There’s a problem with most “Side Hustles”
If you’re like me (Gen X, 50+), you’ve searched for “how to make money online” and immediately regretted it.
The results are usually a nightmare:
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Drive for Uber? (Great, trade your car’s transmission for pennies).
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Start a TikTok Channel? (Which requires constant energy and “performance”).
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Dropshipping? (I don’t have time to answer customer service emails about lost packages).
We don’t want a second job. We’re tired. We want an asset.
I spent 17 years as a mechanical draftsman. I think in terms of leverage and structure.
We need something that uses our brain and years of experience, not our backs. We need something that builds equity while we sleep.
The answer is the “Newsletter Business Model.”
And thanks to new AI tools, it is the most accessible business for us to start in 2025.
Why a Newsletter is the Ultimate “Quiet” Business
A newsletter is a simple concept: You write about what you know, people subscribe, and you get paid.
But here is why it beats pretty much every other side hustle for our generation:
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You Own the Land: Social media is “rented” space. If the algorithm changes, you disappear. An email list is a connection you own.
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High Valuation: Newsletters are digital real estate. They are assets that can be sold.
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Better Monetization: Unlike other platforms that take a 10% cut of your income, Beehiiv lets you keep more of what you earn. (I wrote a full breakdown on Beehiiv vs. Substack here)
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No “Tech” Skills Needed: You don’t need to code a website or learn complex video editing. If you can type an email, you’re qualified.
The “Secret Weapon”: Beehiiv + AI
Today, I use and recommend Beehiiv.
Think of Beehiiv like the James Bond car of the newsletter world. It comes fully loaded with everything you need (website, email, ads) right off the lot. No assembly required.
How You Actually Make Money with Beehiiv
This isn’t magic; it’s just a better business model. Beehiiv has built-in monetization tools:
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Ad Network: They connect you with advertisers (like Netflix or HubSpot) so you don’t have to cold-call sponsors.
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Boosts: You can get paid just for recommending other newsletters.
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Premium Subscriptions: Put your deep-dive advice behind a paywall.
(On the fence? Check out my in-depth 2025 Beehiiv Review where I break down the pricing and share a 20% off promo code.)
“But I’m Not a Writer…” (The AI Advantage)
I hear this all the time: “Corey, I have the experience, but I’m not a writer.”
Here is the truth: You don’t need to be Shakespeare. You just need to be helpful.
This is where the “AI” part of this side hustle saves you. You don’t need to stare at a blank page. You can use AI tools to:
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Brainstorm 50 topic ideas in 10 seconds.
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Take your rough, chaotic notes and structure them into a clean outline.
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Proofread your drafts so you sound professional.
You are the Editor-in-Chief; AI is just your junior draftsman doing the grunt work.
This cuts the work time down from 10 hours a week to 2 hours a week.
The Fast Track: How to Launch in 48 Hours
I know how we operate. We tend to overthink things. We want the perfect logo before we launch.
I have taken my process-driven background and created a Fast Track Process. I stripped away all the fluff. No “branding workshops,” no complex tech setups. Just the steps you need to get your first subscriber this week.
Step 1: Download the Blueprint
I created a free AI Newsletter Fast Track Launch Checklist. It covers:
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How to pick a profitable niche (using the skills you’ve been building for 20 years).
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The exact Beehiiv settings to toggle for SEO.
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A “Fill-in-the-Blanks” template for your first post.
Step 2: Automate It
Once you have the checklist, you’ll see an option to join my WorXshop. This is where I show you how to set up the automation sequences that turn casual readers into buyers—automatically.
Don’t Let Your Experience Retire With You
The internet is full of “content creators” who have never actually done anything. You have decades of real-world experience.
That experience is inventory. Package it up, put it in a newsletter, and build the security that a corporate job can never give you.
✅ Ready To Future-Proof Yourself?
You don’t need to wait for “someday,” if you want to stay relevant and get paid, here are three ways I can help you start:
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Build A Better Business Without Drowning. Gen X Style.
Join The WorXshop — a community for Gen X founders who just want clear, just-in-time AI and marketing knowledge without drowning in tools or advice. → Join Now -
Start Your Future-Proof Newsletter (Free Guide): If you’re a Gen X business owner or soon-to-be side-hustler, start a “blogletter”. It’s a stupid-simple way to build an audience you own — and get paid for what you already know. Check out my complete guide on building a long-term asset that pays you while working on your own terms. → Read the guide
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Grab Your Gen eXit Playbook: Discover my offensive approach to retirement—no more waiting until 65 to do what you love. You’ll learn how I went from a $40K/year cubicle guy to a six-figure solopreneur and how to stay relevant doing work you actually enjoy. → Get it here