"The $30K Mistake Most Officers Make (and How to Dodge It)"

Every year, I see officers lose over $30K in potential business income.

Not because they didn't work hard. But because they worked hard on the wrong things.

They build a side hustle the same way they run their shift:

• Head down

• All-in

• Responding to whatever comes next

But a business isn’t a patrol route. It’s a system.

And when you treat it like just "extra shifts" off-duty? You never break out. You just burn out.

Let me show you what to do instead.

🚨 The $30K Burnout Blueprint

A few years back, I coached a former corrections sergeant—we’ll call him “D”.

D had a promising threat assessment service. Clients loved him. Word was spreading.

But he was stuck.

Revenue hovered at $2K/month—even though he was spending 15+ hours a week on it.

When I peeked under the hood? I found three core problems:

1. No structured lead gen

2. No offer ladder

3. No repeatable delivery system

I helped him fix all three. Within 6 months, his monthly revenue tripled. Within a year? He was at $90K.

Here’s how.

⚙ Tactical Fix: The Law Enforcement Business System

You need three things. Not five. Not seven. Just three.

1. Lead Engine (System for getting attention)

• Choose ONE platform you show up on consistently (e.g., Facebook, email list, LinkedIn)

• Post 2x/week: show proof, share stories, solve problems

• Bonus: Use outreach DMs weekly to build real convos

2. Offer Stack (System for selling something valuable)

• Start with a clear Core Offer (e.g., $500 risk audit)

• Add a Premium Option (e.g., $1,500 annual retainer)

• Later: Add a DIY option (e.g., $99 course or checklist)

3. Delivery Framework (System for saving your sanity)

• Document what you do for every client

• Build templates, repeatable steps, and onboarding docs

• Systemize what you can. Offload what you must.

When you run this system for 90 days? You go from side hustle to steady operator.

🧭 Big Picture: You’re Not Just the Muscle Anymore

As cops, we’re used to being the ones who execute. But in business? Execution without architecture = exhaustion.

You’re the builder now.

That means:

• Step back and assess

• Build infrastructure, not just hustle

• Think like a tactician, not a technician

This shift—from doer to designer—is where the money lives. And the freedom.

💬 Final Word

Don’t let another $30K slip through your gloves.

You can work just as hard and make twice as much— if you’re working on the right things.

So ask yourself:

If not? You’re not stuck. You’re just unsystemized.

Let’s fix that.

🔁 Repeatable Quote

Big Idea Recap: Most officers build their side hustle like they run a shift—nonstop motion, no direction. But business is a system. And systems scale.

Sticky Quote: "You can hustle your way to burnout or systemize your way to freedom. Choose your fight."

CTA: Save this tip 📀

See you next time,

Kevin St John
Business Strategist, Beatline Capital