SHS050: How I Make Money Off Of My Lifestyle As A Content Creator! | From Side Hustle To Full Time
Intro
What does it really take to build something that lasts over a decade?
In this special episode, Elijah Bilel becomes the guest as he’s interviewed live during the 10-year anniversary of The Veggie Outers.
Hosted by Yoshi Me who also has been on the show last season. You can see that show here. This episode blends:
A live interview
A behind-the-scenes origin story
A real-time audience Q&A
This isn’t just a reflection…
👉 It’s a blueprint for building something that actually lasts
Episode Overview
This episode serves as:
The first episode of Season 3
A live in-person interview experience
A foundation for understanding Elijah’s monetization strategy
The Bigger Theme of This Episode
👉 How to survive in the world without a 9 to 5
What That Looks Like
Monetizing your skills
Building multiple income streams
Creating a system that supports your freedom
How The Veggie Outers Got Started
Yoshi opens with the question:
👉 “How did The Veggie Outers get started?”
Elijah’s Answer
It started with a personal transformation:
Poor diet early on
A coach calling it out
Immediate performance improvement after cleaning it up
The Realization
👉 Health creates real, immediate results
From Personal Change to Community
Coworkers noticed what he was eating
Questions started coming in daily
Conversations turned into curiosity
The First Move
Instead of answering questions repeatedly:
👉 Elijah organized a group outing
The Result
👉 The first Veggie Outers meetup was born
How It Turned Into a Massive Community
Yoshi follows up with:
👉 “How did you grow this into such a large group?”
Elijah’s Breakdown
Started with coworkers
Grew through word of mouth
Expanded through networking consistently
Key Trait
👉 “I’m a serial networker”
What That Led To
Constant exposure
Organic promotion
Rapid growth
Outcome
👉 Within about a year, the group exploded
Why Most Meetup Groups Fail (And This One Didn’t)
Another key question:
👉 “Why do you think this lasted when others didn’t?”
Elijah’s Answer
👉 It stopped being just a meetup… and became a brand
The Difference
Meetups = events
Brands = identity
His Analogy
Drawing from Batman Begins:
👉 A person can be ignored
👉 A symbol lasts forever
The Takeaway
👉 Build something bigger than the activity itself
Live Q&A: Questions From the Crowd
This is where the episode really opens up.
Question: “How can we support The Veggie Outers?”
Elijah’s Answer
There are two main ways:
1. Paid Support
The Veggie Outers is funded through:
The Side Hustler’s Society
Financial Anatomy
Video editing services
👉 That means supporting those supports the brand
You can also check out Elijah and his sister Tiffany’s books Here
2. Free Support
This is where most people underestimate their impact:
Showing up to events
Participating in reviews
Engaging with content
Sharing the brand
Key Insight
👉 Engagement is currency
Question: “How do you keep this sustainable long-term?”
Elijah’s Answer
👉 By not relying on the meetup itself to make money
Instead
Other businesses fund the brand
The brand feeds opportunities back into those businesses
Example
Veggie Outers content:
Acts as a video editing portfolio
Attracts new clients
Creates additional income streams
The System
👉 One ecosystem feeds another
Question: “How did you grow without social media algorithms helping?”
Elijah’s Answer
When The Veggie Outers started:
Facebook groups weren’t being pushed
Organic reach was limited
So What Worked?
👉 Direct outreach + word of mouth
Examples
Talking to coworkers
Networking in person
People sharing experiences
Key Takeaway
👉 You don’t need algorithms to grow
Question: “What made people keep coming back?”
Elijah’s Answer
👉 The experience + evolution
What Changed Over Time
Started as simple meetups
Evolved into a recognizable brand
Became something people identified with
Key Insight
👉 Retention comes from identity, not just events
The Hidden Business Model Behind Everything
One of the biggest takeaways from this episode:
The Veggie Outers Is Not the Product
👉 It’s the ecosystem
What It Does
Builds community
Creates content
Attracts opportunities
What Monetizes It
Services
Products
Other brands
The Lesson
👉 You don’t always monetize directly
Why This Episode Matters
This episode shows a real-world example of:
Turning a lifestyle into a brand
Growing without relying on algorithms
Monetizing without being pushy
Building something that lasts 10+ years
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
The Personalized Side Hustle Starter Kit
The Anatomy Of Financial Success Paperback
Final Thoughts
After 10 years, The Veggie Outers proves something powerful:
👉 Longevity is built through evolution
Not Just Starting
But:
Adapting
Expanding
Creating systems
And Most Importantly
👉 Building something bigger than yourself