I Treated My Calling Like a Hobby — and That Was My Biggest Lesson of 2025

For most of 2025, I told myself a story.

I told myself I was “just sharing my story.”

I told myself the podcast was “for healing.”

I told myself the books were “creative outlets.”

And while every one of those things was true… they were also convenient.

Because calling something a hobby lets you love it without fully committing to it.

It lets you avoid structure.

It lets you avoid pressure.

It lets you avoid the uncomfortable truth that if you’re meant to build something impactful, you eventually have to treat it like a business.

That realization hit me hard — and it changed everything.

The Hobby Trap (Especially for Women Who’ve Survived)

If you’re part of the Finding 40 community, you already know this:

Many of us didn’t grow up believing our voices were valuable.

We were taught to survive.

To keep the peace.

To be grateful just to make it through.

So when we create something meaningful — a podcast, a book, a platform — we often shrink it down to something “safe.”

We say:

• “It’s just something I do on the side.”

• “I’m not really trying to make money from it.”

• “I don’t want to pressure myself.”

But here’s the truth I had to face in 2025:

Calling your purpose a hobby doesn’t make it purer.

It makes it smaller.

What 2025 Taught Me (The Hard Way)

In 2025, I showed up inconsistently.

I created without systems.

I wrote without strategy.

I recorded without a real plan for growth.

Not because I didn’t care — but because I cared too emotionally and not strategically enough.

I poured heart into everything…

but I didn’t protect it with structure.

And that’s when it clicked:

Passion without process will always burn you out.

I wasn’t tired of creating.

I was tired of winging it.

2026 Is Different — And I’m Not Apologizing for It

In 2026, I’m done playing small with the things that matter most to me.

The podcast is no longer “just something I love.”

The books are no longer “projects I work on when I have time.”

My voice is no longer optional.

I’m treating my work like a business — on boss mode.

That means:

• Clear schedules

• Intentional launches

• Monetization without guilt

• Systems that support creativity instead of draining it

• Growth plans that don’t rely on motivation alone

Not because money is the goal — but because impact requires infrastructure.

Healing Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be Strategic

This is the part I really want you to hear:

You can be healed and ambitious.

You can be soft and disciplined.

You can create from the heart and protect your work like a CEO.

For a long time, I thought structure would take the soul out of my work.

What I learned instead?

Structure gave my voice room to grow.

If You’re Standing at the Same Edge…

If you’ve been treating your gift like a side project…

If you’ve been waiting for permission to go all in…

If you’ve been minimizing your work because you’re afraid to want more…

Let this be your sign.

Your story isn’t a hobby.

Your voice isn’t extra.

Your next chapter deserves intention.

2025 taught me the lesson.

2026 is where I apply it.

And this time — I’m building like I mean it.