By Emmanuel Akrong, Founder & CEO of CedisPay

Five years ago, I was at one of the lowest points in my life — grieving the unimaginable loss of my wife and son, followed by the loss of my job. My financial life was in chaos: I was drowning in debt, had no savings, and was overwhelmed. But something shifted when my coach challenged me with a simple but powerful line:

• “Do something meaningful with your pain.”: From that moment, I became committed to rewriting my financial story — not just for myself, but for anyone who had ever felt stuck or left behind by the traditional system. Today, I’ve built a portfolio of income streams, including CedisPay, investments, advisory, and fintech solutions. I’ve also created the following:
  • CedisPay 7 Baby Steps™, a framework that helps others take charge of their finances one simple step at a time.
  • CedisPay my financial wellbeing budget app, financial coaching and developed a framework called
  • Elephant, ant and hare. Our flagship behavioral model helps you understand the 3 internal forces that drive your financial behavior:
    • 🐘 The Elephant – your emotions
    • 🐜 The Ant – your logic and discipline
    • 🐇 The Hare – your energy and drive
  Grounded in human biology and behavioral science, this model helps you align your emotions, thinking, and motivation — so you stay on track and make better money decisions over time. 🔗 Learn more: https://cedispay.com.gh/elephant-ant-hare-framework
• The CedisPay Habit Loop™: Money success isn’t just about how much you earn — it’s about the habits you build every day. The CedisPay Habit Loop helps you break negative cycles, form empowering routines, and stack small wins that grow into big financial progress. It’s behavioral design applied to your money life. Because when you change your habits, you change your outcomes.
• The CedisPay 7 Baby Steps™: A practical, proven roadmap to guide you from financial survival to financial freedom. These 7 simple steps are built to help you:
  • Build savings
  • Eliminate debt
  • Create safety nets
  • Invest wisely
  • Grow your wealth — one step at a time
It’s a journey of momentum, mastery, and meaningful progress. 🔗 See all 7 steps: https://cedispay.com.gh/financial-baby-steps

If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle — or are currently on the journey — here’s my best advice, drawn from experience and grounded in the financial wellbeing principles we live by at CedisPay:
• Focus on One Income Stream First: One of the biggest mistakes I see new side hustlers make — especially in Ghana and across Africa — is trying to do everything at once:
  • Start a delivery service
  • Launch a food business
  • Trade crypto
  • Try real estate
  • Flip phones on OLX
  What ends up happening? Burnout, confusion, and unnecessary debt. Start with one stream. Master it. Understand what works and what doesn’t. Build momentum. Then expand. That’s how I built CedisPay — by focusing on solving one clear problem: helping people take control of their money. CedisPay Principle: Clarity beats hustle. Depth beats dabbling
• Stay in the Game Long Enough to Win: My first few ventures brought in just a little money — not enough to live on. I could have given up, and almost did. But I kept showing up, kept learning, and kept building. In Ghana, many side hustlers expect quick returns. The truth? It takes time and consistency. You might not make anything in your first few months. But keep refining, keep serving, and you’ll eventually break through. CedisPay Principle: Financial wellbeing is built step-by-step, not in one viral moment.
• Invest in the Right Knowledge and Community: Early on, I tried to figure everything out myself. I consumed free content, read blogs, and watched YouTube videos. But I wasn’t moving. I was stuck in an information overload. When I finally paid for a structured course and joined a focused group, things shifted. I learned faster, got feedback, and saw small wins. That built momentum. Whether it’s a course on Etsy, digital marketing, or investing, don’t be afraid to invest in your learning. It's not an expense — it’s your growth plan. CedisPay Principle: Don’t go it alone. The right education compresses time.
• Build a Life, Not Just a Business: You weren’t born just to work. One thing I often remind side hustlers is: money is a tool, not the goal. Be intentional about how you use your time. If your side hustle requires sacrificing your health, family time, or peace, it’s time to reassess. Ask yourself: Does this hustle fit into the life I want? Can I scale this without losing my weekends and sanity? Eventually, you can hire help. But in the beginning, be honest about the trade-offs. CedisPay Principle: Your time is the real wealth. Build around your values, not just profits.
• Embrace the Unknown — Growth Lives There: Starting something new is scary — especially when you’ve never done it before. But every income stream I’ve built came from stepping into the unknown, learning by doing, and failing forward. The most successful people I know have one thing in common: a growth mindset. They believe they can learn, adapt, and figure it out — no matter what. On the other hand, those who feel “stuck” are often waiting to feel ready. Truth is, you’ll never feel 100% ready. Start where you are. CedisPay Principle: Progress beats perfection. Every step forward teaches you something.

Final Word: Build the Life You Want, One Step at a Time

Success isn’t about doing everything right. It’s about doing something, learning, and trying again. Don’t be afraid of mistakes. Don’t be afraid of slow progress. I’ve failed many times. But each failure taught me something that brought me closer to where I am today. If you’re starting a side hustle, start with clarity, consistency, and courage. And remember, you’re not alone. CedisPay exists to walk this journey with you — to provide the financial tools, education, and motivation to help you build not just income, but freedom.