As an author, I have always loved the freedom and diversity of what I write: poems, short stories, almost-scripts, novels, memoirs, love letters, proposals, training manuals, essays, children’s books, blogs and so on. There are so many amazing ways to communicate a written message.
However, I recently noticed how short-sighted of a reader I was.
I have always been drawn to certain authors and novel types, but when I gaze at my bookshelf, I don’t see a lot of topic diversity there.
It wasn’t until I started doing a weekly book review video series that I have allowed myself to open up to new genres. Now, with this inflow of information and new perspectives, I can see how resorting to only my first-choice preferences was holding me back. I began recalling how much I loved reading other genres as a child and have found that my tastes have evolved more than I expected them to. It’s been a wonderful journey to revisit my love of reading through new vision.
It also had me thinking about how our hobbies can lead to research opportunities as business professionals.
Using reading as an example: as an author and communications consultant, the more genres of books that I read, the more I can expand my knowledge, understanding and connection to different types of authors I edit and assist with self-publishing. It has also given me new depth and ideas for future books, beyond what I thought possible.
With the world opening up a little, I’ve been venturing out more to frequent local restaurants to support them, while seeking out different flavors I may have missed out on pre-2020. As a consultant for a food service organization, the more types of cuisines I try or trends I read about, the more I can relate to my client’s goals and objectives when it comes to supporting theirs sales process.
While under quarantine times, I subscribed to a Broadway website that allowed me to watch shows I wouldn’t necessarily get tickets to—either because of costing too much, the show not currently running or it simply being something I didn’t think I’d ever consider. I found myself enjoying the most interesting of plays! For my musical theater client, this means the more I understand different kinds of show genres, old and new, the more I can contribute to the creative brainstorming process.
Think about it. What hobbies of yours can you link back to your professional endeavors?
How can you push the envelope in your own pursuits that can open up new doors for you?
Whether your hobby is sports, entertainment, nature walks, collections, etc., you can find ways to not only innovate your interest, but find application in your client relationships, business processes and more.
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