The Secret Ingredient: How to Grow into a Top Food Blog

The secret ingredient that makes your recipe pop, like pickle juice or fish sauce, can sometimes get weird.

So, we're getting weird in this blog post too. Or, at least, different.

Because the secret ingredient to growing a top food blog isn't your innate talent, knowledge of spices, or the online course you took last year.

It's grit.

What is grit?

In 2004, psychologist Angela Duckworth discovered why some individuals accomplished more than others of the same talent, intelligence, and resources.

Her results showed the predictive variable of real world performance was grit or a strength of character. Now, she's a New York Times Bestseller, winner of the MacArthur "genius" award for 2013, and has a TED Talk….clearly, she's onto something.

But how do you get grit?

In her TED Talk, Duckworth admits she doesn't know the definitive answer for developing grit. But don't give up yet (that wouldn't be very gritty of you)!

She does mention two equations in her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance:

• Talent x effort = skill
• Skill x effort = achievement

In short, you could be born with a knack for something--in your case, probably cooking. And you could hone that talent by investing in a mentor, coach, or culinary school.

But to go from blogging for fun to blogging for a career requires a huge effort.

It's throwing everything you have at the wall—like pasta--and seeing what sticks. It's giving yourself permission to pivot when a strategy or idea doesn't work (we did this, read about it here). And it's having the courage to continue towards your goals even when you face failure—over and over again.

Most importantly, it's getting started today.

Even if you don't have an eye-catching logo, a strong following on Instagram, or a professional camera. You can apply effort and intention to what you're able to do right now—or at least after reading this post.

So, what does grit look like in real-time?

People with grit have a few healthy habits, for example:

•      They face their fears
•      Surround themselves with like-minded people
•      Have realistic optimism
•      Set small goals that align with their purpose
•      They don't wait for perfection
•      And they're flexible

Finally, they work. Not hustle

Sure, the entrepreneur and blogging community tosses around the word "hustle" like chicken caesar salad.

But, do you know what "hustle" means? The dictionary defines hustle as "To force (someone) to move hurriedly or unceremoniously in a specified direction. Busy movement and activity."

While work is defined as "an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result."

Instead of being busy, for the sake of being busy, head towards a defined direction and apply effort. Clarify your purpose, set small goals, and with a little grit, you just might grow your food blog from hobby to dream job.

Not sure if you have grit? Take Angela Duckworth's quiz here.

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have it." –Thomas Jefferson

So, what are you going to start working on today? If you need a website design, head to our shop for a clean, minimalist design you can implement now.

Photos by Brooke Lark on Unsplash