you’re forced to step back from your own entrepreneurial project, it may be the perfect time to invest in your own education, to bolster your own resume.

3.) Check out local/virtual tutoring options

Sometimes during unprecedented hardships, there may be many students in your local area struggling with their studies—many people learn better in an interactive space, which isn’t always available to them.

If you have already completed a course that someone else around you is working on, you can offer your in-person or virtual tutoring services, and charge an appropriate rate. Often, there are virtual platforms that are always looking for available tutors in all subject areas. Consider how a one-on-one teaching experience could provide a flexible income in difficult times.

4.) RideShare Apps Side-Gig

Even if you’ve never considered driving for a living, or even if you don’t have a vehicle, RideShare and delivery apps such as Uber, Lyft, Door Dash, Post Mates or DiDi have options for you to have your own little side gig as a delivery driver or a rideshare driver.

Depending on the availability in your country, if you have a bike, motorcycle or car you can register for delivering on Ride share apps. If you don’t have your own vehicle, consider teaming up with a friend!

Whether you choose to give people rides from point A to point B, or deliver their take-out orders, you will be able to pick your own hours, and you will get compensated for meeting new people and new places!

It is most important to remember that this too shall pass. When difficult seasons hit, it can be easy to feel stuck, but remember to stay hopeful. This will only be temporary, and adjusting to change will increase your resilience as a leader, as an entrepreneur, and as a human!

adapted from an Article I wrote on: https://ylai.state.gov/creative-ways-to-earn-money-in-difficult-times/