Autopilot:
It’s 4:45 AM on a Monday and the alarm is buzzing. I reach over to shut the alarm. I throw on my workout clothes and get onto the treadmill. It’s a new day and I am tired but thankful. Fast forward two hours and I am on the train, writing down recipe ideas, posting a photo and engaging as much as I can before I step into the office. My list of to-do’s grows and grows. I get to work and execute a corporate morning meeting, few slip ups but the client is happy and I am happy. I have eight emails from brands that I must answer. I want to secure my brand partnerships. Oh no - lunch is already over and I didn’t get a chance to sign and send back all of my contracts. I have a few planning calls with clients for the rest of the day and I run to catch a train. I pump out more comments and likes. I am checking out my website and examining what my next move is. My eyes are closing and I say to myself - “You have to do it. Get it done. If you want to succeed, you must give it your all with the time you have. 2 minutes shut eye, 5 minutes commenting.” I get home around 8 PM, toss my belongings to the floor, scarf down dinner, and jump into the shower. It’s the next morning and the alarm is buzzing once again.
Turning Point:
As my Instagram and website grew, there was more and more work to be done and I was addicted. I was hooked on the fact that this made me so happy. I was able to create recipes and get paid to do so. It was anything I could ever want! I had to achieve it. I read all of these stories about my favorite bloggers quitting their jobs and pursuing what they loved. I pushed harder on the weekends, trying to make up for the time I didn’t have during the week. I would be covered in oat flour and dark chocolate by 3 PM every Saturday. My boyfriend would sit at the kitchen table as I fed him my newest creation. (After shooting 72 pictures of it, of course). This was fun for a while until I could not execute all of my posts for brands with the time I had. I could not follow up on emails fast enough and I couldn’t sleep knowing that if I had the time, I would succeed. This was all internally happening. I did not speak to anyone about it.
Climax:
In the beginning of the Summer, I was required to take a class at work which was enrolled to help employees better communicate with one another by looking and analyzing their own behavior and goals. Each time we met, we had to write down certain aspirations. I found everything I wrote down somehow connected to my brand. It was never connected with my actual job. When we shared real life experiences in the class, I always seemed to come back to the Instagram. I started to think, is there a reason for this? Why do I keep continuing to think about my “side hustle” over my “real job?” I came to the conclusion that my “real job” was the “side hustle.” Sometimes, you accidentally wind up exactly where you are supposed to be. The turning point came with one single question. I finally let out my feelings to a friend. I told her how I was thinking of leaving my job to pursue my brand. She asked me, “What would you tell your friend if she was in your situation?” I answered, I would tell her to give it her all and go do it.
Here I am less than three weeks later, writing a blog post in my own home after a day spent sending out emails and creating content. It’s definitely not going to be easy. I will have to push harder than I ever have. I write this story to inspire you to do whatever it is that fulfills you. You can do it. You just have to be willing to take the plunge.
The Bottom Line:
You can do anything that you desire in life. The two things that hold you back are your own fears and people’s opinions. When you really think about it, fear is not even real. We become fearful of things that are non-existent. We fear things that didn’t actually happen. If that thing that we are so scared of didn’t occur, what’s so scary? People are not always going to agree with your actions or behaviors. You can’t please everyone in life and it’s not your job to! It’s not your duty to be like everyone else. You don’t have to do what Sally and Dave did. If we worry about whatever everyone else will think, we will never do what we want. Everyone is on their own journey. If Sally or Dave don’t agree with your journey, wish them well and keep moving. Ultimately, other people hold you back from your own happiness, if you allow them to. Do what is best for you because YOU can do it!
Hope you enjoyed reading my first blog post! If you’re more of a visual person, I have an IGTV video on my Instagram regarding this topic. Thank you for supporting me because I wouldn’t even be able to write this without you!
Love Always,
Krista
anna
this is so inspiring!! so excited for you and you are making me want to go for my dream job too!! thanks babe!! ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, Anna! You can do it! I believe in you. 🙂
Anna
Thank you for the motivational words about fears and opinions. It's so true, and I know it, yet need constant reminding as I find myself spiraling into that self-doubt over and over.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, Anna! We are all human! I do it also, but when you are aware you're doing it, it's easier to catch yourself and snap out of it. Meditation has personally helped me with this as well.