The Ultimate Hobby Killer
If you're good at something, never do it for free. Take this phrase with a grain of salt.
It's important to end up in a career you love, but having hobbies – and keeping them that way – is crucial too.
If someone is truly passionate about something, they can make a business out of it and still have fun doing it. But a hobby isn't always a passion – it's something you do in your spare time.
Imagine being a drummer. This is something you've loved doing for over a decade. Your skill has hit a marketable level and you decide to make money off of it. You join a band, start playing gigs and the cash rolls in. You're doing what you love and getting paid to do it. What's wrong with that?
There's nothing wrong with it. But if you want to enjoy your hobby down the road, you should rethink your plan to turn it into a business.
Something changes when a hobby is done full-time for pay. Late hours, arguments with co-workers, and pressure to remain relevant will be constant problems. It's not worth it to lose something you once did for fun. After a while of making money off your craft, it won't be as enjoyable anymore – and putting it back in the "hobby" category won't be easy.
There should be a line draw between work and life, whenever possible. If you can do that, you'll get work done and you'll be able to enjoy all the things that are important to you.
Now, everyone needs a hobby, and the one you really enjoy shouldn't be done for money. Do it because you want to – not because the bills need to be paid. You'll thank me later.
But, what do you think? Please leave feedback – and if you disagree, let's get at it!
