The Side Hustle You Didn’t Know You Could Start
Most clinicians think there are only two options:
Stay in medicine.
Or leave completely.
But what if there was a third option?
One that lets you:
- Keep your clinical identity
- Work fewer shifts
- And still bring in extra income—on your terms
In this episode, I sit down with ICU PA and business owner Sarah Miller, who built a virtual assistant business completely by accident… and turned it into a flexible, profitable side hustle.
iTunes | Spotify | YouTube
How This All Started (And Why It Matters)
Sarah didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur.
She:
- Went part-time after having kids
- Took a pay cut
- Wanted a small income buffer
She tried:
- Etsy
- Digital products
- Proofreading
And then… an opportunity landed in her inbox.
A simple message:
“Hey, my VA is leaving. Want to try this?”
Her response?
“I don’t even know what a VA is.”
And yet—she said yes.
That one decision changed everything.
What a Virtual Assistant Actually Does
This isn’t just “checking email.”
A VA can:
- Manage inboxes and calendars
- Handle podcast coordination
- Support launches and client onboarding
- Create systems and streamline workflows
And at a higher level?
They become:
- An integrator
- A right-hand partner
- The person who keeps the business running behind the scenes
As Sarah puts it—she’s not just checking boxes.
She’s helping businesses scale.
The Money Breakdown (Real Numbers)
Let’s talk transparency:
- Hourly rate: ~$38/hour
- Clients: 3
- Hours: 10–15/month per client
- Annual income: $12,000–$20,000/year
Not replacing her clinical income.
But that’s not the goal.
This money funds:
- Investments
- Vacations
- Breathing room
And most importantly?
Options.
Why This Is One of the BEST Side Hustles for Clinicians
Low barrier.
Low risk.
High flexibility.
Sarah’s startup costs?
👉 Basically zero.
No:
- Inventory
- Staff
- Expensive software
- Marketing budget
Just:
- A laptop
- Internet
- And one client
The Biggest Mindset Shift (This Is Everything)
Most clinicians think:
“I’m not good at sales.”
But this episode proves the opposite.
Sarah never pitched.
She never “sold.”
She:
- Sent a genuine thank-you email
- Offered helpful feedback
- Made thoughtful connections
And that’s how she landed clients.
This is relationship-based business.
Not bro-marketing. Not cold DMs.
If You’re Feeling Burned Out… Read This
You don’t need to:
- Quit medicine
- Blow up your life
- Or have a perfect plan
You might just need:
👉 One small experiment
👉 One new skill
👉 One “yes” to something unfamiliar
Because as Sarah said:
You’ve already done hard things.
You’ve taken care of patients.
You can figure this out too.
Key Takeaways
- You don’t need a business idea to start—just a willingness to try
- The best opportunities often come from relationships, not strategy
- You can build income without adding more clinical hours
- Not all side hustles need to replace your salary
- Start messy—just start
Connect with Sarah
- LinkedIn: Sarah Miller, PA-VA
- Website: sjmvirtualsolutions.com
- Email: sjmvirtualsolutions@gmail.com
Want Help Building Your Own Income Stream?
If you’re sitting there thinking:
“Okay… but what would my version of this look like?”
I’ve got you.
Grab my Side Gig Guide:
👉 tracybingaman.com/gig
Or book a call to map out your next move.
