Passion – “An intense desire or enthusiasm for something” … thanks Mr Oxford. And according to Mr Oxford, ‘the English have a passion for gardens’, go figure.
I think often people discover their passion by accident and that’s definitely what happened to me. One minute you’re floating through life doing you, and the next minute you stumble upon something that, well, just makes you happy.
Now, if you don’t want to ignore it and you’re willing to explore how far it can take you, and by some fortunate coincidence you start getting paid for it, your passion can quickly become a side hustle.
Side hustling means you’re still doing your 9-5, which raises some very relevant questions. How can you work both on your full-time job and your side hustle? And, when you do start generating some additional income, how can you avoid seeing your passion become… work?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlFUTd2DYF9/?taken-by=phillipmahoney
No more excuses; just do it
It’s too easy to do nothing; too easy to find an excuse. If you want to do something, just do it. Commit to it and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. I watched so many people getting paid to do what they love, and I always thought, why can’t that be me?! Traveling the world and taking photos seemed like the ultimate dream. As soon as I stopped wondering why, and started asking myself how, everything changed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BglEhTJB7P2/?taken-by=phillipmahoney
It’s all about discipline
We’ve all been there… a big week at work that leaves you exhausted and wondering how you could possibly fit anything else into your life? Or, weekends, where all you want to do is spend time with friends and family.
On tough days, it’s discipline that makes the difference. Like everyone, I find some days more difficult than others, but if I focus on what it is about photography and travel that makes me happy, it’s easy to find the magic again. Remember, nobody is asking you to do it, you’re only doing it because it makes you happy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ1z4DYhu_-/?taken-by=phillipmahoney
Be prepared to work… a lot
You know all those people that look like they’re on a free ride? They’re not, they’re working incredibly hard at what they do. Once I made the decision to give it a go, I completely underestimated the level of work needed to create a side hustle out of photography and travel. Hours in front of the computer editing photos, or time spent on Instagram ‘engaging’ with the community.
The great thing is, because it started out as something fun, most of the time it won’t actually feel like work and you’re often willing to fight harder for it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWLeBeIhorJ/?taken-by=phillipmahoney
Find a balance
This is a big one for me. I can get so caught up in what I’m doing that I forget to live in the moment. Sometimes that literally means putting the camera down and just taking it all in, rather than running around to try and capture ‘that shot’.
If you find yourself getting caught up in what you’re doing, stop, and remind yourself why you’re doing it in the first place. It always puts things into perspective for me and brings back the enjoyment.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BViUGHqh9_q/?taken-by=phillipmahoney
Never let anyone tell you, you can’t
Inevitably, at some point in your life you’re going to get told you can’t, or you’re not good enough, and it’s going to suck. But, how you react can sometimes be the most defining moment of all.
Chase what you love and embrace the unknown. After all, it’s going to be your story that sets you apart from everyone else.
At the end of the day, creating a side hustle out of your passion is awesome, rewarding and just plain fun. So, enjoy the ride and embrace whatever opportunities come your way!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSJ7LyujnVK/?taken-by=phillipmahoney