An American lecturer living in Taiwan found a creative way to share his love of travel with kids around the world—and built a profitable side hustle along the way.
Challenge
After spending over a decade teaching English and philosophy at a university in Taiwan, Andrew B. still felt something was missing. Though he enjoyed his academic life, he wanted a creative outlet—something that would let him express his passion for travel and culture.
The inspiration came unexpectedly. On a trip to Thailand, Andrew thought about his niece and nephew back home in Ohio, who were just learning to read. He wanted to help them experience the magic of world cultures, even from thousands of miles away.
So he wrote and illustrated a short story about their imaginary adventures through Thailand—complete with elephants, monks, and tigers. The book became a family treasure.
Years later, rereading that story gave him an idea: What if other kids could “travel” the world through stories, too?
Action
That thought became the foundation for The Adventurous Mailbox, a subscription book series introducing children to countries around the world through fun, illustrated adventures.
Andrew moved to southern Taiwan to focus on the project. By day, he taught classes; by night, he wrote stories and planned logistics. He partnered with a talented New Zealand illustrator and worked with a local printing house to create high-quality books.
To make the experience immersive, Andrew packaged each set like a parcel “sent from abroad”—complete with foreign stamps, newspaper wrappings, and a personalized letter from the story’s main character.
When it came time to launch, he built a WooCommerce website and began marketing online. His first ads didn’t work—too much text, not enough clarity. So he simplified: added a video, bold “Buy Now” buttons, and reached out to parenting bloggers.
Sales immediately improved.
Result
The Adventurous Mailbox now earns around $2,000 per month, with teachers and homeschooling parents becoming some of his biggest supporters. Andrew expanded the offering into a full educational kit, including vocabulary exercises, geography lessons, and creative writing prompts.
The project not only created income but also a deep sense of purpose—helping kids see the world as a place full of diversity and wonder.
Lesson
Andrew’s story shows how creativity and curiosity can become a business when paired with structure and persistence. He didn’t just make books; he built an experience that connected learning with imagination.
And his biggest takeaway? Don’t make people hunt for your product. If you’re proud of what you’ve built—make it easy to buy.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.