This route can be a little more daunting, but in order to turn your hobby into a career all you have to do is TAKE A FIRST STEP. I recommend your step be to create a business plan, or what I like to call a “Mission Vision.” You don’t need to go to business school for this; focus on making it a creative process that outlines what your hobby would look like as a job. There are five steps to your Mission Vision.

Step one: Write your mission statement.
Begin with a mission statement that encompasses the primary purpose of your business. Research other companies’ mission statements. If you are stuck, try writing words that come to mind. Think of feelings your hobby creates, what it looks like, what you hope it brings to others, etc. I recommend creating a “Vision Board” where you tape pictures, words, drawings, etc. that represent what you’d like your business to look like.

Step two: Research.
Investigate the businesses that pertain to your hobby. What services or products do they offer? Who is their target consumer? How do they market? How big is the company? Where are they based? Read company bios, product/services descriptions, about pages, investor information and terms of service. Become an expert in your market before you dive in.

Step three: Brainstorm.
Steps one and two will give you ammunition to really see your hobby into a business. Write ideas about marketing, product creation, sales, types of services, names of your business, potential partners, how many employees, where you will work, your website and so on. Warning: this can feel overwhelming—remember you are not committing to anything; you are getting your ideas on paper. If this already feels like too much work, check in and reconsider your motivation.