When you pose this question to a typical Nigerian millennial, “what is your hobby?” He’ll likely give you a list. It’ll be so long that you’ll have to continue reading on the next page.

You do that too.

You’ll slap your hobbies on your résumé, you’ll show it off when discussing with his friends, and showcase it with no audience, just in the corners of your room.
You keep your hobbies and waste your talents by the day. Just because you’re scared to take action.

And you complain the economy isn’t conducive to financial growth. Yet, you have some of the things it takes to solve your problem but you never make a step.

The economy may be terrible. But, let’s look at this situation via the same prism.
Is it possible to turn your hobby into money? Or weave a career out of your hobby?

Yes, for me. You?
Okay.

First, what’s a hobby? And what’re the examples?
Wiki says a hobby is a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one’s leisure time.
I say a hobby is something you can effortlessly do. No planning, no preparation. Something you do it at a snap.

There are about a thousand examples of the hobby. I’ve carefully selected some as it conforms to our stance. These are;
1. Travelling
2. Cycling
3. Shopping
4. Writing
5. Fish Keeping
6. Embroidery
7. Pottery
8. Photography
9. Dancing
10. Sketching
11. Knitting
12. Drawing
13. Sculpting
14. Listening to Music
15. Reading
16. Video game collection
17. Learning
18. Book collecting
19. Jewelry making
20. Jigsaw or crossword puzzle
21. Gardening
22. Watching movies
23. Painting
24. Cooking
25. Calligraphy

These may appear as something normal but they aren’t. Not at all. They are big deal. You can beat your chest that there are lots of people that can’t do any or some of these.
And there you are, thinking it’s normal. Brother, it’s not.

Should you have any of these as a hobby? Do a 30-day challenge to strengthen it into a skill, learn the art of marketing, then start making money from your hobby.
Just as simple. It’s a lie.
Not simple, but the 6–12 months effect will try-worthy.

Here are 5 quick but detailed steps to turn your hobby into money.
Note, this is not some kind of B.S that most blogs highlight, that's not totally workable here. #kolewerk.

Let’s begin.

Have a strategic plan

Map out a plan on how to achieve your goal. Be specific and realistic about it.
It’s allowed. You can tweak it if you want, just don’t swerve away from your plans.

Search the market to see the way your hobby transforms into a business. Discover and learn the tidbits and terms associated with it, and master effective communication.
That’ll be the best way to prove to a client that you’re the solution to their problems.

Evaluate the acquired information, then develop a business plan.
Afterwards, with your ultimate goal in mind, break down your success into succinct and achievable steps. Accomplish something related to your business every day.

Use your time well

Should you have a 9–5 job? No issue. You can squeeze your side hustle into your nights and weekends. (I’m writing this article on Saturday evening at exactly 5:27 pm — I won’t publish it until Sunday morning. So, enjoy the Champions League Final.)

And when you do that; have these rules in mind.
a. Focus on ONE important task. Achieve that then pick another.
b. Turn simple, repetitive and key tasks into habits.
c. Learn to say NO (The more no you say to people, the more yes to your business)

Promote your brand online.

Establish presence online by creating a website/blog and on social media. These platforms are best for you to “shout out” your ideas, services and worth.
You can authenticate yourself as an expert with the quality of work you do and your knowledge of the business trend.
Consistency is the key to opening opportunities in the virtual world. Be consistent in your approach, then realise and boost client’s engagement.

Get your first gig

Yes. How would you make people pay you their hard earned cash? How would you communicate your value to clients in an irresistible manner?
Depending on your skill. Some business sells well on the marketplace and freelance sites, others may involve you pitch directly to clients and may involve both. Whichever way it is, be creative about selling you skills or products.

Write short and targeted proposals to get your clients. Reveal your speciality, create a feeling to time invested, and show that you know your client's pain and how to remove the pain.
If possible, get a badge to certify your expertise.

Make your hobby your job

Treat your hobby as a job. Do it like your life depends on it. Gradually improve your skills and deduce how you’ll scale up as time goes on.
Don’t wait till tomorrow. This is the right time to do it.

Mix two hobbies together and weave it as one, say, travel and cooking. Start a blog that compares food from different countries.
Or, sketching and book collecting. Collect books and sketch characters out of them.
I mix writing, data analytics and technology here.

Remember that the best time to build a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now!

Back to the top, how possible is it make money from your hobby?

For me, is still yes, very possible. You?

You’re still scared, check the resources below.

Get motived.



Some Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hobbies
http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2017/05/30-day-challenges/
http://sodiqwrights.com/2017/01/03/9-freelance-writing-habits-leads-success/
http://www.sidehustlenation.com/