HOBBY vs HUSTLE

~from passion to paycheck

It usually starts small.

You’re just doing your thing — sketching for fun, playing football to unwind, or writing late at night because the words won’t stop coming.

Then one day, someone notices.

They like it — and they offer to pay for it.

Suddenly, your “just-for-fun” hobby has a price tag.

Does that passion still remain a hobby — or has it crossed into the realm of work?

Some say monetizing a hobby changes its soul.

Deadlines replace leisure, expectations take over joy, and the creative freedom that once defined it starts to feel like a job description.

Others argue it’s the best of both worlds — getting paid to do what you love.

After all, why separate passion from profit when both can coexist?

Maybe the real question is:

Does money redefine motivation?

Or does it simply validate the effort we’ve always put in?

So, what do you think?

When a hobby starts earning, does it stop being a hobby — or just evolve into something more?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments