an unpopular opinion about monetisation - Issue #35

Dear you,

A while back, I thought about my life and journey - how I have things I love to do but I will never monetise. 

Why?

Because my reality has taught me that this quote is not always true: “If you make money doing what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.”

It doesn't account for the moments when the thing you love doing becomes work! You probably love creating art or even taking pictures, but when there are other factors like clients, deadlines, etc. the reality changes. The stakes are higher when what you love is your primary source of your daily bread. I have met many creators who feel like running away from something they used to love because they couldn't create with the freedom they wanted.

My personal solution

Don't monetise everything. Keep some things for yourself. Go back to those things when you feel pressure and use them as an outlet. Save those things for yourself or find an outlet to continue to create some things for yourself while monetising other things.

Another solution is to build your craft to the point where you attract the kind of clients who give you the freedom to create what you believe in because they trust you completely.

Ps:

I am not saying you should not monetise your passion at all. I am saying not all passions need to be monetised and sometimes, you can keep facets of your passion for yourself. I have an artist friend who paints particular works for himself. He will never sell those, they are his, for him to enjoy. Clients can buy others, ask him to create versions of these works for them, but these specific art works, he will never sell because he made them for himself. They represent a moment, or something deep to him. They have sentimental value.

This letter is not for every one. It won't apply to everyone and that's okay. Tell me what you think in the comment section.

With love,

Blessing Abeng.