Latest news with #hobbies
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Want to Monetize Your Hobby? Here's What You Need to Do.
How to monetize your passion without sacrificing your joy. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Turning personal hobbies into sources of income sounds attractive in many ways, but it comes with some challenges. You must learn the process behind making your hobbies profitable. It's also important to understand that turning your passion into a viable venture requires a lot more than just passion. This article will explore what's really required to monetize your hobbies without compromising the original purpose of hobbies and the standards of professionalism. Related: Turning Passion into Profit: 4 Entrepreneurs Who Found Success in Their Hobbies Understanding the difference between a hobby and a business Many people begin with something they enjoy: woodworking, photography, writing, coaching, trading cards or growing specialty produce, for example. In many cases, it begins informally to gain personal satisfaction, but then starts attracting attention from others. The key question is: At what point does it make sense to treat it like a business? Hobbies become a business when the focus shifts from self-expression to meeting demand. This does not mean the enjoyment stops, but it does mean your priorities change. If money is involved, expectations from yourself and others rise. To move forward with confidence, it is worth asking: Even if I have to keep up with deadlines and meet customer expectations, can I enjoy this job? Would I be okay with adjusting my creative processes to suit what others want? Do I have a bandwidth that can be turned into a systemized one without feeling burdened? These questions will help to set a foundation for sustainable growth. The first step: Proving there's real interest Before investing time or capital, you need to see if there are people outside your circle who find value in what you create. It does not require a complete launch. It may mean: Selling a limited number of items and services Setting some fees Asking small groups for frank feedback on pricing and quality This initial stage begins with clarification. If people are willing to pay, it's a sign. If they come again or introduce others, it's a stronger sign. Many passion projects are monetized prematurely, and too often are cancelled due to weakness in demand and uncertainty in positioning. Balancing passion and practicality One of the most common problems that comes with monetizing a hobby is losing the enjoyment of the hobby. Once you start producing for others, you must make compromises. You may need to adjust the process, personalize it to the customer's taste or stick to a price model fit to the market rather than what your ideal price would be. The important thing is to decide how far you can adjust without losing your core experience. Some professionals set borders early on by: Limiting the number of custom requests Producing in batches, not on demand. Ensuring time to personally enjoy the craft without having any commercial goals By protecting this boundary, long-term interest can be maintained. Related: How to Turn Your Hobby Into Your Job (Without Losing Your Passion) Identifying a business model that actually fits A passion project doesn't have to become a large-scale operation to be worthwhile. What kind of business model you should choose depends on your goals and abilities. Here are a few common models: Direct sale : Selling products, prints or custom work through a personal website or marketplace Services : Teaching, consulting or providing services based on your skill set Subscription : Provide exclusive content, products and backstage access to dedicated groups Licensing or loyalty : Creating something once, like music, code or art, and earning from its use over time Course or tutorial: Teaching others what you have learned, in a live or recorded format It's not about choosing the model that makes the most money; it's about choosing the one that suits your lifestyle and how much responsibility you can easily take. Pricing without undervaluing the work People who have turned their hobbies into income often struggle with pricing. There's a tendency to underprice either out of modesty or fear that nobody will pay more. But the time, materials and technology it takes to create your product are all worth it. Underpricing builds a model where you have to work twice as hard to make it viable. Start by examining the fees of other companies in the same industry, and consider the costs of your own time as well as materials. And most importantly, resist the urge to discount your first paying clients. Letting the project grow at a natural pace One of the advantages of turning a hobby into income is that you don't need to rush. Unlike starting a business to solve economic problems, you are already enjoying what you are doing and perhaps not relying on the center of your income. This is a strength. Try using it. Test slowly. Improve products and services with feedback. Build only the necessary systems. Avoid unnecessary software, tools and expenses until there is a clear return. In short, rather than expanding the scale, give yourself room for growth. This increases stability and prevents burnout. Navigating the emotional side of selling something you love Once your passion becomes income-producing, the emotional dynamics change. There may be days when you feel like a company rather than a creator. You may be upset by specific requests or feel cramped by customer feedback. This isn't unusual, and it doesn't mean you've made a mistake. In such a case, the separation of business and personal life is useful. Many successful creators keep a private space where they enjoy their hobbies apart from what they sell. Some also rotate projects to avoid repetition. Some people rest completely, especially during busy times in other parts of life. Remember, there is no need to "scale up" forever. You need to clarify why you started and when you should pause and adjust. Related: Is It a Hobby or a Business? 5 Things You Need to Know to Monetize Your Hobby. When to step back or let go Not every passion project needs to become a business. If you feel that joy is far away, or you start to consume more energy than your business gives, you can pull your hand. You can return at any time later, change the mechanism or give it to someone else. There's no failure in choosing not to monetize something. In fact, some people maintain a healthy balance by separating passion from work. Turning a personal interest into a source of income is rewarding, but only when approached with clarity, care and self-awareness. What begins as a quiet pursuit can evolve into something meaningful, as long as it remains aligned with your values, energy and time. There is no need to pursue scale. There is no need to treat it like a startup. However, it is necessary to treat it as carefully as you did before money was involved. Sometimes, the best ventures do not have the largest market. It is something that can be sustained with pride, honesty and a sense of purpose that no one sees.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Enjoys Beekeeping Activity With Daughter In Sweet Video
Meghan Markle never runs out of fun things to try with her kids! The fun mom list gets longer as the Duchess of Sussex tries out a new hobby with her daughter, Lilibet, in a full beekeeper's regalia. Meghan Markle's long-time love for keeping bees became public knowledge when she married into the British royal family. Coincidentally, a few royals, including Kate Middleton and the late Queen Elizabeth, also indulge in the hobby. The Duchess of Sussex was more than excited to share a glimpse of her fun day out with her daughter Lilibet on her Instagram Story. The adorable duo appeared in the clip covered in full beekeepers' suits as they walked toward an apiary. Meghan held the three-year-old tightly as she wobbled behind, pairing her suit with rainbow-colored boots. "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies played over the video. When Meghan and her mini-me are not frolicking with the bees, they enjoy picking flowers out in the sun. Last month, she uploaded slides of her checking out cute flowers with Lilibet and her son, Archie. While she refrained from showing her millions of followers their faces, the kids' beautiful ginger hairs were displayed, showing that they indeed favor their dad with their tresses. "Sunday kind of love… with my little loves," she wrote under the post. The entrepreneur has openly expressed her intense passion for keeping bees on an episode of her hit Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan." As a testament to that, the duchess was spotted holding a live beehive in the show's first episode. (Meghan is also a staunch Beyoncé fan!) In the episode, she expressed her positivity, sharing her thoughts on beekeeping, which brings her joy. She noted that engaging in that is a gentle reminder to embrace challenges that may be intimidating. While pursuing this interest, she also emphasizes the importance of appreciating the beauty of feeling connected to something greater and remaining calm. Meghan's estranged sister-in-law, Kate, in faraway England, also keeps bees in her Norfolk home. The Duchess of Wales shared that part of her with the world when she posted a picture of her taking care of her hive on World Bee Day two years ago. The Queen also indulges in beekeeping at her country home in Ray Mill House. Queen Camilla reportedly takes it up a notch by making her honey right at home, per PEOPLE. Meghan's hobby also earns her some cool wads! The fun mom sold an exclusive Wildflower Honey with Honeycomb from her As Ever brand. The Duchess' lifestyle brand fans reportedly wasted no time in buying all her available honey. The quick sale also prompted an apology from the mother-of-two for customers who missed out. In an email to her customers, she expressed her gratitude for their support, reflecting on the phenomenal patronage her brand received from buyers. She excitedly mentioned that for the upcoming limited-edition honeycomb drop, her customers will not only be the first to know about it but will also receive a special gift in the mail without needing to place an order. Meghan is not the only hands-on parent in Archie and Lilibet's lives. Shortly before his 40th birthday last year, Prince Harry also reminisced on the growth he has experienced since welcoming his two children. In his statement to BBC, the Duke of Sussex noted: "Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work." He described becoming a father of two children as one of life's greatest joys that has only made him more driven and more committed to making the world less cruel. Since leaving the United Kingdom with his wife and Archie in 2020, Harry has since settled into life in California while traveling the world for various humanitarian and philanthropic deeds. She might pick flowers regularly with her two bundles of joy, but raising her two babies is no bed of roses. The 43-year-old spoke about what she had learned about her life, career, and journey since becoming a mother. The Blast gathered her admissions from an episode of her new podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder." According to her, the original plan was to find a balance between motherhood and her demanding career. "I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies and before I was a mom—I've always wanted to be a mom—I was like, 'Oh gosh, I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip. I had a whole vision," the mogul declared. The mother-of-two continued that some non-ignorable external factors altered her experiences and expectations during pregnancy and the early phase of parenting her babies. But the actress would not have it any other way as she emphasized the importance of her kids seeing her getting up and chasing her goals every day. What motherhood hack will Meghan Markle be revealing next?
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Marriage Diaries: My husband is a Football Dad but finds my daughter's gymnastics boring
Every Saturday is the same: my husband up and at it early, digging out shin pads and boots for our 10-year-old son, chivvying him along, clattering about in the kitchen and clearly desperate to get to football training. Our son could be tired, unwell, angling for a lie in or just not that keen but it's business as usual for my husband, such is his passion for football. You would almost think it was my 40-something husband who was limbering up to charge on to a pitch, not our son. I expect you are thinking I should be pleased my husband is pulling his weight to support our son's hobbies and ensure he remains active. He works long hours Monday to Friday yet always gets involved on a Saturday morning. Yes, it is helpful that my husband is encouraging and more than happy to stand alongside Astroturf for ages. It's great that my son has someone to enjoy football with and to watch games on TV with then pontificate together over a referee's decisions or a Champion's League match draw. But while I might be pleased my son's interests are given time and space, I am equally aware that our daughter's pursuits don't get a second of my husband's attention. The difference in how he approaches our daughter's interests is a world away to how he behaves around our son. He can't even feign it, looking at his watch as she does a gymnastics performance, and he is always quick to say he can't meet her from dancing. He even yawned as she played him her dance recital music. I know we shouldn't be setting a bad example to the children by displaying fake enthusiasm but the chasm between how interested my husband is in our son's sports compared to our daughter's is huge. It's as though he has used up all his enthusiasm for our son, and there is nothing at all left for our daughter. I'm also aware my daughter doesn't get any of the off-the-pitch attention my son does or the in-car camaraderie. My husband obviously doesn't know any of the other girls or parents at our daughter's gymnastics club, whereas he'll greet our son's team mates with nicknames and chew the fat with the other parents. I'm worried about how this will manifest as our daughter gets older. With teenage moods on the horizon, I'm concerned she will soon start interpreting my husband's sole focus on football as a personal slight and I think it could become a real flash point and potentially damage their father and daughter bond. Our daughter has made a few remarks about her dad being the father who never watches a show, but typically my husband hasn't noticed and I'm not sure he will until it's too late. He's too invested in ensuring our son is perfecting his penalty kick technique or having banter with the football coach. On the occasions I have brought up the differences in my husband's attitude to the kids' sports, he has shrugged it off, saying it's no big deal. I'd love for the two of them to have some common ground but unless it's a football ground, my husband won't be interested.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Looming Canada Post strike making customers wary of placing orders: hobby shop owner
Don McCowan, owner of Wheels and Wings Hobbies in Toronto, says customers tell him they're afraid of placing orders that will go through Canada Post because the last strike delayed orders up to six weeks.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
The Lifeline That Helped These Med Students Thrive
Be sure to scroll down after this story to find links to extensive Medscape Medical News coverage addressing mental health and medical professionals. Eighty-hour weeks, sleepless nights studying, and brutal competition leave little time for outside interests — or even a hot shower and a real meal. It would be completely understandable for medical trainees to abandon activities that don't fit into the workload. But some students have found that maintaining a hobby from their 'previous life' not only is fulfilling but also can have a positive impact on their studies and even their skills as future doctors. And for others, the passions they pursued before starting med school have proven to be lifelines. Preventing or improving mental health issues, which widely affect med school students, is a major benefit of maintaining an interest outside medicine. In a 2023 study, researchers dug deeper into 117 hobbies of over 2500 physicians, residents, and fellows. Around 94% of participants thought these outside hobbies were a 'substantial mitigation factor for burnout and disengagement,' especially hobbies with 'social underpinnings.' And 65.6% felt they led to better career engagement. Surprisingly, the study also found that students who participated in more active and physically demanding hobbies, such as team sports, actually felt less exhausted than those whose hobbies included listening to music or watching television. For those who had given up hobbies, exhaustion and disengagement levels were higher. Medscape Medical News asked med students to share how activities from their pretraining lives have helped them cope with the demands of medicine. Training On the Run As a middle schooler in Iowa, you would often find Courtney R. Carlson Strother, MD, on the run. That was when she started cross-country and kept going through college as both 'a stress relief and social time running with friends.' Courtney R. Carlson Strother, MD, running a half marathon. For Strother, the benefits of running are not just physical. 'It allows me to decompress and is a time of meditation for me,' said Strother, who is a hand surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In medical school, it might have made sense to give up such a time-consuming activity. But as a student, Strother set aside an hour per day for running, often waking up early to study and taking a break to run right before dinner. On her runs, Strother multitasked by calling her parents or connecting with fellow med school students. 'I developed some of my best friendships with running in medical school,' she said. Strother graduated from Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, in 2018 and completed her fellowship in 2024. With an even busier schedule and a growing family, running remains a singular part of her life. 'I think through all sorts of problems while I run. I think about my patients, research questions, lectures I'm going to give, and any issues going on in my life outside of medicine,' Strother said. Today, she often runs with her husband (also a physician) while pushing their child in a running stroller. 'While there's no doubt I could always read more and learn more, I think taking the time to run allowed me to better absorb and retain the material I was studying. To me, running was always a priority because not only did it make me feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally, but I felt like it made me a better learner.' Strother said she would encourage all medical students to maintain a cherished hobby through the long process of becoming a doctor. 'There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better physician, mother, wife, daughter, friend, and person because I dedicate at least 30 minutes of my day to running,' she said. Musical Survival When Nikolas Grotewold first began piano lessons at age 5, he might not have envisioned the role it would play in his adult life, especially as a medical student. Now in the PhD phase of his MD-PhD dual degree at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, music continues to be an integral hobby despite his busy schedule. 'I knew almost instantaneously that I would need a de-stressor,' Grotewold said. 'I tried exercising and meditation. But what really worked for me is being a part of the Galens Medical Society Smoker Musical at the University of Michigan as a singer and writer.' The annual production is written and performed by medical students, often a comedic roast of their faculty and deans. Each year, the script includes inside jokes and commentary on life in the hospital setting that 'only fellow medical professionals could fully appreciate.' It also gives students an opportunity to connect with faculty outside the classroom. Grotewold said one of his favorite performances involved a surprise rap cameo by a member of the neurology faculty. 'I really look forward to rehearsals,' said Grotewold. 'They are an escape from the daily grind and allow me to connect with other medical students while putting a funny spin on the otherwise strenuous experience,' he said. The sense of community has also been great for his mental health, reminding him that he's not alone on this journey. Grotewold hopes other students know how important it is to have a hobby. 'Although med school is notoriously known for occupying a lot of time and mental energy, lean into your hobbies and continue enjoying them,' he said. 'A hobby is what will provide the balance after a challenging day. It's the survival tool that might be needed after seeing a patient's death. And it's a way of maintaining the human side so that we aren't physician robots that are just learning all day long.' Light At the End of the Tunnel Rebecca Ho, an M3 medical student who graduates in 2026 from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, in the field of otolaryngology (ENT), stumbled on ceramics in high school. She describes being drawn to the 'tactile nature of clay and the feeling of a different element on your skin.' Rebecca Ho at work in the ceramics studio. 'The sensation I have of being able to create with my hands and see things come to fruition in front of me makes a lot of sense to my brain,' she said. Much like surgery. 'If I can see it and touch it with my hands and use tools to manipulate it, it just kind of makes sense.' There have been phases in med school where a ceramics room and kiln weren't readily available, and Ho itched to get back to her hobby. 'I was able to get back to the studio for the first time just this year during my rotations, and I was smiling for like 3 hours,' she remembers. 'That's the mental health part of it. It brings me back to something I've been doing for 13 years.' Beyond her own art, Ho has played a pivotal role in her med school's literary journal, Ars Literarium , serving as an editor in chief from 2022 to 2023. This year, Ho and the journal's team found time to gather and go through each submission of writing or art. Rebecca Ho shows a finished ceramic piece. Ho remembers choosing the cover image, a watercolor painting of a woman looking at herself in the mirror — an image that Ho felt spoke poignantly to maintaining a sense of self during med school. 'She's in her scrubs, and there's a candle nearby, and everything is a bit dark. It stuck with the whole team because it's a sensation we can all really relate to — feeling really tired, looking at yourself in the mirror every day, watching the bags under your eyes get a bit darker,' she described. 'But the candle was my favorite part because it alludes to burnout, metaphorically, but also a sense of hope. No matter how hard every single day seems, there's light at the end of the tunnel — getting to be a physician and taking care of people.' One Stitch At a Time For Elizabeth Hines, a second year med school student at Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, the perfect way to reset and unwind after a full day of lectures and clinical rotations is with a needle in hand, embroidering her latest creation. 'I actually got into embroidery when a relative gifted me a beginner's kit,' she said. 'I loved how relaxing it was and quickly became a maniac looking for handmade shops.' Hines experimented with complicated designs in the past. But now she chooses minimalistic and repetitive patterns that don't require too much mental effort. While Hines admits that not every day allows her time to embroider, when she can make the time, her hobby has been an important part of maintaining her equilibrium during the grueling hours of studying and what she calls 'controlled chaos.' 'There have been a lot of days where everything felt like too much,' she said. 'I remember one particularly brutal week before a big test, and the only thing that kept me grounded was the expectation of the part of the day when I could get back to embroidery. Just sitting down and focusing on one tiny stitch at a time helped me keep my brain quiet. It reminded me that I didn't have to control and do everything at once. Just one thing at a time, step by step.' Hines jokes that her hobby might be helpful for her future suturing skills. But embroidery means much more to her than just straight stitches. It reminds her of the importance of patience and detail. 'You can't rush through stitches or force things to go faster,' Hines said. 'It's more about being precise, steady, and staying in the moment. Whether it's breaking down a diagnosis for a patient or just listening better, I think these skills will make me a more thoughtful and compassionate doctor.' Hines hopes her fellow med students remember that even the smallest amount of time devoted to a favorite hobby can be important. 'Med school may try to take over your entire identity if you let it,' she said. 'But having a hobby, even if it's just for 15 minutes a day, will help keep you sane. It doesn't have to be super productive. It just has to be something that makes you happy.' Read more about mental health challenges and solutions for medical professionals: Med Student Mental Health: Why Future Healers Are Hurting VIDEO: Beat Med School Burnout VIDEO: Medical School Expectation vs Reality VIDEO: You Belong in Medical School — Don't Let Imposter Syndrome Win How These MDs Conquered Imposter Syndrome How a Mindset Shift Can Transform the Way You Practice 'I Feel Alone': Why Loneliness Is Now Common Among Doctors Why Do MDs Have Such a High Rate of Eating Disorders? Why 'Resilience' Can Be a Loaded Term for Healthcare Workers How Doctors Use Travel to Heal Themselves
