You've probably seen this quote, or some variant of it:
Find three hobbies you love:
One that makes you money,
One to keep you in shape,
One that keeps you creative.
I think this quote is complete and utter rubbish.
Let's have a definition:
A hobby is an activity, usually regular, that is done for enjoyment, typically during leisure times. It's not done professionally, and not for pay.
I didn't come up with this. It's on Wikipedia.
So, first "suggested hobby" first:
Just because you love something, doesn't mean you have to make money from it, much less turn it into a business.
Often, especially if it's a "creative" hobby, having to please a client is a quick way to killing your enthusiasm for it.
I love photography. I got good at it.
I started to get hired to do photography.
I hated being a hired photographer.
I went back to being a hobbyist.
Obviously, some people are going to enjoy the process of making a business out of what they love.
And some people DO make good money out of the things they love.
But to suggest that a hobby should make you money?
That's garbage advice.
Why does everything have to be monetised and tainted with commercialism?
Let people enjoy what they enjoy, and leave them alone.
On to the second "suggested hobby".
There are a few people who love to exercise, but the vast majority of people hate it.
Suggesting that someone should enjoy exercise when they don't doesn't make them want to do it more.
It likely pushes them the other way, into thinking, "Oh, so if I don't enjoy it, maybe I shouldn't do it anymore."
That's counter-productive.
You want more people to stay healthy and fit?
Just be upfront about it. Exercise is hard. It takes effort. It takes energy. But the benefits are tremendous. Push the benefits.
Stop telling people that it should be a hobby - something that they enjoy - when they don't.
Finally, the third "suggested hobby".
Alright, this one is still marginally palatable.
But hey, you can't give three out of three total BS tips, right? One of them has to be something people will generally agree with.
And putting the "most true one" last makes it more likely that people will respond to it and somewhat agree with the other garbage tips.
The best lies always have a kernel of truth in them.
That said, not every hobby has to be a "creative" one.
If I like to watch birds, I'm not exactly creating anything. But it doesn't make it any less of a hobby than, let's say, pottery or sculpting.
So, even though this last point is better than the other two, it's still one-dimensional and pretty rubbish.
What's my point?
Ignore these "productivity gurus" that have to make everything about productivity and money, as if these are the end all and be all's of life.
Life is WAY more than that.
Enjoy your hobbies for what they are, in the exact way that you like them.
Have an excellent week ahead!
Collaborate? You Keep Using That Word. I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means.
"Let's collaborate!"
Every time I hear someone say this to me now, I feel a certain aversion towards that person.
That person may have been genuinely looking for a win-win situation, but the word 'collaborate' has now taken on A LOT of negative connotations.
And I don't think it's mainly the fault of the entrepreneurs (esp. solopreneurs) and small business owners that this is now an iffy word.
I'd put the blame on the large organisations and companies, a number of which clearly take the word to mean "unpaid now, likely forever".
I can't speak for everyone, and perhaps I'm just cynical, but I really hope that this word disappears from the language of business sooner rather than later.
Sharpen Your Sword. Pick Your Battles.
Knowing which battles to fight is more important than being a good fighter.
This isn't to say that we shouldn't learn the skills and gather the tools of a good fighter, because when the chips are down and you're backed into a corner, it's do or die.
But if you fight every battle that comes your way, you're going to wear yourself out, likely before you get to the crucial one.
So pick your battles.
And while you're waiting, sharpen your sword.
Teaching is Hard. But You'll Get Better At It.
Teaching is difficult.
Yet, like all skills, it gets easier with purposeful practice over time.
Your first lesson is going to suck.
And, because you're your own greatest critic, it will play out in your head far worse than it actually was.
But here's the good news:
That's the worst you're ever going to be.
It's all uphill from then on. With some dips now and then, when you're testing out new material, delivery styles, methods, etc.
So, bite that bullet, make that first foray, rip off that band-aid, and make it your best worst performance.
You'll be much better than you thought you taught.