What to Start with? Balancing between Survey and Experimentation

I believe that for almost anything—hobbies, languages, investments, or side hustles—the earlier you start, the better. The reason is simple: it takes time to get into the rhythm of things. And what’s the earliest you can start? Right now. So, let’s begin.

But where should you start? For some, it means surveying and analyzing—asking questions like: What have others done? How good are they? For others, it means diving straight into action, creating something tangible right away, guided purely by instinct.

As a scientist who’s mentored many master’s and Ph.D. students, I’ve observed this dynamic firsthand. Some students dive in headfirst, immediately coding or proposing research methods. While their enthusiasm is commendable, this approach can be risky. More often than not, someone else has already explored similar ideas. That’s why starting with a thorough survey and analysis is so important.

On the flip side, I’ve seen students who spend months, even a year, reading papers, trying to fully grasp the state-of-the-art. Their hesitation often stems from a fear of making mistakes or a lack of confidence. These students need to take the plunge and move forward, even if they don’t fully understand every detail of their topic yet.

The same principle applies to learning languages, investing, or starting a side hustle. Should you focus on finding the most efficient way to learn a language, or jump in with something like Duolingo? Should you study advanced investment strategies or start small with stocks that seem promising?

So, what’s the right balance between surveying and experimenting? How much preparation is enough before you take action? It depends on the context. But since this series of posts is about side hustles, let’s focus on that.

I’m completely new to earning money outside of a typical job. I knew almost nothing about it when I started. So, my first step was to survey: What skills and advantages can I leverage? What opportunities exist right now? What platforms are available? How much are others making? What tools can I use?

The sheer amount of information was overwhelming. It reminded me of the early days of my master’s and Ph.D., when I was searching for a research topic to focus on. After a week of surveying, I realized I needed to take action, even if I wasn’t fully ready.

I decided on my first experiment: YouTube. It’s a simple idea that doesn’t require much upfront effort. I’m not expecting revenue right away; this is about learning. My initial goal is modest: to get my first view (from someone other than me!) and my first subscriber.

It all starts here. Peace!

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash