You know those people who say you can make money doing *anything* as long as you’re passionate about it? Well, I’m one of those people :) But even more so when you’re actually GOOD at whatever it is you enjoy! Haha…
Check out this list I put together 8-9 months ago that was hiding in my draft emails (oops). I asked folks on Twitter & Facebook what they’re really good at, and the results were pretty fun:
- I’m really good at helping my friends find great clothes when shopping. Kind of like a freelance, unpaid version of Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear! – Annabelle
- I am awesome at Trivial Pursuit. Seriously I am the Queen of Useless Knowledge! – Liz M.
- I’m really good at photographing women with tattoos :) – Jeff
- I’m really awesome at being a friend. That’s something I’ve grown to appreciate as I’ve gotten older. I try to be the friend I want to have, and I’m proud of that. :) – K. Johnson
- I am awesome at baking bread. – Cindy
- I am awesome at public speaking. – Marilyn Wons
- I’m awesome at captivating groups and making them laugh. – Josh
- I’m awesome at getting people to take a step back and look at the bigger picture in almost any situation which benefits them95% of the time. – sexyslimmai
- I’m awesome at motivating and enabling people to run. (That is, if they have any interest in the first place! That’s always the biggest hurdle) – Frances
- I’m awesome at comforting a crying baby. – Mami2jcn
- I’m very good at finding answers to questions/random information. Which is a good thing, since I’m a librarian, and that’s pretty much my job. – Maggie
- I am awesome at baking vegan cupcakes. You’ll never eat one with eggs and dairy again! – Cate
- I am an amazing parallel parker. – Allison
- I am awesome at making homemade blackberry jam — FRUGAL jam, made with on-sale sugar and berries picked for free, and preserved in jars from the thrift store. I have the scratches on my arms to prove it and the purple under my fingernails to prove it. – Donna Freedman
- I am awesome at teaching guitar. That is not the same thing as being awesome at playing guitar. – Mary Beth Elderton
- I’m awesome at making excuses. In the future I hope to be awesome at NOT making excuses. :-) – Jen @ Master the Art of Saving
So first, never think you’re not good at anything – cuz you are! You just gotta figure out *what* it is, exactly. And then if it’s something you can charge for and/or do on the side without driving yourself nutso (that is, if you even want to parlay it into a money-making venture to begin with). This is what all those Side Hustlers do who we feature on this blog every month. They turned their hobbies/interests into something that generates a little cash on the side for them. It’s sexy.
If you haven’t asked yourself what you’re awesome at lately, stop for a second and do it right now! Here, just fill out this sentence and drop it into the comments:
“I am awesome at __________. And I could maybe do ____ to make money with it.”
Profess those skills loud and proud, baby!
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Photo by Evil Erin
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Well, I’m awesome at pontificating. Now if I could figure out a way to make some money from that, I’d be set. Maybe something like a hat in front of me saying “$1 to shut me up”
My wife says I should call it the skill of teaching and see where that gets me. Way back when I taught accounting people would bring their boyfriends and girlfriends… to an accounting class!
I’m awesome at accounting and I could maybe do taxes on the side to make EXTRA money from it (accounting is my job). Unfortunately, accounting isn’t exactly a passion so unless I’m desperate I doubt I’ll do it.
I’m awesome at singing in the shower. I could create a Karaoke service that comes with a portable shower so others who are awesome shower-singers could feel comfortable.
Ha! Great topic, J. I’m great at financial planning. If I had the desire, I could go back and take on clients again or sell mortgages or anything financial-related and I think I’d make good moolah.
I’m awesome at procrastinating! In fact, I’d planned to write this comment two hours ago but got kinda distracted.
I am awesome at helping people fix their credit. And I could maybe do credit repair on the side to make money with it.
Fun Post!
I’m awesome at helping small business owners figure out their market and niche and grow their operations – but that’s my day job…
So as a back up: I’m awesome at connecting people with each-other – maybe I could start a recruiting company…
I am awesome at catering parties for my friends. And maybe I can start charging for labor to make money from it. I WILL have my own catering company one day. But first, finish culinary school to hone my skills, get more experience, learn purchasing/management, and build up my confidence.
Do you still have the PO box? I’ll send you cookies.
Lol I totally forgot about this. :-) Thanks for including me in the list.
Now, if only I could figure out how to make money from my impressive skill…
I’m awesome at drumming, and could probably teach drum lessons for some extra cash. Unfortunately, I already have 3 jobs :P
I’m also awesome at finding deals on craigslist, specifically on cars. Also awesome at watching Nicholas Cage movies…
I’m awesome at procrastinating. If there was ever a competition for it, I’m sure I’d win.
My big passion is reading, and I am very good at it. Unfortunately, I haven’t a clue how to turn reading YA Fantasy into a side hustle. :(
I am awesome at organizing other people. And I really don’t want to make money at it at this point. Maybe that will change in the future.
I am awesome at math, singing, photography, and proofreading. And I could maybe put more effort in them and take it more seriously to make money from it.
I am awesome at figuring out solutions to problems. They created a position for me at work because I was doing so much problem solving on the side of my regular job that they wanted me to focus on it full time. I enjoy finding solutions.
I would say procrastinating, but really CAN you make money doing that?? ;) I love to problem solve and finding solutions in order to make things more efficient. I am hoping to add a consulting side to our business in order to make money off of it.
I’m awesome at being super organized!
At JDelancy, ROTF! funny stuff.
I am awesome at reading blogs.
I’m awesome at making pretty invitations, forms, and documents… Oh, and cutting out friends faces to fit in Robocop or Poison pictures, using not so sophisticated software like Word and Publisher. :)
I’ve been looking for an I Am Awesome Party – thanks for throwing it, J!
I’m awesome at finding deals….maybe that’s why I am in purchasing?? Not the same though. I would rather be purchasing clothes or textiles…dream job :)
I’m sorry I missed this on Twitter because I totally have one: I’m awesome at writing nastygrams. You know, “strong” emails to companies that have wronged me in some way. I’m really, really good at getting free stuff or discounts for airing my righteous indignation. My brother suggested I start a business writing nastygrams for others!
I am awesome at making small spaces big, mostly with shelving. I am awesome at making shelves out of anything (usually from the garbage) except people may note that my interpretation of ‘awesome’ is really ‘obsessed.’
Thanks for playing along everyone, this was fun to see :)
@William @ Drop Dead Money – HAH! Nice use of “pontificating” – haven’t heard that one since the SATs ;)
@Lance @ Money Life and More – Ooooh I smell a new website though! BloggerTaxes.com, haha…
@AverageJoe – Nice! I suck at singing in the shower :) But I am good at *THINKING* in there. Most of my business epiphanies show up while I’m scrubbing to the point I stop paying attention and can’t remember if I’ve washed up or not! Haha… so I always have to go back and do it again just in case ;)
@J. Delancy – Bah dum ching.
@Terah@The Credit Report Chick – Yeah you can! Especially if you can gain their trust – that’s the hardest part in that industry I feel like – too many shady ones out there ruining it for the good ones :(
@Megan – Awesome!! I’m all about connecting people too – one of my favorite things to do actually! And something social media helps a LOT with… Maybe I’ll hire you one day though for business talks ;)
@Akiyo @KitchenPenguin – Nice!! I happen to be obsessed with cookies :) Shoot me an email and I’ll pass it along when it’s time: j @ budgets are sexy . com
@Jen @ Master the Art of Saving – Haha yeah, I almost forgot about this too! Good thing Gmail allows drafts ;)
@Jacob @ iheartbudgets – OMG that’s too funnny… and probably SHOULD be a skill watching Nick Cage – I can’t bare some of them! (Though my fave? “Face.. off….” So crazy!)
@Edward Antrobus – Haha yeah, neither do I… unless you’re awesome at writing and marketing your own books? :)
@Kathy – Well no shame in that, my friend. *Knowing yourself* is highly important too!
@Dr. Sheba – Wow, that’s a lot. I’m impressed!
@Grayson @ Debt Roundup – How cool! I bet you love it too – I get that way with trying to figure out how to code web pages…. Spent 8+ hours this weekend redesigning the face of TakeOurStuff.com and learned about 10 new things in the process, it was great. Especially when you can physically SEE your accomplishments too ;) Another reason I used to love graphic design so much…
@John S @ Frugal Rules – Yes, love it. Especially when you really enjoy it!
@Cat – That’s a good skill to have!
@debtgirl – You’re awesome at leaving comments on them too ;)
@Melanie – Haha, anytime! Maybe I should get a Poison/J. Money picture as a reward? :)
@SavvyFinancialLatina – I bet :) At least you can save yourself money with all your personal shopping though!
@TeacHer – OMG YES!! Or at least post templates online for all us to use and love you forever for ;) That would be dope… I knew I loved you.
@Slackerjo – Ooooooh I dig that though… I’d totally let you come over and build me up some sexy shelving! And I’d pay you handsomely with food and/or beer and/or wine too – whatever you wish! :)
I am good at making people mad at me. Does that count? HAHAHA I don’t know what it is, but I can make people think I am arguing in a second. Maybe I could fire people for money.
I’m just having some fun…
Or run for office ;)
I think that the challenge is, simply, that it’s really hard to find the things you are good at, if it’s not obvious to everyone around you. It’s even harder to make money from it. But you are right, everyone is good at something, and it should be evident.
I am awesome at research, analysis and writing and could probably write a naughty novel using these skills (seeing that at the moment naughty novels have moved into the mainstream). But my spelling really sucks!
OW OW!! DO it!!! That would be hot ;)
I’m awesome at cooking a delicious meal and matching a nice bottle of wine to go with it (not expensive wine). One of my passions is wine – I would love to create a wine group where 4-6 couples get together every other month for a wine tasting and food. Could be a good side business but I’d rather do it for fun :)
Ooooh awesome! That’s something I’d LOVE to be more fluent in actually – knowing the ins and outs of wine, and what to look for/pair things with etc. If you ever start a blog or anything on it one day please let me know! It’ll help me be more of a finer gentlemen ;)
Hmmm. I am going to have to think about this one. It is inspiring to read everyone else’s. Sometimes I think I am good at comforting others no matter what, and I think of a documentary I saw once about a woman who hugged people for a living, and in a totally non-dirty way. I wonder how she got that job. . . I’ll look into it.
HAH! That’s pretty cool – I’d like to find out how that’s possible too :) I’d love to hug people for a living! Haha… maybe she got paid for the documentary?
I’m also awesome at finding great deals.. persistence? I also bake a pretty amazing chocolate chip cookie :)
Your deal finding skills already pay you handsomely! :)
It can be surprising what specialized skill of yours that you’ve been sitting on which people would pay you for. I have to constantly remind myself of this.
Yeah dude! Loved your last post on your site too – “6 sneaky ways to work your side-hustle at work, without getting fired,” haha… that’s dope. Nice seeing you here, man :)
I’m awesome at math —- all the way up to Calculus…..maybe I could tutor.
I’m awesome at planning events and keeping track of the details…but I don’t know if I would like being an event planner and dealing with *other* people’s events….
Both good skills to have!
The beauty with all of this is that you can test out and give ’em a shot, and then if you don’t like it either tweak and try again or move on to the next idea. You don’t need any “real” business stuff set up these days to get side gigs going (ie business cards, biz plan, storefront, etc). You just start telling people you do it and see what happens! If you get a bite, you go from there and do your best work possible.
I’m a past master at spotting good ideas vs. bad ideas. The idea of appraising your strengths and accentuating your positives is always a good idea.
Yup! And even better so if you *take action* afterwards ;)