From Fun To Fortune: Monetizing Your Hobby
There was a particular footballer who I was listening to the interview some days ago. He started from street football while in junior secondary school. Each time he came back from school, and during holidays, he would play football in the street with other kids, which they called "5-aside." This continued even up to his senior secondary school. It was a hobby for him. In one of the days, one of the local coaches was passing and saw his unusual skill, so he got close and had a word with him. That was how he was recommended for the U-17 tournament. He did excellently well there, and top clubs came to look for him. This was how he moved from grass to grace. It started as hobby, but now, he is making a fortune out of it. This goes to show that what started little, even as a hobby, can become your source of fortune.
A lot of people see their hobbies as just a way to relax and escape from the stress of the day, but what they may not know is that right inside those hobbies, lie untapped treasures. It is left for you to transform these potentials into fortune. A friend once told me how she went into baking professionally. She used to bake for fun in their family, and maybe for weekend chows. People normally complimented her pastries and would call her to assist them. After one of those times, she realized that since she is good at baking, she should not just do it as a hobby, but she can make money from it. So she started making it and selling. Now she makes a lot of money from what used to be her hobby that she monetized.
It is worthy to note that when you nurture your passion with consistency, it will pay off even beyond what you expect. Just to let you know; your hobby can be a solution that will meet the needs of someone. For example, if you knit with wool as a hobby, you can go into sweater knitting and make money from it during the cold season. If you play guitar, you can start an online class where you will be teaching others how to play guitar while being paid for doing what you love to do. I have seen people who got into photography as hobby and now doing it professionally to earn money. The bottom line is; whatever you are good at doing, and you have passion for, why will you do it for free when you can be paid for it?
In order to monetize your hobby, you have to understand certain things. Firstly, you need to understand that what you see as fun is actually worth some values to someone else. You also need to understand that even though you are to think big, there is nothing stopping you from starting small. One of the things that limit a lot of people is that they wait for the "perfect setup" before they start, and when it is not forthcoming, they may not start at all. Fortune will not come because you are dreaming about it, but because you have dared to act. There is nothing wrong in starting from where you are and with what you have. Every step that you take will help to build momentum, which will expand the opportunity with time.
Turning your hobby into fortune also needs resilience and persistence. The path may not be smooth, and may even be full of challenges. People may even doubt you, but it should not sway you. When you start, you have to have your eyes on what you want to achieve, then with consistency, and resilience, you will get there. Always remember that the difference between those who succeed and the rest of others might just be consistency and resilience. When you mix your passion with dedication and resilience, excellence will be birthed.
By monetizing your hobby, it is not all about making money, but it also includes finding fulfilment. Imagine the kind of feeling you get when you wake up each morning to know that what you are doing will bring you financial freedom - there is definitely fulfilment in it. At this point, it has gone way beyond mere dreams to becoming your lifestyle. The true reward is actually beyond money and beyond profit, it is about the freedom to live out your passion, to inspire others, and to leave a legacy behind that you will be proud of. This is why you do not have to underestimate your hobby, because out it it, a legacy can be built.
Thanks for reading
