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“And then there’s the blog. I’m not going to pretend like I don’t have aspirations for it. I love this little space of mine and I love being a part of the blogging world. I do not anticipate blogging ever becoming a full-time gig, but food props can get expensive so the pocket change I make from ads helps to pay for those. I do, however see it as a platform to many different opportunities that will hopefully present themselves along my journey. I do NOT blog for the money. Blogging is my release, it’s what I look forward to at the end of the day and has connected me to unbelievably inspiring and talented friends around the world. I could not be more grateful to every single one of you who shows up here everyday. ” -December 2013 from “If Not Now, When?”
This quote was written 8 months ago but quite honestly it feels like I wrote it in a different century. I had just quit my steady full-time job as a research assistant, had lined up a part-time gig working for a start-up snack company called Kewaza and was hoping the fill in the blanks with whatever life planned to throw at me. Emphasis on “hope”. It did not occur to me that blogging could ever become a full-time job. I made marginal income from ads (we’re talking less than $5 a day) that made it impossible to ever live off of it unless I found a way to turn THM into a profitable business.
I definitely enjoyed working with Kewaza and learned a lot about the food industry in a very short period of time. I also learned that I am not interested in selling a physical product, a concept I had toyed with for a little while (Maven’s Bakery died a quick death…sorry!). At the same time I came to realize that blogging was how I wanted to spend my free-time. So instead of looking for another part-time job which might bring in more steady income, I decided to treat blogging like one. I set up a content calendar, I researched ways to improve my social media and audience reach and eventually started to see some success. So much so that I no longer had time to commit to Kewaza and I decided to bite the bullet and take on THM as a full-time job.
And yes, I was and still am terrified.
In many ways my story is unfolding alongside this blog. This is pretty evident in the number of times my “About Me” page has changed (I wish I had saved the older versions!). I want a place where I can chronicle this journey and have you guys be along for the ride. After all, THM would be nothing without you! I also hope that my own leap of faith can inspire you to take the plunge in your own life whether it be in turning your blog into a business or in an entirely different industry.
I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined that I would one day be running my own business, let alone that business being my blog. I knew from the day I started blogging that I had found my passion. I discovered a creative side to myself which I never knew existed. I found something that challenged me but didn’t discourage me and eventually I found myself a job I love.
Those of you who know me from outside the blogging world are almost always shocked by what I do. There’s the fact that I don’t have the most conventional job on the market, and then there’s the whole “Davs I thought you were a psych major who planned to go to medical school and knows nothing about business”? So did I.
It’s true, I’ve never taken a business course in my life. I have no experience with starting a business nor did I expect I ever would, but here I am running a successful (albeit small!) business. If I’ve learned anything in my very short time blogging “professionally” it’s that if you feel passionate about something you are unstoppable. I have and I am certain I will continue to make mistakes. But I learn from them and try to do better the next time.
So far so good.
Ha ha! Beautiful step stool. Ours is one of those small plastic ones. Not only is it ugly, but it is easy for my kids to drag around the house to get into all sorts of things. Hopefully this one and all the trouble stays in the bathroom!
I just spent the while day reading your blog and I love it! You’re so fun and talented! And your boys are delightful. 🙂
I enjoyed seeing how you’re turning your house into a great place.
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Ha ha! Beautiful step stool. Ours is one of those small plastic ones. Not only is it ugly, but it is easy for my kids to drag around the house to get into all sorts of things. Hopefully this one and all the trouble stays in the bathroom!
I just spent the while day reading your blog and I love it! You’re so fun and talented! And your boys are delightful. 🙂
I enjoyed seeing how you’re turning your house into a great place.
Wonder where the sale guy got all those yardsticks from…probably years of collecting. They really scarce around here now. I know at one time they gave them out as advertising.
I love it! Sharing it on Twitter! Thanks for linking up to Monday Funday!
I quit my job 10 yrs ago and started blogging for fun. I just become serious about it couple years ago when I realized that the box of pasta companies were sending me what not enough for the work I was doing. I don’t have ads anymore because I was making pennies with them. I work with companies and do ambassador programs and sponsored posts. I like it a lot. I can be creative in the kitchen, develop new recipes. That’s what I like to do and at the same time I have been home with my kids. They are over 20 now and they are thankful that I stayed with them. They know what I do but my friends and family don’t really get it.
Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for being able to run my blog as a business. Waking up everyday and getting to do what I love is a privilege I am so thankful for and I know in the future when I decide to start a family I will be even more so. We’re a lucky bunch 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
you have the gift.. the bloggin and food photography gift. Way to follow it friend! I’ve been blogging since 2009 and it’s a lot of work. But i don’t consider myself a true food blogger. Maybe some day.. i’ll keep reading you wonderful tips!
You are a big inspiration having made your blog a full time job! I honestly don’t know where my blog is going, but I do hope to be able to devote enough time to it to eventually make at least SOME money doing it! Thanks for writing this 🙂
Alright I’m going to sound like a mother hen here for a moment, despite not being your mother, or any mother really or part of the bird family. I am so incredibly proud of you and here’s why. You followed your heart and your passion and you took a huge and scary risk, which has paid off immensely because you are open, honest and genuine. You go girl. You get two snaps and a Vodka Watermelonade from me.
Hey! Just found your blog and read through a few posts- love it! I especially love this post because I feel as though I’m kind of going down the same path you did (not the full-time blogging), but rather the change from the college grad/med school plan, to business and marketing. I’ll definitely be checking back because your content is awesome!
Oh, and also, love finding other Canadian bloggers too. Even if they’re from the East coast 😉
Your story is so inspirational! I love that you’re always learning and changing, it proves you love what you do. I hope I could say the same for myself some day! 🙂
Not to be all cliché but it really feels like it was just yesterday you quit the job that bored you, moved out from your parents and decided to step into the unknown. And now look at where you are: a popular blogger, self-published cookbook author, self-taught social media pro and I have an inkling there’s SO much more to come still. I wish I had the guts to go for my dreams like that but I guess it’s smarter I first figure out what exactly they entail. And keep being inspired by you in the meantime.
Life is one serious mindf*ck…for lack of a better term 😉 Feeling grateful!