“I’m a self-made millionaire. My first million did not come from a big idea. It came from a side hustle I started to cover rent.”

Joseph Keshi, CEO of Keshman Property Management, shared how renting out spare rooms during college became the foundation of a seven-figure business. The lesson matters if you want to start or grow a side hustle today.

Start with what you already have

Keshi rented spare rooms in his home while studying at Rutgers University. His goal was simple. Cover housing costs. No long-term plan. No grand vision.

Each lease brought in steady cash. More important, each lease taught him how money moves.

You can do the same. Look at what you already control.

• A spare room
• A garage or driveway
• A skill people pay for
• Time you already trade for free

Small income streams compound when you treat them seriously.

Track money from day one

Keshi paid attention to every lease. He learned cash flow early. Rent in. Expenses out. Profit left over.

This habit matters. Many side hustles fail because people ignore numbers.

Do this instead.

• Track income weekly
• Log every expense
• Reinvest profits first
• Pay yourself last

A side hustle becomes a business when you manage cash, not vibes.

Solve real problems

The work stayed interesting because it involved real problems. Repairs. Tenant needs. Lease terms. Property upgrades.

He was not just collecting rent. He was increasing value.

You should ask one question every week. What problem can I solve better?

Examples.

• Faster response times
• Clearer communication
• Better packaging of your offer
• Small upgrades customers notice

Problem solving builds skills. Skills create income options.

Think long term, even when starting small

Keshi said many people chase big ideas and miss what is already within reach. A spare room. A simple service. A repeatable task.

Consistency mattered more than speed.

He reinvested profits. He refined systems. He treated the side hustle like a real business long before it paid like one.

That mindset turned a short-term fix into a full-time career.

Your takeaway

You do not need a new idea. You need to start. You need to track numbers. You need to reinvest and learn.

Small income streams grow when you show up every week.

If you want help applying this mindset to your own side hustle, use the same tool many beginners skip. Better prompts.

Our product, 25 High-Impact ChatGPT Prompts to Launch or Grow Your Side Hustle, helps you plan offers, validate ideas, price services, and map your next steps in minutes. You do not guess. You ask better questions and act on clear answers.

If you are ready to turn what you already have into income, this is your next move.