NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — Whether it's college students trying to pay off tuition, or single parents trying to make ends meet for their kids, many people have side hustles to bring in extra income. Over the past few years, a lot of people have looked for ways to turn their side hustles into their main jobs. 42% of Americans have considered starting a business. 72% of side hustlers prefer self-employment, and 73% say they're happier when juggling multiple roles, according to a Quicken survey. The Business Reboot co-founders Melissa Pepin and Corry Frazier, who both pursued their side hustles, offer five tips for those looking to do the same. 1. Make your goals in life and your career clear: Define what you truly want, and go into it with a plan. Set clear goals for yourself, which will help keep you from getting lost in the "what-ifs." If you're making a big change, like moving or shifting a relationship, do it as a solution to a problem rather than an escape from one. Lay out your priorities. 2. Understand your capacity: Be honest to yourself about the time, energy, and resources you have. Think about how much time you're dedicating to your side hustle now, and how much time you'll need to dedicate to make it your full-time focus. Optimism rising for North Dakota small businesses: Survey 3. Focus on numbers and data: Take a look at your income from the side hustle, and see if it's enough to replace your full-time job. Also look at metrics like product performance, client retention, customer acquisition, and market seasonality. It's important to spend a year working the job as a side hustle (in most cases) to see if you can manage it alone to save costs, or if you need to expand, and if things change at any point in the year. Having that much data can give you more confidence to transition, knowing your business is sustainable. 4. Leverage your skills: The soft and hard skills you've developed in your full-time job can probably be used when you go full-time with your side gig too. Whether it’s problem-solving, communication, or industry-specific expertise, your business will only be stronger if you transfer these skills. 5. Be willing to bet on yourself: Believe in yourself and your abilities, because if you don't, it will be hard for anyone else to. You can stay humble while being confident, and you won't know what's possible unless you take the plunge. Use the opportunity to grow and build resilience, and allow every experience to make you a better business owner. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW