J Chickery - Chickery's Travels

How to Go From Side-Hustling Solopreneur to Big-Time Business

When you first get started with a side hustle, it can be such an exciting time in your life. You will find that you have a passion outside of work, something that you want to dedicate a lot of your time to. If you know that you want it to become a full-time thing for you in the future, you may be spending all of your time on it. So when things start to take off, it can feel like a very rewarding moment. However, this is likely to be something that you’re doing alone. Even when you’re starting to make a small bit of money, you still know that you have a long way to go. But just because you’re starting out as a solopreneur, it doesn’t mean that things need to stay that way in the long term. In fact, if you know that you want to not just make this your full-time career, but build a successful business off the back of it, you totally can. It’s all about taking the right approach.

However, it is important to understand what it takes for you to grow your business to the level you really want it to be. You may find that the things you’ve been doing up until this point have gotten you this far, but won’t take you much further. This is where a change of tactic comes in. Because if you want to be more of a big-time business, you need to start operating like a big-time business. In this blog post, we’re going to walk through some of the things you need to do to grow beyond solopreneurship and achieve big business success.

1. Set a Goal

To start with, it helps to set a goal. If you are feeling overwhelmed with this process, it might just mean that you’re thinking it’s something it’s not. So, spend time thinking about what you actually want to achieve by expanding the business. Do you want to make a certain amount of money or reach a certain checkpoint in external success? When you are more concrete on why you’re doing this, it can feel easier to get the wheels in motion.

2. Set the Business Up Commercially

From here, you then need to make sure that you’re physically making the adjustments to your business. You’re no longer operating alone and instead are now operating like a business. This will mean that you need to register the company if you haven’t already, and set up the financials and taxes in the right way. You can also sign up for the best fuel programs for the company, secure your business phone line and internet package, and even consider getting a virtual office. When you have, the business now not only looks more professional, but is set up to reflect your growth.

3. Change the Way You See Things

But at the same time, you also need to make sure that you’re changing your mindset. It’s easy to be set in your ways. As a freelancer or side-hustler, you can often look at your work as a hobby or something small-time. But when you want to go from solopreneurship to CEO, it all starts with a change in how you see it all. You need to start treating what you’re doing as a big business. Thinking and acting like a CEO is such a simple way to make the shift, and everything else will follow.

4. Hire Some Help

One of the ways that you’re going to be able to start seeing it all differently is to stop doing everything yourself. This means that you’re going to want to hire your first team member. It might just be an assistant for now, or it could be a specialist in a set area. Either way, having people in the business allows you to free up time to focus on the expansion.

5. Invest in Branding

From here, you will then want to make sure that the business looks the part from the outside. So, make sure that you’ve got strong branding in place. It could be the perfect time for you to work on a rebrand that helps you to look a lot more professional and makes a statement about what you’re here to do.

6. Supercharge Your Marketing Strategy

Alongside that, you also need to make sure that you have a powerful marketing strategy that will support your growth. Having branding that looks the part is the start, but you then need to add that with marketing activity that supercharges your growth. Spend time working out what you want to try, bringing your campaigns to life, tracking activity, and analyzing your data. You’ll soon see what’s getting you the best results, and will be able to double down on the tactics that drive results.

7. Expand Your Operations

You also need to make sure that you’re thinking about how you expand your operations. The last thing you need is to grow too quickly and find that your operations aren’t able to handle it. Expanding globally can sound very big and intimidating, but it’s just about reaching more people with what you’re doing. However, you still need to make sure that you have the people, systems, and processes in place to facilitate it all. So, make sure that you’re bringing in the right operational setup to drive the company forward.

Creating a Big-Time Business on Your Terms

It’s safe to say that going from solopreneur to CEO can feel like a big jump. But you have to remember that this is never done overnight. It’s all about taking the right steps that will get you to where you want to be. When you start focusing on putting the wheels in motion, you will get there. So, make sure that you pick out a few options from this post and put it all into practice. That way, the business is going to grow, and you’ll be well on your way to big-time business success completely on your terms. Good luck!

8:32 pm by J Chickery Leave a Comment

How To Make Your Next Road Trip More Joyful

So much planning and preparation go into travelling, and sometimes we forget that the whole purpose of discovering the world has wonders, which is to feel that sense of mind and world-expanding joy that only travel can bring.

However, you’ll be pleased to find out that even if you have got bogged down in all the preparation for your next trip, there are plenty of ways you can make sure you release the joy when you travel. These recommendations are in two main parts: part one, how to make the journey more fun, and part two, how to maximize the joy at your destination.

Family enjoying a campfire in front of an RV.

Part 1: Make the journey more fun

Plan plenty of fun stops

Often, we want the journey to our destination to be over as quickly as possible so our ‘real’ trip can begin. Yet, the journey can often be the best part of a road trip. The first way to get more joy from your journey is to plan stops with fun in mind.

Think about scheduling some stops on your road trip to check out the roadside attractions along the way. We love using the Atlas Obscura website to find unique and sometimes bizarre roadside attractions to experience, from The International Banana Museum – Mecca, California, which hosts over 20,000 banana-related items, to The Paper House – Rockport, Massachusetts. A place that, as you may have already guessed from the name, is indeed built and furnished from over 100,000 varnished newspapers.

Another way you can make the journey part of your trip more joyful is to embrace the time to enjoy some entertainment. There are so many different forms of entertainment that you can do during your journey, especially if you are not the one in the driving seat.

Games to enjoy

Road trips are a great opportunity for family bonding, and playing games can make the journey even more enjoyable. One classic game is “I Spy,” where players take turns spotting something and giving clues until someone guesses correctly. “20 Questions” is another favorite, where one person thinks of an object, and the rest ask yes-or-no questions to figure it out. License Plate Bingo keeps everyone alert, as players look for license plates from different states or provinces. The Alphabet Game challenges the family to find words starting with each letter of the alphabet, in order, on signs and buildings. For a creative twist, try “Story Chain,” where each person adds a sentence to a made-up story, building an unpredictable and often hilarious tale. These games require little or no supplies and are fun for all ages, making the miles fly by.

Be sure to bring a tablet in case your driver needs a little peace and quiet. Then you’ll be able to enjoy games like Spider Solitaire or Mahjong.

Get some reading time in

Audiobooks are a fantastic way to keep the whole family entertained on road trips, turning long hours in the car into an immersive storytelling adventure. They help pass the time, reduce screen use, and spark imagination, making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination. With professional narration, sound effects, and engaging plots, audiobooks can captivate listeners of all ages. Family-friendly options like Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, or Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White offer timeless stories everyone can enjoy. For something fun and modern, try The Wild Robot by Peter Brown or Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. Whether you’re laughing, learning, or getting lost in a magical world together, audiobooks make road trips memorable for the whole family.

Part 2: Maximize the joy at your destination

RV travel and camping with your kids and grandkids is a great way to expose them to new places and experiences.

Look for authentic experiences

To fully experience a local area during a road trip, take time to step off the beaten path and explore what makes each place unique. Start by visiting local diners, cafés, or food trucks to taste regional specialties and support small businesses. Check out community events like farmers’ markets, street fairs, or local festivals, which offer a glimpse into the culture and lifestyle of the area. Chatting with residents can lead to great recommendations for hidden gems, scenic spots, or lesser-known attractions. Nature lovers can hike nearby trails or stop at local parks to enjoy the landscape. Museums, historical sites, and cultural centers also provide rich context about the region’s heritage. By slowing down and engaging with the community, your road trip becomes more than just a journey—it becomes a collection of authentic, unforgettable experiences.

Tailor your trip specifically to your needs

You can also enhance the joy at your destination if you get everyone involved in the travel planning. You might start by making a big list of everything you’d like the campground to offer or activities you’d like to do the local area. Then let everyone pick one or two things. This works well for families, couples, or even friends who travel together. We realized early on that I like to be on the go the whole, while my husband likes to have some downtime at the campground. Now we make sure we have enough time for both.

Make a positive difference

Volunteering while on vacation, often called “voluntourism,” is a meaningful way to give back to the community you’re visiting. Instead of just sightseeing, you can spend part of your trip helping out at local schools, wildlife conservation projects, food banks, or community clean-ups. Many organizations offer short-term opportunities tailored to travelers, allowing you to make a positive impact without committing to a long stay. It’s a great way to connect with locals, learn about different cultures, and return home with a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. One great volunteer program for RVer’s is Habitat for Humanity’s Care-A-Vanner program, but the opportunities are endless from trail maintenance to beach clean-up days.

9:37 am by J Chickery Leave a Comment

Hit the Road for Less: How RV Travel Can Slash Your Vacation Costs

Let’s face it—traveling these days isn’t cheap. Flights, hotels, meals on the go… it adds up faster than you’d expect. But there’s a quiet, steady rebellion happening out on the open road. It’s made up of people trading rigid itineraries and overpriced hotel rooms for something simpler, something more flexible. The answer? Life on wheels. If you’ve ever wondered how people are managing to travel more while spending less, RV life might just be the missing puzzle piece.

Drastically Lower Accommodation Costs

Views of three different campsites at Harper's Ferry KOA campground in West Virginia

Try this: price out a week in a downtown hotel versus a weeklong stay at an RV park. The difference? Night and day. Hotels might offer room service and tiny shampoo bottles, but they also come with hefty nightly rates, added taxes, and parking fees that’ll make you wince. RV parks, on the other hand, keep things simple. You’ve already got your bed, your own space, your own stuff. So why overpay for someone else’s linens? Many parks also offer a discounted rate for weeklong or monthly stays. For travelers on a budget—or those who just don’t want to throw money out the window—it’s a no-brainer.

Follow our tips for saving on campgrounds and other aspects of RV travel.

Save On Dining With Your Own Kitchen

There’s something satisfying about making your own breakfast while the sun rises just beyond your window. In an RV, your kitchen comes with you. And while it might be smaller than the one back home, it gets the job done. Tired of overpriced coffee and soggy takeout? Cook your own meals. You don’t need to be a gourmet chef. Scrambled eggs and toast. Pasta and sauce. A burger grilled just the way you like it. RV parks often make it even easier by offering picnic areas or communal grills. The best part? You’re not eating in a noisy restaurant; you’re dining with the trees, the stars, the birds, or your feet in the grass.

Access To Free Or Low-Cost Amenities

A photo with dozens of RVs in a U-shape of paved RV sites, separated by lush green grass. In the center, there is a green building with a wooden deck and ramp leading to a pool and 'lazy river' that surrounds more grass. There are many blue intertubes, several lounge chairs, and four sun shelters throughout the pool/river area. The RV park is surrounded by fields of grass and a few houses. The ocean and blue sky are in the background.

You might not expect a swimming pool with a hot tub, game room, nature trail, and dog park in the middle of nowhere. But many RV parks are quietly impressive. Sure, they vary—some feel rustic and woodsy, others are more like a destination resort—but most have one thing in common: they make life easier. Planned kids activities and movie nights. Hiking trails right outside your door. The kind of stuff you’d normally pay a premium for elsewhere is just… there. Waiting for you.

Reduced Transportation Expenses

When your home moves with you, there’s no reason to rush. You can settle in, stay a while, explore what’s nearby. Park close to town or just outside the national park entrance. Ride your bike. Walk. Take the shuttle. With an RV, you skip the back-and-forth and the costly fuel bills that come with it. You go where you want, when you want, and then you stop. That kind of flexibility isn’t just convenient; it’s economical in ways that start to make a lot of sense the longer you’re out there.

Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing the experience. If anything, it forces you to get creative, and often, that creativity leads you somewhere better. And for those chasing freedom without draining their bank accounts, RV parks are one of the smartest places to begin.