Issue #11: From Tech Snob To Franchise Fanboy: A Transformation Story

In partnership with

How My Wife Made Me Basic and (hopefully) Rich

Remember last month's conversation with my wife about franchising? The one where I was being an absolute snob? Let me refresh your memory:

ME: "Franchising seems a bit... pedestrian. What will my newsletter readers think?"

KIRSTEN: "Sometimes I think you care more about your image than actual opportunities."

ME: "But franchising just seems so... un-entrepreneur-like. It's like using cheat codes in a video game."

KIRSTEN: (exasperated) "Or it's like smart business strategy. Not everything has to be built from scratch to be valuable, Greg." (I love it when she says my name)

Well, folks, she was right. Once again, my brilliant wife saw the opportunity while I was too busy worrying about my entrepreneurial street cred.

What Actually Happened

While I was busy trying to look like a "real entrepreneur," Kirsten was analyzing real market opportunities. She found something fascinating: A rapidly growing company solving an obvious problem that everyone has but nobody's really fixed.

Enter ChargeFUZE.

And no, I can't call this a franchise because franchisees have too many rights in Canada. The lawyers want me to say, "Non-Exclusive Perpetual Distribution License Opportunity Subject To Territorial Rights And Limitations As Per Schedule A Subsection 3.2.1" or some equally thrilling legal jargon. I think they get paid by the syllable and have kids in private schools to support.

What the Hell is ChargeFUZE?

It's brilliantly simple: You find a charging station, scan a QR code, grab a portable battery pack, and charge your phone while you keep moving. When you're done, return it to any station in the network.

The concept has already taken North America by storm:

• Powers over half of all pro sports arenas

• Thousands of locations across the US

• Major partnerships with venues and events

• Only been in Canada for a few months

Why Canada? Why Now?

Three things are happening simultaneously:

1. Phone batteries are getting crushed by new AI-powered apps

2. We're more dependent on our phones than ever

3. The post-pandemic event scene is exploding

Why Calgary? Why Now?

Have you been paying attention to what's happening in Calgary lately? This city is transforming into an entertainment powerhouse:

• A massive new convention centre that's about to become Western Canada's largest

• An entire new entertainment district under construction, anchored by a state-of-the-art arena

• And let's talk about the Calgary Stampede – 1.5 MILLION people over 10 days. For perspective, that's more foot traffic than the US Tennis Open, where ChargeFUZE did 55,000 phone charges at a single event.

The Real Secret Sauce

While everyone's focused on rental revenue (which is already impressive), there's another revenue stream that most people haven't factored into their calculations: adFUZE™.

Coming soon, every charging station becomes a digital advertising platform, beaming targeted ads directly to screens in high-traffic, premium locations. Think about it:

• Captive audience

• Premium venues

• High-intent customers

• Direct engagement opportunities

And here's the kicker – early projections suggest this adFUZE™ revenue could potentially outperform the rental income. But shhh... let's keep that between us newsletter insiders for now.

Most people running their proformas are missing this piece entirely. Their loss, our gain.

Putting My Money Where My Newsletter Is

Here's where it gets interesting. You know how I'm always talking about side hustles and entrepreneurial opportunities? Well, I just went all-in on one.

I've committed significant savings to secure rights in a city of 1.5 million people. Why? Because I believe in bringing real opportunities to my readers, not just writing about them.

But here's the best part – you don't have to go nearly that big.

Your Invitation to the Revolution

If you're in Canada (sorry, US folks – check ChargeFUZE.com for your local opportunities), you can be part of this charging revolution:

• Own your own ChargeFUZE station

• Place it in your venue of choice

• Join a rapidly growing network

For Calgary readers – you can join my specific network. We're just getting started here, and the prime locations are still available.

Don't believe me? Download the ChargeFUZE app and check out the location map. While Canada's presence is still new (just a few months in!), take a look at any major US city to see where this is heading.

Why Am I Telling You This?

Listen, I've put my savings on the line to bring you a genuine side hustle opportunity that I can document and write about in real time. This isn't just another newsletter – it's an invitation to build something together.

Because that's what building in public is all about – sharing real opportunities, not just talking about them.

Reply with chargeFUZE, and I will provide more information on the opportunities.

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ The Real Side Hustle Sauce ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

All you side hustlers, listen up. See this ad below ⬇️. This is your money-printing machine.

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You click this link, and the newsletter makes $1.50.

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Side Hustle Inspiration

(no time for curated links this week)

Follow these people:

While everyone's out there trying to reinvent the wheel, this tweet breaks down the essence of selling into five brutally simple steps. Strip away all the fancy marketing jargon and 'growth hacking' buzzwords, and this is the framework that actually works:

Before you scroll past another 'overnight success' story, check this out. Here's someone telling the raw truth about building from zero - no fancy shortcuts, no secret formulas, just pure persistence. In a world of 'get rich quick' schemes, this hit me right in the feels:

This is just baller:

Side Hustle Guides

⚠️ IMPORTANT PATCH NOTES ⚠️

Dear valued user,

All side hustle guides in this newsletter are written in fluent Geek (a dialect that includes but is not limited to: RPG references, gaming metaphors, and enough pop culture Easter eggs to fill a Dragon's hoard).

If you find yourself thinking:

• "What the heck is an NPC?"

• "Is a raid boss something I should report to HR?"

• "Why are we talking about leveling up? I just want to make money!"

DON'T PANIC! (That's a Hitchhiker's Guide reference... oh wait, maybe I should stop...)

You have three options:

1. Embrace the geekiness and join our party

2. Hit reply with "I NEED A TRANSLATOR" for the normie-friendly version

3. Roll your eyes at my dedication to this bit while still somehow getting value from the content

Remember: I love ALL my readers, even those who think D&D is just a really poor grade average. We're here to make money AND have fun - no min-maxing required!

🎮 Side Hustle Spotlight: The Transcription Quest

Level 1 Adventure Guide

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Investment: Flexible | Starting Gold: $0

TUTORIAL LEVEL OVERVIEW: In this beginner-friendly quest, you'll learn to convert audio messages into text for gold. Think of it as being a medieval scribe but with better ergonomics and no quill-related injuries.

🎯 Before You Start This Quest

Required Equipment:

• A computer (your trusty steed)

• Decent internet connection (your teleportation scroll)

• Headphones (your listening helm)

• Basic typing skills for editing (no speed requirements!)

• Either a Google account or updated iOS device (your spell books)

🗺️ Detailed Quest Path (Complete Noob Edition)

PHASE 1: JOIN THE TRANSCRIBERS' GUILD

1. Head directly to www.rev.com/freelancers

   • This is your direct portal to the Transcribers' Guild

   • Bookmark it for future quests!

2. You might see a "Waitlist" message

   • Don't panic! This is like those "Server Full" messages in MMOs

   • Sign up anyway - it's often more for show than actual waiting

   • Many successful transcribers report the waitlist mysteriously vanished

   • The worst they can say is "not yet"

3. Sign in with Google or Apple

   • Keeps your quest log (credentials) organized

   • One less password to remember

   • Added security perks

4. Complete the application

   • Be honest - they can detect Charisma spell enchantments

   • Take the transcription test (it's like the tutorial level)

   • Wait for approval (usually 24-48 hours)

PHASE 2: THE ULTIMATE HACK (Your Special Ability)

🚨 MAJOR SPOILER ALERT 🚨 Here's the game-changing strategy that turns this from "impossible grind" to "actually doable side hustle" - YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO TYPE!

Choose Your Weapon:

🌐 GOOGLE DOCS BUILD (PC Master Race Edition):

1. Open Google Chrome (required!)

2. Create new Google Doc

3. Click "Tools"

4. Find "Voice Typing" (🎤 icon)

5. Position next to Rev.com window

📱 iOS BUILD (Mobile Warrior Edition):

1. Latest iOS required

2. Open Apple Notes

3. Use built-in transcription

4. Perfect for mobile grinding

The Actual Process (Your Combo Move):

1. Play the Rev.com audio through computer speakers

2. Let Google Docs/Apple Notes hear it

3. Watch the words appear LIKE MAGIC

4. Copy and paste into Rev's editor

5. Clean up any mistakes (way fewer than typing!)

PHASE 3: YOUR FIRST QUEST

1. Log into Rev.com (with your Google/Apple ID)

2. Look for files marked:

   • "Easy" or "Clean Audio"

   • Short duration (5 mins or less)

   • Clear speakers

   • No heavy accents

3. Preview BEFORE claiming

   • Check audio quality

   • Listen for multiple speakers

   • Check for background noise

   • Make sure you can understand everyone

4. Use The Secret Technique:

   • Preview with headphones

   • Remove headphones for transcription

   • Let AI do the heavy lifting

   • Edit for accuracy

   • Submit for review

💰 Real Talk About Loot Drops

Beginner Phase (First Week):

• Day 1-2: Practice with 1-2 short files

• Day 3-4: Aim for 3-4 short files

• Day 5-7: Try one longer file

• Expected initial loot: $20-50 (everyone starts at level 1)

Mid-Game Potential (2-4 Weeks In):

Once you've mastered the voice-to-text technique and gotten comfortable with the platform:

• $200-300 per week is totally achievable

• That's with minimal grinding

• Usually just a few hours a day

• Perfect for side quest income

End-Game Numbers (Experienced Players):

• Several hundred dollars per week? Absolutely possible

• Even better - this is mostly passive effort thanks to our AI spell casting

• You're basically getting paid to listen and edit

• The real grind is finding your rhythm, not the actual work

Think of it like an MMO:

• Level 1-10: Learning the controls ($20-50/week)

• Level 10-20: Getting efficient ($100-200/week)

• Level 20+: Farming like a pro ($300+/week with minimal effort)

Pro Tip: The key to high-level farming isn't typing faster - it's mastering the voice-to-text spell and choosing the right quests (files) to take on. Work smarter, not harder!

⚠️ Common Noob Mistakes (Damage Control)

• Don't take long files immediately (that's like fighting the dragon at level 1)

• Don't rush through files (accuracy > speed)

• Don't forget to save your work frequently

• Don't take files with heavy accents until you level up

• Don't skip the style guide (it's like your quest objectives)

🎮 Final Loading Screen Message

Look, fellow adventurers, here's the real deal:

I'm no expert at transcription - I'm just your friendly neighbourhood side hustle tester. Think of me as that player who tries every class in the game and shares what I learn along the way. I probably made a bunch of noob mistakes in this guide that you'll figure out better ways to handle.

That's the whole point of this newsletter: We're all learning together. Soon enough, YOU'LL be the one teaching ME the advanced strats for this hustle. And I can't wait for that!

My job isn't to be the ultimate transcription guru - it's to get you excited enough to try something new. To show you that side hustles don't have to be scary, complicated, or require years of training montages.

So hit reply and tell me:

• Did you try this?

• Did you find better ways to do it?

• What did I get wrong?

• What did I miss?

Your feedback helps the whole community level up!