Hobby Jobs
For people who have always dreamed of making their life's passion-be it skiing, tennis, painting, cooking, gardening, wine, or any other hobby-into a viable, money-making business, Cali Yost has some simple advice for you: "Go for it." The key to success, says Yost, who is a work-life expert, is adapting a new mindset. "We see hobbies as hobbies, not jobs," she says. "Work doesn't have to be something you hate." Here are some tips on turning your hobby into an actual career.
Tip #1 Look at the Big Picture
Say you are an avid fly fisherman-take a step back and think about all the things that go into the sport. Someone has to make the rods, reels, and other gear. There are guided fly fishing expeditions, fly fishing publications, even fly fishing art." If you look at all the points of commerce that come into your hobby, you can see all of the job possibilities," says Yost, who is author of Work+Life: Finding the Fit That's Right for You (Riverhead/Penguin Group, 2005).
Tip #2: Do Your Research
Donna Morris and Bill Sweat, two Boston-based investment professionals, dreamed of owning a winery for more than two decades. But instead of quitting their jobs and plunging into a life of grapes, Sweat retired first from his position at Fidelity Investments, the Boston money management firm, and spent a year working on a business plan. "We also did a lot of research on wine regions, and what it is like to actually own a vineyard and run a winery," Morris says. They even got a first-hand look at how a winery operates. Through a company called Vocation Vacations, Sweat and Morris spent three days working at a winery. Today they own and operate a Winderlea Wine Company in Dundee, Oregon. Vocation Vocations offers dozens of experiences ranging from comedian to horse trainer to golf pro.
Tip #3 Proceed with Caution
Launching a business is never easy: Around half close within four years, according to the Small Business Administration. Rather than diving into a new venture, consider taking baby steps over the course of several years to turn your hobby into a business, Yost says. For the fly fisherman, that might mean running a guided tour once a year for a few years while on vacation from a day job. "See how it goes, and let the process take its course," Yost says. For more information on turning your hobby into a career and other job tips, check out Yost's blog at http://www.worklifefit.com.
About the Author: Jill Woodbine is a New York-based freelance writer.
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