Olivia!! This is so inspiring. You're so so cool! Your courage to pursue your passion resonated deeply with me.
Currently, I'm working in a corporate finance role, but I've also founded a customizable, healthy hot chocolate café called Not That Sweet. Balancing both worlds has been challenging, and reading about your journey has given me a renewed sense of motivation.
Thank you for sharing your story. It's so encouraging to see others successfully navigating this path.
Thank you for your kind words!! And huuuge congrats on founding your healthy hot chocolate café! So many people never get started because its really easy to talk ourselves out if taking the leap, so you've already put a heavy ball in motion and that's so commendable. I'm glad my story can provide encouragement and I'm wishing you success in this endeavor!!
What a journey! So proud and excited that you stuck with your plan! Thank you for sharing and blessed to be a part of this community you have created!❤️
I am so proud of you and have watched every step of your journey. The one thing that stands out is that you worked so hard everyday! You treated it like more than a full time job.
I stumbled upon your page back when you were just starting out (~2,000 followers—I was one of them!) and have loved trying your recipes ever since. It's been so exciting to watch your journey and see how much you've grown! I still enjoy following along and seeing all the amazing recipes you share. Thank you for always showing up authentically in this space—it truly makes a difference. Wishing you continued success and all the best!
Aline!! You are a serious OG follower. This comment just warmed my heart. Thank you for being there from the start and supporting me along this journey. And thank you for acknowledging the difference that showing up authentically makes—I am so happy to hear that you see that effort.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’m currently in the thick of the decision to leave a job that I’ve worked hard at the past 13 years.
This is something I’ve been working through the past 2 years and in the next few months I will finally make the leap. Your story came at the perfect time! Thank you for the inspiration, I’m a newer follower of yours and it’s been so fun to follow your story, you’re truly an inspiration!
I'm honored to provide inspiration for you in this exciting (but scary, I'm sure) season of life!! Congrats on making the decision to take the LEAP! You will be someone's source of inspiration to do the same someday. Best of luck to you in your next endeavor!!
I've always wanted to work for myself. Be more in charge of the hours/days I work. I work in the medical field so I have to work a ton of holidays and weekends. My dream would either be able to have our own homestead or restaurant. I would love to work with local farms including our own making a menu completely from local produce/farms and especially one that is gluten and dairy free and refined sugar free. I miss being able to eat at restaurants. I just wish I had the finances for it.
This is a beautiful dream! Do you feel like the finances are the biggest thing holding you back? If so, do you have an idea of how much you would need to save in order to feel more comfortable about pursuing this dream (understanding that there is never a *perfect* time and it will always feel like a sacrifice)?
Definitely would be finances holding me back. I have the perfect place for it in mind. My husband's family has a 120 acre produce/beef cattle farm. I would love to increase production there and build the restaurant (if zoning allowed) on the property as well. I never looked into exactly how much money it would be yet.
I’ve always dreamt of having my own business, I have dozens of ideas but can never focus in on one because of fear and lack of confidence in myself to do it. Any recommendations on how to build confidence in starting a business?
I would love to do a whole newsletter on this topic because I think this is something that so many people struggle with! I know it was a roadblock for me in the beginning and has been a consideration every time I launch anything — a new ebook, a product collab, a YouTube channel, my Substack, and some big projects I'm working on right now. Let me get my thoughts together on this topic and so I can respond cohesively in a longer format than a comment! Thank you for your honesty. You're saying what a lot of people are thinking!
I always want to start my own business but I feel overwhelmed by what lane to choose/what to do as I too have many ideas that I feel I could be good at/have fun with. I often stop thinking about it because I talk myself out of it due to lack of confidence, fear of judgement, financial hardships, etc. I also feel guilty because I help run my family's pet food business currently and feel like it's not fair to want to focus on something for myself but I KNOW I have the entrepreneurial spirit in me to be successful but it's overshadowed by doubt.
There are a couple quotes that came to mind as I was reading through your story: “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” & “We suffer more in our imagination than in reality”. I bring these up because they are two quotes that I speak over myself whenever I am doubting myself or worrying about a potential negative outcome. I can’t speak to the guilt piece as I haven’t walked in that experience but I imagine your family would be so excited for you to pursue a dream!! I know you mentioned having a few ideas of entrepreneurial endeavors you could pursue. I felt the same way! Being a healthy recipe content creator was one of a few entrepreneurial dreams I had and the reason I committed to this path is because it’s where I felt the most passionate and where I could help the most people. When considering your path, I would examine where your Venn diagram of passion and helping people overlaps. Sometimes we have passionate interests that are truly meant to be of service to ourselves and sometimes they are of service to others.
Hi Olivia!! I LOVED reading your story. It is so inspiring. I just have to say how cool and inspiring it has been following along since the beginning. I remember when we partnered with you and I was working at Robert Biale Vineyards. They wouldn't let me pay you so we just did a bottle trade and I remember thinking to myself...she might not have 10k followers now but just wait...it has been so incredible watching your account grow you are amazing.
I also did something similar I left my 9-5 to start a marketing business so I could travel and make more than I was making working for myself it was the best leap of faith. Now transitioning out of that business and working on being a gluten free content creator and advocate your story is inspiring and I am hoping I can do the same while working on my own personal brand. You are an inspiration and your recipes are kick ass! Thanks for betting on you!
Ohmygosh Maura, you always made me feel like a success even when I didn't feel it myself! I remember feeling seen and validated by you and I so appreciated that.
Congrats to you for being someone who consistently bets on themselves and takes the leap! So courageous and inspiring.
Aww that makes me so happy because I truly meant it!! I think that post went viral really quick too and I was like yup Olivia is on to something. You are so authentic in sharing your favorite things I love that about you!
Thank you so much!! My account is @maurathehypegirl. HYPE= hospitality, yum factor, price, and environment so it is my framework for all recs. :)
Hi Olivia! Thanks for sharing your story. I started writing in 2024, founded my business in January of 2025 and quit my corporate job to go full-time entrepreneur in April of this year. There is still a lot of growth to go, but it is exciting to dream about possibilities and continuing to make them a reality in different ways every day. For anyone else out there who is contemplating what to do, I believe in you! Passion can take you far and learning along the way can help you grow to get where you need to go!
Olivia!! This is so inspiring. You're so so cool! Your courage to pursue your passion resonated deeply with me.
Currently, I'm working in a corporate finance role, but I've also founded a customizable, healthy hot chocolate café called Not That Sweet. Balancing both worlds has been challenging, and reading about your journey has given me a renewed sense of motivation.
Thank you for sharing your story. It's so encouraging to see others successfully navigating this path.
Thank you for your kind words!! And huuuge congrats on founding your healthy hot chocolate café! So many people never get started because its really easy to talk ourselves out if taking the leap, so you've already put a heavy ball in motion and that's so commendable. I'm glad my story can provide encouragement and I'm wishing you success in this endeavor!!
Love this Liv!!! Excited to watch you grow even more
Thank you Tay! Excited for you to be part of this next big step ❤️
What a journey! So proud and excited that you stuck with your plan! Thank you for sharing and blessed to be a part of this community you have created!❤️
Thank you for being here! ❤️❤️
I am so proud of you and have watched every step of your journey. The one thing that stands out is that you worked so hard everyday! You treated it like more than a full time job.
You've gotten to see all the highs and lows of the journey 🥹 And the current ones 🤣
Hi Olivia,
I stumbled upon your page back when you were just starting out (~2,000 followers—I was one of them!) and have loved trying your recipes ever since. It's been so exciting to watch your journey and see how much you've grown! I still enjoy following along and seeing all the amazing recipes you share. Thank you for always showing up authentically in this space—it truly makes a difference. Wishing you continued success and all the best!
xoxo,
Aline
Aline!! You are a serious OG follower. This comment just warmed my heart. Thank you for being there from the start and supporting me along this journey. And thank you for acknowledging the difference that showing up authentically makes—I am so happy to hear that you see that effort.
Thank you for being here! xo, Olivia
Hi Olivia!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I’m currently in the thick of the decision to leave a job that I’ve worked hard at the past 13 years.
This is something I’ve been working through the past 2 years and in the next few months I will finally make the leap. Your story came at the perfect time! Thank you for the inspiration, I’m a newer follower of yours and it’s been so fun to follow your story, you’re truly an inspiration!
McKenna
I'm honored to provide inspiration for you in this exciting (but scary, I'm sure) season of life!! Congrats on making the decision to take the LEAP! You will be someone's source of inspiration to do the same someday. Best of luck to you in your next endeavor!!
I've always wanted to work for myself. Be more in charge of the hours/days I work. I work in the medical field so I have to work a ton of holidays and weekends. My dream would either be able to have our own homestead or restaurant. I would love to work with local farms including our own making a menu completely from local produce/farms and especially one that is gluten and dairy free and refined sugar free. I miss being able to eat at restaurants. I just wish I had the finances for it.
This is a beautiful dream! Do you feel like the finances are the biggest thing holding you back? If so, do you have an idea of how much you would need to save in order to feel more comfortable about pursuing this dream (understanding that there is never a *perfect* time and it will always feel like a sacrifice)?
Definitely would be finances holding me back. I have the perfect place for it in mind. My husband's family has a 120 acre produce/beef cattle farm. I would love to increase production there and build the restaurant (if zoning allowed) on the property as well. I never looked into exactly how much money it would be yet.
I would totally eat at your restaurant one day! I love a good farm to table that is offering nourishing foods!
Thank you for sharing your story Olivia!
You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve always dreamt of having my own business, I have dozens of ideas but can never focus in on one because of fear and lack of confidence in myself to do it. Any recommendations on how to build confidence in starting a business?
I would love to do a whole newsletter on this topic because I think this is something that so many people struggle with! I know it was a roadblock for me in the beginning and has been a consideration every time I launch anything — a new ebook, a product collab, a YouTube channel, my Substack, and some big projects I'm working on right now. Let me get my thoughts together on this topic and so I can respond cohesively in a longer format than a comment! Thank you for your honesty. You're saying what a lot of people are thinking!
I would love this! Thank you for wanting to share more with us and offering wisdom in this area ❤️
I always want to start my own business but I feel overwhelmed by what lane to choose/what to do as I too have many ideas that I feel I could be good at/have fun with. I often stop thinking about it because I talk myself out of it due to lack of confidence, fear of judgement, financial hardships, etc. I also feel guilty because I help run my family's pet food business currently and feel like it's not fair to want to focus on something for myself but I KNOW I have the entrepreneurial spirit in me to be successful but it's overshadowed by doubt.
There are a couple quotes that came to mind as I was reading through your story: “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” & “We suffer more in our imagination than in reality”. I bring these up because they are two quotes that I speak over myself whenever I am doubting myself or worrying about a potential negative outcome. I can’t speak to the guilt piece as I haven’t walked in that experience but I imagine your family would be so excited for you to pursue a dream!! I know you mentioned having a few ideas of entrepreneurial endeavors you could pursue. I felt the same way! Being a healthy recipe content creator was one of a few entrepreneurial dreams I had and the reason I committed to this path is because it’s where I felt the most passionate and where I could help the most people. When considering your path, I would examine where your Venn diagram of passion and helping people overlaps. Sometimes we have passionate interests that are truly meant to be of service to ourselves and sometimes they are of service to others.
I feel you on this❤️
Hi Olivia!! I LOVED reading your story. It is so inspiring. I just have to say how cool and inspiring it has been following along since the beginning. I remember when we partnered with you and I was working at Robert Biale Vineyards. They wouldn't let me pay you so we just did a bottle trade and I remember thinking to myself...she might not have 10k followers now but just wait...it has been so incredible watching your account grow you are amazing.
I also did something similar I left my 9-5 to start a marketing business so I could travel and make more than I was making working for myself it was the best leap of faith. Now transitioning out of that business and working on being a gluten free content creator and advocate your story is inspiring and I am hoping I can do the same while working on my own personal brand. You are an inspiration and your recipes are kick ass! Thanks for betting on you!
Ohmygosh Maura, you always made me feel like a success even when I didn't feel it myself! I remember feeling seen and validated by you and I so appreciated that.
Congrats to you for being someone who consistently bets on themselves and takes the leap! So courageous and inspiring.
Wait, plug your IG account so people can follow!
Aww that makes me so happy because I truly meant it!! I think that post went viral really quick too and I was like yup Olivia is on to something. You are so authentic in sharing your favorite things I love that about you!
Thank you so much!! My account is @maurathehypegirl. HYPE= hospitality, yum factor, price, and environment so it is my framework for all recs. :)
🙌
Hi Olivia! Thanks for sharing your story. I started writing in 2024, founded my business in January of 2025 and quit my corporate job to go full-time entrepreneur in April of this year. There is still a lot of growth to go, but it is exciting to dream about possibilities and continuing to make them a reality in different ways every day. For anyone else out there who is contemplating what to do, I believe in you! Passion can take you far and learning along the way can help you grow to get where you need to go!