This slide set is from a presentation I gave at Ignite NM 11 on August 15, 2011, discussing my thoughts on turning your hobby into a career.

1. Doing What You Love:
Making a Hobby into a Career
Ignite NM 11
August 15, 2011
Brian Arnold

2. What do I do?
Software Engineer at
SitePen, Inc.
Work in JavaScript
pretty much non-stop
Develop curricula for
teaching others

3. Step 1:
Figure out what you want to do
No, seriously.

4. Figure out what you want to do
Is it possible to get paid for just about
anything you can think of?

5. Figure out what you want to do
Yes, yes it is

6. Case study: David Hinkle

7. Step 2:
Make sure you can do it
So you can get paid to do what you love.
Can you handle that?

8. Make sure you can do it
For a lot of people, their hobby is a way
of relaxing from a tough day’s work
Do you really want to do that for a
living?

9. Make sure you can do it
Try it out!
Set aside a little spare time and treat it
like an actual job

10. Make sure you can do it
Prepare yourself for the reality of
turning your hobby into a career
Don’t expect overnight success

11. Case Study: Unnamed Friend
An amazing musician in high school
Pursued BA in Music Education
Changed degree within 3 classes of
graduation because it was ruining the
joy of music for him

12. Step 3:
Develop your skills
You can make money at it
You can handle it being a job
Time to make the donuts

13. Develop your skills
Figure out what skills make up the hobby
that you love

14. Develop your skills
Take those skills and work on improving
them as best you can
Practice, practice, practice

15. Step 4:
Put yourself out there
You know what you want to do
You know how to do it well
Show the world

16. Put yourself out there
Give away what you can

17. Put yourself out there
Look for ways to sell yourself (legally)
or to sell the product of your hobby

18. Put yourself out there
Look for companies that want what
you’ve got
Don’t be afraid to be the company

19. Practicing what I preach
I’m doing it RIGHT NOW!

20. Thank you!
Brian Arnold
brianarn@gmail.com
@brianarn on the Twitters
Please rate me: http://spkr8.com/t/8099