Kelly Gordon, a former chemistry professor turned superyacht captain, first stepped onto a yacht in 2007 with little knowledge of boats. Over the next 11 years, she worked towards becoming a captain while teaching at a community college in North Carolina. Today, she is a superyacht captain for ultra-high net worth individuals and documents her adventures on Instagram, which has turned into a successful side hustle. In 2021, her side hustle brought in $124,000 in revenue from sponsorships, public speaking gigs, ads, affiliate marketing, and merchandise sales.
Gordon discovered her love for yachting at age 26 when she went to a wedding reception on a boat and offered to help the overwhelmed captain. This led to her mentorship under the captain, where she learned all aspects of the boat. Yachting provided a peaceful respite for Gordon, who struggled with depression and anxiety in her 20s. By age 29, after receiving treatment for her mental health, she felt confident in herself. Gordon became a full-fledged boat captain the following year and continued balancing her teaching role until 2018.
In 2019, Gordon’s siblings convinced her to join Instagram and Facebook to stay in touch, where she started posting about her yachting adventures. Her videos gained traction beyond the yachting community, with one follower sharing how they inspired her during a severe illness. Gordon now spends eight to 16 hours per day on her client’s yacht, posting on social media when she’s not working actively. Her goal is to earn enough to pay herself a small income by 2025 and double her revenue every year to reach $1 million annually.
To grow her side hustle, Gordon plans to expand partnerships with sponsorships and charge more for speaking engagements. She also does not plan to leave yachting anytime soon since her appeal to followers depends on being onboard and she loves being on the water every day. Furthermore, she recently started a podcast about mental health, boat safety, and yachting careers. With over 10,000 Instagram followers, Gordon aims to continue inspiring people through her social media content and hopes to make yacht captaining her retirement job, traveling the world and attending events.
Overall, Kelly Gordon’s journey from a chemistry professor to a successful yacht captain and social media influencer showcases the power of following your passions and leveraging social media to grow a side hustle. Despite facing mental health struggles in her 20s, Gordon found solace in yachting and has now built a thriving business around her adventures. With ambitious goals to increase her revenue and continue inspiring others, Gordon’s story serves as a testament to the potential for growth and success through dedication and creativity in the digital age.
