When Hobbies Make The Green

Learning a new skill or trade can be daunting, but there’s a lot of money that goes into these pursuits. Despite 59.3% reporting difficulties being able to afford spending on their favorite hobby, data from a Self Financial survey shows the average American spends $98 per month to pursue it. Hobbyists find value above the cost, with 93.2% of survey respondents reporting no regret for putting money and effort into their hobbies, regardless of financial difficulties.

In short, people pursue their passions despite the hardship. From memberships to gyms and martial arts schools to learning to bake or create art, people are willing to budget for the privilege of learning hands-on skills.

There is an extra layer of grit required to take that hobby to the next level and become skilled enough to monetize on teaching others or creating products to market. We have reached out to several business owners who made that leap, moving beyond a hobbyist to sell their trades. In this closing bell, these entrepreneurs share the thoughts behind forming or maintaining their businesses.

Though some were fueled by passion, others saw an unsupplied demand and filled the market by learning a skill and selling the product of that labor or by selling these skills to hobbyists.

→ Dylan Whyte is the owner and lead trainer at Positive Balance BJJ, based in Tallahassee, a martial arts school focusing on grappling techniques. Instructors are active competitors and world-class practitioners. Whyte has grown his school from a few students in a garage to a few hundred members in his 3,500-square-foot space.

“I just started doing jiu jitsu as a hobby with my dad and brother to hang out with them before I went to college,” Whyte says, but now he has built a community he is proud to be part of.

→ Megan Pratt earned a BS in Chemistry from MIT, then went to Harvard University, where she completed an MS in Chemistry and received a Ph.D. in Neurobiology. Before founding MESS Hall—which stands for Math, Engineering, Science, and Stuff—Pratt led an impressive career in education and as a civil servant.

“I started Pensacola MESS Hall because I believe at every age, there’s a need for continual learning even in informal settings. There needs to be more public places where questions can be answered, interests can be followed, and ideas can be challenged.”

→ Kristina Pate founded Still Waters Boutique in Panama City to fill a niche market, offering women’s clothing for season-transcending fashion.

“I used to work in health care and knew I needed to find a new passion.
I saw a gap in the market in town. There were plenty of trendy boutiques, but not many that offered timeless, versatile pieces. I wanted to create a space that made shopping simple, uplifting, and accessible.”

→ J.T. Taylor owns and operates Soo Trucking Delicious, a chef-driven fast-food truck, based out of Panama City, known for smash burgers, shrimp and fish tacos, fries, and other casual comfort foods.

“It’s more of a hobby. I’ve been an entrepreneur, and I’ve been self-employed most of my life. So, you know what the main trick is to start a business? Start it. Do something. A lot of people talk about it, but you know they never do anything.”

→ Brentley Dumas is the owner of Browns Kitchen in Tallahassee. The boutique kitchen store provides an outlet for the passionate home chef.

“I love the energy and connection that happens around food. I feel so fortunate that I get to create a space for others to explore their passion for cooking. I enjoy curating the products and collaborating with other local businesses and talented instructors, and our role at Browns is really to build the environment—whether that’s through a cooking class, a thoughtfully chosen knife, or a gift that inspires someone to cook.”

→ Gabriel Montuani co-owns Resilient Jiu Jitsu with his spouse, Carly, out of Marianna. Now, an IBJJF-certified first-degree black belt with over a decade of teaching experience, his motivations to start his business were born out of a passion to help others.

“I was bullied in school in Brazil, and a friend who had trained in jiu jitsu kept other students from physically hurting me. So, I started training. Now 16 years later, I teach jiu jitsu because it’s an effective tool for people to improve their lives.”