Why Lucius (and Maybe You) Still Hasn’t Started That Side Hustle

Following last week’s article, Why You Need a Side Hustle in Today’s Economy (Even If You Have a Full-Time Job) my inbox lit up. Lots of love, encouragement, and… a question that came in many forms but meant one thing:

“Leo, how do I even start?”

I couldn’t reply to all — you know how life can be — but one conversation stuck with me. It was a chat with my friend, let’s call him Lucius (and yes, he knows I’m writing this ).

Lucius is a smart professional, working in a reputable Ugandan organization. We go way back. He’s been talking about starting a side hustle since 2019. Then COVID hit. Then the economy went sideways. Then… nothing happened.

“If It Wasn’t for COVID…”

That was his first reason.
I nodded. I get it. Life happened.

But as our chat deepened, I asked:

“Lucius, what’s really stopping you now?”

His response? – “It’s both money and time, Dr. Leo.”

Classic combo!

So I asked, “Okay, how much capital do you need?”

He replied: “Hmmm, about UGX 20–50 million.”

Hold up. That’s a 30 million shilling statistical range!

That’s not a budget, that’s a guess.

Right then, I knew Lucius had never actually written anything down. That kind of range usually means you’re unclear about what you really need.

So I poked again, gently: “Have you ever drawn up a budget?” Of course, the answer was no.

The Money Excuse

See, Lucius earns UGX 3 million net every month. If he saved just 50%, he’d hit UGX 18 million in a year.

Put that in a unit trust, and it could grow beyond UGX 20 million.

His startup capital? Covered. Just like that – with nothing more than the simple habit of consistent saving.

So money, honestly, wasn’t the problem.

Until he said,

“I’m paying UGX 1.5M per month on a car loan.”

Ah, there it is.

“When did you buy the car?” I asked.
“2022.”

“And when did you say you wanted to start the side hustle?”
“2019.”

“So when exactly did your dream of starting a side hustle lose the battle to a shiny car?”

The reason?

“I was tired of taking taxis.”

Let that sink in.

You Don’t Have a Capital Problem — You Have a Clarity Problem

Many of us are like Lucius.

We say we want more income.
We say we want to build businesses.
We say we want financial freedom.

But the truth is, most of us have never really taken the time to draw a proper map – a solid GPS.

Now, if my brother Muringe is reading this, he’s probably picturing land surveys, plot numbers, and boundary markers. Relax, my bro! … But actually, come to think of it, they’re not so different. Just that this one maps your life – not land. It shows you where you are, where you want to go, and the route to get there.

GPS a simple but powerful framework I learned from productivity guru Ali Abdaal.

G = Goal → What? & Where?

• What do you want? (Clear, specific outcome). If it’s business, quantify it.
• Where are you headed? (Your destination, vision, or objective)

Write it down. Be specific. This is the “North Star” that guides everything else.

P = Plan → Which? & When?

• Which steps will get you there?
• When will you do what?
• Which resources, people, or tools will you need?

The Plan breaks the Goal into manageable, time-bound actions. Example: Save UGX 500K per month, register the business, learn bookkeeping, etc.

S = System → How?

• How will you stay consistent?
• How will you track progress and habits?
• How will you automate, schedule, or create structure?

This is where the magic happens.

System is the engine that turns the plan into momentum.
Example: A 30-minute planning session every Sunday. A financial tracking spreadsheet. A weekly meeting with your accountability partner.

Bonus Tip: Add KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to your GPS.
How will you know you’re on track?
Example: If your goal is to save UGX 6M in 6 months, you should be at 3M by Month 3.
Track. Adjust. Move.

But Leo, I Don’t Have Money Like That…

Listen.

As an entrepreneur (or side hustler) — especially my corporate friends — I’m here to tell you something uncomfortable but true:

You. Have. The. Money.

You’re just spending it wrong.

In a country where over 60% of Ugandans earn less than UGX 200,000/month,
Lucius is a very rich man. And yet, the guy can’t find 20 million to launch his dream?

Lucius could easily start a business and hire two brilliant young Ugandans to run it.

Because as Daniel Priestley puts it,

“The entrepreneur’s job is not to do the work. It is to be an organizing force — to attract capital, talent, and attention.”

And he’s right. As an entrepreneur, your role is to hold the vision—not to be everywhere, doing everything.

You need a manager to create order, and a technician to do the work—just as Michael E. Gerber explains in The E-Myth Revisited. If you’ve never read that book, do yourself a favor—get a copy. You’ll thank me later. It’s a game changer for anyone serious about building something bigger than themselves.

Lucius doesn’t need to be in the shop. He needs to build the GPS, hire the team, and supervise.

But first, he must get clear. And intentional. And honest with himself.

A Shiny Car, A Broken Dream

By the way, what I didn’t tell you earlier…
Lucius’ car — the same one he said was “less risky” in this economy — broke down.

Yup. Engine problems.

Now he carpools with other 14 commuters – I am sure you know the vehicle they are using! …and still pays his car loan diligently every month.

So again I ask:

What’s really risky?
Starting your dream — or funding a broken one?

Here’s My Challenge to You:

Right now — today — create your GPS:

• Goal: What exactly do you want to achieve?
• Plan: Which steps will get you there?

• System: How will you stay consistent?

• KPIs: How will you measure progress?

Put it on paper. Print it. Frame it if you must.
Because if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll keep driving a car with no engine — and no destination.

Until next time,

Believe. Build. Be Bold.

— Dr. Mwesi Leo

 Career & Business | Productivity Systems | Financial Freedom

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