From Hobby & Passion to Profession
Imagine being paid for having fun. Many people make that dream a reality by finding a career related to their hobbies. Some turn their pastimes into paychecks, selling what they once made or did only in their free time. Others find jobs that use hobby-related skills or are related to their hobbies in another way.
If you’re looking for an occupation to match your interests, examining your hobbies is a great way to start. This article describes how I used my hobbies to find a career and explores a few ways you can do the same.
Mixing passion with your job
How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Career
Most people think:Finding a good job and making good money = priority number 1
Focusing on hobbies and passions = priority number 2
If you believe and use this idea, you’ll give work your all, burn out in the process, and then blame your J.O.B. for consuming your life.
Ignoring your passion is slow suicide. Never ignore what your heart pumps for. Make time to follow your passion and never let your hobbies and interests take a back seat.
You don’t need to find your passion outside of work, here’s a better approach: reach the point where your profession is also your hobby.
Most people believe that work and hobbies exist on opposite ends of the spectrum. Work is for earning a living; hobbies are for enjoying life. But what if you didn’t have to choose? What if your job could be your hobby, and your hobby could be your job?
Mold your career around your lifestyle, not your lifestyle around your career.
Count yourself blessed if you have something you love to do. If you don’t, always be ready to pivot and learn something new — you will be better for it.
If you have ever had a job you didn’t like or simply found uninspiring, you know how important it is to find a career that speaks to you. Finding the right career is about more than just how much money you make and what your business card says.
When you are truly passionate about your work. Your hobby and your profession become one and the same.
Maybe you like drawing, sculpting, or creating some other art form. Or perhaps you enjoy training animals — or learning languages in my case. Whatever your favorite leisure activity, you can probably find an occupational niche for it in the working world.
The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.
— Jessica Hische
I can’t overstate how important it is to love what you do. Otherwise, what’s the point? You end up slaving away with no sense of purpose or achievement. You don’t always have to enjoy it, but you must love it all the same.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my experience, it’s this: Your career should reflect what excites you. Here’s how you can turn your hobby into a career:
- Identify Your Passion: What do you love doing in your free time? For me, it was languages. For you, it might be art, writing, cooking, or something else entirely.
- Look for Overlaps: Find industries or roles that align with your interests. If you love photography, consider jobs in media, marketing, or even starting your own business.
- Network and Seek Opportunities: Talk to people in your field, attend events, and don’t be afraid to ask for introductions. You never know where your next opportunity might come from.
If you are fortunate enough to find a career that aligns with your passions, you can count yourself among the rare people who look forward to their Mondays.
Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby.
_George Bernard Shaw
My experience
How I Turned My Love for Languages Into a Job
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by languages. The way they shape our thoughts, connect us to others, and open doors to new worlds is so intriguing. I’ve spent years learning English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Persian and Spanish. Not just spoken languages, I also fell in love with programming languages like JavaScript and Python.
To me, both foreign languages and programming languages are similar in a profound way: they open new doors to people, ideas, and opportunities we’ve never considered. Once you learn a new language you unlock a different part of the internet/world, also the more languages you have, the more worlds you belong to.
Like many people, I never imagined I could turn all my passions into one career. That is, until I stumbled into a job that changed everything.
My journey began when a close friend, Mahdieh, introduced me to AFL, a company that creates apps and web extensions to help language learners. She knew about my love for languages and thought I’d be a perfect fit. I applied, and suddenly found myself as the Assistant to Chief Executive Officer in a company that shared my passion for breaking down language barriers.
From the start, I realized AFL wasn’t just about creating language tools; it was about solving a real problem — breaking down communication barriers — and doing so in an innovative way. The team’s energy was infectious. Everyone seemed dedicated to not only improving the product but also creating something that genuinely mattered to our users.
One of the most surprising things about working at AFL was how closely it aligned with my personal interests. Here was a company using programming languages to make learning foreign languages easier for people around the world. I’ve always been drawn to the beauty and complexity of languages. Working at AFL allowed me to combine my love for languages with my interest in technology.
The job felt tailor-made for me. I’ve always thrived on variety, the thought of doing the same thing every single day honestly horrifies me. But at AFL, I could wear many hats.
They gave me the opportunity to tackle different tasks every day. One day, I’d be troubleshooting customer issues, handling disputes, and gathering feedback to improve the products. The next, I’d be doing marketing or content creation, editing videos in Premiere Pro, designing in Figma, or running social media campaigns on LinkedIn and Reddit. I even dabbled in influencer marketing, reaching out to YouTubers and language teachers to promote our tools. No two days were the same, and that unpredictability kept me engaged.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Working remotely from a small town in Kerman, Iran, came with its own set of challenges. My internet connection was unreliable, and my old laptop was on its last legs. There were days when I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle, trying to keep up with the demands of the job while dealing with technical issues.
But those challenges taught me resilience. I learned to adapt, to find creative solutions, and to focus on what I could control. Instead of dwelling on the obstacles, I channeled my energy into adding value — whether it was through improving our products, supporting our users, or finding new ways to grow the business.
The team at AFL made the experience even more special. Collaboration was at the heart of everything we did. I was lucky to have colleagues who supported and challenged me, making even the toughest days manageable.
AFL’s mission to break down language barriers resonated deeply with me. It felt meaningful, like I was contributing to something bigger than myself.
Now AFL, with 170,000+ active users daily, is helping users to learn languages passively while watching Netflix and YouTube. Imagine mastering Spanish by binge-watching your favorite shows. In this article, I explained more about the products and methods in more detail.
What’s Next for Me?
I was able to turn my hobby into my profession, and I am thankful for that. But my passions don’t stop at languages. Writing has always been another love of mine — a way to express ideas, share stories, and connect with others on a deeper level. Now, I have the opportunity to devote more time to it.
While my time at AFL was incredibly rewarding, I’ve since moved on to new challenges. I’m now focusing on building my personal brand and sharing my experiences through my website, www.lilyraya.blog. It’s a space where I can explore my love for writing while offering insights on topics like entrepreneurship, career development, and personal growth.
I’m also planning to launch a newsletter, where I’ll dive deeper into these subjects and share practical advice, personal stories, and resources to help others navigate their own journeys. Writing allows me to connect with people in a meaningful way, and I’m glad to have this platform to do so.
But beyond writing, my ultimate goal is to create value and give back to the world. Whether it’s through sharing knowledge, inspiring others, or contributing to meaningful projects, I want to leave a positive impact. Life is too short not to use our talents to make a difference. And for me, that means continuing to learn, grow, and give in whatever way I can.
Conclusions
If there’s one piece of advice I’d offer from my experience, it’s this: Let your work reflect what excites you. Whether you’re solving problems, creating something new, or helping others, the key is to stay curious and open. That’s when work stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like purpose.
So, what’s your passion? And how can you turn it into a career? The journey might not be easy, but it will be worth it. Because when you love what you do, every day feels like a gift.
