I've been running a sort of startup (a zero-budget print/online magazine) for 2 years and I whole-heartedly agree with this.
I would add to this:
8. Open-ended work
You can improvise any way you want and pull from any toolbox you want. You can take the work in unexpected directions on a whim.
9. Platform for meeting interesting people
If you put out something of genuine value, you can use it as a kind of leverage to get in touch with interesting people. It also becomes a form of social honeypot (ie I get e-mails from interesting people from time to time because of the magazine I run).
10. Levels you up like crazy
You have to learn a bunch of stuff. My ability to execute a project and "git r done" comes directly from Interesting Times Magazine.
11. Gives you a sense of genuine achievement
Self-explanatory.
12. Allows you to scratch the itch you get from reading business/selfhelp materials
When I was only reading about stuff I was always going like "arrgghgh I need to actually be doing this". Scratching that itch feels GOOD.
I would add to this:
8. Open-ended work
You can improvise any way you want and pull from any toolbox you want. You can take the work in unexpected directions on a whim.
9. Platform for meeting interesting people
If you put out something of genuine value, you can use it as a kind of leverage to get in touch with interesting people. It also becomes a form of social honeypot (ie I get e-mails from interesting people from time to time because of the magazine I run).
10. Levels you up like crazy
You have to learn a bunch of stuff. My ability to execute a project and "git r done" comes directly from Interesting Times Magazine.
11. Gives you a sense of genuine achievement
Self-explanatory.
12. Allows you to scratch the itch you get from reading business/selfhelp materials
When I was only reading about stuff I was always going like "arrgghgh I need to actually be doing this". Scratching that itch feels GOOD.