“So, what do you do?”  It’s a question people ask all the time.  And if you are like me, your first impulse is to say what you do for a living.  In my case, I used to tell people I am an architectural historian.  And, while that is true, I realized it is not what I should be telling people.  Instead, I should say, “I am a blogger” or “I own my own greeting card company.”  But, I don’t tell people that.  Instead, I let my full time job define me, even though it is not my primary goal.  If you want to put your hobby front and center, try one of these three simple tips.  

1. Tell People What You Really Do

 Don’t be afraid to tell people that you run a small business.  Or that you create or make something.  You can’t expect other people to come and ask you about your hobby.  If they don’t know about it, how will they know to ask about it?

2. Schedule Your Hobby Into Your Day

For me, I find it hard to put something off I wrote in my planner (yes I am old school and have a paper planner).  Make your hobby a priority.  Even if you block out just 15 minutes a week.  You would not blow off a meeting with your boss to binge watch your favorite show.  Think of yourself as your boss and schedule a meeting.

3. Get Business Cards Made

I know this one sounds a little weird.  But, if you make business cards for your hobby or side business, you can change your mindset.  Your hobby is no longer just a hobby.  Now it is a viable business.  And bonus, you can use this top to help you with Tip #1.  When people ask you what you do, you can hand them your business card.  You never know when someone will pull that card out of their pocket and send you a message.

If you are struggling with feeling like your full time job is choking out your hobby, I encourage you to try at least one of these simple tips.  Sometimes the easiest things are the ones that make the most difference.  Drop me a comment and let me know if you use any of these tips.