Stop Chasing the Money—Chase the Play to Get Paid
Get Paid to Play Series
We’re back with a 5-part FREE training series designed to help you become a professional who gets paid to play.
This will be an ongoing theme each week where you can take what you’ve learned to the next level in the upcoming 3-Week Group Coaching Boot Camp which opens for enrollment Wednesday, August 9th, 12 PM CST. 🗓
In 21 days, you’ll learn how to curate, execute, and leverage the intentional work you love to create.
Note: Click the image to watch the replay. Continue below to read the blog.
Click to watch the Instagram Live Training Replay
It’s Time to Chase the Play
If you don't enjoy the work you create on your time own...
Isn't that basically another soul-sucking day job you've been trying to escape?
The everyday pressures of life constantly make me feel like I have to perform at a high level to provide for my family.
Not to mention getting lost in the comparison scroll, the urge to jump on trends, or the feeling to cater to algorithms fuels the pressure.
I realized over time, the more I stray away from chasing the play...
The more I suffocate all the joy from what I'm doing which causes burnout, resentment, and stress.
(I shared this on episode 234 of the podcast on how I had to teach myself to play again after severe burnout in 2021.)
My goal for myself and my students is to get paid to play. 💸
However, I've learned that in order to get paid to play, we have to first tap into PURPOSEFUL PLAY.
In order to reinvent my creative identity over the past two years, everything I do has to be rooted in this mindset.
Let's break down this concept of PLAYING WITH A PURPOSE as even professionals gotta have fun.
PLAY
Most creatives I observe/talk to aren't having fun.
They forget why they started creating in the first place.
For me, art was a fun escape from the bullies. I'd get lost drawing weird shit I was hyped to share on my fridge at home—there was no social feed for validation.
I believe tapping into play happens when you overlap a strength with a passion (AKA the Sweet Spot).
AKA, when you're combining something you really love doing, with something you're good at/driven to be great at.
If you're not having fun creating your own work, then who are you truly creating for? 🧐
PURPOSE
First off, doing something on purpose means having intent…
We remove the guessing, hoping, and wishing elements.
And instead, focus on measurable, specific results within your Sweet Spot.
You’re creating with an outcome in mind.
The next level of intention behind this, as you navigate your Sweet Spot, would be...
Shooting at targets that serve you and align with where you want to be in both the short-term (6-12 months) and long-term (3-5 years).
PROFESSIONALS VS HOBBYISTS
Sure, running a creative business is serious work, especially if you want to do your thing full-time one day.
I admit, there are parts of my work that aren't fun and can be tedious...but that's also part of being a professional in learning what to own, delegate, or eliminate.
However, being a professional doesn't mean you can't have fun.
To me, what separates a professional from a hobbyist is hobbyists tend to solely chase play showing up when it "feels right." They often lack any type of intent behind their actions.
Professionals know if their business is rooted in play and purpose, it fuels them to show up during the hard times.
What I do is incredibly difficult...but I have so much fun with what I'm building, what I'm creating, and who I'm working with...
That I can tolerate the hard days + seasons because I'm truly getting paid to play with my ever-evolving Sweet Spot.
But in order for me to be where I'm at, I first had to learn how to play with a purpose.
Action items
I’d love to challenge ya to answer a few questions after reading this (bonus points if you email me your responses).
What's the outcome you wish to accomplish with your work?
Where are you playing in your work today?
What parts of your work do you least enjoy?
Taking 5 quick minutes to answer these should quickly reveal if AND where you are playing with a purpose.
Next week, we're building off this concept on How to Leverage Play to Get Paid.
Let’s Work Together 🤝
Looking for some extra guidance and accountability on how to get paid to play like a professional?
If so, you'll love the upcoming 3-Week Boot Camp that focuses on Purposeful Play (8/21 - 9/10).
In 21 days, you’ll learn how to curate, execute, and leverage the intentional work you love to create.
Consider learning more below about how to join an upcoming 3-Week Boot Camp. 👇🏻
JOIN THE BOOT CAMP WAITLIST
The Side Hustler's Boot Camps are quarterly 3-Week Group Coaching Workshops to help grow your creative biz + brand.
They’re designed to provide you with a year’s worth of measurable growth, support, and accountability…
Or they’re available as one-off sessions to tackle your current biggest struggle.
Expect challenging exercises, a private community, 3 weekly live calls, and more.
Join the Waitlist for updates + 1st dibs at enrollment.
