How I Became A Full-Time Blogger
I’ve always been the type of person to play it safe. I went to college and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering, then fell into a comfortable position as a structural engineer in New York City. Although I was good at my job, adored my coworkers, and earned a steady, competitive salary, I still felt that something was missing. The thing is, I’ve always had a creative side with an innate interest in fashion and photography. It was an interest of mine that I never got to cultivate…and then “the blog” happened.
In September 2011 out of pure boredom and curiosity I created my very first Tumblr account. Outside of Facebook I was a total internet newbie. Trying to explain a blog to me was like trying to teach your grandparents how to use an iPhone. All I knew was that a group of my friends used their Tumblr as a journal to comically chronicle their daily outfits via iPhone mirror selfies and that I wanted to join the fun. At last, a place where I could showcase my personal style outside the confines of “casual Fridays”!
After a few weeks of maintaining a steady stream of new outfit photos on my Tumblr blog, I amassed a sizable audience. Aside from inspiring myself to stay creative, I now had an audience to inspire, share, and engage with. Then I put in work! I began shooting photos with my DSLR that had previously only been used for vacation photos. I bought a domain name. I built out a new site. I’d go to work, blog, repeat. Along the way I made friends, went to fashion shows and had amazing opportunities to travel and do things I thought were out of reach for someone with no background in fashion or photography. I continued this way for 3 years working what was basically 2 jobs at once before I made the boldest decision of my adult life.
In June of this year I took a leap of faith and left my safe, secure, and salaried job as an engineer to pursue my blog full time. As nerve-racking as this was, I was prepared. I had been priming myself for this move for what seems like forever and now I get the rewarding experience of challenging myself creatively every day.
As I celebrate the 4th year of my blog this month, I’ve teamed up with Indeed to share this personal story with you in the hopes that it will motivate and inspire you to start looking for your next dream job. Whether you’re starting out with your first job, looking to advance in your current field, or considering a career change, let Indeed be your guide. You can choose from thousands of nationwide job listings uploaded to their site each day or upload your resume to let employers find you. Whatever you need, Indeed.com is the perfect partner for job seekers like you.
#IWorkFor Creative Freedom. What do you work for? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: A #IWorkFor moment created in partnership with Indeed.