I feel switching two words around in the article title brings things into better focus: Why Should You Have A Side Project? Ask yourself: - What do you want

I feel switching two words around in the article title brings things into better focus: Why Should You Have A Side Project? Ask yourself: - What do you want out of this side project? Money? Fame? Learning? - How would you define success for this side project? - What will you do if it succeeds? (unlikely) - What will you do if it fails? (likely) You need to chart a rough path. Creating something open source and aiming for popularity and notoriety is much different than hoping to make enough money to quit your day job from your side project. You end up in two vastly different places if you succeed. If you fail, you end up in the same place. Plan and be ok with both end results.