Good idea? For some perhaps, but not for me. My reasoning may shed a light on the option that many people consider from time to time.

I admit it; I am a fine paper fanatic. I look for shops and stationery boutiques wherever I travel and get goose bumps if I happen to find one with more than just a corner dedicated to paper. When I find the time, I make paper keepsakes for friends and family--from personalized journals to cards and little books. It's a hobby that is satisfying and can put me in the zone for hours on end. People have even suggested that I start a business and sell my paper creations. After I remind them that I already have one business, I think about the possibility of shifting my leisure time pursuit to a moneymaking one. Immediately, I start to tense up at the notion of having to fill orders and create according to someone else's timeframe. It's not appealing, but why?

In my last blog, I wrote about the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), an assessment tool based on the personality theory of Carl Jung. The framework of the MBTI helps me understand why my hobby is a perfect part-time outlet for me, but not necessarily a great idea for a business venture. Essentially, by looking at my work and my hobby through the lens of the MBTI, I see that my "day job" calls on one of my favored functions, that of intuition. In my career counseling practice, I strive to see the big picture of a client's situation and help them consider their work within the context of their entire life. My hobby, on the other hand, relies on the opposite of that function, sensing , where attention to detail is key. According to Jung's theory, it's everyone's challenge in life to develop the lesser-known parts of themselves. As we progress through life, we seek out opportunities to become whole, often through hobbies and leisure time activities.

I recall once working with an investment advisor who, at midlife, thought he might want to shift into another career. It was interesting to hear that one of his recent and most rewarding experiences was chairing the board of his child's private school. An admitted introvert, he surprised himself with the level of enjoyment he had for this role, which involved working with groups of people much more than he was used to in his employment.

However, to assume that his enjoyment indicated he should be in a more extraverted job, would have been off base. I think that it was precisely because his board experience was voluntary and short-term that it allowed him to feel secure enough to try something different. After all, neither his salary nor his professional identity were at risk.

Then there was a woman client who had a developed a career in the non-profit world. She was clearly ready for a change and eventually decided to go back to school and focus on a long-standing interest of hers: organic gardening. While the decision did reflect a "hobby-turned-to-job" type of situation, it was one that clearly aligned with her personality, interests and values—a winning combination.

So, if you are considering whether to make your hobby your job, don't dismiss it because you fear you'll tire of it or because it's not practical. Consider if this option fits with who you are, what you most enjoy, and what energizes you. If the answer is "yes", it may be just the turn in your life you need to make.

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