This Is Uncomfortable Can I monetize my hobby without killing the joy?
Mar 12, 2026
Camilla Klein, a mosaic maker who ran Etsy shops, shares her shift from craft shows to scalable resin items. Teresa Amabile, a Harvard Business School researcher on creativity and motivation, discusses how rewards can reshape creative drive. They explore the trade-offs of selling hobbies, when money helps or harms motivation, and practical ways to protect play while earning.
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Belt Buckles Lost Their Joy
- Camilla Klein turned her mosaic belt-buckle hobby into an Etsy and craft-show business but hated craft shows and the production pressure.
- During COVID she paused markets, limited production to ~100 buckles/year, and regained joy by making only when she wanted.
Pivoted Products Scaled Faster
- Camilla launched a second Etsy shop selling resin trinkets that scaled faster than belts, making about $18,000 revenue.
- Resin items sold well because they hit a broader audience and were less time-consuming than belts.
Monetizing Provided Confidence Not Wealth
- Several guests felt monetizing hobbies gave validation and confidence, like Tyra Sharper (makeup) and Adam Kilbride (axe throwing).
- For many the side income was small but served as proof they could do the thing well.