Episode 17 of the Late Night Internet Marketing podcast was recorded on the road, partly from a car heading to the airport and partly from hotel rooms during business travel. The audio quality suffered, but the topic, how to deal with your employer when you are building a side business, was one that resonated with listeners more than almost anything else I had discussed up to that point.<\/p>\n
Most of my listeners have day jobs. That is the whole premise of Late Night Internet Marketing: you build your business at night, on weekends, in the margins of your life. But having an employer while building a side business creates a tension that needs to be managed carefully.<\/p>\n
The central question is simple: does your employer need to know? My answer is nuanced and depends on several factors.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether you disclose, your day job performance must remain excellent. The moment your work quality slips, any side business becomes a convenient explanation in your employer's mind. Be the person who delivers results first, and the side hustle question becomes much less charged.<\/p>\n
That episode also featured a clip I had recorded on the streets of Seoul, South Korea during a previous work trip. The point was to demonstrate the freedom that internet business provides. With a laptop and a wifi connection, you can run your business from anywhere: write content, manage ads, answer customer emails, even record a podcast.<\/p>\n
In 2026, remote work has normalized this concept entirely. But in 2012, it still felt novel and exciting. The tools have improved enormously since then, but the fundamental insight remains: an internet business is location-independent by nature, and that is one of its most powerful advantages.<\/p>\n
The episode featured part two of my interview with Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man. Cliff shared his journey from insurance agent to full-time podcaster, emphasizing that he built his podcasting business on the side for years before making the leap. He and his wife became debt-free before he left his insurance career.<\/p>\n
Cliff's approach embodies what I have always believed about side hustles: build methodically, do not take reckless financial risks, and make the transition when the numbers and the calling both line up. His story has inspired thousands of people to start podcasting, and his advice on building a business with integrity remains some of the best I have ever heard.<\/p>\n