There is a weird idea out there that entrepreneurs and businesspeople don’t have time for hobbies.
I’ve read a few dozen autobiographies over the years and many successful people talk passionately about their hobbies.
It seems that having a hobby might be one of the keys to balancing work and a personal life.
You’ve probably heard of burnout. You’ve probably experienced burnout. A hobby can help to ease the stress of working so much.
So let’s look at some of the hobbies of extremely successful. Some are pretty interesting and fun.
Let’s get into it.
1. Rod Stewart: Trains
When I think of rockstar I think of Rod Stewart. He’s had success in about four or five decades. He has lived the life of how you think a rockstar would. He seems to enjoy all of life’s pleasures and he always seems like he’s looking for a good time.
But, as i read in his book a few years ago, he also loved his model trains. He’s had rooms dedicated to his model trains in his houses and he’ll spend hours and even days at a time perfecting his collection.
In that book Rod talked about a lesson he learned I think from his father. The lesson was that every person would be well off to have a vocation, a sport and a hobby. No more than one of each, though.
That’s a pretty good way to go about life. That’s a good balance. The only thing I would add would be family and I’m sure Rod has done that as well.
2. Oprah: Reading
It’s no surprise that Oprah likes reading. She has her famous book club, but it’s not just for show. Oprah, even with her busy schedule, makes time for reading and it’s a great hobby to have.
Just about all of us know and understand the value in reading, but it seems less common today. Setting aside time everyday for reading a book – non-fiction or fiction – is a great way to let your mind relax and learn.
Oprah is one of many successful people with an interest in reading…all the time.
3. Emma Stone: Cooking & Baking
Actress Emma Stone has said in interviews that cooking and baking have been therapy for her in a way for much of her life. She’s very serious about her hobby in the kitchen and has even mentioned opening establishments of her own.
Cooking is a great way to unwind. It’s a task that you can learn and continue to improve over time. It’s not really something that you can master. There is always something new to learn; a technique or a recipe. You can experiment and it’s something you can do for a lifetime and if you do it correctly it can benefit your overall health and well-being.
4. Sam Walton: Flying
I read Sam Walton’s book and one of the things he was very passionate about was flying. The founder of Walmart would fly his own plane from town to town scouting new store locations. He would travel from existing store to store for meetings and events.
Flying is something that many successful people have enjoyed as a hobby. There is something adventurous and daring about flying, but it’s also practical if you want to travel and get from place to place for business or for leisure.
5. Alex Spanos: Singing & Dancing
Alex Spanos has been a very successful businessman. He’s been involved in various businesses with real estate being one of his main ventures. He’s also been the owner of the San Diego Chargers for decades.
One of the interesting things about Alex was that he was very involved in dance and performance as a kid. His father had Alex and his siblings involved in local talent shows and events. This carried over into Alex’s adult life as he became friends with Bob Hope and the two would even perform routines together. Alex took those routines very seriously and got a rush every time he went on stage.
6. Herb Kelleher: Practical Jokes
Herb Kelleher was one of the co-founders of Southwest Airlines. If you’ve read the Good To Great book series then you know the story about how Southwest has been succeeding in a difficult industry for decades. They’re disciplined and driven and there is a strong company culture.
One of the things Herb was famous for was his sense of humor and love of practical jokes. He dressed up as Elvis. He posed on motorcycles. He would pull jokes in the early days on employees for passengers to watch during flights. He liked to keep things loose and he hired people that loved jokes and fun just as much. It wasn’t for everyone, but that was okay. It was something that was part of the company’s culture.
7. Albert Einstein: Violin
The famous scientist taught himself to play violin and he loved doing it during his free time. I read part of Einstein’s biography (it’s a long one) and he really was passionate about the violin.
Music is an interest that many people have in general and that includes successful people. Some love singing and dancing. Others love playing instruments. Some just enjoy sitting in their studies with a drink and listening to their favorite records or discovering new music.
8. Bill Gates: Bridge
This one is kind of old school. People used to get together all the time for weekly games of Bridge, the card game, with family and friends. Bill Gates learned to play the game as a kid and continues to enjoy games today. The cool thing about Bridge or most card games is that you can’t really master it. You can become very good, but you can always learn something new. And it’s a great way to keep your mind active. You need to think. It’s also something fun to do with others. It’s a good way to get to know a person’s real character.
9. Anna Wintour: Tennis
The Editor In Chief at Vogue (among other things) gets up early every morning to play tennis for an hour.
Tennis is popular among many successful people. It’s a classic sporting game. It can be played as an individual or in teams. It’s a great way to keep your body moving and in good shape. There are short bursts of quickness and change of direction.
I can imagine that Anna feels energized and ready to start the day at work after her morning routine.
10. Ginni Rometty: Scuba Diving
The CEO of IBM has had a lifelong passion for Scuba diving. She’s a certified rescue diver. It’s something she enjoys doing with her husband and with others.
Husbands and wives don’t need to enjoy all the same things together, but it’s important to have things you can do together. It’s also good to have things that you can do apart from one another.
Scuba diving isn’t for everyone, but it’s a pretty cool hobby. One of the last frontiers has to be what’s below the water on the planet.
Conclusion
Most people have hobbies…even the most successful people in the world. Hobbies keep our minds active. They keep us from getting burned out with work. You might enjoy work as your hobby, but even if you really love it all the time it can lead to burnout. You don’t need to have a crazy hobby to get away. Reading is a simple hobby. Walking is a simple hobby. Try new things if you’re struggling to figure out what you like. Maybe you’ll like one of the things listed here.
