How to Turn a Hobby into a Career?

Imagine if you could earn a living by doing the things you love the most. Well, this dream could be a reality if you turn your hobby into a career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of us had spare time on our hands. Everybody was trying new things or pursuing their hobby a bit more seriously. With the world reeling under uncertainty, nobody knew when they could get back to their jobs. This was also a phase when many people lost their jobs. Instead of losing hope, people took advantage of this situation. They churned out ways to turn their hobby into a lucrative business idea. In fact, Shark Tank is testimony to this. Most of the businesses that appeared on the show this year were founded during the lockdown.

When you make a decision to go professional, you need to put proper consideration into it. Not all hobbies are good business ideas. If you want to turn your hobby into a job, this article is for you.

Before we get down to the tips, let’s understand what the word hobby means.

What is a Hobby?

A hobby is an activity that one does for fun, enjoyment or relaxation. A hobby is generally pursued in one’s spare time. Different people have different hobbies. For example, my hobby is cooking. I find it downright therapeutic to whip up something delicious. Quite often, I ponder if I should turn my hobby into something more lucrative or structured.

Hobbies that make Money: Tried and Tested Tips

• Choose your passion

Most individuals don’t have just one but many hobbies. However, you can’t turn everything into a business idea. This will just make you a jack of all trades and a master of none. A good idea would be to list down your hobbies and then figure out which one you love the most. Besides this, it is also important to pick one that seems most viable in terms of business. Check if that particular passion/hobby pays well. Assessing the market conditions is another thing you should do. We’ve listed down a few hobbies that make money:

• Creative: Writing, music, arts and crafts, photography, dancing and singing are a few creative pursuits that can make you some money. If you don’t know where to start, consider becoming a freelancer.
• Food & Drink: During the lockdown, a lot of people turned chefs. When some realised that they want to make a business out of it, they instantly made it their profession. Some of the hobbies that come under this category are baking, cooking, gardening, brewing and other culinary-related pursuits.
• Tech-based: Doing a tech-based gig as a freelancer pays well. Web design, software development, coding, programming, gaming, graphic design, editing and other tech-based skills are careers that are always in demand.

These are just a few ideas. If you have a passion that is unique, you’ll definitely find someone who is ready to pay you for it.

• Enhance your expertise

Career-based hobbies often require you to enhance your expertise. If you’re pretty serious about turning your hobby into a profession, you should probably enrol yourself in some kind of training/certification program. When your qualifications on paper are better, the money you make from it will be better too. The courses/programmes are usually expensive. However, think of it as an investment for your future. For example, if you’re someone who enjoys art, you can do a professional course to understand what it takes to make your passion as commercial as possible.

• Study the market

Before making a business plan, it’s always better to assess the market. In your head you might think there is a market for your products/service but is there really a market for your product/service? You will only understand that once you conduct a study. Market research will help you determine your audience. Identify what sets you apart and what your key differentiators are.

• Word-of-mouth marketing

The next step is to get the word out about your business in order to help it grow. Tell your family and friends about your hobby and how you’ve converted it into a business. Trust me, they are your biggest unpaid advocates as they may also be your first customers. Besides this, you can also use social media to your advantage. Alternatively, you can even blog or vlog, regularly and then slowly monetise your idea. To make some marketing buzz, tell everyone you meet about your new business.

• Nurture relationships & build a community

Once you’ve created a small business and found your ideal clientele, treat them like gold. Your initial customers are your biggest assets. To ensure they stick around, give them coupons, freebies and more.

• Network

For any business to click, networking is key. If you know someone who has turned the same hobby as yours into a business, speak with them. When you align yourself with individuals who share similar interests, you’re more likely to succeed. And, by networking we don’t just mean social media sites or LinkedIn. Visit start-up exhibitions and coworking spaces, and interact with people who’ve been in the same shoes as you a few years ago.

• Learn from your mistakes and move forward

When you’re starting a business, things don’t always go as planned. Instead of giving up, learn from your mistakes and move forward. You can’t expect to taste success overnight. For every business idea to succeed, failing is a must. Turning a passion into a career isn’t easy. You will make a lot of mistakes along the way but don’t get too hard on yourself. When things don’t go as planned, practice positive self-talk. This will help you stay motivated and on track.

As they say, if you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. So, if you’re someone who has a passion for something or feel strongly about a hobby, it’s probably time to turn it into a career or full-time profession. Honestly, it’s a gamble worth taking.