Would Your Hobby Make a Good Career Choice?

Last week a reader who is contemplating a career change sent me the following email (I've changed some details to keep things anonymous):

I am looking to make a career change. I have always enjoyed photography and writing as hobbies. My family and friends have told me "you should do something with that," but I don't know what I should do about it or where to begin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Here is my reply to him:

Your family and friends may be right — many people successfully turn hobbies into careers. The most important thing to know about career planning is that in order to increase your odds of choosing a satisfying career, you should make sure your career choice is a good fit for someone with your personality, abilities, interests and career-related values. With that said, enjoying something as a hobby doesn't necessarily mean you will enjoy it as a career. It certainly is worth exploring though. Please take a look at How to Make a Career Change, a guide I put together to help people in your situation. You should also read my article Turn Your Hobby Into a Career.