Affiliate Marketing 2026: How I Spent $260 And Made Over $14,000!
You've mostly heard this term thrown all over the internet Affiliate Marketing! How do you get the ball rolling and make good money with Affiliate marketing in this noisy world of ours where everyone is trying to do it? In this article, I'm going to actually go into, how I spent $260 and made over $14,000 with affiliate slash referral marketing? And I'm going to give you three steps on how you can do the same. If you're not in a reading mood, you can always watch the video below!
So let's get into it. Affiliate marketing. This is a term that has been thrown around the internet for a while, saying you can get this, you can get that. It can be passive income. You can make so much money with affiliate marketing and you don't have to worry about shipping the product out, someone else is going to take care of that.
That's very much true. But how do you actually make affiliate marketing work and how much money can you make with that? In this video, I'm going to share with you a tactic that I used to spend $260, and I got a return of over $14,000 using affiliate marketing just from this one tactic. So stay tuned if you want to know more about how I did it. And I'll also sum it up in three steps that you can take to make a lot of money with affiliate marketing.
So one thing I said in my book, The Anatomy of Financial Success, I mentioned that affiliate marketing is a sleeping goldmine. There are not a lot of people are really tapped into. And this video is actually going to go into details of how I've leveraged it over the years. With that being said, it's time to share with you how I was able to make over $14,000 with affiliate marketing and only spending $260.
The Proof
Of course, before I get into how I did it, you all want to know did I actually did it. So let me show you the proof. In this video, at watch time 2:58 I show my Amazon dashboard and I added all of the payments up. So that number is $437.18.
Now moving on to my second channel, the app lifestyle, you got to take a look at the analytics to see how much this channel has made.
The screenshot above is a more recent shot of the channel earnings which is why the number is higher. At the time of the study, the channel had made $1,482.39 so we will use that number. While this is technically not affiliate marketing , i count it because it still largely stemmed from the 3 steps that we'll get into later.
Next we're going to show how much I made from Uber Eats referrals and a little bit of Uber of course too. Just going to go to earnings, and we're going to go to referrals, scroll down, and we're going to go to the amount that is already been earned. So that's $12,845.
So now that you've seen the proof let's get into the steps and tactic that I used to make this a reality. Now, right off the bat, you do have to already have these two things set up before I even go into these three steps otherwise it's not going to mean anything. You have to pick a niche that you want to do affiliate marketing in.
So stereotypically, the three niches are health and wellness, something financial or relationships. You got to pick which one you want to focus on. And once you pick which one of those categories that you want to focus on, you got to niche down even further. So get a little sub category and really start providing value in that sub category. So for me, in this particular case, it was Uber and Uber Eats. More so Uber Eats and showing people how to make a lot of money with it.
So that's in the financial area, but I really niched down to a specific part in a financial area in terms of making money. Once that's been done, you need to pick a list of affiliates that you're actually going to sign up for so that you can get your commissions from. Those two things have to be done otherwise these three steps won't matter. But assuming that you've done those prior steps, we can get into the three steps which I used.
Step 1: Offer something of GREAT value
The first step is to offer something of great value to people for free. When I say great value, I'm not just talking about some throwaway thing that you're using just to get an email address or something. It has to really be great value and value is defined by how well you can get a person the result that they're looking for.
And if you can do it, you've accomplished your mission of providing great value. And if you can do it with the four letters attached, called F-R-E-E, you're going to position yourself to be in the right place to severely benefit from affiliate marketing. So what I did was, I created a YouTube channel called the app lifestyle. It also had a website called the app lifestyle, but the YouTube channel was the launching point.
With the YouTube channel I made a free Uber Eats course to show people how to take their Uber Eats earnings from whatever they were making, to being able to make between $11 and $18 an hour consistently. Not only did I do this, but I also showed how to make this money and actually reduce the amount of hours that you put in. So if you decide to put more hours in, then that means you're going to make more money.
Depending on your niche, it might be a person getting a certain weight. It might be a person getting a certain status in life. Whatever it is, if you're providing value and can give them the end result they want then you're going to be in the right spot.
Step 2: Make your offer easy to digest!
The second step that I did was I ordered all the information so that it was very easy and digestible for my audience. So it wasn't like they have to find everything from different places in my brand. I also didn't put any roadblocks towards them getting the result.
It actually is organized in a way so that they can just literally watch it if they have an hour of the time to spend on this course. They can then go out the next day or even later that day and start seeing immediate results.
We see it is organized in a very easy manner for the person to go onto the next part of the course and get results.
So we see seven must have Uber Eats items, Uber Eats tutorial. The 1st Part, how to handle a delivery. Part two, covering acceptance rate, cancellation rates or no wait times. Part three: what about hotspots? How do you use Uber Eats customer app to make you more money as a driver?
See all this is very organized and YouTube is actually recommending the next part in the course after a person watches that part because it's part of a series playlist.
Since this is a course, that works out greatly. But even if that's not the case, I've made sure that I've linked the next video in the card in the top right-hand corner and the video itself. So every opportunity someone has to watch the next part in the course, they can click on it. If at any point they want to go back and rewatch a certain part, they can just go back to the Uber Eats course playlist. That makes this easy and digestible.
Step 3: Get traffic to your value preposition!
The third way and here's where my hidden tech that comes into play is, you get traffic to whatever you're using to provide value. Now, in terms of YouTube, I haven't seen anyone talk about this. So I'm very excited to share this little tactic with you.
Everyone knows that YouTube algorithm plays a big role in getting traffic to your videos. And if you get traffic to your videos in affiliate marketing, that means there's more traffic for people to click on your links. I didn't mention this before, but you want to make sure you have your affiliate links in your description or whatever you're using to get value.
More traffic means more clicks, which means more money down the line for you. This is the tactic I used to get traffic to my YouTube channel, specifically the Uber Eats course. I found a very popular podcast where people are very open to making money in different ways and I advertised on that podcast. Now I did it in a very specific way. So you want to listen carefully.
I purchased a cheap domain from GoDaddy (It was less then $20). It was something very simple and that's key. You want to have something simple that someone can literally type in as they're hearing it and they can go to wherever it is you want them to go.
This is because we're going to use this domain and we're going to forward it, to whatever your value proposition is. In my particular case, it was the Uber Eats course, and the advertisement was basically "if you want to make more money, you should consider signing up for Uber Eats, go to www.makemoremoney.com. There, you can get a free Uber Eats course that shows you how to make between $11 and $18 an hour with Uber Eats on your own schedule as long as you have a car".
See, I was very specific and I used the word free. So I spoke to the result that people want, which is to make more money. And I also injected the word free, which is true because the course is free and it's on YouTube. Guess what happened? People went there and checked it out.
They started the Uber Eats course and they said, "Wait, hold on. This is more simple than I thought, let me go sign up." And since people got such great value from the course, they wanted to sign up using my link and my code. So my referral or affiliate code is in all my descriptions of all my videos. It's also pasted on the screen when I'm doing a video at some point during a video in the course. So this led them to go and sign up on the app lifestyle, or they would sign up for Uber directly and put the code in but it didn't stop there.
I also have a video where I talk about seven items that's good for Uber Eats drivers to have like an insulated bag. Accompanying that video is an article on the same thing. People would watch that video and then click on the article. This lead to many people getting some of those items in that article and the pictures in that article contain Amazon affiliate links. So when they buy, let's say the insulated bag, I would also get a commission on that purchase.
The funny thing about Amazon is they have a 24 hour cookie. If they buy anything in a 24 hour span, including what they're already buying, which is the insulated bag, then I get a commission off of that. In other words, they can buy a flat screen TV in addition to the insulated bag. The flat screen TV costs 500 bucks, but guess what? I get a commission based off that 500 bucks TV and an insulated bag!
The Grand Total
To summarize these three steps, I skipped out on the process of making a bunch of videos on YouTube, gradually building an audience until some people eventually start sharing it. Then the algorithm may give my videos some love. I bypassed that because that was too slow.
I decided to get traffic coming from outside of YouTube and that sent traffic to the Uber Eats course, which in turn, exploded the channel with the YouTube algorithm. This happen die to me getting a lot of traffic to come to me as opposed to fighting for it on the YouTube platform. Of course more views of my videos means more clicks on my affiliate links, which means more money for me.
So let's round the grand total up of how much I made with affiliate marketing using this tactic.
Amazon Affiliates: $437.18
The App Lifestyle: $ 1,482.39
Uber Referrals: $12,854
Grand total: $ 14,764.57
For those of you all that are really detailed, you know that's not exactly $14,000. It's actually more but $14,000 was a flat number I just had to put there. But this is the tactic I use to make this amount of money with affiliate marketing and I only spent $260.
So the popular podcasts that I decided to go with was a podcast called Tariq Radio and it cost $240 to advertise for four weeks on there. So my ad would run for four weeks after I purchased that ad. I spent a total of $260. $240 is for the podcast advertisement. And $20 was for the domain. And I arranged for the domains to redirect to the YouTube channel.
What was my ROI?
We're not done yet though!Now, what we're going to do next is we're going to find out what was my ROI (Return on investment) was. My investment in this case was the $260. My amount returned was $14,764.57.
ROI is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment (260) from the final value of the investment (14,764) , then dividing this new number by the cost of the investment (260), and, finally, multiplying it by 100. A visual of this is below.
$14,764 - $260 = $14,504
14,504/260 = 55.78
55.78 x 100 = 5,578%
So the ROI here is = 5,578%
That's the tactic I used to make over $14,000 using affiliate marketing. The biggest takeaway that you can get from this is to start using that podcast strategy. Find a podcast that is a great fit for you and advertise on it and make sure that the podcast has a lot of followers.
But even if it doesn't, if the followers have a tight connection with the host and they're open to making money, like the podcast is connected to money in some way, that's a huge bonus. It worth mention that if you feel you can get on the podcast as a guest, that works just as good. Just make the domain you give them simple to type in, and they're going to take you up on your offer and go to your free value proposition and then just sit back and watch the money come in.
That does it for this Article. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you found value in this article, checkout my book "The Anatomy Of Financial Success" I will catch you in the next one, don't forget to go out there and take control of your financial destiny!
SHS008: From $0 To $408,000 A Year With Roberto Blake From Awesome Creator Academy!
Intro
There’s a lot of hype around becoming a content creator—but very few people actually understand what it takes to turn it into real income.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with one of the most respected voices in the creator economy, Roberto Blake.
Together, they break down the truth behind content creation—what works, what doesn’t, and what it actually takes to succeed long-term.
Intro to Roberto Blake
Content creator and educator with over 1,000 videos teaching entrepreneurs and creatives
Founder of Awesome Creator Academy, helping creators build profitable brands
Generated over $400,000 in a single year as a YouTuber & Content Creator
Host of the Roberto Blake Podcast, reaching millions of creators worldwide
Known for his direct, transparent, and strategy-driven teaching style
Author of Create Something Awesome, focused on helping creators monetize their passion
Episode Overview
This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to succeed as a content creator—beyond the hype and viral screenshots.
Elijah opens by addressing a major misconception: many people see the income potential of YouTube and content creation, but don’t realize the process, consistency, and strategy required to get there.
Roberto Blake brings years of experience to the conversation, breaking down how his journey started long before YouTube—even going back to learning coding and design as a teenager.
One of the biggest themes in this episode is intentionality.
Roberto emphasizes that success isn’t luck—it’s the result of:
Preparation
Observation
Skill development
Consistent execution
Elijah Bilel reinforces this by connecting it to a broader principle: people who succeed are usually those who act intentionally, while most people leave their outcomes up to chance.
🚀 Want to Become a Content Creator the Right Way?
If you’re serious about building a brand and making money as a creator:
👉 Join Awesome Creator Academy Today!
This is one of the best places to learn:
How to grow your audience
How to monetize your content
How to build a real business as a creator
Click here to get started!
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah emphasizes that content creation requires strategy—not just posting videos
Roberto Blake made over $400K in a year as a YouTuber through intentional effort
Success in content creation comes from preparation, not luck
Elijah Bilel highlights that many people fail because they don’t act intentionally
Observation and pattern recognition are key skills for creators
You don’t need expensive equipment to get started
Consistency and skill development matter more than going viral
Learning efficiently (like using summaries and targeted content) can accelerate growth
Your background and experiences can shape your success as a creator
Building a creator business requires both creativity and discipline
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Success Isn’t Luck—It’s Preparation
One of the most powerful ideas from Roberto:
👉 Luck is often just preparation meeting opportunity
He explains that many people label success as “luck” because they don’t understand the process behind it.
2. Be Intentional With Everything You Do
Elijah and Roberto both stress that most people:
Don’t intentionally build their skills
Don’t intentionally manage their finances
Don’t intentionally build a career
And that’s why results are inconsistent.
3. You Don’t Need Expensive Equipment
A major barrier for beginners is gear.
But Roberto makes it clear:
👉 Equipment doesn’t create success—execution does
Many successful creators started with basic setups and improved over time.
📚 Want to Learn More From Us?
If you want to go deeper into building your mindset and creating income:
👉 Check out The Anatomy of Financial Success by Elijah Bilel
👉 And Create Something Awesome by Roberto Blake
Click here to check out their books!
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners who want to become content creators
People interested in making money on YouTube
Creators struggling to grow or monetize
Entrepreneurs building a personal brand
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel built his experience in the creator economy
Roberto Blake’s journey into content creation
The difference between hype and reality in YouTube income
How to start without expensive equipment
Building a long-term creator business
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS007:How To Make it Big As A Health Coach In 2026 With FibroidQueen (Phyllis Frempong)
Intro
Most people focus on making money—but overlook the one thing that makes it all possible: their health.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel takes a different approach, diving into how health and wealth are deeply connected.
Joined by health and wellness entrepreneur Phyllis Frempong, also known as “The Fibroid Queen,” Elijah explores how personal struggles can be turned into purpose—and ultimately, a full-time business.
Subscribe To Elijah's New Youtube Channel, Social Dynamics
Find out the different ways that Elijah teaches to grow your network, plan events with big turnouts and advance in your career by cultivating the right relationships. Click here to join out newsletter and get started!
Intro to Phyllis Frempong (The Fibroid Queen)
Registered nurse with nearly 15 years of experience
Certified in functional nutrition, corrective exercise, and wellness coaching
Fitness coach, wellness advocate, and empowerment speaker
Founder of the “Fibroid Queen” brand focused on helping women manage fibroids naturally
Creator of the Symptom Eliminator Bootcamp, a structured wellness program
Hosts retreats and wellness events around the world
Built a global business helping women improve their health through holistic methods
Website: https://fibroidqueen.com/
Episode Overview
This episode explores how a personal health challenge can evolve into a meaningful and profitable business.
Elijah opens by sharing his own background in the health and wellness space, including running a business that provided herbal capsules early in his entrepreneurial journey.
That experience gives Elijah a unique perspective—understanding both the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with building a business in this space.
Phyllis Frempong then shares her story, which begins long before her business.
After witnessing her mother struggle with fibroids and later being diagnosed herself, she realized that traditional approaches weren’t solving the root problem. Instead of accepting that reality, she began researching, experimenting, and ultimately transforming her own health.
That journey led to a powerful realization:
👉 Health issues are rarely isolated—they are connected to mindset, environment, habits, and lifestyle.
Elijah Bilel reinforces this idea by connecting it to business. Just like health, business success isn’t about fixing one thing—it’s about taking a holistic approach.
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Get Elijah's best selling book, The Anatomy Of Financial Success here! Find out which one of the 6 financial personalities that you are so you can start maximizing your income!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah emphasizes that health is the foundation for financial success
Phyllis Frempong turned her personal health struggles into a full-time business
Health issues are often connected to lifestyle, mindset, and environment—not just one factor
Elijah Bilel highlights that both business and health require a holistic approach
Sharing your story and being vulnerable can help you build a strong brand
Coaching, community, and environment play a major role in personal transformation
Nutrition, mindset, and movement all work together to improve outcomes
Businesses built on real experiences tend to resonate more with people
Stress, lifestyle, and habits can directly impact both health and income potential
Purpose-driven businesses often create deeper impact and stronger loyalty
How She Turned Her Story Into a Business
1. Started with Personal Experience
Phyllis didn’t start with a business idea—she started with a problem.
After being diagnosed with fibroids and experiencing worsening symptoms over time, she realized that simply “monitoring” the condition wasn’t enough.
2. Focused on Root Causes
Instead of relying only on traditional methods, she explored:
Nutrition changes (including plant-based eating)
Mindset development
Stress reduction
Lifestyle changes
This allowed her to not only improve her own health—but develop a system she could teach others.
🌱 Want to Improve Your Health the Right Way?
If this episode made you realize how important nutrition and lifestyle really are:
👉 Check out The Veggie Outers for guidance on eating better, improving your health, and building sustainable habits
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up your lifestyle, having the right structure makes all the difference.
3. Built a Structured Program
From her experience, she created the Symptom Eliminator Bootcamp, which includes:
Nutrition guidance
Wellness workouts
Mindset coaching
Holistic healing strategies
This turned her knowledge into a scalable offer.
4. Positioned Herself as the Brand
Phyllis didn’t hide her story—she used it.
By sharing her journey, she built:
Trust
Authority
Relatability
Which ultimately helped her grow a global audience.
Key Lessons for Side Hustlers
1. Your Story Is Your Advantage
One of the biggest lessons from this episode:
👉 The things you’ve gone through can become your business
Elijah highlights that many people overlook this, but real experience often creates the strongest foundation for a business.
2. Holistic Thinking Applies to Everything
Whether it’s health or business:
One fix is rarely enough
Multiple areas must be addressed
This applies to:
Income
Health
Personal growth
3. Environment Matters More Than You Think
Phyllis emphasizes:
Being around the right people
Consuming the right information
Creating the right environment
These factors directly impact results.
Who This Episode Is For
People interested in health and wellness as a business
Entrepreneurs looking to turn their story into income
Anyone dealing with health challenges and looking for alternatives
Side hustlers who want to build purpose-driven businesses
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel approaches health and business
Building a health and wellness brand
Turning personal struggles into income streams
Holistic health strategies
Creating scalable coaching programs
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
SHS004: How to Make Money with Voice Acting With Nikki Connected!
Intro
There are more ways than ever to make money online—but some of the most overlooked opportunities are hidden in plain sight.
In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel explores one of those opportunities: voice acting.
From audiobook narration to online gigs, voice acting has become a growing income stream for people who may not even realize their voice can be monetized.
Intro to Nikki Connected
Content creator and entrepreneur focused on helping people make and save money
Runs a YouTube channel and blog under the brand “Nikki Connected”
Formerly known as Deal Finding Diva
Discovered audiobook narration through YouTube and landed her first opportunity with no prior experience
Turned one opportunity into multiple audiobook contracts, a course, and coaching services
Built her platform by sharing real experiences that resonate with everyday people
Nikki's Website: https://nikkiconnected.com/
Subscribe Now And Get Chapter 5 Of The Best Selling Book, The Anatomy Of Financial Success!
Find out about the different types of income there are and which one(s) are best for you based on your personality! Click here to join out newsletter and get started!
Episode Overview
This episode features a conversation between Elijah and Nikki Connected, breaking down how audiobook narration can become a real income stream—even for beginners.
Nikki shares how she discovered the opportunity by simply watching a YouTube video about getting paid to read books. After taking action, she landed her first audition and quickly turned that into multiple contracts.
One of the biggest insights from this episode is how demand plays a role in opportunity. Elijah points out that there was very little up-to-date information on audiobook narration online, which created a gap in the market.
Nikki filled that gap by documenting her journey—and that decision led to rapid growth, new opportunities, and a full content series around voice acting.
Elijah Bilel also connects this to a broader principle: when there’s a lack of quality information in a space, that often signals an opportunity for those willing to step in and provide value.
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Side Hustler’s Society Resources
Get Elijah's best selling book, The Anatomy Of Financial Success here! Find out which one of the 6 financial personalities that you are so you can start maximizing your income!
Quick Takeaways
Voice acting is a growing side hustle that many people overlook
Nikki Connected landed multiple audiobook contracts after just one successful audition
You don’t need prior experience to get started
Elijah emphasizes that gaps in information often signal opportunity
Platforms like Amazon’s ACX allow beginners to get started without upfront costs
Elijah Bilel highlights the importance of taking action quickly when discovering new opportunities
Sharing your journey publicly can create unexpected income streams
Voice acting can evolve into courses, coaching, and content creation
How to Get Started with Voice Acting
1. Start with Basic Equipment
You don’t need an expensive setup, but you do need the essentials:
Microphone
Pop filter
Recording software (like Audacity)
Nikki emphasizes that investing in yourself is part of the process.
2. Create a Recording Environment
Sound quality matters more than expensive gear:
Record in smaller spaces (like a closet)
Use foam or soundproofing tools
Avoid echo-heavy environments
3. Use Platforms Like ACX
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) allows you to:
Audition for audiobook roles
Connect with authors
Get paid through multiple contract types
4. Understand How You Get Paid
There are 3 main models:
Flat Rate → One-time payment
Royalty Share → Percentage of book sales
Royalty Share Plus → Upfront pay + royalties
Royalties can last up to 7 years, creating long-term income potential.
5. Promote Your Work
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is stopping after the job is done.
Nikki explains that you should:
Promote the audiobook
Drive traffic to it
Continue generating income over time
Pro Tips from the Episode
Don’t record on your phone—audio quality matters
Read the full book before narrating to avoid mistakes
Ask authors about pronunciation and details
Take breaks to maintain audio quality
Small details (like mouth noise control) make a big difference
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners looking for a unique side hustle
People interested in voice acting or audiobook narration
Content creators looking for new income streams
Anyone exploring skill-based ways to make money
Key Topics Covered
How Elijah Bilel identifies new opportunities
How Nikki Connected got started with audiobook narration
Equipment and setup for beginners
How ACX works
Turning a side hustle into a scalable business
Watch The Podcast On Youtube!
If you found value in this episode, you can see some of the equipment and items mentioned in this show on Amazon here!
SHS001: The Origin Story – How Elijah Bilel Built Multiple Side Hustles & Full Time Income Streams
Intro
Every entrepreneur has a starting point.
For Elijah Bilel, the journey into side hustles, freelancing, and multiple income streams didn’t start with a perfect plan…
👉 It started with curiosity, frustration, and a desire for more.
In this first episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah breaks down his full origin story—from working traditional jobs to building multiple income streams through the gig economy, content creation, freelancing, and investing.
This episode sets the foundation for everything that follows.
Episode Overview
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How Elijah got started with entrepreneurship
The early businesses and jobs he worked
Why he left traditional employment
How the gig economy changed his trajectory
How YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing became income streams
How Financial Anatomy and Airbnb entered the picture
The inspiration behind starting The Side Hustler’s Society
Listen to the Episode
Check us out on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! While you’re there, hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episodes!
Quick Takeaways
Elijah Bilel built multiple income streams before going full-time
Early business attempts taught control, marketing, and sales
The gig economy became a launchpad—not the end goal
YouTube, freelancing, and affiliate marketing created scalable income
Strategic pivots led to Financial Anatomy and Airbnb
The Beginning: Jobs, Frustration & Early Entrepreneurship
Before becoming known for side hustles and online income, Elijah’s journey started with traditional jobs:
Janitorial work for his aunt’s company
Walmart
Whole Foods
Amazon
At one point, Elijah was working around 68 hours per week…
👉 Yet only making about $35,000 per year
That realization sparked a major shift.
The First Business: Learning Control
After trying network marketing, Elijah realized something important:
👉 He wanted control
So Elijah Bilel launched his first independent business:
👉 Asili Tiba (Indigenous Remedies)
This gave him experience with:
Pricing
Marketing
Selling directly to customers
The Turning Point: Leaving the 9–5
Even after getting promoted at Amazon, Elijah knew:
👉 He wasn’t reaching his full potential
So he left and went all-in on finding alternative income paths.
The Gig Economy Era Begins
Elijah revisited Uber and started with:
Rideshare
Then Uber Eats
Why?
👉 More flexibility
👉 More control
👉 More independence
The Hidden Advantage: Getting Paid to Learn
While doing Uber Eats, Elijah used his time strategically:
Audiobooks
YouTube
Business content
👉 He was getting paid to learn skills that would later generate income
YouTube + Affiliate Marketing Breakthrough
Elijah started a YouTube channel called The Uber Lifestyle (Later changed To The Side Hustler's Society) focused on:
👉 Uber Eats content
He monetized it through:
Ad revenue (~$100/month early on)
Referral income
Referral earnings:
👉 $500 to $2,000/month
This was his first scalable income stream.
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy (Major Income Boost)
After learning from Roberto Blake, Elijah reached out to Harry Campbell.
That turned into:
👉 Ongoing freelance video editing,content & channel management work
Income from this:
👉 $1,500 to $2,500 per month
This added:
Stability
Consistent cash flow
Professional experience
Financial Anatomy: Building a Brand
Elijah knew Uber wouldn’t last forever, so he started a new youtube channel:
At first, growth was slow…
But over time, it became a strong income stream.
Earnings from Financial Anatomy:
👉 $1,200 to $1,900 per month
This came from:
YouTube ad revenue
Financial content monetization
Audience growth
Stacking Income Streams (Full Picture)
At this point, Elijah had:
Uber Eats income
Referral/Affiliate income ($500–$2,000/month)
Freelancing ($1,500–$2,500/month)
Financial Anatomy ($1,200–$1,900/month)
Combined:
👉 Multiple income streams working together
This is what allowed Elijah Bilel to fully step away from traditional employment.
Entering Real Estate: Airbnb
From there, Elijah expanded into:
👉 Airbnb hosting
This introduced:
Asset-based income
Real estate strategy
Additional scalability
Now instead of just trading time…
👉 He was leveraging assets
Creating a Product: Becoming an Author
Elijah also created the bestselling book:
👉 The Anatomy of Financial Success
This added:
Authority
Brand positioning
Product-based income
The Bigger Pattern
Across every stage of Elijah’s journey:
👉 Learn → Apply → Monetize
He didn’t wait for perfect conditions.
He:
Took action
Tested opportunities
Built income streams
Why This Podcast Exists
The Side Hustler’s Society was created to:
👉 Help others follow a similar path
By sharing:
Real experiences
Real numbers
Real strategies
Key Lessons from the Episode
1. Start With What You Have
You don’t need perfect conditions
2. Learn While You Earn
Use your time to build future income
3. Stack Income Streams
Multiple sources = stability
4. Focus on Scalability
Time-based income has limits
5. Always Be Ready to Pivot
Every opportunity has a lifespan
Who This Episode Is For
Beginners starting their first side hustle
People stuck in a 9–5
Gig workers looking to level up
Entrepreneurs building multiple income streams
Key Topics Covered
Elijah Bilel’s origin story
Gig economy strategies
YouTube and affiliate marketing
Freelancing with The Rideshare Guy
Financial Anatomy and Airbnb