Listen here.
If you're in your 20's and building something on the side, you've probably asked yourself this question more than once: Is this just a fun side hustle, or is it supposed to become the thing?
Here's the exercise I come back to every time I'm at that crossroads; make two lists.
List One: The pros and cons of keeping it exactly as it is -- a side hobby, something you do because you enjoy it and it brings in a little extra, while your 9-5 stays the main source of income
List Two: The pros and cons of building the side hustle into a real business and replacing that 9-5 entirely
Once both lists exist, look at which one is longer. Not to make the decision for you, but to show you what you already know. If the cons outweigh the pros on the "keep it small" list, that's information! If the pros stack up on the "go all in" list, that's also information!
But here's the part people skip: more pros don't always mean "do it now."
I had 'Become a certified Pilates Instructor' on my vision board for the past three years before I actually did it. Three years of knowing it was right for me, but still not acting on it. It wasn't fear holding me back -- it was timing. Money, other responsibilities, lessons I hadn't finished learning yet in other parts of my life.
And that's the piece I want you to sit with: wanting something and it being the right time for that something are two different things. Neither one cancels out the other. You can know a change is coming and still need to wait for it.
So, if you're at a crossroads right now, here's your homework:
- Make both lists -- hobby and business
- Be honest which one has more weight
- Ask yourself if now is actually the time, separate from whether it's the right move
- If it's not the time yet, that's not a no -- it's a not yet
You're allowed to take your time getting there!
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