On January 21st, I had the privilege of teaching “Side Gigs for Teens,” a 60-minute workshop at the Tecumseh Public Library branch of Pioneer Library System, located inside City Hall in downtown Tecumseh. What started as a small community event turned into an incredibly energizing afternoon with over 20 students from Tecumseh Public Schools and Seminole State College’s Upward Bound program.
The goal was simple: help teens discover a side gig that fits their actual lives, their skills, their schedules, and their resources, and leave with a plan to start within the week.
The Workshop Experience
We moved quickly through a discovery worksheet designed to help students assess their strengths, identify what they enjoy, and match those insights to realistic income opportunities. Students received a list of over 100 potential side gig ideas, and we talked through many of them together, from house cleaning and lawn care to social media management and tech support for seniors.
During the brainstorming session, students came up with some fantastic ideas that fit their unique situations. Some were excited about selling art commissions, others about cleaning gutters or offering pet walking services in their neighborhoods. Several identified babysitting as their best fit based on their skills with younger kids and their available schedule.
But beyond the practical skills inventory, we tackled something equally important: confidence. We talked openly about imposter syndrome, that voice that says “I’m not qualified enough,” and how to push past it. We discussed the reality that every professional started as a beginner, and that being reliable and helpful matters far more than being perfect.
The energy in the room was incredible. Students scored their top gig ideas based on their skills, resources, time availability, and comfort level. They left with concrete 72-hour action plans, identifying three specific steps they could take within three days to launch their side gigs.
Why This Matters
This workshop matters to me because I have an entrepreneurial spirit at heart, and I genuinely love sharing what I’ve learned and encouraging others to take that first step. I’ve spent my life trying different side gigs, some successful and some not, and I’ve loved every bit of that learning journey. Many years ago, I bought and resold items online, which actually led me into the website and tech business I run today. I’ve built furniture from old scrap wood and offered cleaning and organizing services. Currently, I still make seed bead jewelry, mainly earrings, create sublimation crafts, and recently got a laser cutter and engraver that I’ll soon be using to craft items for sale, just for fun.
Throughout the workshop, I emphasized to students that “failing” isn’t failing at all. It’s learning, and it’s honestly the best part of growing your skillsets and understanding your real interests. Every side gig I tried taught me something valuable, whether it lasted a month or several years. That’s the mindset I wanted these teens to walk away with.
As someone who runs Webspinups, a web development and digital marketing business, I wished someone had taught me these entrepreneurial basics when I was younger. Today’s teens are navigating a rapidly changing world where traditional career paths aren’t the only option. Side gigs teach them more than how to earn money. They teach communication, time management, problem-solving, pricing strategies, and how to market themselves. These are life skills that matter whether they become entrepreneurs or pursue any other career path.
A Huge Thank You
I’m grateful to Pioneer Library System for hosting this event at their Tecumseh Public Library location, and to the incredible students from Tecumseh Public Schools and Seminole State College’s Upward Bound program who showed up ready to learn and engage. Their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions made the workshop truly rewarding.
Bring This Workshop to Your Community
If you’re interested in having me speak or teach workshops in your area, I’d love to hear from you. I can offer teens (ages 16+) similar workshops geared towards entrepreneurial topics, professional development, skill building including soft skills, web dev basics, and tech tools, but I primarily work with adults, businesses, and nonprofits on a variety of topics, including some previously mentioned on my blog “The Bark” and these listed below:
Business startup and entrepreneurial basics, content planning and strategy, social media for small businesses and nonprofits, web development and digital marketing fundamentals, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) basics for local businesses, practical AI tools and workflows for business efficiency, and building your online presence from scratch.
As a Techlahoma Ambassador and board member, I’m also connected to an incredible network of tech professionals. If your organization is looking for speakers for a larger or more advanced technical topics like software development, cybersecurity, data science, or other specialized tech subjects, I’m happy to connect you with talented experts through The Techlahoma Foundation who can provide a larger selection of technical training and workshops. Learn more at Techlahoma.org.
Whether you’re a library, school, chamber of commerce, nonprofit organization, or business looking to provide valuable training for your community or team, let’s connect. Contact me to learn more about available workshops and speaking opportunities.
Let’s empower more people to take that next step, whatever it may be.