Don't monetize your hobby

You've started exercising. Good!

You don't feel as worthless as a year ago. Good!

You feel stronger and faster. Good!

You've started doing races and it's now a hobby. Good!

You can now face your fears and insecurities better. Good!

Life is no longer as shitty as it was. Good!

The shitty 9 to 5 job doesn't seem that bad. Good!

Exercising makes you happier overall. Good!

You look forward to the exercise time and do it everyday. Good!

Now, immediately congratulate yourself on finding a great hobby.

It will make life bearable.

That is what hobbies are meant for.

The emptiness and meaninglessness of existence now seems kinda funny and kinda enjoyable.

Moving vigorously everyday like humans were designed to. Good!

Very Good! This is an excellent choice amongst probable hobbies.

Now stop there, and don't destroy the goodness of it.

Don't monetize the hobby. Don't convert it into a mode of cash creation.

Everything need not be monetized. Not everything is about money.

Sometimes you find a hobby and it changes your life.

Stop there! Don't monetize it. Don't convert it to a job. You already have a job and you hate it.

If you're considering making your hobby your new job,
most likely you're not good at your current job, which is why you dislike it.
Or worse, maybe you're an unemployed stay at home mom who feels worthless.
Fitness coach...hmm...it's simple; very simple...tugs at your narcissism too...hmmm,
It's easy money and you can taste blood.

No, you're confused and mistaken; it's not your passion and calling. Stop!

Spreading exercise and fitness advise to others for money, is a job. 

Remember that fitness doesn't need a coach or a student. Don't eat like a hippopotamus; just walk an hour a day; and do some push-ups and squats. You'll be fit. Fitness is that simple, really!

Oh, don't be buggered by online gurus who are convincing you to become an entrepreneur.

They are looking for suckers.

Rockstars, painters, singers, actors and celebrities commit suicide too. They had your dream job.

No one has a grip on this thing called life. 

It's messy and crazy, yet fun in between. 

That is all we get for being the only organism alive which is able to think of the past, present and future and then create worries for itself.

Relax, our dopamine reward system (your brain) and our social system is designed in such a way that having a job you hate or will eventually hate is inevitable.

You dream of becoming the CEO of the world. Oh, even Presidents hate their jobs. Can you imagine the level of crazy shit they deal with everyday.

If you monetize exercising, you will have customers, clients and targets.

You'll have to create business strategies.

Some logic, some evil, some malice, some guilt and some greed.

You'll have to be responsible to them and you'll have to manipulate them for maintaining or increasing your earnings.

PR is a fancy word for manipulation. Don't kid yourself. You ain't no saint.

You'll have to sell other people's products and services which you don't believe in.

You'll become a walking talking advertisement.

You'll parrot out product information like a robot.

Yes, an Instagram influencer is a living breathing advertisement.

You'll be the product of the product, and also the advertisement of the product.

You'll become a billboard which is alive and a circus clown.

They'll make you monetize your family by putting them in your videos and photos.

Don't quit your job and monetize exercising.
If you're unemployed because you lack the skills and work ethics, then stay that way.
You won't become good suddenly.

You want to be a coach, guru, mentor, influencer, entrepreneur....stop!

You'll ruin your hobby. You'll make it a job.

Similar to the job you dislike and suck at. You'll hate this new job and suck again at it too.

Keep the hobby and the job separate.

The job pays for the hobby. A hobby does not pay for the hobby. That is a job.

And you hate jobs, which is why you may be deciding to monetize your hobby.

Will you find a new hobby once you monetize your existing hobby and make it a job?

It's ok. Don't monetize it. Don't become a clown on social media who has to perform antics for followers, friends and family (who you now know are potential customers) because you've decided to monetize your hobby. 

Stop before you lose the hobby.

Rein in that greed and desire for an easy job. Let the shitty job fund the great hobby.

Keep one thing in life uncontaminated.

- Aman Yadav