One of the biggest myths about entrepreneurship is that successful business owners wake up one day with seven perfectly functioning income streams.
The reality?
Most of us start with one.
Then we slowly build another.
And another.
In this episode of Mugs & Marketing, Ashley and Alisha share every current, retired, and future income stream in their businesses—and why diversifying your income doesn’t mean chasing every opportunity.
Multiple Income Streams Don’t Mean Multiple Businesses
Ashley runs an online yoga business.
Alisha runs a handmade pottery business.
Neither of us has one single source of income.
Ashley earns revenue through online courses, memberships, coaching, affiliate marketing, YouTube, digital downloads, and teaching yoga.
Alisha earns money through pottery sales at art markets, Etsy, her website, commissions, consignment shops, and workshops.
They’re very different businesses, but they share one thing in common:
They’ve been built one income stream at a time.
Start With One Thing
Social media can make it seem like every entrepreneur has:
- A course
- A membership
- A podcast
- Affiliate income
- Sponsorships
- A YouTube channel
- Digital products
- Physical products
The truth is that most of these businesses took years to build.
Ashley has spent over a decade adding new revenue streams.
Alisha is just a few years into her pottery business and is intentionally keeping things simple while she learns what works.
You don’t need to build everything at once.
Some Income Streams Are Worth Retiring
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation wasn’t what we’re doing now—it was what we’ve stopped doing.
Ashley has retired:
- Yoga studio ownership
- Handmade yoga mat keychains
- Freelance graphic design
- Yoga teacher trainings
- Multi-level marketing businesses
Alisha has stepped away from:
- Full-time teaching
- Commission pet portraits
- Other art projects that no longer brought her joy
Sometimes growing your business means saying goodbye to income streams that no longer fit your life.
Future Income Streams We’re Excited About
We’re both dreaming a little, too.
Some ideas we’re exploring include:
- Retreats
- Workshops
- Digital products
- Affiliate marketing
- Online courses
- Coloring books
- Better investing habits
- Memberships
- Real estate
- Creative community events
Not every idea will happen.
But giving yourself permission to dream is part of building a creative business.
Celebrate Every Dollar
One of Ashley’s favorite business lessons is simple:
Don’t scoff at a dollar.
Whether it’s a $5 Etsy sale, a $2 affiliate commission, or your very first customer, every dollar represents someone choosing to support your work.
Those small wins often become the foundation for much bigger ones.
Resources Mentioned
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In This Episode
- Why entrepreneurs often have multiple income streams
- Ashley’s current online business income streams
- Alisha’s handmade pottery business model
- Income streams we’ve retired over the years
- Why diversification matters
- Affiliate marketing for creators
- Etsy vs. selling on your own website
- Retirement and investing as business owners
- Future business ideas we’re excited about
- Advice for building your first income stream
Whether you’re selling pottery, teaching yoga, offering services, or just getting started, remember this:
You don’t need seven income streams today.
You just need to start with one.