Turn your hobby into a business

Step 1: recognise your talents
Identify your talents, develop them and you can change your life: from fresh enthusiasm comes confidence, inspiration, achievement and even a business.

Print out this page (using the 'Print' button at the bottom left of this page) and take our two simple tests, answering with your heart as well as your head, because the real clues may lie in how you feel as much as what you think. Get a trusted friend or partner to score you on the Everyday Life Skills test, then compare and discuss the results. Your life skills will help you develop the right outlet for your natural talents, or they may even be your particular talent.

Test yourself: my natural talents
Scrutinise your answers to the questions below for:
• threads of unfulfilled ambition
• talents and interests you have abandoned or neglected
• unrecognised skills and abilities
• sources of pleasure

1 What is the high point of my day/week?

2 In 20 years’ time what will I regret not having tried to achieve?

3 What did I most love doing when I was…?
a) 10 years old
b) 18 years old
c) 25 years old

4 What did I always dream of being?

5 If I went back to college, what would I study?

6 What does my family think I’m really good at?

7 What do my friends think I’m really good at?

8 What have I sacrificed to be where I am today?

Test yourself: everyday life skills

Scores out of 10

Organising: your score for yourself __ friend’s score for you __

Record-keeping: your score __ friend’s score __

Communicating: your score __ friend’s score __

Leading: your score __ friend’s score __

Analysing: your score __ friend’s score __

Controlling budgets: your score __ friend’s score __

Campaigning: your score __ friend’s score __

Designing, creating: your score __ friend’s score __

Problem-solving: your score __ friend’s score __

DIY, mending: your score __ friend’s score __

Improvising: your score __ friend’s score __

Listening, counselling: your score __ friend’s score __

Step 2: make it happen
You need three basics to begin your talent development:

• Your first goal. This should be modest, so you can celebrate a quick win and move on. It might be to order a course prospectus, read an inspiring book or visit a show – nothing intimidating, but it should further your learning. This and all your subsequent goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-framed).
• A plan. This follows from the goal-setting. Think how you are going to achieve it and identify the right course to enrol on.
• Time. Earmark slots in the week as your “untouchable” time. Close the door and forbid interruptions so you can get down to work.

Your self-confidence will grow as you develop, so settle for determination right now. This stage will probably involve a lot of learning and practice. More good tools for early talent development are:
• Visiting shows or exhibitions
• Joining a society
• Exploring relevant websites
• Buying specialist magazines
• Swapping ideas with others

Before long, you will find you have a flourishing hobby doing something that you love.

Step 3: feed your passion
Perhaps the hobby is starting to take over. Your goals may be testing your current lifestyle as, by now, you will have realised that to become good enough to accept paid commissions, do presentations or be considered an expert, you need deep knowledge, refined skills and a track record. To acquire these may involve intensive work experience, an advanced qualification and research. Your horizons will be broader and you’ll be looking at the long-term prospects. You may be starting to earn recognition. Life should feel challenging and full.

Step 4: start a business
Self-development is a spur to creative thinking and dreaming. To start and sustain your own business takes huge determination. If you really believe you have a winning idea, use the resources directory below for your next steps. Daunting, yes – but having conquered the foothills of self-development, you’ll be well prepared for the climb of your life.

Find the best courses or qualifications
• LearnDirect 0800 101 901; learndirect.co.uk (more than 900,000 courses UK-wide)
• BBCi Learning bbc.co.uk/learning/subjects/adult_learning.shtml
• Mind Tools mindtools.com (free internet resource with life-skills tips)
• The Open University 0870 333 4340; www3.open.ac.uk/stepforward to search courses
• Open College of the Arts 0800 731 2116; oca-uk.com (home-study courses in arts, crafts and design)
• Volunteering databases Scotland: volunteerscotland.info. England: volunteering.org.uk. Wales: wcva.org.uk/volunteering. Northern Ireland: volunteering-ni.org. Timebank: timebank.org.uk

Find the best business-support services
• Market Research Society 020 7490 4911; www.marketresearch.org.uk
• Official support bodies for business start-ups Business Link 0845 600 9006; businesslink.gov.uk (England). Business Gateway 0845 609 6611; bgateway.com (Scotland). Business Eye 0845 796 9798; businesseye.org.uk (Wales). Invest Northern Ireland: 028 9023 9090; investni.com
• Rural Revival 01993 810730; ruralrevival.org.uk (advice and financing for rural projects)
• Village Retail Services Association 01993 814377; virsa.org
• Community Interest Companies 029 2034 6228; cicregulator.gov.uk
• WiRE (Women in Rural Enterprise) 01952 815338; wireuk.org (advice and support, workshops, events)