 
# SECRETS OF THE SHARING ECONOMY

Unofficial Guide to using, AirBnB, Uber, & More to Earn $1000's

Glenn Carter
Copyright © 2015 by Glenn Carter. All rights reserved.

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# Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 Become a Casual Capitalist

1. The Casual Capitalist Series and Community

2. Introduction

3. About this Book.

4. Action Disclaimer!

5. What is the Sharing Economy?

6. A Brief History Lesson

7. Let's Talk Numbers

8. Platform Stacking

9. The Beauty and Simplicity of Accountability

10. Expectations and Next Steps

11. Concluding Thought

CHAPTER 2 Your Casual Capitalist Headquarters

1. Organize Yourself

2. Now Stay Organized and Productive

3. Establish Your Casual Capitalist Zone

4. Set Goals and Ideal Lifestyle

5. Become an Idea Machine

6. Commit to Learning

7. Conclusion

CHAPTER 3 Airbnb: Home Sweet (Not Your) Home

1. What is Airbnb: Hospitality, not Real Estate

2. Airbnb: An Unofficial Primer

3. How to Make Money on Airbnb – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 4 Other Hospitality Platforms

1. Non-Airbnb Platforms

2. A Primer to Hospitality in the Sharing Economy

3. How to Make Money on Real Estate Platforms – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 5 Do You Uber?

1. What is Uber?

2. Uber: An Unofficial Primer

3. How to Make Money on Uber – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

4. Outside Resources

5. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 6 Other Ride-Sharing Platforms

1. What are Other Ride-Sharing Platforms?

2. An Unofficial Primer of Lyft and Others

3. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 7 Artistic Pursuits

1. What Role Can Artists Play in the Sharing Economy?

2. How to Make Money as an Artist – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

3. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 8 Give a High Fiverr

1. What is Fiverr?

2. How to Make Money on Fiverr – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

3. Outside Resources

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 9 Music to Your Ears

1. What Opportunities Exist for Musicians?

2. How Musicians Can Make Money in the Sharing Economy – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

3. Outside Resources

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 10 Fashion Statements

1. Is the Sharing Economy Fashionable?

2. How to Make Money on Fashion Platforms – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

3. Outside Resources

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 11 Pet Projects: The Sharing Economy for Animal Lovers

1. What are Rover and DogVacay?

2. How to Make Money on DogVacay and Rover – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

3. Outside Resources

4. Your Action Items

CHAPTER 12 Conclusion, for now
Dear Sharers,

There have been many people who have shared the burden of creating this resource for people anxious to jump in to the sharing economy. I would like to personally thank the hilarious Phil Lebovits, Kyle Hoobin for the amazing cover design, and Vincent Saldana for his interior design magic.

Above all, words cannot begin to express the debt I owe to my wife, best friend, and CEO of Cartori Inc., Alexandra. Despite my absenteeism and two demanding, yet amazing, daughters, you have over-achieved in every aspect of your life. I am so proud of you and love you to the moon and back.
"Some economists predict [that] the sharing economy could be as disruptive as the Industrial Revolution" – LA Times, July 22, 2015

"Just as YouTube did with TV and the blogosphere did to mainstream media, the share economy blows up the industrial model of companies owning and people consuming." - Forbes, Jan. 23, 2013

#  Chapter 1: Become a Casual Capitalist

1. The Casual Capitalist Series and Community

Welcome fellow Casual Capitalists to the first installment in the Casual Capitalist Series, Secrets of the Sharing Economy. Throughout this book and others, we will be sharing with you several truths about income production, personal finance, and investments. The truth is, almost everything you do now can produce income. You just need to discover and leverage certain tools.

You might be wondering exactly what we mean by the term 'Casual Capitalist.' It is actually quite simple, and it has nothing to do with lounge chairs. A Casual Capitalist has been termed a number of things over the years: chicken entrepreneur, moonlighter, freelancer, amongst others.

A Casual Capitalist is someone who gets bored in their day-to-day lives and decides to do something about it. A Casual Capitalist seeks out income generating opportunities outside of their full-time employment. A Casual Capitalist gathers and digests information. A Casual Capitalist wants to make their lives better, as well as those around them, by creating financial stability.

A Casual Capitalist is willing to try new income generating strategies. A Casual Capitalist takes actions. A Casual Capitalist digests information, like you are doing now, and develops specific action plans. A Casual Capitalist understands that you cannot get rich quickly. A Casual Capitalist is casual in looking for income streams, because they understand the commitments of everyday life: family, work, friends, and so on.

Most importantly, as a Casual Capitalist, you understand that you do not have to complete this endeavor alone. The Casual Capitalist Series and Community are here to help you along the way. We are mentors, peers, and sharers.

Secrets of the Sharing Economy is the first installment in the Casual Capitalist Series. Many other books, resources, and proven income systems will be unveiled over the coming months and years, so please stay tuned by signing up to our mailing list at www.thecasualcapitalist.com. The ultimate goal of the Casual Capitalist Series is to provide a large toolbox of proven income strategies that you can tap into at your leisure.

What we will create is a community of entrepreneurs who have implemented and succeeded in many business endeavors. Gradually, the Casual Capitalist Community will take shape and act as networking tool in your toolbox of income strategies. Stay tuned.

The first tool you will need in your toolbox is a hammer, a blunt force tool. In this sense, this book will act as your hammer. The two nails we will work on are consumer debt and anxiety. These are the two most significant impediments in your life right now: your consumer debt and your aversion to "getting out there" and starting small businesses.

By using the sharing economy as your playground, this book will help you eliminate your consumer debt, allowing you move on to bigger and better income strategies. To keep your finger on the pulse, please sign up at www.thecasualcapitalist.com.

After you create other streams of income, the lingering obligation of consumer debt can be easily eliminated.

Second, most people think about starting businesses on the side, but they never take action. This anxiety is fueled by fear: the fear of losing, the fear of embarrassment, and most importantly, the fear of failure. Ask any successful businessperson for one piece of advice for would-be entrepreneurs. The vast majority say the same thing: "Don't be afraid to fail." The subject of many business books, it's very simple.

Failure leads to learning, which leads to success. Failure should be embraced, like your strange brother-in-law at a family barbeque. Keep that in mind as we progress. The sharing economy is a safe way to get your feet wet by starting your first small business. So let's get started.

2. Introduction

Before we embark on our money-making journey, it is important to set the stage with a few key points. As a newly minted Casual Capitalist, you should familiarize yourself with what we like to call the 10-10-80 rule. This means that 10% of your time goes to knowledge acquisition, 10% to planning, and 80% to action.

You should organize your work in this way. Avoid at all costs the traps of over-planning or attempting to come up with the perfect plan before taking action. One of my financial heroes, Mark Ford, used the phrase "ready, fire, aim" when discussing the process of starting a small business. That is, spend time generally sorting out what you think you should do, do it, and then revisit and rework based on your results.

No plan is perfect and you often need to act before you know what your planning steps actually are. So, let's assume you plan on working 5 hours a day for the first few weeks to get your sharing economy businesses going. Spend half an hour a day gaining knowledge about the particular industry or platform. Spend another half an hour planning how you will do it. Then spend the remaining 4 hours taking action. The following day you can revisit, rework, and re-educate before your 4 hours of action. And then, repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

In terms of this book, Chapter 1 is the 10% education. You will gain the knowledge surrounding the business you are about to enter. You will learn about the sharing economy and its income potential. Chapter 2 is the 10% planning where you will learn how to organize yourself, your workspace, and your tasks.

The remainder of the book will be specific action items. Each of these sharing economy platforms is a potential tool to add to your Casual Capitalist Toolbox. You will implement many of these tools to develop new income streams.

3. About this Book

This book contains action plans for over 40 different sharing economy platforms, all of which can be implemented immediately to start increasing income streams. Once you review the first two chapters and learn the Casual Capitalist Philosophy and the concept of the sharing economy, you can pick and choose the platforms best suited to your interests and lifestyle.

Commit to yourself to try out one new sharing economy platform each month. This way, by the end of your first year as a Casual Capitalist, you should have 4 to 6 successful side businesses within the sharing economy space that you can leverage for cash flow.

Each side business will not take up much of your time, especially once we have shown you how to implement systems to maximize productivity. More to follow on this in Chapter 2.

The first few chapters will be heavier ones, as Airbnb, Uber, and similar platforms are the workhorses of the sharing economy. They will require most of the attention. Later, chapters on lesser-known platforms will be leaner. Much like a buffet (but please show some restraint!), pick and choose which chapters you will read, and make a point of choosing specific platforms to register for within each chapter.

Similarly, subsequent books will tackle other areas of the sharing economy not outlined in this first installment.

4. Action Disclaimer!

By picking up this book you have admitted that producing side income is a priority for you. That is a great first step! Congratulations, you are on your way to becoming more financially independent.

The next commitment is a difficult one, and it is where the majority of people fall short. That is, taking regular and ongoing action. Many of you will have purchased this book, read parts, and then shelved it with the tacit intention to get to it 'someday.'

This attitude is unacceptable if you genuinely intend to change your financial outlook. Commit, to yourself and to your fellow Casual Capitalists, that you will take daily action based on this book's recommendations.

In the next chapter – perhaps the most important section of this book – we will discuss routines, goals, and organization. So please be ready and do not skim. Read and re-read the advice contained in these pages.

Although taking action seems simple, it is complex and it is where the majority of people fail in their endeavor to generate income. Take action now. Write down your expectations of this book. Seriously, put pen to paper or characters to a writing program and write 5 things you hope to achieve by reading this book.

Write them down and tuck them away. We will come back to these in later chapters, and I will ask you to send these to my personal email so we can talk about your expectations, successes, and challenges.

In short, this book is as action-oriented as a Stallone-Schwarzenegger movie. It will only work if you treat is as such.

5. What is the Sharing Economy?

"This boom marks a striking new stage in a deeper transformation. Using the now ubiquitous platform of the smartphone to deliver labour and services in a variety of new ways will challenge many of the fundamental assumptions of 20th-century capitalism, from the nature of the firm to the structure of careers." – Economist, December 24, 2014

The sharing economy has many synonyms: tech-based capitalism, sharing marketplaces, collaborative consumption, access economy, collaborative economy, 1099 economy, and the list goes on and on. Although we appreciate the complexity of this disruptive technological shift, for the purposes of this book we will simply refer to it as the sharing economy.

In its simplest form, the sharing economy is composed of hundreds of online platforms that enable people to turn otherwise unproductive assets into income producing ones. These include their homes, cars, parking spots, clothes, consumer items, pets, hobbies, and many others.

As a vote of confidence for this new economic arena, Merriam-Webster added "sharing economy" to their online edition: Sharing Economy (Noun): economic activity that involves individuals buying or selling usually temporary access to goods or services, especially as arranged through an online company or organization.

As a result, the sharing economy has been a major disruptor to traditional industries such as hotels, the automotive industry, and real estate, among others. A major reason for this disruption has been the ease of access to marketplaces once typically controlled by larger corporations. The major players in the sharing economy space include companies such as Uber, Airbnb, and Zipcar.

Internet startups that have embraced this new economy understand that consumers are much more interested in minimizing costs and increasing convenience than they are in traditional name brands. In many cases, consumers are not so much interested in the sharing aspect but the cost-effectiveness.

In the new sharing economy, these platforms act as intermediaries between two consumers. For instance, Airbnb's business revolves around linking up travelers with owners who can engage in a transaction for short-term access to real estate.

One Airbnb co-founder said the following: "People providing these services in many ways are entrepreneurs or micro entrepreneurs. They're more independent, more liberated, and a little more economically empowered." This can be you!

In other words, the sharing economy is the fundamental shift from a scarcity principle to an abundance principle, and how we can capitalize on that abundance.

Approximately 1 in 5 Americans have engaged in a sharing economy transaction. Of these, 86% stated that the sharing economy makes their lives more affordable.

"In a few years, we'll no longer debate the merits and dangers of the sharing economy. it will simply be a fact of life. Traditional businesses can fight it, but doing so means setting themselves up for a loss. There will be growing pains along the way -- and more horror stories, no doubt -- but the sharing economy is here to stay." - Tx Zhou - Managing partner at Karlin Ventures - March 25, 2015

Cutting out the middle man (traditional brand businesses) has been great for entrepreneurs and self-starters. This creates new marketplaces where Casual Capitalists can start to make significant sums of money. This is a move away from customers' old brand mentality to a more access or price-driven mentality.

Many business leaders and entrepreneurs believe this an economic revolution. The sharing economy turns millions of people into part-time entrepreneurs who can use their current assets to make money. For instance, someone with a full-time job can still rent out their whole apartment or just a room using Airbnb, and they can also use their car on Uber or Lyft to earn hundreds of dollars a week making trips that they regularly make anyway.

This is not glamorous work, but it does give the opportunity to self-starters and entrepreneurs to do this in a relatively short amount of time with little (or zero!) startup costs. In this sense, you can turn your hard assets into income streams. Whereas your vehicle and your primary residence are not normally considered moneymaking assets, the sharing economy is now turning these previously unproductive and depreciating assets into income-producers.

While you may have heard Airbnb and Uber, there are hundreds of other platforms. Some of these will be explored in this book. This technological and consumer revolution does not revolve solely around real estate and vehicles.

A number of other micro jobs can be leveraged to generate side income. As you will see throughout this book, dozens and dozens of sharing economy platforms allow you to make money on the side. This income can be in the thousands of dollars per month if you really work at it.

6. A Brief History Lesson

The history of the sharing economy can be traced back to San Francisco in 2008. This is where the founders of Airbnb began their room-sharing business. The founders of Airbnb thought that they could make some extra money by housing visiting conference attendees. At the time, they were simply solving one of their own problems: the need for extra cash.

After they housed these people and made some money, they realized they could solve other people's housing woes. At the time, the Airbnb concept was met with much skepticism as people thought it was 'weird' to rent your home to complete strangers. Slowly, this mentality has changed. Strangers, it seems, have lots of expendable money!

More broadly, the sharing economy emerged out of the shift to online shopping in the early 2000s. Companies like Amazon, PayPal, eBay paved the way for the sharing economy and made it the norm to do business online.

In the early 2000s, consumers were worried about general security and the theft of money and identity. Simply put, it was considered 'odd' to order consumer items online rather than going to a physical store.

Once consumers made that first purchase, they became a lot more comfortable with the whole process. The same thing happened in the sharing economy. After doing it once, the sharers are having positive experiences. The substantial side income is an added bonus.

By 2009, Airbnb had over 100,000 guests booked on their platform. By 2010, the site had over 750,000 nights booked, and by 2011 this surpassed 2 million. Now, on any given night, private individuals host 40,000 people through Airbnb. For potential real estate investors, buying a rental property often requires a significant sum for the downpayment. But to become an Airbnb host, you simply leverage your current residence and do not need the startup funds required for traditional real estate investing.

What's happening now in the sharing economy is the diversification of platforms and services offered. We can now see smaller economies revolving around things such as Airbnb and Uber. For instance, Airbnb has a number of side companies that offer hosting services, key exchanges, and cleaning.

Similarly, for the Uber space, services will provide you with an Uber-ready car to start making money. By 2014, Uber had over 160,000 drivers. According to one of Uber's founders, Uber is now adding 50,000 drivers per month.

If you think this phenomenon is a fad, think again. According to reports, the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) permits some 13,500 taxis to operate in NYC. Now however, there are over 14,000 Uber cars in NYC, making them more available than the ubiquitous NYC yellow cabs.

Further, two Congressmen recently formed a bi-partisan Caucus focused exclusively on the sharing economy. One of the Congressmen noted, "The Sharing Economy Caucus will focus on these pioneering industries and ensure Congress is taking all of the necessary steps to facilitate, rather than hinder, the next great idea." This is an acknowledgment that people are relying on innovative forms of entrepreneurship to generate income. And this way of doing business is not going away.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now setting up a public workshop to discuss the implications of the sharing economy on consumers. The FTC Chairwoman noted that "we are seeing a dramatic growth in products and services that are built on peer-to-peer platforms, such as ride-sharing and property rentals, as more entrepreneurs harness the power of technology to reach more consumers."

In 2013, Forbes estimated that revenue coming from the sharing economy added $3.5 billion to people's pockets that year. This was an increase of 25% over 2012. Why not take your slice of that pie? And top it off with some ice cream too!

Uber is currently valued at approximately $40 billion and Airbnb is valued at $24 billion. Recently, a Bloomberg Brief compared these valuations to their traditional industry competitors:

For this reason, larger companies are starting to take notice. For instance, in 2013, Avis Budget Group chose to pay $500 million for the ride-sharing platform Zipcar. The genius of platforms such as Zipcar is that they work on a peer-to-peer basis. Zipcar actually owns no hard assets, whereas the rental agencies Hertz, Avis, and National all centrally own thousands of vehicles that are depreciating in value daily.

Like Avis, other corporations are starting to buy into the sharing business model. For instance, in 2011, General Motors (GM) injected $3 million into RelayRides (a car-sharing platform). GM's reasoning was that those who were car-sharing GM model vehicles are more likely to purchase them.

More recently, Ford announced a new car-sharing initiative in the UK and US. The program enables owners of Ford vehicles to rent out their cars and SUVs during unused periods to pre-screened renters.

Why are large corporations moving into the sharing space? Simple, they see the dollar signs. A 2015 study found that almost 5 million people now use car-share programs worldwide, and the number is estimated to increase to 26 million over the next 5 years. Think about that growth for a minute. Okay, don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself.

Another reason for the attention on the sharing economy is its projected revenue growth. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the estimated value of the sharing economy sector by 2025 will be $335 billion. The same number for 2013 was $15 billion. So, in 10 years, PWC predicts that the value of the sharing economy will increase by $320 billion. As of 2015, Airbnb is already valued at $24 billion, which is almost as much as Hilton. Uber is currently valued at over $40 billion, larger than Delta Airlines, FedEx, or even Viacom. By this valuation, Uber has enjoyed 800% annual growth. Davids can become Goliaths within a few years.

As the sharing economy becomes a new economic space and companies begin to thrive, fold, or consolidate, the Casual Capitalist plan is for you to capitalize.

Adding to the estimated value of the sharing economy is the amount of venture capital entering the market. According to media reports, in 2014 venture capitalists injected over $2.5 billion into various sharing economy businesses. This makes the sharing economy one of the most funded markets in the world right now.

Among major financial players, from global financial forums to politicians to fortune 500 corporations, the changing consumer landscape is starting to be noticed. The World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2015 featured a topic on the sharing economy. US Senator Marco Rubio recently spoke at Uber's Washington, D.C., office praising the startup. Uber recently hired a campaign manager from President Obama's presidential races as a strategist.

The sharing economy has benefits for both ends of the political spectrum. Liberals preach job opportunities for the underemployed or the unemployed. Conservatives love the entrepreneurial spirit and the innovation of the sharing economy. The sharing economy can help provide all of those opportunities. The usefulness of the sharing economy crosses the political spectrum, and both parties will emphasize it in the coming years. That is a veritable miracle!

Another example of a big business embracing the sharing economy is Waffle House, which recently partnered with the delivery service platform Roadie to make Waffle Houses the meeting points for Roadie package exchanges. Also, UPS has contributed more than $10 million to Roadie.

Similarly, Google is a major investor in Uber and the Lending Club (a peer-to-peer loan service). Google has also partnered with Airbnb and Lyft (a ride-sharing platform) and is also coming out with their own ride-hailing app in an effort to compete with Uber.

Clearly the macro economic picture for the sharing economy is tremendous. Undoubtedly, it will face exponential growth in the coming years.

But what does that mean for you?

"In a sense, all this sharing reveals we are wealthier than we thought." - Bloomberg Brief, June 15, 2015

7. Let's Talk Numbers

According to recent survey by Stanford University, participants in the sharing economy make an average of $18 an hour. Simply put, if you worked only 1 hour a day, you could bring home over $500 a month. Double that and you are looking at an extra $12,000 a year in your pocket. If you are an Airbnb host, that hourly wage jumps to $25 an hour.

Airbnb has stated that their hosts in San Francisco do so for an average of 58 nights a year, making on average of $9,300 per year. RelayRides users make an average of $250 dollars a month. Uber data has been difficult to come by, but on average Uber drivers make between $15 and $53 an hour according to Forbes.

The sharing economy cares little about your current income level. The barriers to entry into the sharing economy are almost non-existent. In fact, a recent study out of New York University suggests that the sharing economy is most advantageous for lower income individuals. The sharing economy enables lower income individuals to generate revenue.

Take Laura, for example, who used to work at a local coffee shop in San Francisco. She is not returning to work after making over $2,000 a month hosting pets for people who are on vacation. These people drop off their pets with Laura, and she babysits them through the sharing economy platform DogVacay. This also has freed up Laura's days to conduct other business ventures. Laura's experience shows that the sharing economy has moved beyond the bigger ticket items (your house and car) to things like pets or household items.

Similarly, Jeremy recently purchased a brand new luxury vehicle but found that he was not using it nearly as much as he expected. He decided to rent it out on RelayRides and found that he could make over $1,000 a month, well above the cost of financing and insurance. Smartly, Jeremy went out and bought 2 more luxury vehicles to add to his new side business.

As a newly minted Casual Capitalist, you will be given more tools in this book that you can implement successfully over time. The goal of the sharing economy series is to help you establish 4 to 6 income streams by the end of 12 months.

Those 4 to 6 small businesses will come from the experimentation you do over the next 12 months, half of which will turn out to be unproductive. However, 2 to 3 of them will put cash in your pocket. Let's do a few real-life calculations in case studies based on the more popular sharing economy platforms.

Sam is a professional graphic designer. Sam has recently realized that he needs to dig more income 'wells,' as financial expert Mark Ford terms them, to achieve his lifelong financial goals. Sam purchased Secrets of the Sharing Economy. Sam implements 2 sharing economy income strategies a month for the next 12 months, and he develops 5 at the end of the year that best suit his interests and lifestyle.

Those five are: Airbnb, Fiverr, Just Park, RelayRides, and Udemy. Specifically, Sam rents out two spare rooms in his house on Airbnb, making a total of $600/month. Sam leverages his graphic design skills to complete small design tasks on Fiverr, bringing in an extra $150/month. Sam has a large driveway so he rents out parking space on Just Park for an extra $200/month. Sam also rents out his vehicle through RelayRides instead of letting it sit in his driveway, bringing in an extra $500/month.

Finally, once a week, Sam creates an online learning space for graphic design using Udemy, bringing in another $400/month. In 1 year, Sam has established small side businesses that bring in a total of $1,850 per month, or $22,200 a year.

Now, substitute graphic design for your passion, profession, or hobby. You do not need to be an expert in your particular field. You simply need to be 'expert enough' as Corbett Barr terms it.

Take another example. Sara is a stay-at-home mom, a very challenging full-time job by all standards. Sara is also a painter. When the kids go to bed or school, Sara paints and sells her work on Etsy. This brings Sara an average of $300/month.

Sara also lives close to local tourist attractions, so she is able to rent out her basement apartment on Airbnb and VRBO, bringing in an extra $500/month. Sara studied economics at university and has always been fascinated by the subject. She leverages this experience by using the peer-to-peer lending platform, Lending Club, to make an average of $200/month by loaning people money.

With all of her sharing economy earnings, Sara reinvests it into her loan business. Finally, on weekends, Sara and her husband take turns driving 4 hours each morning on Uber, bringing in 140$/week, or $560/month. By doing this, Sara is averaging $1,560 a month, or $18,720 per year.

Remember when we noted that the potential value of the sharing economy sector by 2025 will be around $335 billion? In ten years, the experts predict that a $15 billion industry will increase by $320 billion. Please reread that statement one more time. As a newly minted Casual Capitalist and a subscriber to the Casual Capitalist Series, you will be riding this wave of economic growth to line your pockets.

8. Platform Stacking

According to the founder of TaskRabbit, many 'Taskers' on the site take home over $5,000 a month. That has grown recently to $7,000 a month, and that is only on one platform.

Similar to what Sam and Sara accomplished, you can stack your platforms. This has the potential for serious income generation by leveraging 4 to 6 sharing economy platforms.

And that is the goal of this book: to give you the tools to platform stack in the sharing economy and earn serious income.

9. The Beauty and Simplicity of Accountability

Are you still nervous about sharing your house, car, parking spot, or consumer items with complete strangers? Of course you are. What if someone robs me? What if someone doesn't pay? What if someone is a complete weirdo and I have to buy a taser gun?

The short answer to all of these is concerns? There will always be challenges. But these challenges are significantly minimized in the sharing economy due to one simple yet powerful feature. All platform users are accountable through rating systems.

Not only do sharing economy sellers get ratings from their customers, but the customers themselves get ratings from you, the seller. Simply put, you do not need to do business with anyone unless they have stellar ratings. It's as simple as that. Moving on.

10. Expectations and Next Steps

"New business models based on the Sharing Economy are not only revolutionising the global labour force by giving people work when and where they want it, but challenging fundamental assumptions of work, from the nature of the firm to the structure of careers." - Jamie Viggiano, VP of Marketing at TaskRabbit

Take daily, weekly, and monthly action. Although the next chapter will focus on this topic in more detail, it is important to remind you of something: you must not only commit to taking action, but also to setting goals and sticking to them.

Make a goal for the rest of your week to go through this book and pick new tools you want to add to your income-generating toolbox. Commit to implementing 1 to 2 a month to see which work best for you. If you do this diligently, we can assure you that the majority of you will be making thousands, possibly in the tens of thousands.

The sharing economy, as well as this book, are about empowering people to share their assets and services. Do not dismiss the sharing economy as another digital whim.

A 2014 Global Nielsen Survey shows that 68% of respondents are willing to share their assets for financial gain, and 66% say they are likely to use products and services from others in the sharing economy.

As a Casual Capitalist you need to jump in on the front-end of this revolution in internet marketplaces – you don't want to be left behind while others profit. At the very least, commit to spending the next year focused on leveraging sharing economy platforms to pay down all of your consumer debt.

This can be done. As a newly minted Casual Capitalist, you will now have the tools to achieve your financial goals (we'll help you determine those goals in the next chapter).

Concluding Thought

Don't miss out on this important opportunity.

GrowthBusiness.co.uk reported in December 2015, that the sharing economy "has expanded by $15 million in the past seven years." This "level of growth is higher than the combined financial expansion of tech giants Facebook, Google and Yahoo – estimated to be $11 billion."

To put this into perspective, the report notes that every day $28 million is added to the sharing economy. This translates to adding approximately $33 billion per year over the next ten years. Or on a daily basis, around $90 million per day.

Don't bury your head in the sand... unless you intend to rent out that sand for $200 per night.

#  Chapter 2: Your Casual Capitalist Headquarters

"I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." - Estée Lauder

"It is always the start that requires the greatest effort." - James Cash Penney

1. Organize Yourself

Before you develop your sharing economy businesses, or any moneymaking endeavor for that matter, you need to organize yourself. You need a dedicated workplace, productivity tools to stay on track, a routine, short-term and long-term goals, and an ongoing learning plan. No matter what you are doing in life, these are the essential building blocks of success.

You Casual Capitalist Headquarters (Office space)

To begin, you need to create your workspace, your Casual Capitalist Headquarters (HQ). This is where your 20% of learning and planning will take place and some of your 80% action.

Anyone who has worked from home knows that distractions are all around you: "I better check the refrigerator to see if there's something I didn't see 20 minutes ago."

So you need a workspace free from distractions and where you can feel relaxed. You need your own private workspace that you can go to when you need to do work. Maybe you are sitting in this space now. If so, then half your work is done. You need to be comfortable in this space, and it needs to be functional.

Action Item: As you are reading through this chapter, make a list of everything you need to buy or do to create your perfect Casual Capitalist HQ. Where would Batman be without the Batcave?

Here are some basics to consider:

• Ideally, you want natural light. You want a window in your HQ to look out and enjoy scenery and sunlight.

• Other than natural lighting, you will need another form of lighting. Make sure to not use fluorescent or bright lights. Soft, low-voltage, or mood lighting is easier on the eyes and ultimately easier on your brain.

• Personalize your space with pictures, your favorite books, and any symbols or items that will keep you motivated.

• De-clutter on a regular basis. A cluttered desk means a cluttered mind. Make a habit of cleaning your HQ before you end your day. This way, when you arrive the next morning you have a nice clean space.

• Plants add some life to your office, but make sure they are low maintenance.

• Some people like to include animals in their office space, such as a small fish tank. Keep in mind the goal of low maintenance. A Chia Pet is fine too.

• Sometimes, background noise can be useful, either classical music or a noise app on your smartphone.

• If you like a particular inspirational business quote, print it out and pin it up on a corkboard or put it up on your wall.

• You do not want your desk to be boring, so have a few things there that are personal: pictures of friends, family, pets, locations that mean something to you, and so on.

Not only should you bring the warmth of family and friends with personal pictures and frames, but also your corkboard can be pinned with pictures of places that you like or landscapes that please you, such as a cottage or vacation spot. These pictures brighten up your HQ and constantly remind you of the things that you care about. They relax you. These will motivate and inspire you too.

Divide your workspace into different areas. You have your computer where you do your work – that is your work area. You should have a reference area where you store books, magazines, reports, and other material. You should also have a brainstorming area, where you have your corkboard or whiteboard. These areas will break up your HQ. So instead of sitting all day, you can stand up and walk around.

For your music choice, make sure that it is peaceful music such as classical or new age music or nature sounds. Music with a lot of lyrics may distract you. Research has shown that playing natural sounds, such as the ocean, flowing water, rain, birds, is good for brain activity. Many smartphone apps play natural sounds. Heavy metal and gangster rap should be avoided.

Tools of the Casual Capitalist Trade

As a start, you will need the following in your HQ: a computer, an Internet connection, a smartphone, a desk, and a comfortable chair. These necessities are worth spending money on.

For a computer, we suggest a laptop as it affords you mobility. For your desk, you need something first and foremost that you like and fits your style. Finally, make sure you have an office chair that is comfortable, ergonomic, easy on your back, and that you will enjoy using.

For computer work, you can also use a double monitor. A laptop is for portability, but when you are at your desk, you can plug in an extra flat screen. This maximizes desktop space so you are not constantly opening, closing, and minimizing windows. Your laptop screen can be used for web browsing and research, while the larger screen can be for writing, emailing, and showing your task lists.

As noted above, places to create ideas or write lists, such as a whiteboard or a corkboard, are always a good idea. The whiteboard is also great for idea storage. Imagine, you are in the middle of working and suddenly an idea pops into your head. Do you get yourself distracted by researching your idea online for the next hour? Or do you write it down on your whiteboard for a later time you have dedicated to researching your ideas? You get the point.

You will need an effective filing system. This requires either a filing cabinet for physical paper or a process where you digitize your filing. We suggest using an app scanner to make digital copies of all important documents. Then you can file them as you would in a filing cabinet but on a cloud drive. Dropbox and Google Drive are the most popular options.

Many people are now moving to digitally filing documents rather than keeping physical files, but it is all about personal preference.

Remember, your productivity depends on your office space, so you need to get it right.

2. Now Stay Organized and Productive

"Happen to things, don't let things happen to you." Stephen Covey

Now that your office space is settled, you need to establish systems that maintain your productivity and organization. You will need a centralized database for all your task lists, goals, documents, ideas, routines, and so on.

Many applications can fulfill this requirement, but our suggestion is Evernote. You can download Evernote, completely free, for both your smartphone and home computer. Evernote then syncs between your devices, and it contains all your notes, which can also include photos, documents, voice memos, and web pages.

Evernote is composed of two primary elements: notes and notebooks. For example, imagine using Evernote as your digital workspace for your new sharing economy business. You would create notebooks for all the different platforms you use: Uber, Airbnb, Dogvacay, Fiverr, and so on. Each notebook would then contain the many different notes, such as: Profile information, customers, task list, notes, accounting, and others.

Essentially, Evernote acts as a workspace that you can access across multiple platforms to keep yourself organized. A number of resources online – including videos on YouTube – can help you figure out the basics of Evernote. Evernote is also quite intuitive, so you may not need resources to figure it out.

Personally, since starting using Evernote, my productivity has increased ten-fold. I use Evernote for the following:

• All my tasks and goal lists – short-, medium-, and long-term.

• My morning and evening routines.

• My ideas log.

• When I want to tackle an idea, I move it to a different notebook along with an action plan.

• All of my contacts.

• All the writing I am working on or will be working on in the future.

• An 'Inbox' notebook in Evernote for everything I need to action.

• A list of favorite quotes.

• A notebook dedicated to memories, which includes pictures and stories.

• A reading list that includes everything I have read, what I learned from it, and the books I want to read in the future.

• Receipts and business cards.

• Favorite articles and stories are stored in one notebook for easy access.

Essentially, for any new idea, I create a new note on Evernote. That way, when I come across something that relates to that idea, I simply dump it in the note for later viewing. When it is time for me to take on a new project, I already have a lengthy list of ideas that have been populated with further research and thought.

As a Casual Capitalist, you will love using the Evernote Inbox feature. One of the great benefits of Evernote is that you get a unique email address that syncs to your Evernote account. Evernote will take the emails sent to this address and add them as notes to your Evernote account.

For instance, you can send to your Evernote email address an email to research a new idea with some notes. In the subject of that email, you can tell Evernote where to store that note (in most cases, you want it to go to your Inbox). Then, when you have time, you can review everything in your Evernote Inbox.

As you begin your Casual Capitalist journey, you will find that ideas come to you at all times during the day. It will be important to have an efficient method to record these ideas.

As a Casual Capitalist, you will also need a cloud-based storage system. You can use Evernote for this as well, but we find its storage is limited by the size of documents. Dropbox and Google Drive are more useful for storing all your larger files. Treat either of these services as your electronic filing cabinet. Any document that comes to you, such as a receipt, PDF, reading material, word document or excel sheet, or tax information, should go in your drive.

In terms of organization, another important tool worth mentioning is the free app Scannable. This links with Google Drive or Dropbox to create a digital filing cabinet. Scannable allows you to take photos of documents and then it converts them to either a PDF or a photo. You can then immediately upload those files to your drive for filing.

Action Item: These are the most important tools in your organization toolbox: Evernote, your file storage system, and an app and device to scan documents. If you have not already, then go out and get familiar with these tools. Ultimately, you will want to download software so you are ready to go and make some money in the sharing economy.

Briefly, a number of other tools are useful in your effort to stay organized and productive. Given that we will be registering for a number of online platforms, it is helpful to use a separate encrypted password storage system. We usually suggest Password Vault, but there are a number of similar systems out there. These tools store all of your login and password information in one easy location. We enjoy Password Vault because we can use it on our smartphones and laptops.

Finally, if you have not already, set yourself up with a calendar system, such as Google Calendar or Outlook Express. It is very easy to get disorganized as you put many different irons in the fire of income generation. You will need somewhere to store appointments and reminders.

3. Establish Your Casual Capitalist Zone

To be productive and ultimately make money, you need to develop a routine, or what we like to call a Casual Capitalist Zone. Your Zone will get you in the right headspace to keep you productive and accountable for your actions. And, ironically, it will prevent you from "zoning out."

To begin, let's ask a simple question: what time do you wake up? The morning may seem unimportant – a time to get a coffee and doughnuts – but it is actually the single most significant part of your day. Not only does it set the tone for the remainder of your day, but it also can be your most productive work time.

"Your first ritual that you do during the day is the highest leveraged ritual, by far, because it has the effect of setting your mind, and setting the context, for the rest of your day." – Eben Pagan

So, whether you like it or not, you need to become a morning person. This means waking up earlier and developing a morning routine that becomes second nature to you.

The morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Do not get into the habit of hitting the snooze button. You need to wake up immediately and get your day going. By constantly hitting the snooze button, you are teaching your body and your brain that you can delay the inevitable and that you can be lazy. And no, hitting the snooze button does not count as exercise. Research has shown that falling back to sleep after you have woken up throws off your body's sleep cycle.

You should wake up and go to bed at the same time every day. No adult needs more than 7 hours of sleep, but you do need more than 5 hours, so plan accordingly. I get 7 hours of sleep every night on the dot by going to bed at 10 p.m. and waking up at 5 a.m. If you're worried about missing your favorite TV show, record it and watch it when you have some free time.

Find a way to smile each morning. Make it a habit to smile when you're looking in the mirror, when you are drinking your coffee, or when reading over your daily tasks (more on this below). Make sure to smile. It sounds odd to be smiling to yourself, but research has shown that this simple activity will reduce stress and release good endorphins in your brain.

Your morning routine needs to include things like eating healthy, exercising, drinking water, reviewing your daily task list, and reminding yourself of your short, medium, and long-term goals.

If at this point in your life you do not want to exercise, then you can try meditation. That said, exercising is so important to your wellbeing, you should be considering at least a small amount each morning. Getting out of bed in the morning doesn't count as a sit up!

For instance, you can use the 7 Minute Workout app, which you can download for free. This short workout will get your body moving and the juices flowing. Surely you can spare 7 minutes!

I enjoy incorporating audio in my morning routines. For instance, I listen to music and podcasts when I am exercising in the shower or making breakfast. Furthermore, when completing action tasks, like writing or working on my business, I always suggest using background noise.

For background noise, I like to use the app Noisli, a great tool to maintain focus and boost productivity. I find that it helps with relaxation and focus. Noisli, amongst other apps, plays the audio of natural sounds such as birds, running water, rain, thunderstorms, the wind, and so on.

If you like the ambiance and hustle and bustle of a coffee shop, then you can use a free app called Coffitivity. And you won't have to pay $4.65 for a Grande Caramel Cappuccino! It loops sound tracks from public places. You can use another website called Ambient Mixer which loops different types of nature sounds and white noise. You can combine tracks and adjust the different volumes. The tools are out there, so use them!

As Casual Capitalists, we should be completing the important tasks as soon as we wake up. Checking email, surfing the Internet, or reviewing social media should NOT be part of your morning. These activities can be important, but there is no reason you should be doing them first thing in the morning. You have more important things to do first.

Activities you should include in your morning routine are brain exercises (we like the app Elevate), meditation (we like the app Headspace), exercise (the app 7 Minute Workout), journaling (we like the app 5 Minute Journal), and reviewing your tasks and goals.

To keep us focused on the morning tasks, we like to use the task manager app 30/30. This fantastic tool allows users to describe each task that has an assigned time slot. This way you can stay on track, and 30/30 sends you an alert when it is time to change activities. This is really a great method to stay focused.

You will now develop your morning ritual.

Action Item: Using Evernote or the app 30/30, come up with a morning routine that includes some of the elements we have discussed. Dedicate at least an hour in your morning to action items (that will advance your sharing economy business). Here is a sample morning routine that was used when this book was written:

When you wake up, the first thing you should do is rehydrate. Our bodies lose a lot of water during the night, so it is important to get more water into your system. I encourage ten minutes of meditation. However, while you do not need to meditate, it's important to spend some time reflecting in silence. It is good for mindfulness and brain activity.

There are many benefits to making meditation a part of your daily routine. Studies have revealed that meditation:

• Reduces aches and pain

• Allows you to think clearer and makes you smarter

• Puts you in a better mood

• Increases your empathy, and

• Promotes focus and creativity

At the very least, you should complete a quick workout using the 7 Minute Workout app. This will get the blood flowing and wake you up. You should also spend time reviewing your Casual Capitalist Zone that we discussed above. As an example of a Casual Capitalist Zone, here is an Evernote notebook that contains some of the Zone notes we suggest. All of these notes make up our sample Casual Capitalist Zone:

• One-Time Actions: These are actions that need to be done, but are one-off and do not correspond specifically to any of your goals. Some one-time actions include researching ideas, personal appointments, and things you need to buy, read, or do around town or in your house.

• Task and Goal Reminders: This is your most important note/activity to review, and it is important to do this daily. This activity will contain your weekly tasks, broken down daily. Each of these tasks should correspond to your goals (see part 4 below). For instance, if a monthly goal is to list your home on Airbnb to start making money, then daily tasks will include taking photos of your place, writing up your advertisement, registering with Airbnb, researching best practices using Airbnb, and so on.

• Quotes and Values: Here is where you can write down inspirational quotes, your life values, and anything that will remind you of your overarching principles.

• Vision Board: A note that contains photos of things that make you happy or things you want to achieve is very important. This can include photos of family, friends, places you want to visit, things you want to be able to afford, and perhaps peaceful photos that relax you.

Creating your own vision board is a good exercise to increase creativity and invoke your imagination. According to a study from Psychology Today: "The brain is getting trained for actual performance during visualization. It's been found that mental practices can enhance motivation, increase confidence and self-efficacy, improve motor performance, prime your brain for success, and increase states of flow."

A vision board should be composed of images, words, and quotes that capture your ambitions, goals, and the most important things and people in your life.

• Achievements: It is important to keep track of your achievements. Did you reach a milestone? Did you master something? Did you make a certain amount of money doing something? Always keep track of things you are proud of and review them daily.

• Idea Log: Every morning make part of your routine to think of at least one idea for a product, business, book, blog post, app, or lifestyle change. The important thing here is to have no filter – write down whatever comes to mind. These are mind exercises, so start doing brain squats! You won't even need a spotter.

• A List of "My Team": Eventually, you will have a team of people to help you achieve your goals. This can include accountants, lawyers, web designers, graphic artists, marketers, mentors, and others. You should list them all, with the tasks they are currently performing. Before having a team, it's a good idea to write down the names of the people you would like to have.

As noted, other notes can exist in your Zone, so you need to customize accordingly. It is important to develop your own Zone, reviewing it and adjusting it on a daily basis. Writing down your Zone means that your brain does not need to do the heavy lifting every day thinking about what you need to accomplish and everything else important to you. It also means that you are accountable to your Zone for what you accomplish or fail to accomplish.

The great thing about having a morning routine is that you do not have to think about things when you wake up. You go through it, saving all your brainpower for the important and complex decisions that you will have to make throughout the day.

Action Item: Develop your Casual Capitalist Zone. Even if it is simply a template at this point, start by populating your Zone with what is important to you. Start writing down basic tasks and goals (more on this later).

When reviewing your Zone and your daily tasks, do not put off the most difficult ones. Those should be the first ones you tackle that day. Therefore, when reviewing your Zone in the morning, organize your daily task list accordingly, starting with the hardest. Doing the most important task first means that the rest of your day should be a walk in the park. And it may leave you the time to actually walk in the park!

While Evernote is a great starting point for a digital workspace, you can use any number of productivity apps. We suggest ensuring that the productivity app has a desktop application as well, so you can transition between your devices. Other popular productivity apps include Wunderlist, Microsoft OneNote, Quip, Google Keep, and SimpleNote.

Why do all this? To set yourself up to incrementally accomplish your goals in life. It's that simple. You will never get rich quick or win the lottery (if you do though, please call me!). 99% of all successful entrepreneurs became that way because they took deliberate and incremental steps towards their goals.

4. Set Goals and Ideal Lifestyle

"If you're bored with life - you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals." – Lou Holtz

"Most "impossible" goals can be met simply by breaking them down into bite size chunks, writing them down, believing them, and then going full speed ahead as if they were routine." – Don Lancaster

If you want to become financially independent, and we believe you do since you picked up this book, then there are several things you need to take seriously starting now.

First, thanks to a number of our financial heroes, we can share with you many of the key lessons you need to implement to obtain financial independence. Below we discuss the three magic bullets of eventually living a wealthy life. Keep in mind the word 'eventually.' This book, nor any other reputable financial work, does not promise a get rich quick scheme.

As a Casual Capitalist, your first task is to eliminate all consumer debt, including credit card debt, student loans, car loans, and lines of credit. If you already have zero consumer debt, then give yourself a pat on the back, great job! Use this as an opportunity to create new streams of income that can be used for future business endeavors or retirement investing.

Implement the following 3 lessons as part of your daily life. They will compound over time to give you the financial freedom you want. Add them to your Zone to keep them fresh in your mind on a daily basis. Begin by adhering to the following standards:

Lesson 1: Before you expand, you must contract. Simply put, live below your means. There is no reason that you need an expensive house or a brand new car or extravagant consumer items. We live in a consumer society that treats debt with indifference. Granted, some debt is okay, but the vast majority is bad.

If you cannot afford something outright, other than maybe a reasonably sized home, then you should not buy it. Understood? The time to spoil yourself is not now. For example, can you get by with a used car that you pay for in full? Do you need those brand new leather couches? Do you need that 2,000+ square foot home, or can you get by with a smaller townhome for the next 10 years? And why, for crying out loud, do you need 300 TV channels?

Do you really need all your subscription services like magazines and newspapers? Do you need to go shopping again for clothes or electronics? Do you need a $5 latte every day? Do you need multiple credit cards or just one for special occasions? Do you need to go on trips every 3 months, or can you do one every few years? And on and on it goes. Always ask yourself, do I really need this? Most of what we buy does not satisfy an absolute need. By questioning your purchases, you are setting yourself up to becoming wealthier, sooner.

Lesson 2: Set up multiple streams of income. The entire goal of the Casual Capitalist Series is to introduce you to new ways of setting up streams of income, starting with the sharing economy. More will follow in the coming months and years. Work hard up front to set up these income systems and you will be bringing in extra money that can be saved, invested, or put towards larger business endeavors such as real estate or starting a small business.

Lesson 3: Write down your goals. Let's repeat. Write down your goals! Goals should be long-term in nature – that is quarterly, yearly, 5 years, 10 years, and so on. You then need to break down each goal into actionable tasks that can be achieved on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Your longer-term goals should translate into your ideal lifestyle. 10 years from now, how do you want to live? In 20 years from now, what will your lifestyle entail? For instance, 10 years from now, do you want to own a business and three pieces of real estate? Do you want zero consumer debt? Do you want to be saving $30 a day to reach 2 million by the time you're 60? This list can go on and on and depends on your ultimate goals. Without a long-term goal, you lack direction and your daily tasks will be scattershot.

We like to use the SMART acronym for goal setting. Goals need to be Specific. They need to be Measurable so they are not vague or unquantifiable. They need to be Actionable, reflected in a simple verb. Goals need to be Realistic. For example, a goal of making $100 million is fantasy. Start with $10,000. Finally, goals need to be Time-oriented. Example: I want to make $10,000 in 12 months. Now that you can break down your goal, what do you need to do on a monthly basis?

As a Casual Capitalist, I, Glenn, perceive my ideal lifestyle as follows: owning a successful financial advice brand, having a virtual assistant to complete all my busy work, owning 10 real estate rental properties, reading one book a month, going on a working vacation 3 times a year, and the list goes on.

All of these goals are at various stages of completion, but they have one thing in common. They are written down, broken down in to sub-goals (such as writing 1 book, or adding 1 real estate property), and divided into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." – Confucius

Everything should be written down in your Zone. For example, my task today is to write a portion of a chapter, which corresponds to my monthly task of finishing two chapters, which corresponds to my quarterly goal of writing a draft of a book, which relates to... well, you get the point.

Action Item: In your Casual Capitalist Zone, or your version thereof, write down your long-term goals, your ideal lifestyle, and start breaking those down into actionable tasks that can be completed in certain timeframes – daily, weekly, and monthly.

By reviewing your goals every morning during your routine, you start your day with the end in mind. This way, you know what you are working towards. No question about it: your goals need to be written down. Research has shown that those who write down their goals, as opposed to just thinking about them, accomplish much more, sooner.

You do not need 500 goals. You need between 1 and 10 and then those need to be broken down into specific tasks. Your tasks need to be specific and actionable. Otherwise, the task at hand seems too big, like climbing Mount Everest.

For instance, a goal of yours should be to make $10,000 in the sharing economy over the next year. Let's break that down:

• 10% of your time needs to go to knowledge acquisition – you are reading this book (a specific task that can be accomplished in a week), you review online material, or you read other books on the subject.

• 10% of your time goes to planning – A daily task for you is to come up with a plan on how you are going to take action with a certain sharing economy platform, such as Airbnb or Uber.

• 80% of your time goes to action – These tasks are the most time consuming and important. Let's take Airbnb as an example. Over the next year, to accomplish the goal noted above, you will need to register for Airbnb, create a profile, market your advertisement, research similar listings in your area, respond to inquiries, host guests, and the list goes on.

Another way to look at the goal above is to say that, every month, you are going to register for a new sharing economy platform to try and make money. Simple. Then you can break that goal into weekly and daily tasks. For instance, this week you are going to register for a platform, educate myself on that platform, and next week you are going to start taking action on that platform.

Another important objective is that your goals need to be reviewed frequently, even long-term ones, on a daily basis. Goals are not set in stone; they should always be reviewed and reworked, with new goals added and some goals removed.

Goals should not just be about making money either. You need goals for your personal life, your fitness, your health, your personal relationships, your family, and so on. You should have goals for all of these pillars in your life. Even goaltenders have goals!

Setting goals will lead you to success. You cannot predict the future, so your goals will change. Once you have established your goals, you review them and rule out any of the current tasks that do not complement them. Trim the fat in your life and you will significantly increase your productivity.

5. Become an Idea Machine

"Everyone who's ever taken a shower has an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference." – Nolan Bushnell

"Capital isn't that important in business. Experience isn't that important. You can get both of these things. What is important is ideas." – Harvey S. Firestone

Although this plays a smaller role in your sharing economy quest, it will come into play in your future business endeavors. So we want to talk about it now. Start flexing your idea muscle on a daily basis.

Just as you would go for a run or lift weights to stay in physical shape, you need to exercise your brain. As noted above, part of a Casual Capitalist's morning routine, the Zone, includes an idea log where you can write down ideas for businesses, books, your personal life, websites, apps, products, and so on. You can put them in there, no matter how ridiculous they sound. Remember, your head is for generating ideas, not holding them.

This is a terrific exercise for your brain and for flexing your "idea muscle." As the brilliant James Altucher says, "You need to become an idea machine."

Coming up with ideas should involve no filter. Write down any idea that comes to your mind. In this sense, no self-judgment always yields the best results. You want quantity over quality in the initial idea phase. The crazier the idea, the better.

Constantly ask yourself, "How can this be made better, what is missing here?" Ask how something successful in one industry can be successful in another. Look at a new product and ask yourself, "What is this missing?" Think about problems that need to be solved.

If you come up with 1 idea a day, that is 365 ideas in a year. At least one of them will be a good one and will lead to something. There is no way to know in advance if an idea is a great one or not.

Action Item: Create an idea log in your Zone, and come up with 1 idea right now. Date your ideas for future reference.

6. Commit to Learning

Here is that first 10% of the 10-10-80 rule. But it is more than that. What do you do with your down time? Do you play video games, go out to the clubs, or watch reality TV? Are the Kardashians that fascinating? Of course everyone needs some type of outlet. Instead of these activities, use your downtime more productively by committing to learning.

Let's refer to these downtime activities as your Casual Capitalist Hobbies. Read a book on business. Listen to podcasts to enhance your knowledge of a particular topic. Subscribe to the RSS feeds of business sites, such as Entrepreneur.com, Inc.com, Forbes.com, and others. Watch TV shows that will help you gain business expertise, like "Shark Tank" (even if you can't stand Mr. Wonderful).

Watch movie documentaries on topics that interest you. Watch YouTube videos that relate to an area that interests you in business such as setting up Evernote for productivity, Airbnb basics, becoming an Uber driver, morning habits, personal finance, and the list goes on.

If you eventually want to start an online business, then commit to learning about online marketing and social media. A commitment to ongoing learning is the hallmark of all successful entrepreneurs. You do not need to be an expert; you just need to be expert enough. The combination of everything that you have learned and your experience is very powerful. This will dictate your financial trajectory in life.

Action Item: Find 1 podcast, 1 news site, 1 TV show, and 1 book that you think fit the above criteria. Commit to digesting these over the next month or so on an ongoing basis. Write it down in your Zone!

7. Conclusion

Now that we are familiar with the sharing economy and its income potential, and we are organized and primed for maximum productivity, we can talk about the specific money making platforms. The sharing economy is a Casual Capitalist's dream. These platforms have been developed, tested, and monetized, and they are ready for you to leverage to make money now.

The remainder of the book is your action plan. Pick and choose the best platforms for you, and then get out there and make some money. You now understand what a Casual Capitalist is. The only thing left for you to do is to create a profile on these platforms and take daily action.

Commit to trying out at least one sharing economy opportunity a month and focus on tasks that achieve this goal. This way, by the end of the year, you should have tried at least 12 platforms to test out their moneymaking potential. Based on all your hard work, you will end up with 4 to 6 separate sharing economy income streams at your disposal.

You are now leaving the gates to begin your journey. I wish you well, Grasshopper.

Action Item: Create a generic personal profile template that you can start using for the myriad sharing economy platforms. Write it, save it, and have it ready.

#  Chapter 3: Airbnb: Home Sweet (Not Your) Home

"On any particular night, we have guests the volume of New Orleans staying in Airbnb listings" - Chip Conley - Airbnb Executive

"We used to live in a world where there are people, private citizens, a world where there are businesses, and now we're living in a world where people can become businesses in 60 seconds" - Brian Chesky - Airbnb CEO

1. What is Airbnb: Hospitality, not Real Estate

Airbnb is a sharing economy marketplace where homeowners and travelers can list and book private residences around the world. Whether booking a room in a house or an entire condo or entire home, users can rent on Airbnb by the day, week, month, or longer.

Available in over 34,000 cities across 190 countries, Airbnb has facilitated over 25 million guests with over 1 million property listings worldwide. Simply put, Airbnb is one of the easiest ways for someone to monetize their primary or secondary residence.

Do you have a basement you can rent out? A cottage? A room in your condo? Or can you rent out your home when you are away? Is there somewhere else you can stay around town if you get a booking for your entire home? There are many options here to consider. Pick one that suits your situation the best.

Action Item: Visit Airbnb.com now, and see what types of listings are currently in your community. This will give you an idea of your competition, the profits you can expect, and how well these people are doing by checking their availability calendars.

2. Airbnb: An Unofficial Primer

"Airbnb averages 425,000 guests per night, nearly 22% more than Hilton Worldwide" - PWC April 2015 Report

Airbnb was founded in 2008 and is widely credited as the trailblazer of the new sharing economy, if not its catalyst. One 2004 study in Los Angeles found that Airbnb generated over $312 million in economic activity and supported 2,600 jobs. On average in Los Angeles, each Airbnb host earns about $660 a month.

Airbnb does not charge you to list your property. However, Airbnb does charge a 3% service fee on any rental only when that reservation is confirmed. Therefore, only when you start making money does Airbnb take its slice.

Owners are in total control of their listings. You decide who stays there, the price, the availability, the reservation requirements, the security deposit, the cancellation policy, and much more.

Most people believe that you can only be successful using Airbnb if you live in a desirable or touristy neighborhood. This is true to some extent, but many people book on Airbnb to get away from the tourist hot spots. Recognizing that Airbnb was not just for tourists, Airbnb partnered with Realtor.com to offer potential homebuyers the ability to book an Airbnb stay in the area they are looking to buy in. This way, people get the feel of a particular neighborhood before moving there.

Generally speaking, Airbnb prices are much cheaper than hotel rooms. At one of Berkshire Hathaway's annual conferences, Warren Buffett himself recommended that attendees use Airbnb as a hotel alternative. Buffett knows a business! According to Forbes, each of the three Airbnb founders is now worth approximately $2 billion each. I bet they have really nice homes to rent out! Airbnb is rumored to be valued somewhere in the realm of $24 billion. Not only are the founders making money, but also Airbnb is turning millions of people into micro entrepreneurs.

Don't worry about bad guests. Airbnb prides itself in its transparency. Guests and hosts have accountability through the Airbnb rating system. Before renting your property, you can see what other owners said about potential renters. This goes both ways however; before renting from you, potential renters can view your ratings to ensure that you are a good host. This is a very powerful accountability mechanism that helps protect guests and owners alike.

Some other important features on Airbnb include:

• Solid customer service with a 24-hour support line.

• Eligible hosts are protected for up to 1 million dollars in insurance liability on top of what your personal insurance currently covers.

• Money never transfers hands between the renters and the owners. It is all done through Airbnb.

• New hosts can also request free professional photography services from Airbnb, which makes your property look more appealing.

• Airbnb hosts can customize prices on a nightly, weekend, weekly, or monthly basis, or using high and low seasons.

Payments to owners are received approximately 24 hours after guests check in, and this money is deposited directly to your bank account. If there is any conflict between owners and renters, then Airbnb has a resolution center to help mediate.

For the most part, you know owners are going to take good care of their property because they are the owners. Likewise, they are going to treat their guests with respect because of the rating system.

By leveraging your current residence as an income-producing asset, you are using no new debt to make money.

Not a homeowner? No problem! Discuss with your landlord whether or not you can use your rental property in this capacity. Smile a lot and bring them a pie. Perhaps an income sharing arrangement can be made to sweeten the deal for your landlord.

Income Potential

The income potential for Airbnb is clear.

• According to AirDnA, in Davenport, Florida, near Orlando, Airbnb hosts made an average of $2,900 a month renting out homes, or $600 a month for those who rented out a room in a home.

• Owners in Seattle, Washington, who rented out their homes made an average of $1,800 a month, or $700 a month for just a room.

• Owners in Burlington, Vermont, made an average of $1,700 a month renting out their homes, or $700 a month just renting out a room.

• Owners in New Jersey made an average of $1,800 a month for a home, or an average of $800 a month for one room.

• In Denver, Colorado, Airbnb hosts who rented out their entire place made an average of $1,900 a month, and $700 a month for renting out a single room.

• In Kabul, Afghanistan, hosts who... okay, I'll stop.

The list goes on and on. You get the point, right?

3. How to Make Money on Airbnb – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

1. Check out AirDnA.co for statistics on your home city.

(15 minutes)

2. Register your Airbnb account.

• Register on Airbnb.com for an account and complete your host profile.

• Download the smartphone application.

• Link your social media accounts to your Airbnb account to give it more credibility.

(30 minutes)

3. Research (take notes!).

• Research your local market and your particular area of that market, including the prices, the different pictures, how the listings are written, and the highlights people are writing about in their listing.

(1 hour)

4. Begin developing your listing.

• Do some basic staging and cleaning before you take photos. You can find tons of online resources to help you with this.

• Take some initial pictures of your home or room you will be renting.

• Write up a description of your home. Be sure to emphasize the most important aspects of your property. This could be its proximity to tourist sites, transportation options, or amenities such as Wifi, hot tub, pool, big TV, free long distance, large backyard, pool table, and so on. Remember, Airbnb users are not only looking for a place to sleep but an experience.

• Upload pictures and description to Airbnb.

• Set a price that is lower than those around you. You can always increase it in the future, but it is wise to start low so you can test the market, get listings quickly, and obtain good ratings.

• Now list your property!

(2 hours)

5. Perform Ongoing Tasks.

• Sign up for Airbnb's free professional photography services – www.airbnb.com/photography.

• Make sure your home is stocked with the different amenities that you would want if you were staying somewhere. This includes a hairdryer, ironing board, shampoos, soaps, coffee maker, linens, and clean towels.

• Develop a standard email that you will send to your guests explaining what they need to know about your place, the local attractions, directions (not just the address), key exchange information, check-in and check-out times and your contact information. If they arrive early, then make sure you have a list of fun things they can do before checking in.

• As an owner, you will be asked to rate the guests who stayed at your property. Do this promptly and be positive. If there were problems, unless serious in nature, then send the guest a personal email.

• You may also want to do a standard write-up/guide/FAQ for all guests and print it out before they arrive. This can contain more details than a generic welcome and reiterate your contact information, any Internet or Wifi password they need, how to work the TV, the stove and anything else that needs explaining.

• Figure out what guests will want to do in your area and then help them accomplish that. Give them directions, websites, and/or tour books. These can include your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping malls. If you have no material for this, then go to local hotels and see what they are offering to guests. This can all go in your writeup.

• Figure out how you can make your guests' stay more special. Offer them a free gift. This can include a couple bottles of water (useful in places with poor water quality!), a bottle of wine, some complimentary snacks, bus passes, coffee, chocolates, peanuts, a pizza gift card, and anything else that will make your guest feel more special. If cost is a problem, then factor these expenses into your price.

TIP: If you receive a bad review, be sure to respond positively not negatively. Thank the guest for their constructive feedback and explain how you will fix the perceived problem. If it's picky and unfounded, then simply say that in your future email to tenants you will highlight this issue. If it is a legitimate complaint, then respond quickly and tell the guest(s) how you attempted to fix this problem, what you will give them for their trouble (a refund of some sort), and how you will make sure this does not happen again. Your reviews are public and everyone can view them, including prospective renters. Be positive and accommodating in your responses, even if the guest has been a nightmare.

Responsiveness

The reason to have a smartphone app is that you need to be responsive to inquiries. Airbnb tracks your responsiveness, and it is also one of the top priorities for Airbnb renters. Always respond to inquiries, even if only to say, "Sorry, the place is not available." Airbnb tracks your response rate with an algorithm that rates your responsiveness.

Sharing Economy Lesson #1: Be Responsive – No matter what platform you are using, make sure to respond to inquiries within a few hours or 12 hours at the most. The best option is to create an email address for your sharing economy projects and link them directly to your phone. This way, you will always know immediately when you receive an email.

Key Exchange

Decide how you are going to welcome guests. Are you going to physically meet them to give them the key? Or are you going to give them the code to a lock box on your front door? If you live in a condo, then you may not be able to leave a key. Are you going to leave the key in a secret place that only Sherlock Holmes could find? You have to decide how you are going to get the key to your hosts. What if you are out of town – will you mail them a key?

Perhaps you can leave a key for the tenants at a local café (with permission). This also drives business to the café, which acts as your middleman for key exchanges. You can use a local person who you trust if you are not going to be around. Ideally, you should be around to welcome guests and be available locally should they have any questions or issues.

Cleaning

You need to decide if you will clean after guests leave or if you will hire a cleaning service. I suggest charging a small cleaning fee; this is standard on Airbnb. You also need to clean your place before guests arrive. Cleanliness is very important, and if you charge a fee then you can justify it as extra income.

Airbnb Middlemen

A number of Airbnb service companies can make your life easier. For example, a service called Pillow will coordinate bookings, cleaning, and customer service on your behalf for a small fee of every booking. A similar service called Guesty, an Airbnb personal assistant website, can handle all reservations, cleaning, key exchanges, and booking optimization.

Additionally, Key Café is a key exchange service for Airbnb. This service will link you up with local businesses that can hold your keys for you so guests can pick them up at their leisure.

A service called EverBooked automatically sets prices to optimize your returns. For cleaning on Airbnb, there are a number of services, such as Proprly or Guesthop.

This list goes on and on. The point is, if you want to make it even easier to rent out your property, use one of these services to free up more of your time for other money-making endeavors.

4. Your Action Items

Is Airbnb right for you? If so, then now's the time to set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. Break these down into actionable tasks and start taking action. Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan above is a good starting point.

Over the next few weeks, familiarize yourself with Airbnb by reviewing the official website, news articles, and outside services available to Airbnb hosts. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this work for me?" If the answer is more than 'maybe,' then begin to take action. Next week, list daily tasks that involve registering for Airbnb and make a serious attempt to make money using this service. These tasks may include reviewing existing listings in your area, the photos, and the descriptions, and then writing your own description, staging your home, taking pictures, listing your property, and on and on.

Concluding Thought

"Many hoteliers are probably contemplating what the current and future economic impacts on their business of upstart firms such as Airbnb may be. This question is of increasing relevance, as this formerly little-known startup has served over 35 million guests and commands a valuation in excess of $20 billion, surpassing brands like Hyatt ($8.6 billion), and closing in on Hilton ($29 billion)." \- Bloomberg Brief, June 15, 2015

In the beginning of your Airbnb journey, the point is not to focus only on the money. You want to get your listing out there and get as many reviews as possible. This will increase your credibility in the Airbnb community. At the beginning, sharing your place with strangers can be a little bit scary, much like buying products online was in the early 2000s.

Once you have begun your journey, you will realize that it is a great money-making opportunity. As an added bonus, you get to meet and socialize with fascinating people. Use the first couple months just to get your hands dirty, get some reviews, and familiarize yourself with the process. After this, you can start fine-tuning your approach to make even more money and become the Hilton or Marriott of your neighbourhood.

#  Chapter 4: Other Hospitality Platforms

1. Non-Airbnb Platforms

Airbnb is the catalyst for much of the sharing economy hospitality space. You can test it out and possibly earn additional income. If you are already using Airbnb, then you can stack your platforms and make more money. Or, if Airbnb does not suit your situation, other options may be better. This chapter will cover Non-Airbnb platforms you can leverage to turn unused property space into income.

2. A Primer to Hospitality in the Sharing Economy

Capitalizing on the sharing economy's momentum within the hospitality space, a number of emerging platforms can make you money. Your task is to read through them all and pick 1 or 2 that seem feasible. You should not try all, as that will consume too much of your valuable time. Remember, as a Casual Capitalist, it's all about setting up small side businesses. Each income stream by itself is relatively insignificant, but taken as a whole they can be life changing.

Some of these platforms are alternatives or supplements to Airbnb. For instance, VRBO and HomeAway can be used in conjunction with Airbnb. This is the concept of platform stacking we discussed earlier.

The business of each of these platforms is essentially the same: short-term property rentals. That said, your situation may not allow for the flexibility to rent out your entire home to vacationers. In that case, you may have a large backyard or live in the country and can rent out land. Or perhaps you have an area that can double as an office space for a small startup company looking for cheap rent. Think about your situation while we review the many possibilities.

3. How to Make Money on Real Estate Platforms – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

HomeAway

HomeAway is a vacation rental marketplace with over 1 million vacation rental listings in over 190 countries. As a HomeAway host, you can either pay per booking or pay a subscription fee. Our advice would be the pay per booking. That way, if no one books, then you are not paying any fees up front.

The important thing about HomeAway is that it is a vacation rental marketplace. So you need to be in a desirable location. When creating a listing on HomeAway, as with Airbnb, emphasize the location, tourist sites, transportation, and other desirable features of your property.

The great thing is that you have already done the work; you have pictures and a description from your Airbnb property profile. Now simply duplicate that on other platforms. It will take very little time.

VRBO

VRBO stands for Vacation Rental by Owner, another vacation rental platform. Although it is owned by HomeAway, VRBO is about half the size. Nevertheless, VRBO is a good place to list your property. Again, if you are listing on other platforms, you might as well list on VRBO. Pricing is similar to HomeAway, with a choice of an upfront subscription fee or a percentage per booking.

Travelmob

Travelmob is another vacation rental platform, boasting 30,000 listings specifically in the Asia Pacific region. So if you live in this part of the world, Travelmob might be a good option. Travelmob is also a part of the HomeAway family, which acquired it in 2013. Travelmob is free to list, so what do you have to lose?

9flats.com

Founded in Germany, this platform is similar to all of the above, but it targets the European market. 9flats is essentially the European competitor to Airbnb. If you are a European resident, this is a great option to double up not only with Airbnb, but HomeAway and VRBO as well. 9flats now has well over 100,000 apartments available for rent. There is no charge to post your property to the 9flats platform.

Roomorama

Although not as popular as the other vacation rental platforms, Roomorama is a good option for those located in Southeast Asia. Roomorama, which is headquartered in Singapore, offers short-term rentals in over 5,000 locations. Roomorama is known for its robust security features. These allow owners to view the IDs of potential renters, do background checks, and use a code process for secure payments. Listing on Roomorama is free.

Stayz

If you are an Australia resident, then Stayz is worth checking out. Although relatively new, it has an edge on the Australian vacation rental market.

Kid & Coe

If you believe that your property is particularly kid-friendly (no rattlesnakes, piranha, and so on), then you should check out Kid & Coe. This platform specifically markets to vacationers with kids. If your property is already filled with toys, is near a playground or a theme park, or has other child-friendly amenities, then you should register. If you have kids, and your house is already kid-friendly, then this may be a good option.

Can't Rent Your Home? No Problem! Got land?

Gamping

Now, beyond renting out your house or a room, you can consider land options. If you have a large backyard or acreage to spare, then Gamping.com may be for you. With thousands of locations in over 28 countries, the Gamping platform allows people with extra land to rent it out to campers at a low price. For instance, rent out your large backyard or cottage for $10 or $20 a night depending on the size and the amenities around. This service is free for hosts.

HipCamp

This platform is fantastic for those who have a unique outdoors experience to share with others. For campers or those looking for a wilderness escape, HipCamp can be your ticket to profit from unused land. This service is currently only available in the U.S.

No Land to Rent? No Problem! Got a Chair or Empty Space?

Shared office space has garnered much media attention in the past year. For example, according to media reports, the co-working company WeWork is now valued at an estimated $5 billion dollars. Many people believe that the cubicle culture is dying, giving way to more flexible work options such as co-working spaces, lounges, and short-term office rental spaces.

Further, media reports predict that by 2022, the majority of Americans will work remotely. This is where you can come in.

Pivot Desk

If you have any extra room in your home or your business, then you can rent it out to people seeking out office space. One such office space platform is PivotDesk. Here, you post the space similar to a vacation rental. Once posted, people who are looking for office space will send you a request. You then make money off an extra chair, desk, or open space. Think about it: there must be some extra space in your home that you can turn into a desirable workplace.

ShareDesk

Similar to others in this space, ShareDesk is a platform to rent out various types of workspaces. Listing your space on the site is free and ShareDesk takes a 20% commission for each successful booking.

LiquidSpace

Similar the above, LiquidSpace caters to general workspaces and meeting spaces. Here, you can rent out spaces by the hour or day. This can be a quiet meeting room, an executive office, a lounge, or any space that can be used by professionals. LiquidSpace also offers small and large meeting rooms, training rooms, open desks, private offices, team space, and more. If you are considering these options, then make sure you make these spaces desirable (more on this later).

Breather: This unique site allows users to book spaces in New York City, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, and San Francisco. This site caters not only to meeting places, but also to spaces meant to relax renters who need a few minutes to a few hours of a 'breather.'

SpareChair

SpareChair, another workspace platform, allows you to rent as little as a seat at your dining room table. Or you can turn your basement into a studio to rent out to musicians or artists. Or you can turn your garage into a boardroom for corporate meetings of small companies or startups. Leave the pool table in there; it helps keep people awake during boring meetings.

PeerSpace

PeerSpace is a similar platform for sharing office space. It differs in that it extends not only to off-site offices or meeting rooms but also to production areas for entertainers, dancers, photographers, musicians, or fitness groups. If you have a big empty space suitable for a production or event, then PeerSpace is a good site to make some cash.

No Office Space to Rent? No Problem! Got Storage Space?

Finally, you can rent out storage space in an unused basement, attic, or garage.

Roost

Roost.com helps hosts monetize unused storage space. Here, you can list one space or multiple spaces. You can have different listings for different spaces in your house. Renters will then communicate and coordinate with you to rent out that space and you get paid for it. Why waste an unused garage, closet, backyard, basement, or attic?

As you can see, there are dozens of ways to profit from unused or underutilized assets in your home. You can leverage all of these to make side income. I know it can be overwhelming. Please, take the next few hours (or plan to take a few hours in the near future) to execute the action items mentioned below. Add these to your task list this week if you cannot get to them now.

4. Your Action Items

Are any of these platforms useful to you? Surely there is at least one. Begin by setting daily tasks to research and decide which platforms are best for you.

Over the next week, familiarize yourself with these platforms by reviewing the official websites, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then begin to take action. Next week, list daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money using the service.

More specifically, we suggest the following course of action:

1st Action Item: Pick 3 or 4 of these platforms suitable for your current situation. Go online and research each one individually. Spend 1 hour doing this. Since some platforms may not be available in your area, this should be your first action step in your research.

2nd Action Item: After researching, register with 1 or 2 platforms. Spend the next 1 hour developing your profile and uploading pictures. This should be a relatively straightforward process if you have already registered with Airbnb. If you are choosing the office space option, then your first action step before listing is to research how to turn a space into a desirable workplace. There are many websites dedicated to this topic. Please read them to maximize your profit potential and become a real estate rental maven.

#  Chapter 5: Do You Uber?

"[Ride sharing] is a big culture shift. And for those who figure out how to shift gears and get in the fast lane, it can be big business." - PWC April 2015 Report

1. What is Uber?

Almost everyone has heard of the ride-sharing platform Uber, one of the pioneers of the sharing economy. You may have even used it in the past week. Through the app, Uber drivers are paired with Uber riders who want to pay a predetermined price to get a ride to a specific destination. Simple as that.

In December 2014, Uber was valued at approximately $40 billion. In 2015, Uber was adding 50,000 new drivers every month. Now, Uber has over 1 million drivers. In 2014, Uber made $2 billion in revenue, and in 2015 the company is on track to make $10 billion.

Headquartered in the U.S., Uber can be used worldwide in over 266 cities across 55 countries. It's in more cities than a Rolling Stones Tour. Although the origin story of Uber is fascinating, it is not the purpose of this chapter. You will learn here the basics of the Uber platform and how to profit from it.

An ongoing debate about ride sharing is its adversarial relationship with the taxi industry. This is understandable; the sharing economy poses significant challenges to traditional taxis as well as other industries such as hotels. All you need to know is that there is a reason more and more people are using platforms like Uber. Simply put, they are cheaper and easier to use than traditional services.

Action Item: Download the Uber app onto your smartphone as a rider. Look for drivers in your area and the cost of standard route fares. The Uber app will show you a real-time map of your area with all of the available Uber drivers. Even if there are no Uber drivers in your area (are you in a cave?), this may be a good opportunity to get in on the front end.

2. Uber: An Unofficial Primer

"[The] taxi industry needs to take a hard look in the mirror as to why so many would-be passengers are opting for Uber. Nicer cars, more prompt service and ease of payment are just a few reasons" - Montreal Gazette, April 28, 2015

The current media buzz surrounding Uber contains many debates, distractions, as well as praise. As Uber continues to become a replacement for taxis, it has created controversy in almost every city it operates in. Similar to Airbnb, there are regulatory concerns with operating an unlicensed public service. Although important, these issues are not for today.

Uber's genesis began in 2008, when founder Travis Kalanick was having trouble finding a taxi. Uber evolved out of the need for more flexible transportation options, allowing vehicle owners to monetize their driving. By 2014, the company had raised $1.5 billion in funding from a number of sources including Goldman Sachs and Google.

Uber has seen astronomical growth over the last couple years. By the end of 2014, Uber had over 160,000 drivers.

Uber is also expanding services. For instance, in August of 2014, Uber introduced UberPool. This new service allows riders to split their fares with others in the vicinity heading in the same direction.

Most importantly for you, Uber provides drivers with flexibility. You can drive who you want, when you want, and wherever you want. If you only want to take one fare a day, then that is fine. If you want to take many more fares a day, then that is a bonus! The more you drive, the more you thrive.

So how does Uber work? Uber drivers use their own cars and smartphones to find people who want to hire them to drive them places. This is all done through Uber's smartphone app, which connects drivers and riders, creating a seamless experience.

Money is then exchanged online through the Uber app so no hard money ever changes hands. Prices are predetermined by Uber's algorithm, preventing haggling between the driver and rider. Uber then deposits the money directly into the driver's bank account on a weekly basis. For their efforts, Uber takes a commission of 20% of every fare.

Uber's rating system creates accountability by allowing riders to rate the drivers and drivers to rate the riders. Another benefit is that aggressive or disruptive passengers are weeded out because of the low ratings they receive.

Many entrepreneurs turn their Uber car into a type of storefront as well. For instance, jewelry makers who are Uber drivers on the side will have their jewelry on display in the car. Similar ideas come from artists, photographers, or any other profession where you can display a product. This is also a great conversation starter. Just don't hang your artwork from the rearview mirror.

Some interesting facts about Uber:

• According to a recent study, the average annual net income for Uber drivers in New York is $63,000, and it's $48,000 in San Francisco.

• According to a March 2015 Forbes article, Uber vehicles have now overtaken yellow taxis in New York City.

• Findings of a recent survey of Uber drivers found that the majority work for Uber because it allows them more autonomy.

• The primary reason 9 out of 10 Uber drivers cite for becoming a driver is that it allows them to be their own boss and set their own schedule.

• 3 out of 4 drivers stated that being an Uber driver provides them with steady income.

• More Uber drivers are over 50 than under 30.

• 25% of Uber drivers are over 50 and about 30% are between the ages of 30 and 39.

• 7% of Uber drivers are currently university students. Almost half of Uber drivers have children and half are also married.

• 86% of Uber drivers are male, with 14% being female.

Uber has also recently taken a larger slice of the business travel pie. A new study found that Uber's share of the business travel transportation market has tripled from 15% in 2014 to over 45% in 2015.

The flexibility of being an Uber driver is one of the most important perks. You can choose your own hours, your own routes, and you get to meet new people every day. If you work full-time, you can decide to take fares only in the evenings or weekends. As a driver, all you need to do is turn on your app and tell Uber that you are available.

3. How to Make Money on Uber – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

A recent study found that Uber drivers make on average $19 an hour. So, what if you were to drive 2 hours a day, 5 days a week? That is a possible income stream of $190 a week, or $760 a month. Not bad, and you would still have your weekends.

Or, what if you drove 1 hour a day on weekdays, and 4 hours a day on weekends? That is a possible income stream of $247 a week, or $988 a month. Maybe you want to ease in to the job. So start with just 5 hours a week when it's convenient for you. That small commitment translates to $95 extra in your pocket per week, or $380 a month.

Take Canadian Uber drivers in Toronto for instance. In the month of March, 2015, they earned over $6 million in Uber fares. Let that sink in for a moment... Okay, you can proceed.

If you end up having a free day or few hours, then you can turn on your Uber app and be available immediately for fares. If you have an hour-long lunch break at work, you can activate your Uber availability. Who knows? You may find a fare for that hour.

Clearly, Uber can be an excellent supplement to your current employment.

To become an Uber driver, you need a smartphone and a four-door car that is a 2006 model or newer. You also need to get that vehicle safety checked at your local car shop and provide a criminal background check. These requirements are for obvious reasons.

These steps are low cost, which means you have little startup cost to becoming an Uber driver.

In terms of insurance, Uber only requires that you have your personal auto insurance. Uber provides additional insurance coverage. That being said, all Uber drivers are recommended to talk with their insurance company first to make sure their coverage is adequate. We recommend all readers do this as well. If you need more coverage, purchasing addition insurance is worthwhile.

As an Uber driver, you must also maintain a good rating. Uber implemented a scoring system that allows users to rate their experience. If you do not have a good experience rating, then Uber can kick you off. Users rate their ride between 1 and 5, and Uber likes drivers to keep an average of 4.6 or more.

See the following chart that was leaked to the press in 2015:

So why do drivers normally get a bad rating? See a second Uber chart:

Drivers must be at least 21 years of age and have no major accidents in the past few years. In terms of the criminal records check, Uber wants to make sure that you have no DUIs or criminal driving charges. And driving a getaway car does count!

To sign up as a driver, the process is straightforward. Register on the Uber site and follow the steps. Submit the required paperwork and then you are good to go! Often, Uber even offers a signup bonus after you complete a certain number of rides.

Action Item: If Uber is right for you, even if you could only do a couple hours a month, then sign up. Write down all the required paperwork on your weekly task list and commit to uploading it to Uber within a week.

4. Outside Resources

Similar to other sharing economy platforms, a number a middlemen have emerged in the ride-sharing economy. One is a company called Breeze, which leases vehicles to drivers to use specifically for Uber or other ride-sharing platforms – not having a vehicle is no longer an excuse. Breeze charges you a $250 membership fee as well as a $200 weekly fee, so if you drive full-time or on a regular basis, you should be able to cover the cost.

Another company, called ZettaDriver, will send you instant alerts as to when your local airport is busiest. This service is free of charge.

A website called 'What's The Fare' will give you fare estimates. This is a great tool when starting out to discover what you can expect for income.

Finally, SherpaShare is a dashboard app for ride-sharers that gives you analytics of your earnings, expenses, and tax information.

Other resources out there can give you more information on ride sharing. The 'Ride Share Guy' has a blog with useful information for beginners. At this time, the field is so young that there are no books or podcasts we can suggest to help you. That said, this is a pretty straightforward gig. All you need to do is take action now and start making some side income.

5. Your Action Items

Over the next week, familiarize yourself with this service by reviewing the official website, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself: can this work for me? If the answer is anything more than maybe, then begin to take action. Next week, list daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money using the service. These tasks may include:

• Downloading the Uber app to see if drivers operate in your area.

• Reviewing the website and news media to familiarize yourself with Uber.

• Register as a driver.

• Obtain a safety inspection of your vehicle and criminal records check.

• If you do not have a car or your car doesn't fit the criteria, then write down the costs of getting a newer vehicle and compare them to your possible time commitment to Uber driving. Do the numbers make sense?

Concluding Thoughts: An important point is that Uber considers drivers independent contractors. Therefore, you are free to use other ride-sharing platforms (see next chapter). Similar to Airbnb users who can platform stack with HomeAway or VRBO, Uber drivers can also use other platforms such as Lyft.

Before you begin, we suggest you contact your insurance company. Despite Uber providing its own form of insurance supplement to drivers, it is suggested that you check with your insurance company on its policies associated with Uber driving before becoming an Uber driver.

Happy motoring!

#  Chapter 6: Other Ride-Sharing Platforms

1. What are Other Ride-Sharing Platforms?

Outside of Uber, a number of ride-sharing services are available to those with vehicles. The major competitor to Uber is Lyft, which will be discussed in this chapter. Ride sharing should not be confused with car sharing. In terms of car sharing, platforms are available to those who own cars, enabling them to rent out their vehicles to other drivers. This topic will be explored in detail in Part 2 of the Secrets of the Sharing Economy series.

2. An Unofficial Primer of Lyft and Others

Lyft

Lyft operates in approximately 70 major US cities and plans to expand to more US cities and internationally. Check the Lyft website to see if it is available in your city.

A recent valuation of the company pegged Lyft at a value of $2.5 billion. As a note to Lyft's growing popularity, Verizon is now pre-installing the Lyft app on its phones. Verizon subscribers will also allegedly get a discount if they are Lyft drivers.

The screening process for Lyft is quite extensive. They do motor vehicle checks, sex offender checks, and background criminal checks. Drivers also are required to do an interview with a current Lyft driver face-to-face. Similar to Uber, Lyft offers an insurance policy at no cost to their drivers.

On average, Lyft estimates that its drivers make $20 an hour. With this in mind, if you work 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, you could earn $200 a week or $800 a month. If you worked a full weekend with Lyft for a month, then you would make over $1200.

In some cases, Lyft has offered a bonus of up to $1000 for new drivers. Lyft also has an interesting commission option where the longer the drivers work for Lyft, the less the drivers pay in commissions to Lyft. Lyft currently has over 400 employees and oversees over 2 million rides every month.

Lyft also has a website calculator to estimate on average how much you would earn in a particular city as a driver. In addition, Lyft allows drivers to get tips and offers bonuses to drivers in certain cities.

Lyft also has a platform called Lyft Line where you can share a ride with others who are going in the same direction for a lower price. When you carpool with Lyft Line, you are not only rating drivers but the passengers as well. Like Uber, Lyft has a rating system that enforces accountability between passengers and drivers.

The Lyft brand is more community-oriented than other ride-sharing services. For example, passengers have the option to sit in the front seat. In this way, expect to be more interactive with your passengers, a relationship offering that has made drivers highly satisfied with the service. A recent independent survey of Lyft drivers noted that 100% of the drivers were satisfied with Lyft service.

SideCar

SideCar is another ride-sharing platform, but it is only based in a few major US cities. Check their website to see if they are available in your area.

The major difference is that SideCar lets riders pick their own price for the ride, which the driver can then accept or decline. Drivers can also choose their price. Sidecar also allows drivers to deliver goods as well as drive passengers around. This is a great platform-stacking feature built directly into the SideCar application.

BlaBlaCar

BlaBlaCar is more for long distance ride sharing. The service currently has 2 million members in 18 markets, mostly in Europe, but it has recently expanded to India.

Shuddle

Shuddle is another ride sharing service aimed exclusively at driving children and seniors around. According to Shuddle, drivers are also reliable caregivers screened by Shuddle. Shuddle drivers include experienced nannies, teachers, babysitters, and parents. The vast majority of Shuddle's 200 current drivers are women. As of right now, Shuddle is only available in San Francisco, but it will be expanding to other major US cities.

3. Your Action Items

There is no action plan needed for these platforms as you already have gone through these with Uber. If Uber worked for you, then apply the same principles to the above-noted platforms.

#  Chapter 7: Artistic Pursuits

1. What Role Can Artists Play in the Sharing Economy?

A big one. And they make lots of money doing it. So why not you too? More platforms are available to creative types online than in any other niche.

I know most artists aren't used to this sharing economy stuff, but starving artists are so cliché. Lucky for you, a range of peer-to-peer e-commerce sites allows you to list your work, whether you are a painter, photographer, sculptor, clothes designer, or jewelry-maker. You can sell just about anything on these platforms.

2. How to Make Money as an Artist – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

According to a recent survey, over 70% of art collectors have made art purchases online. What does this mean for you as an artist? It means we are reaching a point where the traditional art experience of physical art shows, galleries, and auctions is moving more and more to the online space. If he were still alive, then Pablo Picasso would probably be selling online. So don't miss out!

Etsy

The most popular of these e-commerce platforms, Etsy allows you to sell handmade wares such as art, photography, clothing, jewelry, food, bath products, quilts, toys, and much more. Etsy currently offers over 32 million items for sale by 1.4 million sellers.

In 2014, Etsy reported revenue of almost $2 billion from its 55 million users. With very little effort, artists can set up their own store and tap into this significant source of potential income.

In 2015, Etsy introduced a funding function to their platform. Similar to other crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter, Etsy will now allow its sellers to solicit money from Etsy users to fund product concepts. If you have an idea but do not have the funds to get it off the ground, then you can now raise seed capital for product development.

99 Designs and DesignCrowd

If you are a graphic designer, you can leverage a number of online platforms for income. Two of the most popular are 99designs and DesignCrowd. On both of these platforms, you can register as a designer to browse available jobs.

People who require a designer – for logos, business cards, flyers, and so on – will post jobs on these websites. You and other designers can submit designs for the same request in a bidding process. If your design is chosen by the customer, then you win the contest and the prize money.

Cargoh

Similar to Etsy is a platform called Cargoh. Here, you can post unique products on the Cargoh website, and the site will connect you with buyers around the world. Cargoh and other platforms below are excellent options for platform stacking alongside Etsy.

Craft Foxes

On Craft Foxes, you can sell crafts such as knitting, crocheting, sewing, and other needlework. If you have a unique skill within this niche, then you can register to sell your products. They also specialize in scrapbooking, quilting, cakes and food, and jewelry.

Deviant Art

If you are specifically into artwork, then Deviant Art might be a good platform to make money. DeviantArt is an online art gallery community with over 2 million members. But don't worry, it's not devious. The works you can post on DeviantArt include photography, digital art, traditional art, literature, film-making, and much more.

Zazzle

Zazzle is a retail platform that allows people to sell unique merchandise. Users can set up an e-store on Zazzle and even set their own profit margins.

If you are an artist, graphic designer, or photographer, then Zazzle might be a good option to upload your creative work. Zazzle gives artists access to over 30 million shoppers worldwide, and they will manufacture and ship your products for you so you retain no inventory.

Art Fire

No, this is not for arsonists! For those who make crafts or homemade products, check out ArtFire. This site is another online platform where you can set up an e-store and sell art to buyers.

TeeSpring and SpreadShirt

Interested in selling clothing? Use websites like Teespring and Spreadshirt to upload apparel design for sale. These sites will then sell your products to their users. These are very easy platforms to use; all you need is a good design and an account.

CrowdSpring

Similar to DesignCrowd and 99designs, CrowdSpring enables graphic artists to make money. At CrowdSpring, you can design logos and products for large and small businesses.

Rent Out Art

If you are talented enough to create fine art like paintings, photography, or digital art, then you can either sell it or rent it out. Yes, many people are willing to pay good money to rent art. Some of these services include Rise Art, Custom Made, and The Grommet.

Custom Made

You can also elect to make custom art on custommade.com. Once you register, this website will connect you to buyers who have an idea of something they want created. This could include jewelry, custom designed furniture, home décor, art, or other personalized items.

PrestaShop

PrestaShop is another option for handmade goods. This service is free, open source, and allows you to open an e-commerce platform. On PrestaShop, you can sell just about anything. They have 700,000 members and 250,000 stores all over the world using the PrestaShop platform.

As you can see, many options exist for artists in the online space. Etsy is by far your best option. 74% of the sellers on Etsy consider their online shop to be a small business. Basically, Etsy is a cross between Amazon and eBay but for arts, crafts, and handmade goods.

3. Your Action Items

If you are creatively inclined, then commit to taking action on some over these platforms in the short-term. Over the next week, familiarize yourself with a couple of these services by reviewing the official websites, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then take action. Next week, list daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money using the service.

#  Chapter 8: Give a High Fiverr

1. What is Fiverr?

No, it's not half of a Tenrr. Fiverr is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell $5 'gigs.' These $5 'gigs' range from graphic design to online marketing to writing, translation, video animation, music programming, audio recordings, technology advice, advertising, business and a lot more. Fiverr is at the forefront of what the media has termed the "gig economy."

2. How to Make Money on Fiverr – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

Fiverr has been described as the next eBay but for digital services. Fiverr currently has over 3 million services (or 'gigs') listed on their site. Although it was founded in 2009, since 2011, Fiverr's transaction volume has grown by over 600%. Fiverr is also expanding dramatically and recently received $50 million in funding to expand its business.

Fiverr gigs are essentially micro jobs. For the seller, a rating system keeps you accountable. The reputation-based promotion system means that if you do not deliver on your promises, then you will soon find yourself 'gigless.' That said, once your reputation grows positively, you'll begin to gain access to more Fiverr tools.

For example, after you complete 10 transactions, advanced tools are unlocked that offer add-on services. After 10 transactions, Fiverr also allows you to increase the value of your gigs.

If you have any kind of talent or hobby, then you should create an online store on Fiverr. Fiverr users can then browse the 'gigs' you offer and choose to pay $5 or more for your services.

For instance, if you have a unique voice, then you can do voiceover for animation, commercials, or radio. If you have a video camera, then you can do customer testimonials for small businesses. If you like writing, then you can write 100 words for $5 or more on any topic.

In a recent media article, Las Vegas resident Redd described her experience on Fiverr. After registering on Fiverr as a voiceover specialist, she had to quit her full-time $52,000/year job to keep up with demand. Redd now works 30-40 hours a week, but never more than five hours day, pulling in a six-figure income.

If you are a researcher, then you can do research on any topic for $5. If you know another language, you can do translation services. You can give legal or financial advice for $5. You can give career advice, relationship advice, or even business advice. The possibilities are endless on Fiverr.

You can also make a gig worth more money. The basic price is $5, but you can also list extra gigs for more up to $1,000 if you feel like your gigs are worth more money.

Action Item: Visit Fiverr.com and browse through the different 'gigs.' Come up with and write down some ideas of what may be suitable for you.

3. Outside Resources

Some Fiverr resources that may be of use to you include:

• How to Optimize The New Fiverr Profile For Better Sales (http://blog.fiverr.com/optimize-new-fiverr-profile-better-sales-trust/)

• 8 Powerful Tips To Get Quick Sales On Fiverr (http://www.basictechtricks.com/2013/08/top-tips-to-get-fast-sales-on-fiverr.html)

• The Top 4 Tips to Sell More Gigs on Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com/news/sell-more-gigs-fiverr-yahoo)

4. Your Action Items

Spend an hour familiarizing yourself with Fiverr by reviewing the official website and the gig categories. As you review, ask yourself "Can this work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then begin to take action. Spend this week listing daily tasks that involve registering for Fiverr and make a serious attempt to make money. These tasks may include:

• Choosing a gig niche such as graphic design, music, advice, writing, or researching.

• Review other similar Fiverr offerings like yours.

• Come up with a catchy description of your services for your profile (see above resources).

• Create a professional looking photo, either of yourself or something related to your service.

• Make your gig live and start selling!

#  Chapter 9: Music to Your Ears

1. What Opportunities Exist for Musicians?

As a musician, you may be looking for something to do on the side to make money. Well, something besides dropping sick beats and mad riffs. Good news! There are a couple options to consider.

In this chapter we will explore opportunities for musicians to sell their talents, rent their gear, and review other artists, all for money.

2. How Musicians Can Make Money in the Sharing Economy – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

Fiverr

The first option to consider is using the previous chapter's platform as a base to sell your musical talents. Here, you can make $5 or more on Fiverr selling recorded music. You can write jingles for commercials, songs, and rhymes, or play instrumentals.

Create a profile outlining the kinds of services you would be comfortable offering and a sample of your work, and then see what kind of response you get. Outside of selling your musical talents on Fiverr, you can also rent out your gear.

SparkPlug

A musician needs a significant amount of equipment to record and edit material. If you happen to have this type of equipment but it's collecting dust, then you could be losing out on income. Since you do not use instruments and recording equipment 24/7, why not put them to work to make some money?

Got a guitar with abandonment issues? SparkPlug is the most popular sharing economy service for renting out unused musical gear. Well, actually it's the only one. SparkPlug connects musicians from all over the world to rent out instruments, equipment, and recording space.

You can create a free listing on SparkPlug and then begin to approve who rents your gear and how much they pay. The type of gear featured on SparkPlug is diverse, but it can include drum kits, amps, guitars, microphones, mixers, filters, pedals, keyboards, cymbals, and many, many more.

SparkPlug charges the renter a 9% fee and then a 3% fee to owners who successfully rent out their gear. As an owner, you can request a security deposit if the equipment is expensive.

SliceThePie

Do you know your treble clef from your bass? Then another option is a service called SliceThePie. This site allows users to review songs before they have been released, either recorded by signed or unsigned artists. You will then make money for those reviews.

All you need to do is register on SlicethePie.com, and then you can begin reviewing songs. You will listen to the selected track, rate it, and then write a short review. SliceThePie has had over one million reviews submitted and has paid out over one million dollars to reviewers.

3. Outside Resources

Here are some outside resources that may help you along your journey:

• Capturing the Best Photos of Your Gear (http://blog.sparkplug.it/blog/2014/9/15/capturing-the-best-photos-of-your-gear)

• Musicians Earning Revenue Via Fiverr's Newly Upgraded Gig Platform (http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2013/07/musicians-earning-revenue-via-fiverrs-newly-upgraded-gig-platform.html)

• Sparkplug is a Site That Helps Musicians Rent Out Gear to Each Other (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/07/sparkplug-helps-musicians-rent-out-gear-to-each-ot-1.html)

• How to Write Meaningful Paid Song Reviews on Slicethepie.com (http://chasmac.hubpages.com/hub/slicethepie-reviews)

4. Your Action Items

If any of these options apply to you, then begin to familiarize yourself with Fiverr, SparkPlug.it, and/or SliceThePie.com. You can review their official websites, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then begin to take action.

Begin to list daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money. These tasks may include:

• Deciding which services, if any, you can list on Fiverr.com.

• Take a look at the Fiverr.com music section to review other services offered by users.

• Decide which musical equipment you have that you could rent out on SparkPlug.

• Take photos of your gear, write a description, and then upload them to SparkPlug.

Register for Slicethepie.com and review 1 song.

#  Chapter 10: Fashion Statements

1. Is the Sharing Economy Fashionable?

Yes, and there are a number of platforms you can use to get rid of unused clothing. The whole idea of the sharing economy is quickly moving beyond just housing and cars to industries such as fashion.

If you are someone who shops 'til you drop and has a lot of spare clothes in your closet, then the next opportunity is likely for you. According to a recent survey, women only wore 20% of the clothes in their wardrobes over the past year.

Let's begin to explore the fashionable sharing economy.

2. How to Make Money on Fashion Platforms – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

Poshmark

To begin with, Poshmark is a mobile and online marketplace for women's fashion. The Poshmark platform allows users to sell their clothing and accessories by developing their own online store.

Poshmark sells high fashion brands such as Coach and J. Crew, among many others. According to their 2013 annual report, Poshmark users sold over 1.5 million items. The best part is, when you make a sale on Poshmark, they will provide you with a prepaid and pre-addressed label that is ready to put on the shipment.

Poshmark is currently only available in the US, but it will soon be expanding to other international markets. Poshmark also offers a unique service called Posh Parties, virtual shopping parties that are hosted through a mobile app.

To begin selling your clothing on Poshmark, all you need to do is register, take photos of the items, and write a unique description.

Like Twice (www.Liketwice.com)

Very similar to Poshmark, Like Twice is an online retailer for used clothing. Like Twice features clothing from a wider variety of clothing brands. Their website has a unique calculator that estimates profits based on the amount you plan to sell. For instance, if you plan on selling 20 items, Like Twice estimates that you will earn $96 to $240 depending on the brand and quality.

ThredUP

ThredUP is another online retailer for resale fashion items similar to Poshmark. Unlike Poshmark, ThredUP also sells children's clothing.

ThredUP recently received tens of millions of dollars from venture capitalists and is currently being advised by the Netflix and eBay CEOs – great companies to keep company with!

Tradesy

Similar to Poshmark and ThredUP, Tradesy runs a website and mobile application that allows people to sell luxury or non-luxury used clothing. Tradesy also provides sellers with the labels to ship the products. With Tradesy, you pay a 9% commission, leaving you with 91% of the sale.

On Tradesy, top-selling items include bags, accessories, shoes, and clothing, in that order. Tradesy was recently valued at over $100 million. One of the Tradesy investors is none other than Sir Richard Branson.

Rentez-Vous

Another interesting platform is Rentez-Vous, which is a relatively new sharing economy platform. Here, the hook is that not only can you sell clothes but also rent them out.

The selling process works similar to the other sharing economy clothing platforms. For the renting of clothing, however, you can either mail the product to the renter, or if they are in your community, you can meet them to exchange the product.

Rentez-Vous sees itself more as a fashion community marketplace. On Rentez-Vous you can rent out clothes, bags, and other accessories, but some items are not currently allowed such as shoes and swimwear.

The majority of these platforms have robust customer service, so you can request support when needed.

For better compounding of your casual capitalism, you may want to sign up for both and stack your platforms.

3. Outside Resources

Here are some resources that may help you on your journey to sell unused clothing:

• Selling Your Clothes? The Do's and Don'ts of Fashion Resale (http://www.tradesy.com/blog/how-to-sell-used-clothes-online-fashion-resale/)

• Willing to Sell Some Clothes and Shoes? You Could Make $1,000 a Year (http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/tradesy-sell-clothes-online/)

• Clothing Photography: How to Take Pictures of Clothing (http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/clothing_photography.htm)

• How to Take Better Photos When Selling Things Online (http://lifehacker.com/how-to-take-better-photos-when-selling-things-online-1079579143)

• Tips to Help You Sell Clothes Online (http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/1042279/sell-your-clothes-online)

• How to Write Garment and Product Descriptions (http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-to-write-garment-product-descriptions/)

4. Your Action Items

To decide if this opportunity is for you, complete this one task immediately. Spend 10 minutes going through your closet and drawers to decide if you have spare clothing and if you feel like you can part with it.

If you answered yes to the above question, then start taking action! Over the next week, familiarize yourself with the above services by reviewing the official websites, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this actually work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then take action. Next week, list the daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money using the service. These tasks will include:

• Spending a day sorting through all of your clothing to decide what to sell.

• Be ruthless in your choices! If you haven't worn it in a few months, then add it to the 'to sell' pile.

• Take pictures of all your clothing individually, picking a pleasant backdrop (see above resources).

• Pair each picture with a short description of each item (see above resources).

• Upload your photos and descriptions to the platforms discussed above.

• Research comparable items and come up with prices for your items.

• Start selling!

#  Chapter 11: Pet Projects: The Sharing Economy for Animal Lovers

1. What are Rover and DogVacay?

If you are an owner or lover of cats or dogs, then there are a number of sharing economy platforms useful to you. The biggest ones include Rover and DogVacay. Following a standard hiring process, you can host other people's dogs or cats for a fee while they are out of town.

DogVacay has over 20,000 pet sitters in 3,000 cities in the U.S. and Canada. This makes it smaller than Rover.com, which has over 25,000 sitters in over 9,000 cities across the U.S.

Instead of boarding their animals, people are turning more and more to loving homes to leave their pets. Both sites are also branching out to allow hosts to walk dogs and act as a doggy daycare. All of these services, of course, can make you some money.

If you love animals and/or already have some yourself, then why not capitalize on this opportunity? You'll be barking up the right tree.

Action Item: If this opportunity is right for you, then visit both Rover.com and DogVacay.com to review their offerings.

2. How to Make Money on DogVacay and Rover – Your Casual Capitalist Action Plan

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Americans own 83 million dogs and 95 million cats. In 2014 alone, pet owners spent 3 billion dollars on boarding.

This is a significant market that you can tap into through the sharing economy. People view their animals as family, so they want to give them the best possible service, and they are willing to pay for it.

Both Rover.com and DogVacay hosts charge an average of $30 a day. So even hosting one pet a day can become lucrative. If you host more, then you can make some serious side cash.

DogVacay

To become a host, you sign up on DogVacay.com and share information about yourself and your experience with animals. The company will run checks on host families, which include interviews, reference checks, training, and verification of identify.

Similar to other sharing economy platforms, DogVacay employs a rating system for hosts to help ensure accountability. DogVacay provides insurance coverage and 24/7 customer support. Hosts will set their own fees on the website but, to be competitive, check current prices in your area.

Don't only think about hosting – also think about registering as a dog walker or a doggy daycare. One of the many reasons people love this service is that, through the platform, owners can get daily photo updates of their pets.

DogVacay limits the number of dogs you can host to three a day. Even if you had a full-time job and only hosted on weekends, based on the average earnings, you could be making over $700 a month. Some have turned this into a full-time job, making $70,000 to $90,000 a year! Woof!

Rover

A very similar service to DogVacay is Rover.com, which connects pet sitters with those who want to board their animals. In 2014, Rover.com announced an increase of over 500% in year over year revenue. Similar to DogVacay, you can also do daycare for dogs and dog walking.

95% of reviewed stays have received a perfect five star rating on Rover.com – the customer base is extremely satisfied. Rover.com also has premium insurance for all services booked through their website. Rover.com provides 24/7 vet consultations for hosts. As with DogVacay, Rover.com offers photo and video stay highlights for owners.

The hiring process for these services is competitive, so make sure you put time and effort into your applications. In 2014, DogVacay received 100,000 applications for pet sitters and only accepted 20,000.

If both of these services work for you, then there are others you may want to check out to better stack your platforms. These include PetSitter.com and Dog B&B. Although they are not as popular yet, they are worth checking out.

3. Outside Resources

Some of the following articles may help you make money pet sitting through the sharing economy:

• How to Become a Pet Sitter/Dog Walker (http://www.petmd.com/dog/training/evr_dg_pet_sitter_dog_walker)

• 22 Reasons Why Being a Pet Sitter is Awesome (http://dogvacay.com/blog/22-reasons-why-being-a-pet-sitter-is-awesome/)

• 7 Tips for Hosting a Successful DogVacay (http://dogvacay.com/blog/7-tips-for-hosting-a-great-vacay/)

• Rover.com Sitter Resources (https://www.rover.com/blog/category/sitter-resources/)

• DogVacay Host Resources (http://dogvacay.com/blog/host-resources/)

4. Your Action Items

If you feel like this opportunity is for you, then start getting to work! Over the next week, familiarize yourself with these services by reviewing the official websites, search engine results, and news articles. As you review, ask yourself, "Can this work for me?" If the answer is anything more than maybe, then begin to take action. Next week, list daily tasks that involve registering for the service and make a serious attempt to make money using the service. These tasks may include:

• Registering for both DogVacay and Rover.com.

• Buying a few extra pet-friendly supplies to make your hosting services more appealing.

• Reviewing other host descriptions to see what works for them.

• Setting a lower price point, initially, for your services.

• Deciding how many hours per week you can dedicate to this endeavor.

Your potential profit is based on your hours available at an average of $30 a day per pet. Sounds like the cat's meow.

#  Chapter 12: Conclusion, for now

The end? Now what? Two things. First, get out there and start making some money. Even if it's only through a couple platforms, use this as your hammer to finally nail down your consumer debt.

Good news! There will be a Secrets of the Sharing Economy Part 2, and then a Part 3. You'll then have 3 different hammers in your income generating tool belt. M.C. Hammer will be jealous.

We have shown you how to make money using your home, your car, your land, your artistic skills, your hobbies, your clothes, and your love of animals. These are assets and skills that you already possess. By leveraging them to make money, you are affording yourself more flexibility in your life to do the things that are important to you. Most people will not be able to quit their jobs as a result of the income generated in the sharing economy, but some have. At the very least, you can easily supplement your income.

In future volumes of Secrets of the Sharing Economy, we will explore other platforms not discussed in this book. These include errand and tasking, car-sharing, delivery services, bicycling, yard equipment, boating, and some wackier ones such as energy and meal sharing. So stay tuned. The projected release for Part 2 is December 2015 and April 2016 for Part 3.

To stay informed of these releases and more, please sign up to our mailing list at www.thecasualcapitalist.com. In the meantime, start taking action on the recommendations of this book.

Further on down the line, the Casual Capitalist Series will release reports on other methods of generating streams of income outside of the sharing economy. These will be innovative ways that you as a Casual Capitalist can use to add side income and increase your wealth.

But for now, let's get our hands dirty in the sharing economy, to either eliminate consumer debt or increase savings for future business endeavors.

Action Item: Before diving in, we suggest you complete two actions. One, contact your insurance provider if you are planning on using Uber; you want to cover all your bases in case something happens. Second, be sure to fully research the tax implications of your new small business ventures. There are many resources online for this, but a good start is the Get Rich Slowly report on the subject (http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2015/03/25/the-sharing-economy-and-taxes/).

There is also an accounting service called Zen99, which caters to those operating in the sharing economy space. Check out their website to see if their services may be useful down the road. Bookmark the site for later attention. They also provide some free resources as well to help inform you of your tax obligations.

As I mentioned in the initial chapters, I would like you to now send me a personal email. Copy and paste the five expectations of this book I asked you to write in Chapter 1.

Send them to Glenn@TheCasualCapitalist.com. Please, I want to hear from you and will personally read and respond to all of you. You can also tell me if your expectations were met, and if not, why. Tell me what worked and what didn't. Tell me which services you will be trying in the sharing economy space over the next few months. Let's work together on this. I may have to sleep on your couch someday!

Finally, if you found this book useful, then please leave a review so we can help expand our reach to others who are in need of side income. Our goal here is create as many Casual Capitalists as possible, because as the community grows, we all grow.

Good luck. I wish you only the best.
