“I Now Make $170,000 a Year from My Hobby”

I quit my engineering job at 24 and now make $170,000 a year from my hobby - but my move has split opinion

Thirty-year-old entrepreneur quits engineering job to pursue side hustle that earns her $170,000.

As Gabby Beckford launched the travel blog Packs Light in 2020, she decided to change careers. She quit her job as an engineer to pursue her side hustle of travel blogging.

After leaving her previous job, she now earns around $170,000 a year.

The site was launched just one week before the Covid-19 pandemic hit and offers tips for young people and women traveling alone.

According to CNBC, Beckford earned $170,000 through articles and marketing opportunities, but was criticized for leaving her engineering job.

You shouldn't take criticism from people who won't bet on themselves and take risks to pursue their passions.

Her advice to budding entrepreneurs considering launching a similar platform is to plan ahead. She works with a blog manager and contractors.

According to Beckford, she didn't know how to grow her platform when she started the blog.

"I had to find mentors, ask questions, and embrace failures," she said.

How YOU can start and earn from a blog

Starting a blog is one of the most popular ways to start an online business.

It’s a great way to share your knowledge and expertise with the world, and it can be done on a shoestring budget. Here are some steps to get started.

First, you need to decide on your niche. Choose something that you’re passionate about and that you have some expertise in.

This could be anything from cooking to fashion to parenting. The more specific your niche, the better – it will help you stand out from the crowd.

Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to set up your blog. There are several platforms out there, but WordPress is one of the most popular and user-friendly options.

You can either opt for a free plan or purchase hosting and install WordPress yourself. Next, customize your blog’s design and layout so that it reflects your brand and personality.

You’ll want to choose a theme that’s mobile-responsive (since many people access blogs on their phones) and easy to navigate. Now comes the fun part – creating content!

Consistency is key here – aim for at least one post per week, if not more. Your posts should provide value to your readers and ideally solve a problem or answer a question they have.

Monetize your blog once you’ve built up enough traffic