We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adelle Brianne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

One essential topic lacking in the education system is personal credit management. I don’t recall receiving any instruction on how to set up and properly develop a positive credit score. It was only after paying for business education that I gratefully stumbled upon a credit management course that was life-changing.

By learning about credit, I was able to transform my life. I went from having poor credit scores to excellent credit scores, which I leveraged in 2019 to get a mortgage at 4.75% and an interest-free car loan on a brand new Nissan. I accomplished both with all of my own income from self employment.

What really helped me improve my credit scores is learning all the different actions that can have a positive or negative effect on one’s credit. With that information, I was able to move forward making strategic and thoughtful credit decisions. I believe this information is critical in aiding other young people in improving their lives, and it would benefit our nation economically if it were included in standard high school education.

Understanding the credit system and how to leverage it in one’s favor is instrumental to important life decisions such as acquiring cars, homes, and venturing into business. High school students are capable of grasping and implementing lessons about credit management. Offering personal credit classes will empower and likely inspire younger citizens to become homeowners and business owners, which I believe will improve their lives and our communities. I’m certainly grateful to be a homeowner and a business owner!

Adelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was instantly magnetized by the concept of the internet as soon as I heard about it. I taught myself to write HTML code as a teenager, which really sets me apart from many website designers and developers. Before graduating high school, I built a few websites, impressing my local librarians, who hired me as a Web Camp Counselor teaching younger kids about web design.

Since then, I’ve built and managed hundreds of websites in countless industries over the past 25 years. I’ve built a thriving business guiding business owners to earn money online. I operate two thriving LLCs in different industries. I built both my businesses entirely on my own using digital marketing as the foundation for attracting clients.

I especially enjoy helping women launch profitable websites. My passion serving women began while working as the Public Relations Director of the YWCA and volunteering at the Women’s Center as an undergrad. Earlier this year, I was fortunate and proud to co-author the best-selling book, Magnetic Abundance, a collaboration written with other women from around the world.

In addition to writing and designing, I’m a creative marketing consultant and coach who manages campaigns for clients and teaches digital advertising strategies.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

In 2017 I launched my second business, aka my side hustle, an entertainment company. I help wedding planners and party planners find reliable talented entertainers for special events. I manage the performers on-site and I also perform as a character actress, which was one big motivation to launch the company.

I had no formal training or experience doing the exact job itself, however I really believed in myself. I jumped into action like a CEO without a lot of thought or prep work.

I wrote a business plan and shared my concept with friends and family along with a fundraising link. I raised a few thousand dollars in startup capital, which I used to establish the business entity and to purchase costumes and supplies.

Next I launched the website and started blogging. I shared photos, videos and descriptions of costumes, characters and services I planned to offer. I did not have any clients.

I kept blogging. I believed in the power of SEO. I knew I could attract clients from online searches and it was the most logical and almost effortless way to showcase my services. For me, it was a no-brainer given my extensive background in website design and marketing. I had total faith my marketing would support the business.

Soon enough, the search engines began delivering. Clients started filling out the inquiry form on the website. I started to book events. I was able to capture photos and videos to continue promoting. I kept writing and sharing more blogs. I used my strategies. I trusted.

As the clients increased, my income grew as well. I invested in better costumes, upgraded items, and I got a professional logo and promo video. I updated the website, adding the video. Eventually I started an Instagram profile and still directed traffic from IG to the website for bookings.

Fast forward to 2023. Earlier this year, my entertainment company website attracted its highest paying client to date. I received a payment larger than some people’s annual salary for a booking. It was magnificent and felt like a turning point for my business. It was also my first international client. They found me from a Google search!

I’d already had a huge celebration a few months earlier after the holiday season ended. I was so happy to pay out over $15,000 in income to my staff. Then upon doing my taxes, I realized my side hustle was making the same income annually as my marketing biz!!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The pandemic in 2020 shut down my entertainment company. All bookings stopped. Parties were prohibited because people were not allowed to gather in groups in public spaces.

Meanwhile, as others suffered economically, people stopped buying websites and my retainer contracts also dried up or shrank. Suddenly about 90% of my income was gone.

Yikes.

Ever-resourceful, it took me a few months to recall an old hobby that might be helpful. One day, I just knew inside. I had enough money in the bank to buy some basic supplies. I bought the supplies. They arrived in the mail. I looked up Youtube videos and read the instructions. I taught myself (again).

Nearly 10 years had passed since I’d last tie-dyed anything. I didn’t care. No fear. I started mixing chemicals, adding the dyes and arranging all the bottles neatly, labeled by color hue. Soon I was experimenting on old clothes and rags, towels, anything in the house that was natural fiber.

Of course, I set up a website with e-commerce so I could start selling my tie-dyes. I promoted my vibrant hand-dyed items to my friends and family on Facebook. They began to sell. Suddenly I had a little income. Not a lot, and I still had some expenses, too, but it was helpful. Once again, my marketing and web design background got me to the next level!

And it lifted my spirits to have an artsy craft to pursue. It was a total pivot to become a tie dye artist — and became my new side hustle! Today I’m still making tie-dyes and I sell them online and at a local shop.

When in doubt, reinvent!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amazingandhelpful.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingandhelpful/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelleBrianne/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adellebrianne/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/adellebrianne
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/amazingandhelpful

Image Credits
Deelia Nelson Photography (lavender purple princess photo) Brittney Baker Photography (all other photos)