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Afraid to Invest in a Side Hustle Without Guaranteed Results?
Struggling to stay motivated without instant results? Learn how to overcome fear and build your side hustle with confidence.
casper van der ree
April 10, 2025
“Every successful creator once took a leap with no guarantee—and so will you.”
Table of Contents
Starting an online business is scary… Always
You’ve probably thought this more than once: What if I invest all this time, energy, maybe even money… and it goes nowhere?
That fear is real—and it’s valid.
In a world where we expect instant feedback, instant validation, and instant results, starting something that doesn’t immediately pay off can feel like jumping into the dark.
Even when you know results take time, your brain still wants to see proof that the effort is worth it.
And when that proof doesn’t show up fast enough?
It’s easy to second guess the entire journey.
Maybe you’ve started developing videos, planning content, buying a mic or editing tool… and halfway through, the doubts hit:
What if this does NOT work? what if I am wasting my time..?
If you’ve ever been afraid of going all in on your side hustle—or even halfway in—because of the risk of zero payoff, this post is for you.
We’re going to break down:
7 ways to push through the fear of not seeing quick results
3 common traps that actually make it worse
And why the “silent phase” in any side hustle is where the magic actually starts
Stick with me—because the shift you need isn’t more hype. It’s clarity and a better framework for how success really works.
🔹 Why having a long term vision is so important.
Starting a faceless YouTube channel (or any online business) is like planting a garden.
You start by choosing the seeds—your video ideas.
You prep the soil—your workflow, your system.
And then you plant—uploading one video at a time.
But here’s the thing: you don’t plant a seed and expect a tree the next morning.
You water it. You nurture it. You let the sun and time do their work.
At first, it looks like nothing is happening.
But underground, roots are forming. The foundation is growing—quietly, invisibly.
Each video you upload is another seed in the soil.
You might not see views or comments right away. But that doesn’t mean your channel isn’t growing.
It’s just that the early growth happens beneath the surface.
If you give up before the sprout breaks through, you’ll miss the harvest entirely.
But if you keep planting, watering, and trusting the process…
your channel becomes a thriving garden of growth, one quiet video at a time.
But it comes down to actually planting that seed, because you will never reap rewards if you do not start sowing.
7 Practical Rules to starting that side hustle the best way.
1. Redefine What a "Result" Actually Is
casper
When you start a faceless YouTube channel, it’s tempting to measure success by one thing: views.
No views? No progress—right?
Wrong.
The early stage of building a channel is not about going viral. It’s about building infrastructure: your system, your workflow, your voice, and your confidence.
Your first 5–10 videos might not hit. That doesn’t mean they were a waste.
If you learned how to write a better hook, edit faster, script more clearly—that is progress.
You’re laying the groundwork that future results will grow from.
👉 Start tracking real results like:
How many videos you’ve completed
How consistent your weekly uploads are
How much faster you're producing
How much clearer your niche or tone has become
When you redefine “results,” you realize you’re further ahead than you think.
You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
2. Set a Time-Bound Experiment Window
Most people give up because they’re operating on open-ended expectations.
They upload a few videos… wait… refresh analytics… and when nothing explodes overnight, doubt kicks in.
Instead, treat your first phase as a time-bound experiment. Not a permanent career move. Not a make-or-break moment.
💡 Example:
Tell yourself, “I’m going to commit to uploading one faceless video per week for 90 days—no matter what.”
This takes the pressure off. You’re not chasing fast results—you’re collecting data.
And at the end of that window, you’re not asking, “Did I blow up?”
You’re asking, “What did I learn? What improved? Where’s the traction?”
This frame gives you permission to go all in without the expectation of instant return.
It also protects your energy from quitting too early—because you've already decided the only outcome is learning and growth.
3. Focus on Systems, Not Outcomes
Outcomes are seductive. We all want subscribers, views, ad revenue, and that sweet moment when YouTube sends a payout.
But focusing too much on outcomes—especially early on—leads to burnout. Because you can’t control them.
What you can control are your systems.
A system for a faceless YouTube channel might look like this:
Choose topic every Monday
Write script Tuesday
Generate voiceover Wednesday
Edit Thursday
Upload Friday
That’s your weekly machine—your momentum engine.
When you focus on refining this system, you naturally become more consistent, efficient, and confident.
The results? They show up as a byproduct.
Fall in love with the process and the results will come.
Ask yourself: Do I have a reliable content system in place—or am I just hoping for a win?
Dial in your system. The results will follow.
4. Start With Low-Stakes Investments
One reason fear creeps in is because people associate starting with big leaps—spending hundreds on software, gear, editors, or automation tools before they’ve even uploaded five videos.
The truth? You can start your faceless YouTube channel lean.
You don’t need a $500 mic or the full Adobe suite. You don’t need to outsource everything right away.
Start by proving to yourself that you can finish videos consistently using free or low-cost tools.
Here’s a low-stakes starter stack:
Scriptwriting: ChatGPT, Notion, or Google Docs
Voiceover: ElevenLabs free tier, or even your own voice if needed
Video editing: CapCut or Canva
Thumbnails: Canva (free)
Publishing: YouTube Studio (obviously free)
Once you’re in rhythm, then it makes sense to invest in upgrades.
👉 Invest in your habits before you invest in high-ticket tools.
That way, you’re betting on a proven system—not on a hope.
5. Build in Public (or with Community)
Building alone can make your fear feel louder. When you’re the only one watching your own progress, it’s easy to think,
This is not working… No one cares..
But when you build in public—or share your journey inside a supportive community—everything changes.
You get:
Encouragement when motivation fades
Accountability to keep going
Proof that others are in the same messy phase as you
For faceless YouTube creators, “public” might look different. You're not showing your face, but you can still:
Post updates in a private Discord or Facebook group
Share screenshots of milestones (“just published my 10th video!”)
Ask questions or give feedback to others doing the same thing
Progress loves proximity.
Isolation feeds doubt.
When you’re surrounded by others taking imperfect action, you stop overthinking and start doing.
6. Track Invisible Progress
One of the most frustrating parts of starting a faceless YouTube channel is the feeling that “nothing’s happening.”
You upload. You wait. Views trickle in. And your mind screams:
Why am I even doing this…?
That’s because you’re only tracking visible metrics—views, likes, subs. But those aren’t the only signs of progress.
Start tracking the invisible wins:
You write scripts 2x faster than when you started
You’ve built a 4-week content system
You finally figured out what kind of titles your niche responds to
You’re not procrastinating like you did a month ago
You’ve uploaded consistently for 6 weeks—without needing motivation
These are huge. They’re the quiet victories that create loud results later.
Keep a “Progress Journal” or spreadsheet. Celebrate the process.
Because progress isn’t always visible—but it’s always happening when you show up.
7. Remember: Delayed Rewards Are Normal
Every successful creator has gone through a stretch of time where it felt like no one was watching.
What separates them from everyone else?
They kept going anyway—because they understood this truth:
The reward always lags behind the work.
This is especially true for YouTube.
Most faceless creators don’t see traction until after their 10th… 20th… sometimes even 50th video.
But by that point, their voice is clearer, their system is smoother, and their content is exponentially better.
That’s not failure—that’s compounding.
You wouldn’t expect to plant a seed and wake up to a tree the next morning.
So why expect a viral result from your first few uploads?
You’re not falling behind. You’re just early in the game.
It’s not that successful people are fearless. It’s that they act despite the fear.
3 Things NOT to Do When starting a new online business.
❌ 1. Don’t Judge Too Early
You wouldn’t stop reading a book after one chapter and claim you understood the whole story.
So why judge your YouTube journey after just 3 or 4 uploads?
Premature judgment is one of the fastest ways to kill your consistency. It tricks you into thinking: If I haven’t gone viral yet, this must not be working….
But in reality, you’re still planting seeds.
The algorithm hasn’t had time to learn your content.
You haven’t had time to find your flow.
Treat your early videos like reps at the gym. They matter—but they’re training reps, not performance finals.
You’re building skills, speed, style, and strategy.
The results you want are on the other side of not quitting too soon.
❌ 2. Don’t Expect Passive Income Before Active Output
A lot of people are drawn to faceless YouTube because of the automation dream:
“Make money while you sleep.”
That’s possible—but not in the beginning.
If you focus too much on making it passive, you’ll miss the part where you need to be active.
You need to build the machine before it can run itself.
Early on, that means:
Writing your own scripts
Editing your own videos
Testing thumbnails, titles, and topics
Uploading consistently to build data
Ideating new niches and video formats
Trying to outsource or automate everything too early creates two problems:
You drain your money before building real momentum
You miss the foundational skills you need to succeed long term
Passive income is the reward for active mastery.
❌ 3. Don’t Build Alone and in Silence
When you’re creating in a vacuum, every small bump feels like a failure.
You start second-guessing everything:
Was that video good enough?
Why is no one commenting?
Am I wasting time?
am I wasting money?
Does this even work?
But when you’re surrounded by others in the same phase—taking action, failing forward, learning publicly—you normalize the journey.
The doubt shrinks.
The motivation grows.
Whether it’s a small mastermind, a free challenge group, or an online creator community—find your people.
All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.
Where to go from here and how to actually implement this.
You might not see the payoff right away.
That doesn’t mean your effort is wasted.
It means you’re still building the foundation—the mindset, the system, the skillset—that future success depends on.
Fear of wasted effort is normal. But regret over never trying? That’s way worse.
So here’s your next small step:
Inside, you’ll get:
✅ A custom 1-on-1 roadmap call to map your exact launch path
🎥 5+ hours of high-impact video training
📄 Plug-and-play sheets to script, systemize, and upload fast
🧠 Weekly live calls for coaching, clarity & community
You’ll go from “I’m stuck” to “I’ve got this”—in less than a week.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. This is it.
Your future channel—and future self—are already waiting.
See you inside,
Casper
🔹 6. FAQ: Overcoming the Fear of Investing Without Instant Results
Q1: How long does it take to see results from a faceless YouTube channel?
It varies widely—but most creators start to see traction after their first 20 to 50 videos, not their first 5.
The key is to treat your first few months as a testing ground, not a finish line.
Focus on improving your process, finding your voice, and building consistency. The algorithm favors creators who stick around.
Q2: How much should I invest in the beginning?
Start lean. Most beginners overthink tools and spend too early.
You can launch a quality channel with:
Free tools (like CapCut, Canva, ChatGPT)
Budget-friendly voiceover software (like ElevenLabs free tier)
Your own time, not a team
Once you’ve built a rhythm and proven consistency, then invest in outsourcing or paid upgrades.
Q3: What if I’m afraid all this effort will go to waste?
Every skill you develop—writing, editing, scripting, thinking like a creator—transfers to every future project.
Even if your first channel doesn’t take off, the system and knowledge you've built can power your second one in half the time.
No effort is ever wasted if you're learning, improving, and building resilience.
Q4: Should I wait until I have more time or money before starting?
No. Start with what you have now—even if it’s just 30 minutes a day.
Waiting for “perfect timing” is a delay tactic dressed up as logic.
Progress comes from showing up consistently with what you’ve got—not from waiting for more resources.
Q5: How do I stay consistent when no one is watching?
Track internal progress—not just public metrics.
Keep a list of weekly wins, celebrate every upload, and remind yourself that you're building the machine, not waiting for a miracle.
Join a creator community for support, accountability, and feedback. Success loves consistency—but consistency needs structure.
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