By Dr. Abiola Salami
GRIT: How to Build A Successful Side Hustle With A Steady Job In A Country Like Nigeria An excerpt from the book GRIT: How Young People in Developing Countries Can Grow, Rise, Innovate & Thrive Against All the Odds in their Country by Dr. Abiola Salami
INTRODUCTION
There was a time when having a steady job in Nigeria meant you were safe. But that illusion has shattered. Today, salaries delay. Offices downsize. Inflation rises. And emergencies don’t respect payday.
In this economic climate, having only one income stream is a dangerous luxury. You may love your 9–5. You may hate it. Either way, if it is your only source of money, you’re one HR memo away from financial chaos.
Let’s not sugarcoat it, one source of income in Nigeria is a financial death wish. It is like having one phone charger in a house of seven people; something must go wrong
Why? The economy is unstable but the bills are stable. And your salary disappears faster than NEPA light when it starts raining.
That is why you need side hustle. Not just to “japa” or survive but to thrive, to dream again, and to build a life where money is a tool, not a trap.
But here’s the kicker: Most young people burn out because they hustle without strategy. They chase trends, get overwhelmed, and abandon ship.
Side hustle. Multiple streams. Passive income. Monetizing your skill. You have heard all the buzzwords. But nobody tells you how to do it without getting fired from your current job, burning out, looking unserious to your employer or becoming “Jack of all hustles and broke in all”.
Today, I will share some insights from my book GRIT on How to Build A Successful Side Hustle Without Losing Your Day Job.
Let’s dive in.
Are You Really A Lazy 9-5 Worker?
Let’s bust a myth of the Lazy 9-5 worker. Many think those with 9–5 jobs are “Comfort zone Zombies” or afraid of risk or are ot entrepreneurial. That is not true.
The truth is most 9–5 workers in developing countries are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued and yet, still show up daily with resilience. But, working hard for a company doesn’t mean you can’t work smart for yourself.
If your salary is ₦150,000, Rent is ₦50k, Feeding is ₦40k, Transport is ₦20k. Airtime and data say “hello” with ₦15k, Family needs, emergency, and “urgent 2k” finish the rest and then boom—sapa knocks like “who dey breeet?”
You don’t need to quit your job to start building more. You just need a smarter system. You need to build like someone who respects energy, ethics, and excellence.
In the book GRIT, I shared a simple way to choose your side hustle. So that you avoid hustle confusion and not just jump on what’s trending. Here is Dr. Abiola Salami’s Hustle Sweet Spot Formula:
Your Side Hustle =
(What You Know) + (What People Need) + (What Pays Fast) – (What Drains You)
You can find detailed explanation in the book GRIT.
Start where you are. Sell what you know. Use what you have.
Here are the Top 3 Side Hustle Types some young people are winning with:
- Skills/Service-Based Hustles. CV writing, editing, cleaning, photography, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Social Media Management, Web Design/Development, Video Editing, Tutoring etc. With this, you can turn your skills and time to money. It is quick to start because it requires requires low capital to startup. It requires active presence, skill and consistency.
- Digital Products. Ebooks, templates, Notion planners. You can create once and sell forever. You will need a bit of marketing to reach higher numbers.
- Freelancing (Remote Gigs). You do this with Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal and reach global clients and get dollar payments. Competition is high, just position yourself well.
It is crucial to note that not every side hustle fits every lifestyle. Choose based on time availability, skill level, startup cost and passion.
Let me give you another option in a simple 4-Step Side Hustle Weekly Calendar you can also adopt:
On Mondays, learn & plan for 30 mins. Take a tutorial. Set the goal for the week.
On Wednesdays, execute for 1 hour. Create a product, write post, pitch, build
On Fridays, market for 30 mins. Promote on social media, send DMs, follow-up
On Saturdays, make your delivery in 2 hours. Send finished work, serve clients, collect testimonials.
Here are some general rule for side hustling withouth losing your job.
1. Don’t Hustle During Work Hours. If your 9–5 is funding your hustle, respect it.
Use early mornings, lunch breaks, evenings, and weekends for your side gig.
2. Avoid Conflicts of Interest. If you work at a law firm for example, don’t freelance for their competitors. Keep your side hustle in a different lane.
3. Stay Discreet Until You’re Stable. No need to announce to the whole office that you sell perfume. Build first and shout later.
4. Document. Don’t Overshare. It is okay to post your work online. But avoid oversharing your salary goals or insulting your main job publicly.
5. Use Your 9–5 to Fund & Learn. Buy tools, take online courses, network and save for scale. Don’t use your 9–5 money for cruise. Use it for freedom.
Once you’ve validated your hustle, scale it with. Here are a few things you can do to start building your side hustle into an empire:
- Processes (standard messages, templates, checklists)
- Team (virtual assistants, part-time help)
- Systems (automation tools, email lists, payment links)
- Marketing (referrals, content, collaborations)
Remember, the goal is not more work; it’s more income with less drama.
Conclusion
Don’t wait for government policy. Don’t wait for the next elections. Don’t wait till you “japa.” Start now. Start small. Start smart. Start now.
Your 9–5 can be your foundation. Your side hustle can be your expansion.
Your wisdom can become your wealth. You are allowed to work for someone and still build something for yourself, rest while you hustle, start small and still dream global.
The goal is not just to hustle. It is to hustle with sense, scale with strategy, and sustain with systems.
Don’t hustle to escape poverty alone. Hustle to create options, ownership, and opportunity. The future belongs to those who work smart, sleep well, and stack quietly.
You can join the GRIT Coaching Community here
About Dr. Abiola Salami
Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of Dr Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp ; The Peak PerformerTM Festival Made4More Accelerator Program and The New Year Kickoff Summit. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach his team on hello@abiolachamp.com and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media platforms.
