I Earned ₹10,300 in 10 Days Using My Skills and My Father's Car

When I started the EYFI Challenge, my goal was simple: earn my first income.

I didn't have a business idea that I had been planning for months. Instead, I looked at what I already had. I had experience that could help my juniors with their final-year projects, and there was also my father's car, which often sat unused when I didn't need it.

I decided to try both.

Over 10 days, I earned ₹3,000 by helping juniors with their projects and documentation, and another ₹7,300 by renting out the car for self-drive. Together, these activities brought in ₹10,300.

Here's how it happened.

Starting With People Who Already Knew Me

My first idea was to offer project and documentation services to BTech juniors at my university.

Since I had graduated from the same university, I already had a connection with them. They knew me, and that familiarity made it easier to start a conversation.

On March 6, I began calling juniors and explaining what I could offer. Some showed interest, but they needed a few days to decide. I followed up on March 8, keeping the conversation open without being too pushy.

The waiting period was uncertain. I'd reached out to people, but I hadn't earned anything yet. I wasn't sure whether the interest would turn into actual work.

Then, on March 11, one junior confirmed a project worth ₹2,500. The next day, another junior gave me a documentation task worth ₹500.

I completed both and delivered the work on time.

That brought my earnings from these services to ₹3,000.

The experience taught me that finding a customer doesn't always happen immediately. Sometimes, the first conversation creates interest, but following up is what keeps the opportunity alive.

My Second Idea Came From Something I Already Owned

After earning from the project work, I started thinking about other ways I could make money.

That's when I looked at my father's car. On days when I wasn't using it, the car would sit unused. I wondered whether I could put it to use by renting it out for self-drive.

I decided to try it.

The arrangement was straightforward: customers could pick up the car, use it for the day, and return it. I charged a daily rental fee.

The idea worked better than I expected.

On March 13, I earned ₹2,000. On March 14, I earned ₹2,500. And on March 16, I earned ₹2,800.

Across those three rental transactions, the car brought in ₹7,300.

What surprised me most was that I hadn't thought of the car as an income-generating asset before the challenge. I had been looking for ways to earn by offering services, but I hadn't considered how something I already had could create an opportunity.

Two Different Ways to Earn

The two activities worked in very different ways.

The project and documentation service depended on my skills, reaching out to people, building trust, and delivering work on time. It took active effort, follow-ups, and several hours of work.

The car rental, on the other hand, came from identifying an asset that wasn't being used all the time and finding a way to put it to work.

Together, they helped me earn ₹10,300 in revenue over the challenge period, with no additional investment reported for either activity.

The experience also changed how I thought about starting something. I didn't need to build an entirely new business from scratch. I could begin with the skills and resources I already had.

What I Learned From My First ₹10,000

My biggest challenge was the uncertainty at the beginning. I reached out on March 6, but my first project was confirmed only on March 11. Those days made me question whether the effort would lead anywhere.

Following up helped me keep going.

I also learned how powerful personal trust can be. My juniors were more comfortable working with me because they already knew me. That connection helped open the door, but delivering the work on time was equally important.

Finally, I realised that opportunities can come from unexpected places. Sometimes, the next earning opportunity isn't a new skill to learn or a business idea to invent. It might be something you already know how to do, or something you already own.

If I were to do the challenge again, I'd reach out to more juniors from the beginning, ask satisfied customers for referrals, and set clear prices before starting work.

Just Start With What You Have

The EYFI Challenge pushed me to stop thinking about earning and actually try it.

I didn't wait for a perfect plan. I reached out to people, followed up, delivered work, and experimented with a second income stream when I saw an opportunity.

I'm Karrevula Vishnuvardhan Reddy, a Cohort 3 fellow at SR University, Warangal. Over 10 days, I earned ₹10,300 by using my existing skills and an underused asset.

If there's one thing I'd tell another student joining YouStart, it's this: start with what you already have. You don't need a perfect idea or a lot of money to begin. Take the first step, learn from the experience, and see where it leads.

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This story was adapted from Karrevula Vishnuvardhan Reddy's original EYFI Challenge report and edited by the YouStart team.