I started a side hustle while working at Yelp — then went all in on my business. I've made over $112,000 in revenue and feel so fulfilled.
I never set out to build a global brand—I just followed what felt natural as things started to click.
It began as an inside joke: “vacation darts don’t count.” To me, that meant giving yourself permission to break your routine a little while you’re away—having an extra margarita, going back for thirds at the buffet, or striking up a conversation you wouldn’t normally have. It’s about not taking life too seriously and letting yourself enjoy the moment.
I turned that idea into a logo, printed it on a hat at a shop in downtown Toronto, and wore it out. People kept stopping me to ask about it. A few days later, a guy at a bar offered me $50 for the hat right off my head. That’s when I realized this could be something real—people immediately understood and connected with the idea.
At the time, I was working full-time in a restaurant-focused role at a tech company. I started Vacation Darts as a side hustle in mid-2024, and by early 2025, we launched our first products and began generating revenue.
My routine became intense. After work, I’d spend my evenings building the website, designing products, and refining the brand—often working until 2 or 3 a.m. while friends were out enjoying their free time. Over time, it started to wear on me. I felt split between my job and the business, giving half my energy to each instead of fully committing to one. What started as excitement began to feel draining.
But the growth was undeniable. Within a year, the business generated over $125,000 in transactions and more than $112,500 in revenue. It became clear that the more time and energy I invested, the faster it grew. That made the decision obvious.
At the start of 2026, I left my job to focus on Vacation Darts full-time. It was a big leap, and definitely nerve-wracking to walk away from a steady paycheck. But it also felt exciting—like standing on the edge of something meaningful that was entirely mine to build.
Since making the transition, the excitement has come back. Now I can give the business the attention it deserves.
Looking back, two things made the biggest difference:
1. Build something authentic
The idea worked because it was genuine. It reflected something I believed in—and something a lot of people relate to. Vacation Darts taps into a shared feeling: the freedom to be a more relaxed, spontaneous version of yourself. Staying true to that—through humor, community, and relatability—has been key.
2. Use social media and AI strategically
In the beginning, I didn’t spend on ads. Growth came from organic content, word of mouth, and people sharing the idea. I also reached out directly—if someone engaged with a post, I’d message them and start a conversation. That’s how early influencer connections happened.
AI became a useful tool, too. I used it to refine outreach messages, summarize performance data, and brainstorm ideas. Instead of letting it overwhelm me, I treated it as a support system.
I don’t see myself going back to a traditional job. I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t believe this could work—but now that I’ve experienced building something of my own, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else.
There’s a unique kind of fulfillment that comes from creating something people genuinely connect with. It’s unpredictable, sometimes stressful, but also incredibly rewarding. And once you feel that momentum, that sense of ownership and possibility—it’s hard to let it go.
I never set out to build a global brand—I just followed what felt natural as things started to click.
It began as an inside joke: “vacation darts don’t count.” To me, that meant giving yourself permission to break your routine a little while you’re away—having an extra margarita, going back for thirds at the buffet, or striking up a conversation you wouldn’t normally have. It’s about not taking life too seriously and letting yourself enjoy the moment.
I turned that idea into a logo, printed it on a hat at a shop in downtown Toronto, and wore it out. People kept stopping me to ask about it. A few days later, a guy at a bar offered me $50 for the hat right off my head. That’s when I realized this could be something real—people immediately understood and connected with the idea.
At the time, I was working full-time in a restaurant-focused role at a tech company. I started Vacation Darts as a side hustle in mid-2024, and by early 2025, we launched our first products and began generating revenue.
My routine became intense. After work, I’d spend my evenings building the website, designing products, and refining the brand—often working until 2 or 3 a.m. while friends were out enjoying their free time. Over time, it started to wear on me. I felt split between my job and the business, giving half my energy to each instead of fully committing to one. What started as excitement began to feel draining.
But the growth was undeniable. Within a year, the business generated over $125,000 in transactions and more than $112,500 in revenue. It became clear that the more time and energy I invested, the faster it grew. That made the decision obvious.
At the start of 2026, I left my job to focus on Vacation Darts full-time. It was a big leap, and definitely nerve-wracking to walk away from a steady paycheck. But it also felt exciting—like standing on the edge of something meaningful that was entirely mine to build.
Since making the transition, the excitement has come back. Now I can give the business the attention it deserves.
Looking back, two things made the biggest difference:
1. Build something authentic
The idea worked because it was genuine. It reflected something I believed in—and something a lot of people relate to. Vacation Darts taps into a shared feeling: the freedom to be a more relaxed, spontaneous version of yourself. Staying true to that—through humor, community, and relatability—has been key.
2. Use social media and AI strategically
In the beginning, I didn’t spend on ads. Growth came from organic content, word of mouth, and people sharing the idea. I also reached out directly—if someone engaged with a post, I’d message them and start a conversation. That’s how early influencer connections happened.
AI became a useful tool, too. I used it to refine outreach messages, summarize performance data, and brainstorm ideas. Instead of letting it overwhelm me, I treated it as a support system.
I don’t see myself going back to a traditional job. I wouldn’t have left if I didn’t believe this could work—but now that I’ve experienced building something of my own, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else.
There’s a unique kind of fulfillment that comes from creating something people genuinely connect with. It’s unpredictable, sometimes stressful, but also incredibly rewarding. And once you feel that momentum, that sense of ownership and possibility—it’s hard to let it go.