Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Monetizing hobbies

tegowerk.eu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 98 posts

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#21

Post by deebosong »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #14

I like the "don't get caught up in metrics" approach. I love what I do. Folks here, would call it a "hobby," because I don't get paid for it, but I guarantee that the folks I'm working with, don't see it that way. They are quite aware that I have done hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of top-shelf, beyond-production-Quality work for them, for free. I do work, for free, that would have a lot of startup founders…

I don't mean to pry, but it sounds like you have "retired" and found your calling instead, if you are working for free, but are 100% invested in the quality and professionalism? And that you have your basic needs (and then some) pretty much covered?

If so that sounds amazing!

If I may prod a bit, why not take a salary in your situation? Why work for free, especially when it's highly valued not only by others, but to you as well, since you know what you're giving, and work hard to maintain a high level of quality?

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#22

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

deebosong wrote: post #21
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #14

I like the "don't get caught up in metrics" approach. I love what I do. Folks here, would call it a "hobby," because I don't get paid for it, but I guarantee that the folks I'm working with, don't see it that way. They are quite aware that I have done hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of top-shelf, beyond-production-Quality work for them, for free. I do work, for free, that would have a lot of startup founders…

I don't mean to pry, but it sounds like you have "retired" and found your calling instead, if you are working for free, but are 100% invested in the quality and professionalism? And that you have your basic needs (and then some) pretty much covered? If so that sounds amazing! If I may prod a bit, why not take a salary in your situation? Why work for free, especially when it's highly valued not only by others, but to…

It is amazing. I was forced into it, though. I found out (the hard way) that no one wants to play with older folks. I'm very fortunate that I had built up enough of a base to retire early. It wasn't planned, but it was there. I just heard from an ex-employee of mine, that he just got let go, and is running smack-dab into this ageism issue. He's very, very good, but he'll struggle like hell, and he doesn't have my resources.

I do work for nonprofits. These are folks that can't afford even crappy devs.

TBH, I get kind of a "screw you" kick from doing this. I was willing to work for quite a bit lower wages than even kids right out of school (if the work interested me), as I had my retirement set, and I would have settled for having the bills paid. I would have been absolutely ideal for startups.

But every company that I applied to, was more interested in insulting me, and ignoring my portfolio, than in taking me seriously.

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#23

Post by deebosong »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #22
deebosong wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't mean to pry, but it sounds like you have "retired" and found your calling instead, if you are working for free, but are 100% invested in the quality and professionalism? And that you have your basic needs (and then some) pretty much covered? If so that sounds amazing! If I may prod a bit, why not take a salary in your situation? Why work for free, especially when it's highly valued not only by others, but to…

It is amazing. I was forced into it, though. I found out (the hard way) that no one wants to play with older folks. I'm very fortunate that I had built up enough of a base to retire early. It wasn't planned, but it was there. I just heard from an ex-employee of mine, that he just got let go, and is running smack-dab into this ageism issue. He's very, very good, but he'll struggle like hell, and he doesn't have my res…

Wow that's kind of amazing.

Much respect. It's def inspiring and a very different way to just view the world, and to do work that matters to you.

Warms my heart! haha. Old people rock!

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#24

Post by Arrivest »

As a software developer, when I monetized my hobby code that solved a niche problem, I needed to spend 10x more time to make it from "usable for me" to "usable for users".

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#26

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

deebosong wrote: post #23
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is amazing. I was forced into it, though. I found out (the hard way) that no one wants to play with older folks. I'm very fortunate that I had built up enough of a base to retire early. It wasn't planned, but it was there. I just heard from an ex-employee of mine, that he just got let go, and is running smack-dab into this ageism issue. He's very, very good, but he'll struggle like hell, and he doesn't have my res…

Wow that's kind of amazing. Much respect. It's def inspiring and a very different way to just view the world, and to do work that matters to you. Warms my heart! haha. Old people rock!

> Old people rock!

Not all of us. I do understand some of the animosity, but it is very self-destructive; especially when I see some of these Jurassic-scale crash-and-burn disasters that were entirely avoidable, if only one single person in authority had been out of school for more than ten years.

I also have participated in a Service organization (nonprofit) for most of my life, and a lot of the work that I do is based around the community it Serves.

But I was just talking to a friend of mine, whose father suffered a stroke, and we'll probably work on an iOS app that will be designed to help with some of his rehab.

I like to help people that help people.

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#28

Post by bombcar »

agumonkey wrote: post #15
AussieWog93 wrote: post #8

I've monetised my hobbies three times so far. All three times it has become lucrative, but none of them are hobbies any more. One of the important things along the way I've learned is that what makes hobbies relaxing and fun isn't about the specific task you're doing but the fact that it's about enjoying the process of making/doing rather than feeling pressure to deliver the end result. That's not to say I have any r…

> All three times it has become lucrative, but none of them are hobbies any more. I regularly wonder how to balance the intrinsic pleasure with extrinsic value. I keep thinking that people could meet on the point where both find great pleasure in this venture. Something rare in the current economy it seems.

One way to do it have the hobby be something that’s entirely yours (you carve intricate models of Vietnamese railway cays say) and someone else sells them, almost without any communication as to “what is selling etc”.

Never take orders.

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#29

Post by deebosong »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #26
deebosong wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow that's kind of amazing. Much respect. It's def inspiring and a very different way to just view the world, and to do work that matters to you. Warms my heart! haha. Old people rock!

> Old people rock! Not all of us. I do understand some of the animosity, but it is very self-destructive; especially when I see some of these Jurassic-scale crash-and-burn disasters that were entirely avoidable, if only one single person in authority had been out of school for more than ten years. I also have participated in a Service organization (nonprofit) for most of my life, and a lot of the work that I do is ba…

Oops, for some reason I thought you were volunteering to help older folks, hence my comment (expressing I am a fan of the older cohort, as they carry much wisdom & grace). Didn't mean to express the opposite!

Just to level the playing field, I've participated in orgs with "younger" leadership and have been burned, and also made my errors from my own arrogance/ lack of experience. The "good" that came out of that was perhaps a deeper appreciation for older folks (again I mistook one of your previous comments as that you were volunteering to help older folks – my mistake).

My own dad also still works, despite being way over retirement age, and he helps those older than him as well. I got nothing but respect for those who wanna serve those that society often overlooks out of callousness and overall lack of heart, so to speak.

Either way, really appreciate you sharing your insights/ experiences.

Re: Monetizing hobbies

#30

Post by scrapcode »

is_true wrote: post #19
AussieWog93 wrote: post #8

I've monetised my hobbies three times so far. All three times it has become lucrative, but none of them are hobbies any more. One of the important things along the way I've learned is that what makes hobbies relaxing and fun isn't about the specific task you're doing but the fact that it's about enjoying the process of making/doing rather than feeling pressure to deliver the end result. That's not to say I have any r…

A hobbie with dates isn't a hobbie. I also successfuly monetized my hobbies.

Interesting tidbit that obviously has plenty of objections. However, I do feel that this is the biggest barrier to my progress in one of my hobbies, jiu-jitsu. I have plenty of time to dedicate 10+ hours a week to fitness, but it is the aspect of having a set time that seems to limit when I can, or want to go.
Post reply on HN