Time to talk about the F word.
Yesterday’s f word was frivolous: Healthy Frappucinos.
But today, it’s time to get more serious; today’s f word is “future.” Specifically, my future and the future of my chocolate-covered blog.
The future of Chocolate Covered Katie…
This summer, I had to make a big decision regarding the blog I’ve written for over three years. I enjoy every second of the blogging process—from writing posts to creating recipes to setting up photoshoots to interacting with readers. But keeping up a blog takes a lot of time, and as the blog has grown, so too has the time requirement. Answering the hundreds of daily questions I receive from readers could be a full-time job in itself!
I knew there’d be no way to maintain a full-time job and still focus as much passion and energy as I’d like on CCK. If I didn’t want to give up the blog completely, I would at least be forced to give it less than my full attention.
This was not ok with me. When I do something, I do it 100% or not at all. But I couldn’t imagine giving up all my passions to make room for a job where I’d be miserable. Therefore, I decided to make this blog…
My full-time job.
It seems to easy, now, to write the above statement. Just. Like. That. But the truth is my decision wasn’t just like that. It took many hours of going back and forth, writing pros-and-cons lists, and eating a copious number of chocolate bars to counter all the nervousness. There were many “cons” on the list of reasons not to keep blogging, but I realized that most of them had something to do with security. And when it comes down to it, I’d rather take a risk if there’s a possibility to be ridiculously happy.
With Robert Frost’s “Road not Taken” poem in mind, I’ve decided to not go out and look for a “real” job. Instead, I will be a full-time blogger, at Chocolate-Covered Katie.
Nothing is going to change, except that I’ll now have even more time to dream up—and experiment with—healthy dessert creations like hot chocolate fudge cinnamon rolls or chocolate pumpkin cream pie. If I have a chance to do what I love for a living, I need to take that chance. I have to take a risk and at least try!
The fact that I even have the opportunity to make this choice is all thanks to you. If you’ve ever recommended my site to a friend, shared a link, liked the Chocolate Covered Katie Facebook Page, made one of my recipes, or even simply read one of my posts, I am so incredibly grateful.
Yes, I’m scared about the future now that I’ve made my decision. But I’m also excited because of the people with whom I’ll get to interact every day: you all! (Well, you all and chocolate. I must admit to being pretty thrilled my job lets me work so closely with chocolate.) I think part of my apprehension for the future is unavoidable no matter what route I take. That’s just the nature of getting out on one’s own and defining one’s life. It’s a scary time.
I am so indebted to your support and kindness that makes it even possible for me to explore this path. I hope, if any of you are ever faced with a scary decision requiring you to take a leap of faith, that you go for it! Don’t force your passions to take a back seat to the “shoulds” and “have to”s in life, because you only stand to look back someday with regret, thinking:
“What if I’d followed my dreams???”
Yaaaay!!!!! Definitely looking forward to your future posts! 😀
BIG chocolate hug! yayyy 🙂
Yahoo! You are the best, Katie. I’m hoping the “another post for another day” part is hintiing at a cookbook???
yes 🙂
Wow, that’s a huge decision. Congratulations. I’m sure that it wasn’t easy to get to this point and I really applaud you for pushing through and pursuing what you actually want-not what you think others want you to do. So often, we go through life pursuing dreams that other people have planted in our heads. Law school because parents suggest it is a good idea. Medicine because your father is a doctor. It takes guts to actually go after what you honestly love. I am very happy that CCK is here to stay and look forward to seeing how the blog grows in the future!
I’m so excited for you!
“To be honest with you, I am terrified. I’m scared of the uncertainty, and I’m especially scared of not knowing what the heck I’m doing in regards to the whole blogging process! I don’t have technological, culinary, nor photography training. In fact, I’ve never even taken a course in any of these areas. (So much for a college degree!) Everything I do is from experimentation– trial and error.
As I wrote in my post on Food Blogging Tips, I blog simply because I enjoy sharing my crazy ideas and getting inspired by others’ crazy ideas.”
This really struck me. I have something I feel I’m meant to do, but have been waiting until I have the money to do the website better, I know more, I know if it will be well received and so on. To read what you put, it just made sense! I want to share and connect and I should just get started. Terrifying! 🙂 Thanks for sharing yourself with all of us and Good luck to you!
Thanks! And good luck to you, too!!
SO SO SO happy for you KATIE!!! <3
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now, and I could not be more excited about your chocolate-covered future.
Also, like some of the other commenters, I’d be very interested in a book…. and I’d fight them to be first in line ;).
I’m so glad you made that decision! There are so many inspiring people in the blog world. Its wonderful that you can do what you love! I hope someday my blog will be a bigger part of my life, but right now it is small and I’m working AND in school so it’s difficult to find the time for it. Yet I find myself thinking about recipes and blog posts all day at work or school… Hmm… lol.
Congratulations, Katie, and a big hug from a reader who adores you, your blog, and all your recipes I’ve ever tried!
congrats on your decision & on following your heart! i’ve just stumbled on your blog recently (via tastespotting) and i’ve really been enjoying your posts and recipes. i’m glad to hear they wont be going away anytime soon!
I’m so glad you found me!!! 🙂