Is working for a big company better for your passion projects or worse? I keep going back and forth.

Last month my friend in Chicago quit his corporate marketing job to go full time on his woodworking hobby. Three years ago I tried something similar with my photography side gig and it completely burned me out within 8 months. Now I'm wondering if having a steady paycheck from a day job actually helps protect the joy in what you love. Like maybe the pressure of needing to make money from your passion kills the whole point of it. But then again he's selling pieces on Etsy for $200 each and seems happier than ever. Anyone else flip flop on this question every few months?

2 comments

2 Comments

wilson.joseph9d ago

Making it your job just shifts one stress for another.

olivia_moore10d ago

The thing you said about "needing to make money from your passion kills the whole point" really hit home because I've been there twice now. I think the real trick is keeping your day job but treating your hobby like a hobby, not a side hustle with sales targets. When I started selling prints online I had to force myself to still do the weird experimental stuff that made it fun, not just the sellable landscapes. Your woodworking friend might crash too if he puts rent money pressure on those Etsy sales. Maybe try keeping the paycheck and just setting one rule, like "I only work on what excites me today, not what I think will sell." That way you get the best of both, steady income and actual joy from the craft.