I turned my side-hustle into a £130k a year job – but not everyone’s happy for me, trolls say I just got lucky
A WOMAN has revealed how her side-hustle became her full-time job.
Gabby Beckford, 26, started a travel blog back in 2020 and just two years after its creation, it brought in £130k a year.
Starting her blog, , was the best career decision she ever made.
Although the blog started as nothing more than a hobby, Gabby has seen it grow and attract readers and clients around the world.
Speaking to , Gabby said thanks to sponsored social media posts, blog articles and B2B marketing consultations she was able to earn £130k last year.
Gabby admits that hasn't always been an easy ride for her, and many people haven't been happy or her success.
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She said: "When I shared that I’d brought in $170,000 in my blog’s first year of full-time business, I got a lot of congratulatory messages.
"But some were less supportive.
People online said I was wasting my engineering degree, while others suggested I had just gotten lucky with my success.
Now, when I face criticism for my business or my entrepreneurial lifestyle, I don’t allow myself to feel down."
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But the exponential growth of her company has proved them wrong, and now Gabby is able to share some of her top tips on making a side-hustle a successful, full-time business.
She added: "The key to success is to be a self-starter and continuous learner.
"I regularly applied to business grants and pitch competitions.
"And to save money by not hiring a web designer, I launched the Packs Light website on my own."
But Gabby notes it was also important to get a team together once her business had grown.
The content creator says money shouldn't be your only driving force when running a business.
She explained: "It’s more satisfying to be able to say “I’m financially free” or “I’m doing what I love every day” or “I’m making an impact.”
Enjoy the milestone, but don’t get caught up in the race to your next dollar figure.
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"To be successful, you have to remember your “why” and keep going. The financial success will eventually follow."
Gabby Beckford is a digital nomad, travel blogger, content creator and TEDx speaker, follow her on and .
