With all the talk about “Soul-business” (or whatever it may be called) we often hear that we should turn what we really enjoy doing into our profession or business. However, this message should be taken with a grain of salt. But why?
The story of the cookies
Recently, a good friend of mine had the idea that I could bake cookies and sell them at the local market in the months leading up to Christmas, and perhaps beyond. The idea came about because he had noticed that I am quite good at baking and had also noticed my enthusiasm for it.
I found the idea exciting and not too risky to try, so I set about baking a small batch for the next regional market to test how well it would be received. I didn’t have to worry about anything else, as my friend already had a stall at this market and had offered to sell the cookies there.
Deep processes
However, this experiment unexpectedly triggered deep internal processes within me regarding professionalism, quality, fear, and internal pressure. The processes did not deter me, as in my experience, almost everything that is important to us also comes with its own challenges.
Selling at the market also catapulted my nervous system far out of my comfort zone. But the cookies were well received, and it was a small highlight to receive direct feedback for my product in the form of cash.
So I continued, even though there was a lot of stress involved in baking and preparing, which I hadn’t had before, of course. But there was also enthusiasm and curiosity to try new things and see how I could improve my product and my process.
Exchange with others
At the next market, we had optimized a few things in terms of sales and presentation, and I was also able to talk and exchange ideas with other producers at the market. We discussed pricing, packaging, building a business selling products at markets, and their personal experiences of what works.
This exchange was extremely valuable, as it allowed me to imagine my own path and what is actually necessary to turn this hobby into a profession.
Keeping all options open
Part of me was already fully engaged in the action thanks to these experiences at the market and started planning, researching, and calculating. The plan was to produce a much larger quantity for the next market and possibly test a second variety of cookie. I had also realized that I only wanted to sell at a specific market where visitors appreciated my product more and where I could charge a more sustainable price.
I was very enthusiastic, as I thought I had found the perfect way to turn my hobby into a (part-time) job without getting into the stress I had experienced at the beginning. But somehow the motivation had disappeared. I almost had to force myself to get the cookies ready in time. And I didn’t even manage to make that many more than the previous times.
It was clear that I had to listen deeply to myself and, above all, not judge my thoughts and feelings.
The source of joy
As I reflected on this, I realized that the joy of baking came not only from the activity itself, but also from the idea of bringing joy to my friends or family. This part had almost completely disappeared when I started selling.
In addition, my enthusiasm for continuing to bake for my friends had greatly diminished.
I had turned my hobby into a profession and lost it as a hobby.
Hobby or calling
So when people say, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” it’s important to recognize that there’s a difference between a hobby and a calling.
We do one out of inner joy. The other not only brings joy but also an inner fire that, when we work on it for days and weeks on end with hardly a break, it makes our enthusiasm for it grow and grow, and we become more and more immersed in it.
The latter is what is meant by the statement “Do what you love…”. It is what your heart burns for, and it feels like it is exactly the task we were meant to do in this world.
And the cookies?
I will continue to bake cookies and other things for the people I love in my life. Maybe I’ll even make more here and there and sell them. But this hobby must not become my profession. Because it would drive away all the joy in the long run. And that’s not the point of a Soul-business.
