I always like questioning what things to do next. Maybe for just the sake of entertaining the brain because it can’t stand being idle without having nothing to think.
I sometimes wonder if I actually really like reading or I just need some escape. It’s one thing that stimulates my brain and makes my mind think. Void inside or outside is something that human rarely can stand. But, it’s still valid to say it as my hobby since I read often and many.
People often say turn your hobby into a job so you don’t feel like working. I beg to differ.
Having reading as a hobby is totally different than doing it as paid work.
Doing cooking as a hobby is completely different game than when one is doing it for work. It reminded me of one story of a man who opened a small warung for her mom, whose cooking was great and he thought it can turn the skill into some income.
The warung only lasted for four days. Cooking is one thing, turning it into bussiness takes more than a mere good cooking skill.
I think we should having separate rooms between hobby and work, unless we are ready for a bigger commitment to turn it into work. Hobby is something that we do for ourselves, anytime we want, however and whatever we like. Not much responsibility for doing or not doing it.
A paid job is obligatory. Even if you really like doing it, once money involved, it’s no longer a hobby. When commitment and responsibility are involved, we have to deliver properly.
A few jobs I held for a long time turned out to be things I didn’t really like doing. But those are things that paid my bills and that I also need (like the small business we run).
For the past nine years, showing up and doing the work daily, according to SOP that has been set from the beginning, it might sound mundane above the paper, but, nine years is such a long time if I looked back from where we started.
I have built a quite solid SOP and team that can operate daily without my physical presence. One of my favorite success stories was that I once kept this going for 1,5 years from 12.000 km away, with a 6-7 hours time difference. That took a lot of courage and determination to do.
(I really admired how courageous and bold I was in my 20s and 30s. Why does it seem to be fading in my 40?)
These nine years showed me I have the mentality, but the capabilities turned out to be another story. Starting something new and better requires more than just a mentality. At some point, I conclude that one needs a certain amount of extroversion to run a successful business.
Not necessarily personal branding, but you need to put yourself out there, dealing with people directly and regularly, which is a weakness of mine.
Still looking and wandering for now. I just hope it’s not about getting lazy.
Some guide in choosing a hobby.
A Penny for My Pensieve 