Anyone who knows me (or who has read this blog for a while) knows that I’m always looking for creative ways to add income streams. While I do hold a part-time job in addition to my full-time work responsibilities, I pride myself on finding fun, interesting ways to boost my bottom line.
In particular, I’m most interested in securing ways to make money from the activities and experiences I’m most passionate about. Here’s how I’m currently doing this with regards to a few key passions of mine:
Running
On Sunday, I secured a contracted, part-time position with a local company that provides running tours of Boston. Essentially, I will be paired up with tourists/visitors as a tour guide. The really neat twist is that I’ll be conducting tours of the city while running.
While this certainly won’t be a way to bring in significant amounts of income due to my schedule constraints, it’s a fun, healthy way to meet people and show them my city. It’s a pretty sweet bonus that I’ll be paid $30/hour to do so!
Living a Healthy Lifestyle
For the past 8 months or so, I’ve been working in a very, very part-time capacity for Clif Bar. Basically, I get paid to attend various sports event expos and festivals, interact with fellow athletes, and give away free food. Another awesome bonus of this gig is that the company wants us to sample the goods ourselves, so I’m always heading home with boxes & boxes of product after each shift!
Recently, I was able to parlay the Clif gig into a position on the LUNA team, which has led to one of the best perks yet. In June, I’ll get to be part of the team attending the Wanderlust Festival in Vermont. The festival is a weekend filled with hiking, yoga, meditation, healthy living lectures, music, and food.Tickets range from $99 for a Sunday-only pass to $475 for the complete weekend.
The part that’s nearly too good to be true?? I’ll be headed up there for the entire weekend, compliments of LUNA. Not only do I just have to work one shift/day, but I also get to take full advantage of all festival amenities and classes, stay in a great hotel, and have all of my meals provided—for FREE. I’ll also be making the standard hourly wage during my shifts… 
Have you turned your passions into income streams? If so, which ones & how?
Photo credit: El Frito
I love what you've been doing! I need to be more active like you.
Thanks, Michelle! Being active is a vital part of my well-being so it's exciting to be able to combine income opportunities with the activities I love most
That's awesome that you make money doing things you love to do. I haven't yet been able to do that, but plan to in the future.
It's exciting! I'm sure you'll get there, too. I started by finding these random side gigs, and I'm positive anyone else can do the same. Be creative and have FUN!!
Man, sounds like perfect gigs! I could totally do that all year long as well!
They're pretty great, I can't lie..haha. I'm the type of person who needs to have 5,000,000 things happening at the same time–I thrive under pressure. This is yet another way for me to bring in some extra moolah but now it's through doing things I'd already be doing in the first place!
That is so cool! I am so happy for you. It is great when you can combine a passion with making money. It's funny, I really love to write so am loving work as a freelance writer and it looks like I might actually have a full time job doing it for a company now, as well as doing my stuff from home which is exciting. I've loved writing since I was a kid, so to do it for a living is great!
I love that your new job will keep you fit as well.
Wow, that's exciting news about the writing position; I hope everything works out for you!!!
Even though these are just random side jobs, they'll certainly be something that I'll want to make fit into the schedule as regularly as possible. Being paid to run is still pretty crazy…haha!
I love that you're combining your healthy lifestyle into income streams – and it's not boring either. How am I doing pursuing my passions?
I'm an artist building my brand/exposure while helping other entrepreneurs do the same with their biz online, by utilizing affiliate products designed to do just that; creative marketing. TY for your post!
Thanks, Deborah! Best of luck to you with your endeavors–I hope all goes well in your effort to build your brand and exposure.
Great opportunities to do what you live while making money! Good job
Thanks, Crystal! It's a good place to be, even if they are just for-fun, random things on the side
Great work! $30 an hour is awesome for doing something that you love.
It's crazytown…hahaha! I might have to pinch myself once I finally get going with it
WOW good for you! Getting paid to stay in shape is awesome motivation.
Thanks, Kathleen! This new gig will certainly keep me on the straight & narrow for my marathon training
Amazing, just amazing. That running gig is out of this world, especially for someone like you. You must have back flipped twice landing a side gig like that.
You never fail to inspire me. There is a lot in your life I wish to emulate in my future…. heck, my present as well.
Awesomeness HH
I was so excited when I found it, let alone when I realized I actually have it!!! Thank you for your kind words, as always. Your comments always motivate me to do more
Awesome! I'd never heard of a running tour before.
My passion is my job, and has also extended into freelancing before (writing and editing). My other hobbies (music, food, photography) are very strictly hobbies and am far too much of an amateur right now to ever think about monetising…
I hadn't either, but I realized it makes a lot of sense for tourists who like to stay active on their vacations!
That's so great that your job is your passion–I love it! And I definitely hope to learn more about photography. I'm sometimes a terrible photog, but it's a secret passion of mine
Wow Wow Wow!!! I'm seeking work in my passions, but I feel stuck. You are such a go-getter.
Thanks!!! Keep your mind/options open and I'm sure you won't feel that way forever. Things really do sometimes happen when you least expect them to, so investigate opportunities fully to see if there's more potential there than what's on the surface. Best of luck to you!
both of those are really awesome!..
what a great idea for travelers who want to stay in shape.. a running tour. i may have to give you a holler if i ever make it up to boston.
They are–I'm so happy to have stumbled upon them! Definitely do give me a shout if you're in the area–the tours are 100% customizable and don't just have to be in the downtown area. I'm very excited to get started!!
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Those are some great side gigs! I'm attending a running coaching class tomorrow night to see if I can become a running instructor/coach. Might as well turn a passion into a little income right?
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