A full-time lawyer with 10 income streams shares her biggest flops, and the easiest way to earn side money in 2026

Lucy Zheng, a lawyer with 10 income streams, has shared her biggest failures and the easiest methods to generate side income in 2026. She has experimented with various ventures, such as a fashion blog, bounce-house business, Etsy shops, and a real estate sign business. However, some of these initiatives were unsuccessful, including a recycled-plastic tote bag venture and a leather hat business.

Zheng emphasizes the importance of having a solid plan when starting a business, as physical products and inventory can be challenging. She also notes that highly time-intensive ventures, like her previous fashion blog, may not be sustainable in the long run. To generate passive income, Zheng suggests starting with user-generated content (UGC), which involves creating videos for brands to use in their marketing.

UGC creators do not necessarily need a large following, and the cost of getting started is minimal. All that is needed is a smartphone, a tripod, and a ring light for filming at night. With free editing tools like CapCut and Instagram Edits, anyone can create UGC content and pitch themselves to potential clients. Zheng's long-term goal is to create income streams that do not depend on her daily efforts, such as investing in rental properties and building a paid community and newsletter.