How It All Got Started

It all started when…

When I was a college student a few years ago, I just knew I was going to change the way that people saw fitness centers. I spent my time outside of class, and sometimes in class, trying to complete a mobile app called Fittus. The app was going to help gym members find workout partners. I did everything from building prototypes to performing in pitch competitions. I was sure that by the time I graduated, I would have made enough progress (and money) to justify not working a job.

With no money saved and no functional app, it was time to get to work. I started my corporate journey managing a UPS store. Every day before my shift, I would wake up early and hit the Entrepreneurship Center at Suffolk University. I put in work before I actually had to go to work. After my shifts, I would go to local networking events hoping to make that one connection that would change everything. That one investor or coder who would come in and take the app to the next level. I always felt like I was one introduction away from becoming a true entrepreneur.

But that never happened. I never found the overnight success. I realized that I was going to earn my keep another way. I was going to have to work until this app “took off”. What started as a habit became a lifestyle. Working up early or staying late to make progress on my business became an afterthought. After a while, it became fun. I started to look forward to lunch breaks, days off and weekends. Any free time that came my way was put towards making any progress I could on my app.

Then, I got tired.

 I got tired of not seeing results. Tired of not finding the right partner and just tired of working for nothing. I became frustrated and I needed an outlet. I found one in my friend Shaun Bedgood. Shaun, at the time, was a full-time cop at Suffolk University and a stand-up comic. He would do sets in and around the City of Boston. When his sets were done, he would head over to Suffolk to work the overnight shift. I knew Shaun growing up, but we became re-acquainted at this time. Whenever we had time to spare, we would sit down and vent.

Shaun would discuss his plans to move to New York or Los Angeles to further his career. He would talk about eventually not having to work and being able to devote all of his time to his comedic craft. I would talk through my mistakes as a budding CEO and run my plans for world domination by him. These sessions were helpful, so they became regular. One day we thought, other people should hear this. Our conversations, this lifestyle…this HAS to be inspirational to someone else.

Enter: The Moonlighters’ Agency

The Moonlighters’ Agency showcases entrepreneurs who double as full-time employees. From interviews to live shows, we’ve provided a place for people to share their passions to a wider audience.

We have been showcasing exceptional individuals in the workforce for over years.  From DJ’s who double as IT admins, to employees of pharmaceutical companies who are starting their own health brands, we have created experiences with numerous people across industries.

We helped these people share their stories on how they got into their respective careers, the pros and cons of employment and how they came across their moonlighting passion.  While the end goal was different for everyone, every story provided tips on how to successfully manage employment while maintaining a healthy personal life.

We are always looking for more stories and we aren’t just highlighting moonlighters. We’re looking for people who have aspirations of starting a business or passion project from scratch. These are people who excel at work and still have the time and energy to support their own venture.  These people should be championed.  

-Joel Edwards