SHS030: VidSummit Review 2024: Was It Yay Or Nay?
Intro
What is VidSummit actually like?
Is it worth going?
And more importantly…
👉 Can it actually change your trajectory as a content creator?
In this bonus panel episode, Elijah Bilel brings together a group of creators to break down their real experiences at VidSummit 2024—from networking and opportunities to what most people get wrong when attending events like this.
Going to this year's vidsummit? Click here to get your ticket and be part of Elijah's vidsummit crew during the event!
Panel Cast
Host:
Elijah Bilel – Founder of The Side Hustler’s Society
Panelists:
Gregory Rutledge – Creator behind Question Everything
👉 Check out his YouTube channel hereDejion – Sound Engineer & Creative
👉 Connect with him on Instagram hereYuly Torres – Creator behind Engineer Your Fleet
👉 Check out her YouTube channel hereKelly Harada – Creator behind My Love Letter To Books
👉 Check out her YouTube channel hereDavid Gaines – Creator behind Applied Ascension
👉 Check out his YouTube channel here
Episode Overview
In this panel discussion, we break down:
What VidSummit is really like behind the scenes
Why networking is more valuable than the presentations
The unexpected opportunities that come from showing up
How content can influence people in ways you don’t see
The importance of owning your audience (email lists, platforms, etc.)
What creators should do differently when attending events
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
The Power of Content (Real Proof from VidSummit)
One of the most impactful moments from this episode comes directly from Elijah’s experience at the event.
👉 People recognized him from his VidSummit video
👉 And showed up because of it
As shared in the episode, someone literally watched his video multiple times—and even had it sent to them again by a friend before attending
The Bigger Lesson
👉 You don’t always see the impact of your content
But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening
Key Takeaway
Content can:
Influence decisions
Bring people into rooms
Create opportunities before you even arrive
Why VidSummit Is Really About Networking
While VidSummit is known for its presentations…
The panel reinforces something important:
👉 The REAL value is in the hallways
Elijah’s Strategy
Elijah Bilel intentionally spent most of his time:
Networking
Having conversations
Building relationships
The Result
Multiple podcast guests secured
New business opportunities
Sponsorship conversations
Key Insight
👉 Events don’t pay off because you attend
👉 They pay off because of how you show up
The Hidden Opportunity Most Creators Miss
A major theme throughout the discussion:
👉 Most creators attend events passively
What That Looks Like
Sitting in sessions all day
Not talking to people
Not building relationships
What Actually Works
Being intentional
Starting conversations
Following up
Because at the end of the day
👉 Relationships = opportunities
Owning Your Audience (A Critical Lesson)
Another key takeaway from the episode:
👉 You don’t own your audience on platforms
Why This Matters
If something happens to:
Your YouTube channel
Your social media
👉 You lose access instantly
The Solution
👉 Build an email list
👉 Own the relationship
If you’re serious about building a sustainable content business and learning how to grow, monetize, and protect your platform long-term, you can join Roberto Blake's Awesome Creator Academy Here . Elijah has been a member for years and the system he uses to launch ad sustain all of his youtube channels, he learned in this academy
Pros of VidSummit (From the Discussion)
Across the panel, several benefits stood out:
1. Networking Opportunities
High-level creators in one place
Easy access to conversations
Organic collaboration potential
2. Business Opportunities
Sponsorships
Partnerships
Client relationships
3. Exposure
People recognizing your content
Building credibility in real life
Cons of VidSummit
The panel also highlights a few drawbacks:
1. Scheduling Conflicts
👉 You often have to choose between:
Networking
Presentations
2. Limited Time
Not enough breaks for networking
Packed schedule
3. Missing Key Creators
Some expected creators weren’t present, which can impact:
Networking expectations
Value perception
The Biggest Takeaway from This Panel
If there’s one thing this episode makes clear:
👉 Content + proximity = opportunity
Breakdown
Content gets you recognized
Proximity turns that recognition into opportunity
And When You Combine Both
👉 That’s where real growth happens
Why You Should Be Creating Content (Even If You’re Hesitant)
This episode reinforces something critical:
👉 You never know who’s watching
And More Importantly
👉 You don’t know how your content is influencing decisions
So Instead of Waiting
👉 Hit record
👉 Share your thoughts
👉 Build your presence
If you want to take your content seriously and learn how to turn it into real income, opportunities, and long-term growth, you can get access to the Awesome Creator Academy that Elijah is a part o by clicking Here .
Final Thoughts
This panel highlights a powerful reality:
👉 Events like VidSummit are multipliers
But Only If You Use Them Right
Talk to people
Build relationships
Create content consistently
Because at the end of the day
👉 Opportunities don’t come from watching
👉 They come from participating
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS017: How Public Speaking Boosts Your Business In 2026 With Brenden Kumarasamy From Mastertalk
Intro
Public speaking is one of the most overlooked skills in business today.
With the rise of social media, livestreaming, and digital content, many people assume that traditional communication skills aren’t as important anymore.
But in this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel breaks down why that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whether you’re building a side hustle, freelancing, or scaling a full-time business, your ability to communicate effectively can directly impact your income, relationships, and opportunities.
Subscribe To Elijah's New Youtube Channel, Social Dynamics
Find out the different ways that Elijah teaches to grow your network, plan events with big turnouts and advance in your career by cultivating the right relationships. Click here to join out newsletter and get started!
Intro to Brenden Kumarasamy From MasterTalk
Founder of MasterTalk, a platform focused on improving communication and public speaking
Coaches executives and entrepreneurs to become top-tier communicators
Built a successful coaching business centered around communication skills
Known for simplifying public speaking strategies for everyday professionals
Runs the YouTube channel MasterTalk where he shares free communication training
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBYFP4mZLQovr7W6Si6sueA
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into how communication—and specifically public speaking—can:
Increase your income
Improve your ability to sell
Help you build stronger relationships
Position you as an authority in your space
Brendan shares how he went from competing in presentation competitions to building a full business around communication—and why this skill is essential for anyone serious about success.
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Side Hustle to Full-Time Strategy Session
Financial Personality Success Bundle
Quick Takeaways
Elijah Bilel emphasizes communication as a key business skill
Public speaking is a powerful tool for lead generation
Brendan explains how communication accelerates success in any field
Sales and communication are directly connected
Entrepreneurs must improve communication as they scale
Strong communication improves both business and personal relationships
Public speaking can be monetized as its own income stream
Many entrepreneurs are “made,” not born
Side hustles can evolve into full-time businesses over time
High-income skills create flexibility and freedom
Why Public Speaking Matters in Business
1. Communication Drives Income
At the core of every business:
👉 Sales = Income
And sales depend heavily on:
How clearly you explain your offer
How well you connect with your audience
How confidently you present value
Public speaking enhances all of these.
2. It Builds Authority
When you can:
Speak confidently
Present ideas clearly
Educate an audience
You naturally position yourself as:
👉 An expert
And that leads to:
More trust
More opportunities
Higher-paying clients
3. It Improves Every Area of Life
Brendan makes a key point:
👉 Communication impacts everything
Business
Relationships
Networking
Leadership
This isn’t just a business skill—it’s a life skill.
Brendan’s Journey Into Entrepreneurship
1. It Didn’t Start With Business
Brendan didn’t initially plan to become an entrepreneur.
He:
Studied business
Wanted a corporate career
Competed in “case competitions” (presentation-based business challenges)
These competitions helped him:
Develop elite communication skills
Present ideas under pressure
Learn how to persuade decision-makers
2. MasterTalk Was Built From Passion
He started creating content simply to:
Help others improve communication
Share knowledge that wasn’t easily accessible
Over time:
The content gained traction
He met the right business partner
He learned how to monetize his expertise
And eventually:
👉 It became a full business
3. Entrepreneurs Are Often Made, Not Born
Brendan highlights an important distinction:
Some people are naturally entrepreneurial
Others become entrepreneurs through experience
His journey shows that:
👉 You don’t need to start as an entrepreneur to become one
Public Speaking as a Business Growth Tool
1. Lead Generation
Speaking allows you to:
Build trust quickly
Showcase expertise
Connect with audiences at scale
That’s why Elijah Bilel points out:
👉 Public speaking can be one of the strongest lead generation tools available
2. Scaling Your Business
As your business grows:
You hire employees
You manage teams
You delegate tasks
If your communication isn’t strong:
Things get misunderstood
Execution suffers
Growth slows down
Strong communication = smoother scaling
3. Relationship Building
Success is heavily tied to:
👉 The quality of your relationships
Public speaking improves your ability to:
Connect with people
Build trust
Communicate vision
Side Hustles, Skills & Communication
A major theme in this episode:
👉 Skills create opportunity
Whether it’s:
Video editing
Accounting
Public speaking
A strong skill set allows you to:
Get a job
Freelance
Start a business
Scale into an agency
But communication is the multiplier.
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Communication Is a Force Multiplier
No matter what you do:
👉 Better communication = better results
2. Start With a Skill
High-income skills give you:
Stability
Flexibility
Options
3. Build Before You Leap
Brendan spent years:
Building content
Testing ideas
Growing his platform
Before going full-time.
4. Public Speaking Is a High-Leverage Skill
It helps you:
Sell
Lead
Influence
Scale
Who This Episode Is For
Side hustlers looking to grow income
Freelancers wanting more clients
Entrepreneurs scaling their business
Anyone looking to improve communication skills
Key Topics Covered
Public speaking strategies from Brendan from MasterTalk
Business insights from Elijah Bilel
How communication impacts income and growth
Turning a skill into a business
Scaling through better communication
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS014: How Omari Harebin Grew His Affiliate Marketing Business To $4000 A Month!
Intro
Affiliate marketing is one of the most misunderstood ways to make money online.
Some people think it’s a scam. Others think it’s passive income with no work.
So what’s the truth?
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with a seasoned expert to break it all down—from beginner strategies to advanced insights.
Subscribe To Elijah's New Youtube Channel, Social Dynamics
Find out the different ways that Elijah teaches to grow your network, plan events with big turnouts and advance in your career by cultivating the right relationships. Click here to join out newsletter and get started!
Intro to Omari Harebin
Founder of sqspthemes.com (a leading directory of Squarespace templates)
Digital entrepreneur who has generated over $1M in digital product sales
Specialist in affiliate marketing and digital products
Creator of the Digital Alchemy Lab community
Has been building online income streams since 2014
👉 Website: https://sqspthemes.com
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OmariHarebin
Episode Overview
The conversation starts with a simple but important question:
👉 Is affiliate marketing a scam?
Both Elijah and Omari agree:
No—it’s not a scam. But it is misunderstood.
Affiliate marketing is simply:
Promoting a product or service
Earning a commission when someone buys through your link
Companies already have advertising budgets—they’re just choosing to pay based on results instead of upfront.
And that shift creates a huge opportunity.
🚀 Want to Become a Content Creator the Right Way?
If you’re serious about building a brand and making money as a creator:
👉 Join Awesome Creator Academy today!
This is one of the best places to learn:
How to grow your audience
How to monetize your content
How to build a real business as a creator
Click here to get started!
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Financial Personality Success Bundle
Quick Takeaways
Affiliate marketing is performance-based income—not a scam
Elijah explains how referral income outperformed AdSense early on
You don’t need a huge audience to get started
Trust with your audience is your biggest asset
Content acts like a long-term income-producing asset
You can create affiliate partnerships—even if they don’t exist yet
Freelancing can fund your transition into affiliate income
SEO + content marketing are powerful for long-term growth
Passive income takes time—it’s not instant
Your everyday purchases can become income opportunities
Affiliate Marketing vs Traditional Work
One of the most important distinctions discussed:
👉 Traditional jobs pay you for time
👉 Affiliate marketing pays you for results
As Elijah explains, in a typical job:
You can generate sales
But your pay doesn’t change
With affiliate marketing:
If you drive a sale, you get paid
Why Affiliate Marketing Feels “Shady” to Some People
Omari shares an interesting perspective:
Many people dismiss affiliate marketing early because:
It sounds too good to be true
It doesn’t fit the “work → paycheck” model
Some promoters make unrealistic claims
He even admits he ignored it for years before taking it seriously.
The Turning Point: Passive Income Is Real
At one point, Omari logged into an old affiliate account and found:
👉 $444 waiting for him
He didn’t even remember placing the link.
That moment validated the model:
👉 Content + links = income over time
The Real Strategy: Content as an Asset
One of the most powerful ideas from this episode:
👉 Every piece of content is a seed
You create it once
It lives online forever
It can generate income years later
This is where affiliate marketing becomes powerful.
How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing
Omari breaks it down into two key steps:
1. Build a Marketing Channel
You need a platform where people can find you:
YouTube
Blog
TikTok
Instagram
Consistency is key.
2. Promote What You Already Use
Instead of chasing random products:
👉 Start with what you already use and recommend
Ask yourself:
What do people ask you about?
What tools do you use daily?
What do you naturally recommend?
Then:
Join their affiliate programs
Share your real experience
Advanced Insight: Creating Your Own Affiliate Deals
Omari didn’t just join affiliate programs…
👉 He helped create them
He would:
Identify products his audience needed
Reach out to creators
Set up affiliate partnerships
Sometimes those programs didn’t even exist yet.
Affiliate Marketing vs Freelancing
A key comparison in the episode:
Freelancing
Faster income
Active work
Requires client interaction
Affiliate Marketing
Slower to start
Passive over time
Scales with content
Elijah Bilel shares that freelancing helped fund his transition into:
YouTube
Affiliate income
Multiple income streams
The Biggest Mistake Beginners Make
👉 Expecting quick results
Affiliate marketing is:
A long-term strategy
A content-driven model
A patience game
The “Consumption → Production” Mindset
One of the strongest concepts from the episode:
👉 Turn everything you consume into something that pays you
Use a tool → get the affiliate link
Recommend it → earn commissions
Create content → scale it
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners curious about affiliate marketing
Content creators not making money yet
Freelancers looking to scale income
Anyone who wants passive income online
Key Topics Covered
Affiliate marketing myths vs reality
Building passive income with content
How Omari Harebin approaches partnerships
Transitioning from freelancing to scalable income
How Elijah Bilel builds income streams
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
Affiliate Marketing 2026: How I Spent $260 And Made Over $14,000!
You've mostly heard this term thrown all over the internet Affiliate Marketing! How do you get the ball rolling and make good money with Affiliate marketing in this noisy world of ours where everyone is trying to do it? In this article, I'm going to actually go into, how I spent $260 and made over $14,000 with affiliate slash referral marketing? And I'm going to give you three steps on how you can do the same. If you're not in a reading mood, you can always watch the video below!
So let's get into it. Affiliate marketing. This is a term that has been thrown around the internet for a while, saying you can get this, you can get that. It can be passive income. You can make so much money with affiliate marketing and you don't have to worry about shipping the product out, someone else is going to take care of that.
That's very much true. But how do you actually make affiliate marketing work and how much money can you make with that? In this video, I'm going to share with you a tactic that I used to spend $260, and I got a return of over $14,000 using affiliate marketing just from this one tactic. So stay tuned if you want to know more about how I did it. And I'll also sum it up in three steps that you can take to make a lot of money with affiliate marketing.
So one thing I said in my book, The Anatomy of Financial Success, I mentioned that affiliate marketing is a sleeping goldmine. There are not a lot of people are really tapped into. And this video is actually going to go into details of how I've leveraged it over the years. With that being said, it's time to share with you how I was able to make over $14,000 with affiliate marketing and only spending $260.
The Proof
Of course, before I get into how I did it, you all want to know did I actually did it. So let me show you the proof. In this video, at watch time 2:58 I show my Amazon dashboard and I added all of the payments up. So that number is $437.18.
Now moving on to my second channel, the app lifestyle, you got to take a look at the analytics to see how much this channel has made.
The screenshot above is a more recent shot of the channel earnings which is why the number is higher. At the time of the study, the channel had made $1,482.39 so we will use that number. While this is technically not affiliate marketing , i count it because it still largely stemmed from the 3 steps that we'll get into later.
Next we're going to show how much I made from Uber Eats referrals and a little bit of Uber of course too. Just going to go to earnings, and we're going to go to referrals, scroll down, and we're going to go to the amount that is already been earned. So that's $12,845.
So now that you've seen the proof let's get into the steps and tactic that I used to make this a reality. Now, right off the bat, you do have to already have these two things set up before I even go into these three steps otherwise it's not going to mean anything. You have to pick a niche that you want to do affiliate marketing in.
So stereotypically, the three niches are health and wellness, something financial or relationships. You got to pick which one you want to focus on. And once you pick which one of those categories that you want to focus on, you got to niche down even further. So get a little sub category and really start providing value in that sub category. So for me, in this particular case, it was Uber and Uber Eats. More so Uber Eats and showing people how to make a lot of money with it.
So that's in the financial area, but I really niched down to a specific part in a financial area in terms of making money. Once that's been done, you need to pick a list of affiliates that you're actually going to sign up for so that you can get your commissions from. Those two things have to be done otherwise these three steps won't matter. But assuming that you've done those prior steps, we can get into the three steps which I used.
Step 1: Offer something of GREAT value
The first step is to offer something of great value to people for free. When I say great value, I'm not just talking about some throwaway thing that you're using just to get an email address or something. It has to really be great value and value is defined by how well you can get a person the result that they're looking for.
And if you can do it, you've accomplished your mission of providing great value. And if you can do it with the four letters attached, called F-R-E-E, you're going to position yourself to be in the right place to severely benefit from affiliate marketing. So what I did was, I created a YouTube channel called the app lifestyle. It also had a website called the app lifestyle, but the YouTube channel was the launching point.
With the YouTube channel I made a free Uber Eats course to show people how to take their Uber Eats earnings from whatever they were making, to being able to make between $11 and $18 an hour consistently. Not only did I do this, but I also showed how to make this money and actually reduce the amount of hours that you put in. So if you decide to put more hours in, then that means you're going to make more money.
Depending on your niche, it might be a person getting a certain weight. It might be a person getting a certain status in life. Whatever it is, if you're providing value and can give them the end result they want then you're going to be in the right spot.
Step 2: Make your offer easy to digest!
The second step that I did was I ordered all the information so that it was very easy and digestible for my audience. So it wasn't like they have to find everything from different places in my brand. I also didn't put any roadblocks towards them getting the result.
It actually is organized in a way so that they can just literally watch it if they have an hour of the time to spend on this course. They can then go out the next day or even later that day and start seeing immediate results.
We see it is organized in a very easy manner for the person to go onto the next part of the course and get results.
So we see seven must have Uber Eats items, Uber Eats tutorial. The 1st Part, how to handle a delivery. Part two, covering acceptance rate, cancellation rates or no wait times. Part three: what about hotspots? How do you use Uber Eats customer app to make you more money as a driver?
See all this is very organized and YouTube is actually recommending the next part in the course after a person watches that part because it's part of a series playlist.
Since this is a course, that works out greatly. But even if that's not the case, I've made sure that I've linked the next video in the card in the top right-hand corner and the video itself. So every opportunity someone has to watch the next part in the course, they can click on it. If at any point they want to go back and rewatch a certain part, they can just go back to the Uber Eats course playlist. That makes this easy and digestible.
Step 3: Get traffic to your value preposition!
The third way and here's where my hidden tech that comes into play is, you get traffic to whatever you're using to provide value. Now, in terms of YouTube, I haven't seen anyone talk about this. So I'm very excited to share this little tactic with you.
Everyone knows that YouTube algorithm plays a big role in getting traffic to your videos. And if you get traffic to your videos in affiliate marketing, that means there's more traffic for people to click on your links. I didn't mention this before, but you want to make sure you have your affiliate links in your description or whatever you're using to get value.
More traffic means more clicks, which means more money down the line for you. This is the tactic I used to get traffic to my YouTube channel, specifically the Uber Eats course. I found a very popular podcast where people are very open to making money in different ways and I advertised on that podcast. Now I did it in a very specific way. So you want to listen carefully.
I purchased a cheap domain from GoDaddy (It was less then $20). It was something very simple and that's key. You want to have something simple that someone can literally type in as they're hearing it and they can go to wherever it is you want them to go.
This is because we're going to use this domain and we're going to forward it, to whatever your value proposition is. In my particular case, it was the Uber Eats course, and the advertisement was basically "if you want to make more money, you should consider signing up for Uber Eats, go to www.makemoremoney.com. There, you can get a free Uber Eats course that shows you how to make between $11 and $18 an hour with Uber Eats on your own schedule as long as you have a car".
See, I was very specific and I used the word free. So I spoke to the result that people want, which is to make more money. And I also injected the word free, which is true because the course is free and it's on YouTube. Guess what happened? People went there and checked it out.
They started the Uber Eats course and they said, "Wait, hold on. This is more simple than I thought, let me go sign up." And since people got such great value from the course, they wanted to sign up using my link and my code. So my referral or affiliate code is in all my descriptions of all my videos. It's also pasted on the screen when I'm doing a video at some point during a video in the course. So this led them to go and sign up on the app lifestyle, or they would sign up for Uber directly and put the code in but it didn't stop there.
I also have a video where I talk about seven items that's good for Uber Eats drivers to have like an insulated bag. Accompanying that video is an article on the same thing. People would watch that video and then click on the article. This lead to many people getting some of those items in that article and the pictures in that article contain Amazon affiliate links. So when they buy, let's say the insulated bag, I would also get a commission on that purchase.
The funny thing about Amazon is they have a 24 hour cookie. If they buy anything in a 24 hour span, including what they're already buying, which is the insulated bag, then I get a commission off of that. In other words, they can buy a flat screen TV in addition to the insulated bag. The flat screen TV costs 500 bucks, but guess what? I get a commission based off that 500 bucks TV and an insulated bag!
The Grand Total
To summarize these three steps, I skipped out on the process of making a bunch of videos on YouTube, gradually building an audience until some people eventually start sharing it. Then the algorithm may give my videos some love. I bypassed that because that was too slow.
I decided to get traffic coming from outside of YouTube and that sent traffic to the Uber Eats course, which in turn, exploded the channel with the YouTube algorithm. This happen die to me getting a lot of traffic to come to me as opposed to fighting for it on the YouTube platform. Of course more views of my videos means more clicks on my affiliate links, which means more money for me.
So let's round the grand total up of how much I made with affiliate marketing using this tactic.
Amazon Affiliates: $437.18
The App Lifestyle: $ 1,482.39
Uber Referrals: $12,854
Grand total: $ 14,764.57
For those of you all that are really detailed, you know that's not exactly $14,000. It's actually more but $14,000 was a flat number I just had to put there. But this is the tactic I use to make this amount of money with affiliate marketing and I only spent $260.
So the popular podcasts that I decided to go with was a podcast called Tariq Radio and it cost $240 to advertise for four weeks on there. So my ad would run for four weeks after I purchased that ad. I spent a total of $260. $240 is for the podcast advertisement. And $20 was for the domain. And I arranged for the domains to redirect to the YouTube channel.
What was my ROI?
We're not done yet though!Now, what we're going to do next is we're going to find out what was my ROI (Return on investment) was. My investment in this case was the $260. My amount returned was $14,764.57.
ROI is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment (260) from the final value of the investment (14,764) , then dividing this new number by the cost of the investment (260), and, finally, multiplying it by 100. A visual of this is below.
$14,764 - $260 = $14,504
14,504/260 = 55.78
55.78 x 100 = 5,578%
So the ROI here is = 5,578%
That's the tactic I used to make over $14,000 using affiliate marketing. The biggest takeaway that you can get from this is to start using that podcast strategy. Find a podcast that is a great fit for you and advertise on it and make sure that the podcast has a lot of followers.
But even if it doesn't, if the followers have a tight connection with the host and they're open to making money, like the podcast is connected to money in some way, that's a huge bonus. It worth mention that if you feel you can get on the podcast as a guest, that works just as good. Just make the domain you give them simple to type in, and they're going to take you up on your offer and go to your free value proposition and then just sit back and watch the money come in.
That does it for this Article. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you found value in this article, checkout my book "The Anatomy Of Financial Success" I will catch you in the next one, don't forget to go out there and take control of your financial destiny!
SHS008: From $0 To $408,000 A Year With Roberto Blake From Awesome Creator Academy!
Intro
There’s a lot of hype around becoming a content creator—but very few people actually understand what it takes to turn it into real income.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with one of the most respected voices in the creator economy, Roberto Blake.
Together, they break down the truth behind content creation—what works, what doesn’t, and what it actually takes to succeed long-term.
Intro to Roberto Blake
Content creator and educator with over 1,000 videos teaching entrepreneurs and creatives
Founder of Awesome Creator Academy, helping creators build profitable brands
Generated over $400,000 in a single year as a YouTuber & Content Creator
Host of the Roberto Blake Podcast, reaching millions of creators worldwide
Known for his direct, transparent, and strategy-driven teaching style
Author of Create Something Awesome, focused on helping creators monetize their passion
Episode Overview
This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to succeed as a content creator—beyond the hype and viral screenshots.
Elijah opens by addressing a major misconception: many people see the income potential of YouTube and content creation, but don’t realize the process, consistency, and strategy required to get there.
Roberto Blake brings years of experience to the conversation, breaking down how his journey started long before YouTube—even going back to learning coding and design as a teenager.
One of the biggest themes in this episode is intentionality.
Roberto emphasizes that success isn’t luck—it’s the result of:
Preparation
Observation
Skill development
Consistent execution
Elijah Bilel reinforces this by connecting it to a broader principle: people who succeed are usually those who act intentionally, while most people leave their outcomes up to chance.
🚀 Want to Become a Content Creator the Right Way?
If you’re serious about building a brand and making money as a creator:
👉 Join Awesome Creator Academy Today!
This is one of the best places to learn:
How to grow your audience
How to monetize your content
How to build a real business as a creator
Click here to get started!
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah emphasizes that content creation requires strategy—not just posting videos
Roberto Blake made over $400K in a year as a YouTuber through intentional effort
Success in content creation comes from preparation, not luck
Elijah Bilel highlights that many people fail because they don’t act intentionally
Observation and pattern recognition are key skills for creators
You don’t need expensive equipment to get started
Consistency and skill development matter more than going viral
Learning efficiently (like using summaries and targeted content) can accelerate growth
Your background and experiences can shape your success as a creator
Building a creator business requires both creativity and discipline
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Success Isn’t Luck—It’s Preparation
One of the most powerful ideas from Roberto:
👉 Luck is often just preparation meeting opportunity
He explains that many people label success as “luck” because they don’t understand the process behind it.
2. Be Intentional With Everything You Do
Elijah and Roberto both stress that most people:
Don’t intentionally build their skills
Don’t intentionally manage their finances
Don’t intentionally build a career
And that’s why results are inconsistent.
3. You Don’t Need Expensive Equipment
A major barrier for beginners is gear.
But Roberto makes it clear:
👉 Equipment doesn’t create success—execution does
Many successful creators started with basic setups and improved over time.
📚 Want to Learn More From Us?
If you want to go deeper into building your mindset and creating income:
👉 Check out The Anatomy of Financial Success by Elijah Bilel
👉 And Create Something Awesome by Roberto Blake
Click here to check out their books!
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners who want to become content creators
People interested in making money on YouTube
Creators struggling to grow or monetize
Entrepreneurs building a personal brand
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel built his experience in the creator economy
Roberto Blake’s journey into content creation
The difference between hype and reality in YouTube income
How to start without expensive equipment
Building a long-term creator business
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS007:How To Make it Big As A Health Coach In 2026 With FibroidQueen (Phyllis Frempong)
Intro
Most people focus on making money—but overlook the one thing that makes it all possible: their health.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel takes a different approach, diving into how health and wealth are deeply connected.
Joined by health and wellness entrepreneur Phyllis Frempong, also known as “The Fibroid Queen,” Elijah explores how personal struggles can be turned into purpose—and ultimately, a full-time business.
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Intro to Phyllis Frempong (The Fibroid Queen)
Registered nurse with nearly 15 years of experience
Certified in functional nutrition, corrective exercise, and wellness coaching
Fitness coach, wellness advocate, and empowerment speaker
Founder of the “Fibroid Queen” brand focused on helping women manage fibroids naturally
Creator of the Symptom Eliminator Bootcamp, a structured wellness program
Hosts retreats and wellness events around the world
Built a global business helping women improve their health through holistic methods
Website: https://fibroidqueen.com/
Episode Overview
This episode explores how a personal health challenge can evolve into a meaningful and profitable business.
Elijah opens by sharing his own background in the health and wellness space, including running a business that provided herbal capsules early in his entrepreneurial journey.
That experience gives Elijah a unique perspective—understanding both the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with building a business in this space.
Phyllis Frempong then shares her story, which begins long before her business.
After witnessing her mother struggle with fibroids and later being diagnosed herself, she realized that traditional approaches weren’t solving the root problem. Instead of accepting that reality, she began researching, experimenting, and ultimately transforming her own health.
That journey led to a powerful realization:
👉 Health issues are rarely isolated—they are connected to mindset, environment, habits, and lifestyle.
Elijah Bilel reinforces this idea by connecting it to business. Just like health, business success isn’t about fixing one thing—it’s about taking a holistic approach.
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Get Elijah's best selling book, The Anatomy Of Financial Success here! Find out which one of the 6 financial personalities that you are so you can start maximizing your income!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah emphasizes that health is the foundation for financial success
Phyllis Frempong turned her personal health struggles into a full-time business
Health issues are often connected to lifestyle, mindset, and environment—not just one factor
Elijah Bilel highlights that both business and health require a holistic approach
Sharing your story and being vulnerable can help you build a strong brand
Coaching, community, and environment play a major role in personal transformation
Nutrition, mindset, and movement all work together to improve outcomes
Businesses built on real experiences tend to resonate more with people
Stress, lifestyle, and habits can directly impact both health and income potential
Purpose-driven businesses often create deeper impact and stronger loyalty
How She Turned Her Story Into a Business
1. Started with Personal Experience
Phyllis didn’t start with a business idea—she started with a problem.
After being diagnosed with fibroids and experiencing worsening symptoms over time, she realized that simply “monitoring” the condition wasn’t enough.
2. Focused on Root Causes
Instead of relying only on traditional methods, she explored:
Nutrition changes (including plant-based eating)
Mindset development
Stress reduction
Lifestyle changes
This allowed her to not only improve her own health—but develop a system she could teach others.
🌱 Want to Improve Your Health the Right Way?
If this episode made you realize how important nutrition and lifestyle really are:
👉 Check out The Veggie Outers for guidance on eating better, improving your health, and building sustainable habits
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up your lifestyle, having the right structure makes all the difference.
3. Built a Structured Program
From her experience, she created the Symptom Eliminator Bootcamp, which includes:
Nutrition guidance
Wellness workouts
Mindset coaching
Holistic healing strategies
This turned her knowledge into a scalable offer.
4. Positioned Herself as the Brand
Phyllis didn’t hide her story—she used it.
By sharing her journey, she built:
Trust
Authority
Relatability
Which ultimately helped her grow a global audience.
Key Lessons for Side Hustlers
1. Your Story Is Your Advantage
One of the biggest lessons from this episode:
👉 The things you’ve gone through can become your business
Elijah highlights that many people overlook this, but real experience often creates the strongest foundation for a business.
2. Holistic Thinking Applies to Everything
Whether it’s health or business:
One fix is rarely enough
Multiple areas must be addressed
This applies to:
Income
Health
Personal growth
3. Environment Matters More Than You Think
Phyllis emphasizes:
Being around the right people
Consuming the right information
Creating the right environment
These factors directly impact results.
Who This Episode Is For
People interested in health and wellness as a business
Entrepreneurs looking to turn their story into income
Anyone dealing with health challenges and looking for alternatives
Side hustlers who want to build purpose-driven businesses
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel approaches health and business
Building a health and wellness brand
Turning personal struggles into income streams
Holistic health strategies
Creating scalable coaching programs