Hustle Tips: Pull the Plug

They say what goes up, must come down. But they never said when.

In these days of high energy prices, StarBucks addiction and global inflation, hustling is at an all-time high. Countless numbers of people all over the world are working 2 to 3 jobs just to make ends meet — or get close enough to at least wave at each other! It seems as if it can be a never-ending cycle, one that can make you grow old before you know it, wondering what happened to the past 40 years of your life.

Sometimes, however, the best way to make more money is to just save more money! In addition to the easy standard cost-cutting measures, such as not going out as much (duh), watching DVD’s instead of going to the movies (hey, you always get a good seat), and buying store brand items over the national brand (except for Honey Nut Cheerios…I can’t skimp on that one), there is another way to save a bit more money while also doing your part for the environment:

Pull the plug on the electronics and appliances you are not using.

Yes, unplug! Now if you are thinking to yourself, “I already turn off the lights when I leave a room, why do I have to now unplug every item as well?” then you are not alone. I used to thing the same thing: my computer goes into sleep mode when I’m not using it, I switch off my electrical components when they are idle, and I use natural light whenever possible. Well, it seems as if these efforts aren’t good enough anymore, and by unplugging we can actually step-up this money-saving hustle. This article tells a story about a man’s energy usage, and how much he saved by unplugging equipment versus just turning it off. If it’s a way to hustle the electric company (legally), then I’m all for it!

After you read the article, you might be tempted to start implementing the procedures, then watch your monthly power bill. Well it occurred to me that you don’t have to unplug everything! If you really want to start saving money in this manner, try flipping a few switches at your fuse box instead of putting yourself into contortions trying to get to an outlet. It not only saves you time, but it’s a smarter way to conserve the energy not being used in your home. Flip the switches before you go to bed and before you leave your home for work, then look for corresponding savings on your bill. It may not be much, but it adds up over time, and if we all did it, it would help to ensure a brighter future for our children and maybe one that is less dependent on foreign energy sources.

Hustle Humor: How To Get Free Drinks #4

Welcome back to the ‘How To Get Free Drinks’ series! This is the fourth video, and by far my favorite. Again, it will make you laugh…but in a sly kind of way!

This video is definitely only for my ‘real’ hustlers out there, and only for those 21 and up (at least here in the States) due to alcohol themes. If you choose to emulate what you see, do so at your own risk: everyone is not easy-going and open-minded. Please drink responsibly. Watch, learn and enjoy!

So what did you think? Good, bad, or John-Chow evil? Post your comments below!

Courtesy of ‘The Real Hustle‘

Hustle Tips: Weekends Are the ‘Right’ Time

They say the nighttime is the right time. But maybe not for everything.

When it comes to getting ahead of the blogging game, the weekends are indeed the right time, and the best time. What normally happens on weekends, especially during the summer? People are on vacation, or out shopping, playing outdoor sports, or simply curled up in the bed with not a worry in the world. Fewer people think about getting online, unless they don’t have better things to do. Da Hustler used to get depressed at his numbers on the weekend, but not anymore. You have to realize the reality of the situation, then adjust to it accordingly.

So instead of lamenting and not doing anything because ‘no one will see or read it anyway,’ use the weekends as a time to either catch up on missed posts, or prepare for the upcoming week. In addition, you can visit other blogs and chime in on what they posted the past week. Send out your e-mails to them so they’ll get them Sunday night or first thing Monday morning.

Want a John Chow-style evil trick? Due to the posting hiatus, people aren’t posting as much and people aren’t reading as much, so you can take this time to rise to the top of Top Commentator lists! This is an evil little trick I discovered early on, and as long as you don’t spam and actually add to the conversation, the blogger will welcome your addition while you enjoy the climb to the top. To be even more sinister, use the time to reply to really old posts if the blogger didn’t post much this week, or if you already responded to a few and honestly have nothing more to add. It gives them more activity and appreciation for the work they did long ago, and pushes you and your brand up higher.

If you organize your time right, you can have a time for work and a time for play during the weekend. You don’t have to give up your life to blog, but just maximize your time so that you can get the full benefit of all the hours of the day. Then no matter what time it is, to you it will always be the right time!