If you want to be successful in business, you need to take risks.
A few years ago, I took a life-changing risk.
And today is the first time I’m finally writing about it on the blog.
When I started Chocolate Covered Katie, I never expected this to become my full-time job. My high school friends were all making blogs or Myspace pages back then, and we were doing it just for fun.
When a company contacted me about putting ads on the site, I thought their email was spam and came very close to deleting it. My blog was getting around 700 visitors per day, which I thought was a ton.
Then suddenly, Pinterest took off and changed everything.
Readers began pinning my recipes like crazy—for example, this recipe has over 1 million repins!
I was in college and in way over my head.
Traffic surges kept crashing the website, and hundreds of new reader questions and emails poured in each day.
I spent nights and weekends reading up on CSS and PHP and devoted my days to mastering aperture, F stops, and shutter speed. I was suddenly interested in subjects I’d never even thought of exploring: photography, business, computer programming?!
Interest in my actual college classes took a back seat, and my college social life swiftly dropped to nonexistent.
At the time, blogging was not a “real” job.
No one was a full-time blogger—at least, not anyone I knew.
But I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that this could really turn into something fantastic. If I didn’t take the chance to explore the opportunity, I knew it wouldn’t exist forever.
While I did initially tell readers I’d made a decision to blog full-time, there was a part I left out:
I dropped out of college to write a blog.
It sounded like such a crazy idea at the time, and there were definitely people in my real life who didn’t support my decision and were vocal about letting me know it.
But when I decide to do something, there is no talking me out of it – I wrote about this once before.
Both of my parents were supportive when I told them about my decision, but they did worry about me not having a degree, especially with the future of blogging being such an unknown.
Out of respect for them (because they seriously are the best), I went back and finished a year later online. Although I started college at Bryn Mawr and transferred to SMU in Dallas, my degree says I graduated from Penn State.
Somehow, I never seem to do anything the traditional way.
So was the risk worth it?
I love my job and get to eat chocolate every day. Definitely worth it!
Side note: If you want to read more about my college journey, you can do so here:
Chocolate Covered Katie – College Story Part 1
*For all who’ve been asking, here’s my simple tutorial for How To Start A Blog.
This site says
Hi, SO amazing to hear this part of your story, Katie! Thank you for sharing ? You’re an inspiration and great role model to all!
Sana A says
Katie, good for you! I’m always creating my own healthy recipes and will eventually start my own blog soon. I’m a busy professional in the health care field but this type of work always interested me-especially healthy eating 🙂
Amanda L West says
I wondered your thoughts / recommendations on someone starting out … laptop and software (?)
Trying to figure out what a good budget would be without blowing the bank.
Julia says
This is a great success story. Thanks for sharing!
Ginny says
Good for you Katie. I love your blog and I have been a fan for many years.
Waqas says
Hi, SO amazing to hear this part of your story, Katie! Thank you for sharing ? You’re an inspiration and great role model to all!
Thanks!
Cindy says
I have a question….do you ever age? 🙂 Probably not because of the daily chocolate eating, huh?!
Just dropped by to say I love the new layout. And I LOVE that dress you’re wearing. The blue green glittery one. Can you tell us where you got it? Or is it a well-kept secret? 🙂
Your friends must LOVE having you as a friend!! They know they’re getting a grand dessert every single time they see you 🙂
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Aw thank you so much! Haha I feel like I still look the same as I did in high school, just with a few more wrinkles. The dress is from Charlotte Rousse, but it’s a few years old!
Yashica says
Your new Recipe Page is fantastic, really is so user friendly.
Norma says
Love the new website design, especially the section where recipes are organized by the type of diet you are on. Congratulations and thank you!
Adriana says
I wish there was a contact for general comments and not just under a particular recipe or article (like this one). I just wanted to suggest that more recent comments would show up before the old ones under your recipes. With older posts, I find the new comments more relevant. Just a suggestion….
Tracy Fleming says
Oh my goodness! I just discovered your blog and delicious recipes recently! Such amazing talent for creating exquisite and healthy food! I’m curious how you learned how to do all of this – how do you create the recipes? If you send 2 a week, then you’re constantly creating. Do you tweak other recipes? Start from scratch? I’m not a baker or chef at all and am amazed at the skill involved in doing this. Thanks for sharing your process 🙂
Nicole says
Hi Katie. First starts I live your blog. Very inspiring. I have a big question to ask. I was wondering if you would ever consider being a ‘life’ coach with respect to menu advice and selection. I’ll explain further if you’d like. Sincerely, Nicole.
James McCollum says
Hi, sorry gotta go right now. Will get back to you. Have a ton of questions to ask you. Great huh? Not.
Jesse R Akins says
Your my hero. I dont think I could do this keto thing without your recipes. Thank you Katie
Nina Johnson says
Katie,
I have been with you probably as long as you have had the blog. You are wonderful and I am thankful for all these years of help.
I just wondered what your thoughts were on this whole big chocolate scare? I am a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing and wondered what your take on it was. Hugs, Nina