I was talking to some friends the other day about turning something they loved doing into a job rather than a hobby. You know, now that they have to do it, rather than want to do it, the fun is gone for them. Do you think that you would feel this way about the fun things that you do? Or do you think that you would still enjoy them?
[question posted by kelly60]
responses and comments:
For every biz, hobby and friendship that I involved for pretty sure there be 'return on investment'(ROI) no matter for small or big things. The imperative part in our life is to create the fundamental interest for what ever we involved in. That is only the way to make it last long and to generate more linking to it. So that everybody make earnings. [michaeldadona]
Three are so many great hobbies out there that people could make money from. Personally, I do some photography work. At first it was fun, and even though I still enjoy doing it, I enjoy it less and less as I continue working one one of the really lengthy projects for the picture DVDs I make. It has turned into a job, and wasn't nearly as much fun anymore. [kelly60]
So very true. My husband plays guitar and he says when it becomes a job the fun is gone. The only time he plays is when he feels like it. He does go when he gets asked to do a set with a band most times he's asked because he really enjoys that. I like Knitting mens socks but if I had to sit and do that for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. NO NOT That would no longer be relaxing or enjoyable. [Grandmaof2]
I love to sing Karaoke and so do many of my friends. I have a few friends though who run karaoke for a living. Most of them don't go out to sing karaoke when they aren't working. They also don't have near the fun that they used to have at karaoke. Singing karaoke is one of my favorite things to do, and I don't want to spoil my fun by turning it into a job that takes the fun out of it. I will fill in for one of my friends when he needs a little help or whatever, but one of my friends told me that taking on a full time job took the fun out of it for him. [kelly60]
if you are looking to make some real money online doing nothing more then just chatting, blogging, and making friends then you need to sign up for Yuwie. the money that could be made here is amazing. all you need to do is log in every day and chat with friend, blog, add pics, and get to sign up. i tell you it is the best! http://www.yuwie.com/yuwie.asp?r=5952 if you don't believe me, sign up and ask around, everyone there loves it [34momma]
I think it would be really great doing what you love and actually making money from/with it. I think I would not have any problems going to work anymore [mistissa]
I think that it would be great to make money doing what you love for a while, but don't you think that you would get tired of it after a while? So many things aren't fun any more if you do them because you have to, rather than because you want to. [kelly60]
Well, I love writing and was recently offered a job writing some stuff for a few online sites and magazines. To be honest when they made me the first offer I almost fell over. I was like, "Wait, you are going to pay me HOW MUCH to write this stuff?" I couldn't believe the offer but accepted it in a heart beat. I doubt I will get rich from it but it is nice when someone reads what you wrote and likes it. [freak369]
I agree, and I also enjoy writing so it is great when I get paid for it. I don't think that I would want to make it a steady job though. I think that I would get to the point where I was no longer having fun with it, and only writing because I had to do it. [kelly60]
Have experience with this - for 35+ years I've crochetted afghans for friends and family. Last year I 'went professional' and started selling them - now I'm having to force myself to finish one that has been special ordered and I dread it every time I pick up the hook. I think we all need something in our lives 'just for fun' and when we turn it into a business there is a very good chance it won't be fun anymore but WORK. [byfaithonly]
That is the best way to do it. I don't like to be rushed because then I feel like I'm being pushed into doing something. I like to be able to have fun with it, and not feel like I'm under a lot of pressure to get it done in a big hurry. That just causes too much stress and stress kills creativity, or at least it does for me. My life is stressful enough without added pressure. [kelly60]
Making money online is a hobby for me. Though I am making a good extra income, it would take some time to be able to quit my other jobs. I think if it were enough to do full time and make a living I ould still enjoy it. I love being home and my goal is to not have to work outside my home. [kkssbbmm123]
I also enjoy earning extra money online although I don't make enough to support my family from it either. It is great for supplemental income, but I won't count on earning a living from it. [kelly60]
yes for instance i love singing but once i have to perform, then it becomes a chore. even if it's just an amateur performance, having to memorise the lyrics and sing it again adn again to get it right... it becomes repetitive and stressful. i suppose if the objective is to keep your customers happy instead of keeping yourself happy (as hobbies are menat to be) then it becomes less fun. I've toyed with the idea of teaching Scrapbooking classes when i get good enough, but the same reasons I've cited above makes me think twice. thanks for this discussion! [squaretile]
I know what you mean. I love karaoke and get a great amount of enjoyment from it, but even entering a minor contest puts on pressure because you have to practice your song again and again to try to get it perfect. One of the things we are judged for at the contest is our ability to sing the songs without looking at the screen which many karaoke singers aren't used to doing. If you were to become a performer where you were expected to do this on stage every night, you would be expected to do it well with no prompts. With karaoke, you are allowed to mess up. As a live performer, they expect much more of you. I think that I will stick with the karaoke. [kelly60]
Most people said if you do what you enjoy the money will flow because it does not feel like work. I love to crochet, and I think if I were to do it as a business I would enjoy. I really don't see why the fun would not be there. [venshida]
I am sure that it would remain enjoyable for a while, but I just wonder if after a while you might find that you were doing it because you had to rather than you wanted to. Sometimes when I feel that way, I don't get nearly the enjoyment out of things because I feel pressured into getting them done. Perhaps if you could sell your crocheting one piece at a time at whatever pace you finished them it wouldn't be so bad, but if you had to have them finished on a regular schedule, I wondered if it might get a bit repetitive to the point where you might not enjoy it as much. [kelly60]
Yes its true. There is more enjoyment and also satisfy if one earns money by doing something that he is interested in. [jayalaksmi]
Hi there Kelly Yes I think I would still enjoy it as I am doing it now anyway so I think it would be even better if I can earn myself a bit of Spending Money to [gabs8513]
Hello Kelly! I agree with you. Its fun to make money to do what we love. For example take me only. I was forced by my parents to take science in +2 as they wanted me to be an engineer or do something in biotech as according to them these were best career wise. But I didn't have interest in studying science at all. I completed +2 with science, but after that I went against my parents decision & decided to do diploma in web designing & graphic designing. I just love designing & also I had the hobby of writing, so now am building my own websites & am loving working on it. First I started with blogs which gained popularity & then I decided to start my own websites. Now am ready to make money doing what I love. Also, am already making money from a site as an advisor in my favorite topics...vani^_^ [indiavani]
Well, as someone who has Owned their own Business in the past as in litterally having a place where I Sold things in person, it can be a Chore and sometimes quite stressful to where you sometimes wonder if it is really worth it. But I did have a lot of fond memories from doing this, and actually a lot of times miss doing this. What a person needs to realize, is when they loose the Fun and enjoyment out of what they are doing, it is either time for a Break for a while to give yourself a chance to do things you enjoy, or find New ways to make what you are doing more Creative and Fun again. Maybe that is just a suggestion for your friends? [KrauseHome]
I agree, it's great when we can do something we love and get paid for it, but sometimes we need to find something to make it more interesting or take a break so that we don't start to resent being stuck doing it. I know that one of my friends is always telling me how tired he is of doing it, but it is something that he has always enjoyed. I know that he still enjoys doing it, he just doesn't enjoy having to do it. [kelly60]
Iagree with your opininn.Getting paid for things that we love doing is the biggest fun I believe and like more suggestions in this regard. [vsraovsr]
There are several ways to make money if you have a hobby that might be profitable. There are lots of places online where you can get paid to write or blog if you enjoy doing that sort of thing. They are listed on my blog if you are interested, although you would have to check to see which ones might pay in your area. Another hobby might be if there is a craft that you are good at. Some people enjoy bead work, crocheting, soap or candle making. If you have something nice to sell, you can often make money either at craft shows, eBay, or other online shops. Speaking of eBay, I have a neighbor who specializes in computers. He chose one particular brand, and buys broken ones for cheap, fixes them with parts from the others and sells them. He makes pretty good money for his hobby, computer repair. Another neighbor enjoys upholstery and reupholsters furniture to make a little extra cash. [kelly60]
I totallllly understand their point. I've often tried to turn writing reviews into more of a job and income op then a hobby, but when I did that it became work! I design websites at work, and I like it, but I have 10 times more fun when I'm doing it at home on my own terms. At work it's still enjoyable b/c it's something I like to do, but at work if I have a hard time with it I get realllllly frustrated! I get especially frustrated b/c I know that if I could get it working that my bosses would appreciate it a lot. As a hobby, I could care less if I can't figure it out b/c it's not dire. So in the end, when people tell me you have to have a job where you do the thing you love most, I disagree. Just b/c you love something doesn't mean that doing it day in and day out will be enjoyable to! To me work is work, fun is fun. Work can sometimes be fun, but fun should never be work! Just noticed this discussion is 2 months old so I hope I didn't previously reply :-D [vivasuzi]