GCU Forum - Job or Hobby

Sharon_151849 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 25	Job or Hobby Mar 24^th, 2011, 11:35am Is anyone successful enough that they do not have to work out of the home? Is this anyone's full time job? Or is this just more of a really fun extra money hobby? Because I am having fun!
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Angela_134247 Gold Member artist Posts: 761	Re: Job or Hobby Reply #1 - Mar 24^th, 2011, 2:32pm For me it's an additional job, I work from home and currently have about five jobs... "mother of 2" being the first. Some day though, my sister and I hope to do this solely. You never know!
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Doreen_137017

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Re: Job or Hobby
Reply #2 - Mar 24^th, 2011, 3:04pm

GCU alone is most likely not going to be enough, even full time to sustain the average person, let alone a household, but for me it's only 1 of several online stores where I sell products I have designed...and for me, it is quickly becoming enough income for hubby and I...it is also a full time job for me.

It is possible, with tremendous amount of work to both create designs that sell and to market them...and it takes several years to establish a powerful enough presence to 'make a living' doing this from home, but for me it's not only worth it, but is what I love doing more than anything

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Eve_138255 Ex Member	Re: Job or Hobby Reply #3 - Mar 24^th, 2011, 4:19pm I love your banner and color scheme. To answer your question..... Photography is my hobby, so selling cards here I'm hoping to make my hobby pay for itself.
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Rebecca_140932

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Re: Job or Hobby
Reply #4 - Mar 24^th, 2011, 4:47pm

I myself do more than just creating cards for GCU. That is the only way to make a living, really. I run a small kennel of Pomeranians where I have a few litters a year. I also create for Zazzle, RedBubble, and 3DRose. I write books, create calendars and sell copies to my photography on Lulu. I am also a writer for Constant-Content, Helium, Triond, Author Nation, and Glimmer Train. I write articles (lenses) for Squidoo. I am also thinking about writing for Demand Media and Suite 101. You really have to be a jack of all trades to make it anywhere in this business. I have done book reviews for published book authors and published interviews with them, too. On top of it all, I'm a mother of 4 children ages 5-17. I really stay busy and wouldn't have it any other way. The key is to do anything and everything you can to make money at what you love doing. When you love it you will find the time to do it. Then, a little money here and a little money there adds up to a lot.

I also have thought about being a ghost writer for others who want to create books. I know quiet a few people who want to write a book but don't know the first thing about how to start.

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Randall_140313

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Re: Job or Hobby
Reply #5 - Mar 24^th, 2011, 7:36pm

Hello Sharon,

You've got the right attitude - having fun! O course it'd be a lot more fun if you knew the money was following right in step in direct proportion to all the fun, but unless you have several thousand cards up and know how to market yourself like a beer company, you'd better hang on to that day job.

The key is, marketing as usually is the case in any venture, so without neglecting the creation process, learn all the resources you have at hand to market yourself. The learning tools at GCU University are a start and staying up on the forum and asking questions is crucial as well. You have the help of so many willing teachers here and some of them are more than happy to help you avoid those hard knocks and direct you to where your energy can be best spent.

I know I'm on the bottom side of the learning curve myself and thankfully like most of the others here, have several other income producing gigs that keep me afloat. The term "starving artist" was coined for a very good reason! lol

Best always, Randy

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Peggy_137160 Gold Member artist Posts: 760	Re: Job or Hobby Reply #6 - Mar 25^th, 2011, 10:51am Hobby turning business. I'm a massage therapist by trade, and for the last two years have been an animal photographer. The products from my shoots (caledars, cards, etc) are a wonderful bonus to my actual shoots!
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