What if the most creative version of you never has to quit their day job?
In this episode, Junaid sits down with Kate Volman – CEO of Floyd Coaching, host of Create For No Reason and Lead With Culture, and author of “Do What You Love: A Guide to Living Your Creative Life Without Leaving Your Job.”
Kate shares how a chamber of commerce job in her 20s unexpectedly rewired her idea of work, purpose, and creativity. She reveals why not every passion should be monetized, how to protect your creative practice while leading a company, and why waiting for “inspiration” is the biggest lie that keeps creatives stuck.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll be creative when I finally leave my job” or “I can’t start until I know how to make money from this,” this conversation will challenge everything. You’ll learn to think in terms of ROI vs. ROC (Return on Creating), build discipline like a writer, and surround yourself with the kind of creative friends who refuse to let you stay small.
You don’t need permission. You need a practice. This episode shows you how.
5 Key Takeaways
- You don’t have to quit to create – Kate built a deeply creative life alongside full-time roles by following curiosity into side projects like local morning shows and early YouTube experiments.
- Not every passion should be monetized – turning everything into a business can kill the joy; sometimes the real payoff is energy, meaning, and connection, not revenue.
- ROI vs. ROC (Return on Creating) – when you make time to create “for no reason,” you gain confidence, momentum, and vitality that compound across every part of your life and career.
- Discipline beats inspiration – Kate writes using word-count goals and scheduled sessions, not feelings; inspiration usually shows up after you start, not before.
- Community and accountability are creative superpowers – from Zoom writing rooms to weekly check-ins with friends and coaches, having people who expect you to show up can be the difference between “one day” and “it’s done.”
Timestamps
- 0:00:00 The unlikely creative CEO – Junaid introduces Kate Volman and why her work speaks directly to people who crave creativity but want to keep their careers.
- 0:01:59 When your life doesn’t match the plan – Kate’s early job at a chamber of commerce, discovering entrepreneurship, and how being around CEOs changed everything.
- 0:06:19 Do you really have to quit your job to be creative? – The origin story of her book and why she believes you can lead, work, and still fiercely protect your creative life.
- 0:08:23 The trap of monetizing every passion – Why turning every hobby into “content” or a side-hustle can destroy joy, and what it really means to “create for no reason.”
Guest Links – Kate Volman
http://www.KateVolman.com
https://www.instagram.com/katevolman
https://www.youtube.com/katevolmanmedia
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Junaid Ahmed is a multi-passionate creator, storyteller, and home studio architect who believes your voice can change your world. As the host of Hacks and Hobbies, he dives deep into the journeys of people turning passion into purpose — from garage inventors to global entrepreneurs.
The podcast began as a simple idea: record honest conversations about side projects, creativity, and the hustle behind the scenes. Years later, it’s become a movement — showcasing the real, raw, and inspiring stories of everyday innovators.
Whether he’s building pro-level studios or geeking out over podcast gear, Junaid’s mission is clear: help people show up with confidence, clarity, and character.
🎧 New episodes weekdays. New perspectives in every story.
