Lucy Zheng has been building side businesses since 2012, starting with a fashion blog to supplement her law school income and tackle student loans. Over 14 years, she and her husband explored various ventures including Etsy shops and a bounce-house business. While not all were successful, each failure provided skills for future projects.
One notable flop was selling tote bags made from recycled plastic, which ultimately didn’t yield sales. She faced similar difficulties with a men’s leather-hat business, emphasizing that physical product ventures, especially in fashion, require solid planning.
Over this time, Zheng recognized the need for more passive income. While her fashion blog generated revenue via sponsored posts, it demanded constant content creation, motivating her to transition to YouTube, where longer videos can earn revenue long-term. After successfully running an Etsy shop that provided significant income for five years, she realized that profitable doesn’t always equate to sustainable, especially when it’s time-consuming. This led her to return to content creation, currently supported by various income channels including brand deals and digital products.
Her goal is to develop income streams that don’t rely solely on her daily efforts, such as rental properties and a less-demanding paid community. She believes true financial independence is covering living expenses through passive income.
For those starting out, Zheng recommends user-generated content (UGC) creation, which doesn’t require a significant investment. Interested individuals can begin by producing sample videos using simple tools and pitching them to brands to pursue freelance opportunities.
