To me, one of the biggest perks of the airline industry is that you can (at the right carrier) have some down time to pursue other passions.

For some guys--its businesses or money. Other guys get to be really good golfers/kayakers/big game hunters/aerobatic pilots/etc etc etc.

For me, I consider my side gigs "work", but work that is a passion and I'd probably do for free if it wasn't a business. So while it may appear at times I'm "working" on time off, it you work at something you enjoy it hardly feels like work.

I don't think you'll see many successful pilots working in cubicles or retail outlets for other people. However, you may seem them busting their butts doing things that they ENJOY doing. And after having your future determined by a seniority number, stock holders, and a cyclic economy, its kind of cool to have something that you feel like you have a bit more control over.