I am so very grateful that blogging is doing just what I was hoping it would do: helping to supplement our family's income while I do something I enjoy. But as I wrote last time, the demands on my time and energy have taken over, so I need to regain some balance. I know there are changes to be made and I have a huge desire to do what fits me, even especially if it means forging my own path.
But this is all so abstract and vague, isn't it? I'm all about concrete and practical. I don't just want to know that I need to change, I want to know how to change.
My first Venn diagram 
I've been reading like a maniac recently. One of the books I read last week was Linchpin by Seth Godin. In it, he talks about making yourself indispensable.
He included some Venn diagrams and after reading one night, I came up with my own with regards to the subject of finding work that fits.
This is my quick, not-at-all-fancy rendering of what popped in my head:
Hopefully it's pretty self-explanatory, but here's the gist:
As we think about making an income — doesn't matter if it's blogging, working outside the home or whatever — I think we all have to consider three components: passion, productivity and profit. The goal is to find a way to make an income that is an intersection of the three. What you do should maximize your passion, your productivity and your profit all at once.
Where do you fall?
Perhaps you are one of the blessed ones that has figured out how to land in that sweet spot. If not, consider one of the following:
- Do you have a hobby? – Are you passionate about your craft and able to produce, but aren't making any money from it?
- Do you have a job? – Are you sufficiently productive and you make money doing what you do, but you lack passion?
- Do you have an obsession? – Do you have a lot of passion and are making money, but feel like it's taking over your life to the detriment of your other responsibilities? (This is were I am was.)
Now, hobbies, jobs and obsessions aren't necessarily bad things (well, I suppose obsessions are), but why not explore ways to land in the middle?
If you're like me, you've got limited time and resources. The great thing about the internet is that it provides the "average" person the opportunity to break into business with relatively little initial output of both.
Here's my new motto:
Don't just make an income, make a living.
I've talked a tiny bit about passion, money and time-management, but I'll be exploring them a lot more in the coming weeks. Next week we'll talk about monetization (practical ways to make money online) and I'll be talking a whole lot more about productivity & time-management too.
Amy
What a thoughtful post. My passion and mission in life is to help moms who've felt they have to choose between (as you put it) making a living and earning an income. I believe that we can do both – successfully. One should not have to suffer for the other. As wives, mothers, women we have each been given a unique purpose and many times that purpose takes us outside the four walls of our home. I think you are on a great path of discovery and I hope to be along with you on the journey. Blessings to you!
Thanks Kendra!
Love this post…I'm trying to get my blog going and although it may not be making the income since I've just started. I'm still trying to balance a PT job, plus my family, life, and blogging. I am starting to feel like my blog is becoming more of the obsession range, just trying to get it off the ground. I've been working on scheduling better so that my blog time is limited a little bit more.
I'm also discovering that scheduling is key!
Thanks for the post. My passion is coffee and my obsession is coffee. My job just doesn't line up. But I can create a "job" if you will that has to do with coffee and I"m there. Have you explored the use of mind maps?
I have read a bit about mind maps although do my own version (I call them brain swirls). I think my concept is basically the same. Either way, I think they are very valuable!
Joe, do you blog about coffee? My husband is pretty passionate about coffee too, and likes to spend time online reading about it, discussing it with other likeminded folks, looking at products, etc.
Never mind — I see that you have a website. The video on your latest blog post is exactly the silly kind of thing my husband would forward to his Facebook friends. (I also see that you sell Mysore Nuggets. Someone needs to make a funny video about THAT.
)
Another thoughtful and thought provoking post. I struggle right now with so many things going on virtually at once. It's hard to remember to take the time to organize and spend my time in the most wise manner. I'm learning!
It *is* hard to keep up with everything going on! Slow and steady…
Thanks for this great post – I'm really looking forward to future posts about this! I am at the place where my blog is basically my hobby, I only make a very, very little and it won't even cover the amount that I've spent on my blog so far – going to a blogging conference, buying a domain and hosting. But, I really love what I do, and I think I'm good at it (in my opinion)
and I would love to bring it to the place where I could add making an income from it, and hit that sweet spot in the middle that you're talking about. Can't wait to hear more!
Sounds like you're in a good spot so far! Stay tuned for the monetization posts coming up this week and next!
What an insightful post! I'm also reflecting on blogging these days. On my blog I review books and homeschool products. Since I don't make any money, I suppose the blog is a hobby, but it seems to be taking up way too much of my time for a mere hobby.
I'm really looking forward to more from you.
Annie Kate
I hope to meet Seth Godin some day. He is the only blog I make sure to read EVERY day. I love his concise thoughtful posts and books.
Right now we make an income from it but not all of us. Hubby gets paid, mom and I don't so it's not really an income.
We've been trying to figure it out for 10 years so if you do let me know what the secret is PLEASE!!!!!
I look forward to your upcoming posts on this topic! Thank you for sharing this and for being such an inspiration and encouragement!
Check out my award to you on my blog, Starving Artist's Wife!
I'm your average homemaker, and I'm mostly just struggling with trying to see what my real niche is! I feel like I have the passion, but am trying to figure out the rest! I'm going to be experimenting a little bit with a few new ideas to see what happens. I'll just keep plugging along-I am reading some great blogging books, and enjoy your blog too! I can't wait for the day my blogs earn revenue!
It started as a hobby, turned into an obsession and now I am finally making a passable income, which is grand. The thing for me was finding my true passion and crafting a job out of that. Now it comes naturally, but I still am working on the whole this is a job, not an obsession thing:)
Great post and honestly, it is what most of us need to hear. So often we can get hung up and feel chained to blogging. We need to learn to create great work and let that continue to do the work for us. 10 crappy posts and 8 hours a day on twitter do not a profitable blog make. Heart, planning, and constantly learning, while remembering to have a life….that is the key.
I'm with you — find your passion and craft a job out of that!
Very insightful and motivating post! Thanks Amy!
"Don’t just make an income, make a living."
I love that line…
Thanks so much, Amy! I found your site recently and have appreciated it SO much
This is a great post. I am in the midst of figuring out God's next step for me and have been studying and praying about starting a blog (Have 2 of the 10 posts written. Good tip!!) I am moving slow though – partly because it's new to me, I don't feel too computer literate and that part makes me nervous (!), wondering about time constraints (I work as a librarian at a middle/high school), and partly because I recently finished treatment for breast cancer and am still getting back on my feet. BUT – going through that valley is what has been the call to action, as many cancer survivors would tell you, I reckon. To be 45 and figuring out what you really want to do with your life is both daunting and exciting!
One of my concerns is in the passion area. For over 10 years I had a business from a hobby (hand dyed wool, hooked rugs, designing and teaching). For 4 of those I had a storefront – which is where the hobby that I was passionate about took over, so I think I am a bit gun-shy.
My word of caution to those that are taking a hobby to the business level is to remember that you must be in charge of the direction it takes and be sure that it is where you want to got. I had to do a lot of things (or felt I did) to try to generate business (add other inventory, make patterns for selling rather than working on my own artwork, etc) that eventually got me burned out. I closed the store about 5 years ago and haven't hooked a loop since and have zero desire to do any again. (Which I am fine with – not sad about that at part at all.)
I did LOVE having my own business, and do still have a passion for that (doesn't every control freak want to be the Boss??)
I just don't want to head into something without knowing that this is God's leading and His true calling for me and my family. Guess I am a bit scared about finding myself down the road a couple years from now attached to something but having lost my passion for it. Like I said – just gun shy after having that happen once.
During this past summer – between naps! – I had much time to study and pray. I've known for a long time that my heart is in moving women forward in their faith, pushing them out of their comfort zone and encouraging them to always trust the Word over their feelings or circumstances. How that works itself out in the day to day of life is what I'm trying to figure out. And I just can't tell you how valuable your honest advice on your site has been!! Thanks for letting me ramble a bit here.
Lisa
Lisa, I'm so glad you shared your heart. Wow, you've been through a lot in recent years!! You're right…God's leading in the best. You can't go wrong there.
Amy….I look forward each day to the new nuggets of knowledge I will get from your posts. I have been married to an amazing man for 23 years and have 2 wonderful children. I have done the bookwork for our Excavation company for 21 years. Recently I decided to try for a career at our local hospital mainly to get insurance. After 3 attempts and the recommendation of the chief of staff God had other plans. While I was awaiting the response from my 3rd interview I told God that if the answer was a No I would pursue my photography. I have been doing photography (landscapes, still life, architecture, etc….) for many years and have quite a collection. Well, that was about 3 months ago and now I have my website up and running with a webstore, blog and have my photography in several areas around town. I am very excited and a little nauseous. So I am in that area of trying to make my hobby profitable. Your blog posts have been indispenciple for me throughout this process. I thank you so very much and look forward to a long relationship……Have a blessed day!!
Awesome!! That is excellent.
Hi Amy, I totally agree with your post. I have the same issue. LIMITED TIME ! I'm always rushing during the day to do my blogging and read up on as much info that I need to learn, then the hubby comes home, and have to stop and give me time to him, and the kids, cook dinner, wind down & etc. So basically my "blogging" or "working" during the day starts at 7:30 until 5 or 6pm. Because I can be online from morning till night with no problem, he'll call during the day and say "did you get all your computer stuff or blogging done" So the main thing here is prioritizing your day and sticking with it. Love your posts Amy !! I'd like to put one of your posts on my blog to link it to yours. Let me know if you don't mind.
Christina
passsionforliving.com
Hi Christina,
Yes, I'm right there with ya on the time factor!!
Regarding a post, I'm so honored you'd like to share it with your readers. As a rule, the best way to alert others to a post you like is to post only a short excerpt (perhaps with a little of your own commentary about why you like it, etc.) and then link to the original post where readers can find the rest. Not only does this avoid copyright infringement (all original blog posts are copyrighted upon publication) but it also spreads link love in a very nice way and it eliminates both of our sites being dinged by the search engines for "duplicate content."
Amy, I'm often up and writing until late at night. I can't seem to "feel" like writing until after the kids go to bed! This is not the best situation because I homeschool my sons, and I hate feeling tired during the day. The thing is, I love having a reason to write again, and writing about my life at home with my children is one of my passions. I could just use a few more hours every night! Since I paid the money for the domain and hosting, I'm determined to keep at it, and whenever I finally get sat down to write, I really enjoy the creative and productive feeling of it all. I haven't figured out the profit part yet, but it's all very new, and I'm just trying to find my way. I'm pretty sure I'm still missing some pieces of the puzzle, but I know they're around here somewhere!
Your posts, always very pointed and concise, are extremely helpful, so thank you!
Thanks Michelle! Sounds like you're off to a great start. I understand getting tired and the trickiness of finding a good blogging rhythm. I recommend experimenting with various times that you write. And if you have even just a 15 minute opening in your day, you'll be amazed how much you can get done by setting a timer and writing like a maniac until that buzzer goes off!
Thank you Amy!
I have recently stopped working to stay at home and enjoy my new marriage and my children, but have been contemplating starting something that I enjoy which can also be profitable. I also would like to do something that can make a difference for others. However, I had no clue where to start and lots of thoughts have been popping in my mind. I think your blog is the inspiration I needed. I look forward to future blogs and will be grateful for your guidance.
Anna
So glad you stopped by, Anna. I hope it's helpful! Check out my step-by-step tutorials to get started.
(I'm just making my way through the posts I've missed here this morning, LOL)
I tend to veer towards the obsessed side as well. Balance is hard. Especially when your readers get used to the efforts you made when you were obsessed. When you draw back to become more balanced, you can tell a noticeable shift in engagement and pageviews. It's frustrating.
I'm sure with patience, it would even itself out, but it's hard.
Yes, I'm with you. I'm trying to figure out how to not be so involved with blogging and keep my pageviews up OR be more involved with blogging and not still have plenty of time for my family. If I figure it out, I'll let ya know.
I absolutely LOVE this infographic! Thanks for it!