Four hobbies, four jobs, four young people with the world at their feet. This new year, follow the footsteps of this quartet of unique youth to turn your interests into your source of income.

 

It's the New Year of 2010. We stand at the brink of possibilities, the start of 365 days of new chances, new things, new ups and downs. We tell ourselves this is the year we will get that 'A' and buy that Blackberry with money earned from a mad cool part-time job. Ahem.

But more importantly, we tell ourselves this is the year our hobbies and passions turn into something that we can make a living from - after all, what could be better than getting paid doing something you love? With young people spreading their wings more and more into the clear, fruitful skies of entrepreneurship and truly living their dreams, the time has come for you to do the same.

So, here are four young people: They have seen their passions and interests take flight in a whole new way. They are into art, music, design and innovation. They have stepped out from the confines of their hobbies and made their mark just by doing what they love.

 

All About Art in 30 Days

 

Forced into the drudgery of a 9 to 5 job, Chong Chin Yew, 29, was a graduate in Arts with no artistic career. Having always believed in the glorious 'accidents' in art and how a simple picture can truly paint a thousand words, he was both frustrated with his life  and envious of a friend who already had a successful solo exhibition after graduation.

Finally, taking the decision to do something about it and change his life around, he locked himself in a room for 30 days, painted 40 paintings (the amount suggested by his friend) and chronicled it into a blog, titled '30dayartist.com'. 

"I quit my stable job and rented a small room for a month, isolating myself from the outside world to paint 40 paintings," he recalled. "After completing the 30 days and 40 works, I had metamorphosed into a more confident artist and had since embarked myself into various art careers."

"Seeing the potential of this escapade, me and my friend decided to share this escapade with the world. And thus, 30dayartist.com was born."

In the blog, he put all his experiences, thoughts and artwork and it has served him well since. He was 24, but the experience helped him tackle 25 with more confidence and strength.

Now, four years later, this 30-Day artist has published two art books of his collection of works (with one more in the pipeline), successfully ran a solo exhibition and even took on the challenge of directing and producing- to date, he has directed three series under Astro.

But the icing on the cake was also being nominated for two awards: The KLue Blue Chili Awards 2009 and the Martell Rising Personality Award 2009, which he said made 2009 "the recognition year for me."

Although he didn't win the award, nothing could dampen his passion for art. With much enthusiasm, he knows exactly what it is about that 'stroke of a brush' that he loves.

"I love 'accidents' in art," he says. "Meaning the accidents where you just jump in and paint it and the rest is surrendering in the results."

And in this, he says, the magic is that every artist/person expresses out these results differently - the different collective of things they know results in a "special blend" of feelings. As a result, the art becomes unique by itself, but yet familiar to the audience where they feel related.

"You can say that it is this special sensation-climax of a sudden-bonding with the audience that keeps me addicted and passionate to art."

"Life is full of synchronicity. It is how two seemingly random, unrelated events come together to create meaning. And in noticing how stories have this same special occurrence, I get my inspiration from there."

He laughs as he describes how artists somehow are always attuned to the synchronicities of life.

"Some people say: 'Where got coincidences like that one?' when they see a 'coincidence' in movies. But it is this miracle-slash-coincidence that keeps movie goers coming back. It's... magic."

So, for this year, Chin Yew (as he prefers to be called) hopes to bring this very same magic to more audiences in Malaysia and in other parts of the world.

"I wish to have my works touch more people around the world and I hope to soar to other countries and exchange testimonials and stories with other artists around the world. I feel it's the exchange of thoughts with people from different backgrounds that will inflict more inspiration and different perspective of life.

"Also, currently my books are only available here in Malaysia - I wish to have them someday published by an international publisher. But this guy has a much bigger fish to catch.

"My final ultimate goal is to direct a personal-auteur 35mm full-length feature that will help me to be the first Malaysian to win an Oscar."

 

Not a Mistake

It was no mistake when Eve Oh, 19, female vocalist of indie band 'An Honest Mistake', took to the mic and started belting out the tunes during a church-friend's housewarming party. Her strong vocals and unique sound caught the eye of a friend, who was putting together the band together. She was only 17 at that time.

Seeing the potential in her, Eve was offered by the leader of the band, Darren Teh, a spot to be a vocalist of this alt-rock/heavy rock indie band, which has been, for the past few years, making waves in the local music scene, as well as earned themselves a nomination for 'Best College Act' in the VIMA Awards, held annually by Voize.my.

From that point two years ago that she joined the band, she has not looked back. She recalls how she used to watch Hong Kong singer Ah Mei sing and dance on the telly, and, she admits with a laugh, that was where she fell in love with singing and performing.

Her tastes may have turned westward to singers like Avril Lavigne, Paramore and Flyleaf, but her strong belief in music has never wavered.

"I am depressed most of the time," she says (with all the seriousness of a teenager). "But I find that music gives me that channel to show who I am and encourage myself to be more confident. I use music to turn my emotions around."

Her eyes turn inward as she shares an example of lyrics she wrote on her own, outside of the band: Hey there, stop crying. Stop hurting yourself. You're doing fine, you're alright. Dry your eyes and change your mind.

"You've just got to tell yourself it's okay and that it's okay to make mistakes." In addition to An Honest Mistake, she is also the vocalist of her own band, Eve - in which Darren is the bassist.

Her goals and dreams are clear and she's got her career path in music all planned out: Having just finished her A-Levels, she will be embarking on a six-month internship with a recording studio and then further her studies in Sound Engineering at SAE Institute, which is a creative media institution located in Subang. In the future, she sees herself as a Music Producer.

Not only that, she and her band mates are determined to go places. "An Honest Mistake is planning on touring outside Malaysia - maybe Thailand or Singapore in the middle of 2010. "I've turned my passions into my instrument in life that I can somehow use to impact others and make a difference."

 

Of Trinkets and Therapeutic Beads

 

Craft books bought by her mother when she was a wee little lass gave Tan Sze Yoong, 27 the life she leads now as the creative powerhouse behind Sze Yoong Accessories, a web-based store selling gorgeous handcrafted accessories, which began in 2007.

What began as a hobby is now her full-time job, and if the sold-out tags on almost all of her products (which she updates regularly, mind) are anything to go by, this petite businesswoman has got it made.

As if to validate that, the media buzz she has attracted has earned her a consignment deal with departmental store Isetan - it's going to be busy days ahead for her as she takes her creations to all the Isetan branches in Klang Valley.

But she doesn't mind busy, really. Because the one thing she loves more than anything else is how therapeutic it is to design each accessory with Swarovski crystals, silver filigree and the delight she finds in each and every beautiful colour found in the material she uses.

"I love the colour of the beads and the crystals I use," she says. "Even my fiance's sisters agree that there is something therapeutic about crafting earrings, necklaces and such!"

Almost everything in her website is hand-made personally and designed specially by Tan. Some are out-sourced, but the rest are truly original designs - and each design has a special name and story behind it.

 "Many of my customers appreciate the fine work and the uniqueness of the accessories I make, and what makes me happiest is how so many are repeat customers - it is encouraging to know that people love my products enough to keep coming back!"

She also admits while handmade accessories are priced higher than the mass-made trinkets, there is a niche market for original, one-of-a-kind accessories.

"Changing a hobby to something that can be a job is not easy!" she admits. "There is so much you have to think about when starting a business. It's not as easy as just 'live your dreams!' You've just got to take your time and test the market."

Leaving a job with a globally recognized cosmetics company was certainly not a stroll in the park for Tan, but it has paid off. She has plans to expand to other regions and to mass-market the brand name, yet still keep that hand-made feel.

"I've turned my hobby into work," she laughs. "But! It's a job that I love, and it's something I look forward to every single morning."

 

When the Shoe Fits...

Nineteen year old Mohamed Firdaus Kamarul Jaman is a guy with ideas just bursting (quite possibly) out of his head. From shoes that feel like you're going barefoot to pens that teach young Muslims how to read the Quran, he is brimming with enthusiasm about taking the old and making it new again.

Flying back and forth across continents for the company he is managing with his brothers (Anzac Consultancy, which is a company that helps companies procure products - be it importing or exporting - from countries like China and Vietnam), Firdaus is passionate about the very core of innovation.

"Taking something that we are familiar with and turning it around is something I am truly interested in," he explains. "It is going back to the basics and making it new and innovative again. I want to somehow combine technology with traditional."

His current project? Shoes that protect your toes (not just feet) as you run, hike, jump, and walk.

While on a trip to Europe, he saw a pair of sandals which comes with individual spaces for one's toes (much like the finger socks) and being very much taken by it, he decided to draw inspiration from these sandals and create the 'Barefoot Primitive'.

"These shoes were made for three things: Safety, Comfort and Style. The way the shoe is designed is non-slip, fits snugly and can be used for running, walking and even hiking," he explains. "And after research and after consulting various doctors, these shoes are also suitable for diabetics, who need shoes that protect their feet. And it's unique look clearly makes it stand out."

He has plans to continue breathing in new twists into old products and taking his company further into the market.

With seven days gone in 2010, you've got 358 days to go. How will you innovate, paint, sing or design this year to make your dreams come true?