Why I Keep Going (Even When It’s Hard)

The truth about failure, purpose, and fighting for your dreams

May 03, 2025

It’s Friday night and I’m binging Chef’s Table with a glass of wine and feeling so inspired. This is not revolutionary for me, because not only am I food obsessed, travel obsessed, and wine obsessed, but I’m even more obsessed with a good story of a person I admire—trying, failing, and trying again.

It makes me feel less alone.

It’s so easy to think of everyone we admire as being successful all the time, but of course, that’s a lie. No one is. But holy shit, sometimes I just need to hear that. I need to see it, and be reminded of it.

This new season on Netflix is featuring the legendary chefs—the ones everyone knows, like José Andrés, Jamie Oliver, and Thomas Keller. These are major celebrities—chefs who’ve built undisputed empires, employed thousands of people, and made a real impact on their craft. And yet… they failed many, many times along their journey. They were fired, just like the rest of us. They lost everything, just like me (several times over). They’ve been doubted, hated, and all the while have tried to do something meaningful with their talents. They’ve tried to leave their mark against all the odds.

I can relate to that.

That is me.

I’ve been at this dream for a long time. Some days I’m sooooooooooooooo tired. Some days I wish I had an off switch—the one that would make me stop caring about this dream, stop trying to pursue it—because some days it’s unbearably hard.

But I, like them, just can’t. I get bashed in the face with obstacle after obstacle, and I get back up and go under it, find a loophole around it, scrape my way to the top, and drop over the other side of that metaphorical barricade.

But it’s a lot, I can’t lie.

What I know for sure is that we were all put on this rock for a reason. It took me a long time to find my purpose—I was 36 when I started writing as a blogger—and even longer to find my real reason for being on this planet: coaching, teaching. It’s been an evolution and a long journey.

During the past 16 years, I’ve given up so much to pursue this dream. I gave up a salary and security, have filed bankruptcy, and started over more times than I care to count. I’ve gained so much momentum, only to face another setback or obstacle and lose what I’d just worked so hard to gain.

But in the end, I’d do it all exactly the same. I’d fight just as hard for my dreams at every step of the journey. I’d get back up and start again—just like I always have. Because if they can do it, so can I.

And so can you.

The journey—all the hardships, the setbacks, and the disappointments along the way—is what makes you want it even more. It’s what ensures you are prepared for it when your dreams are realized. It’s what makes you HUNGRY every single day, and so grateful for every single win.

And just so the Universe is aware (pretty sure it’s gotten this message daily over the past 16 years, but I’ll speak it into existence again): my dream is to be a New York Times best-selling author, have my own TV show where I’m teaching my tools to everyone who wants to learn them. Meet Oprah. Restore a villa in Italy where I can host retreats and teach women to cook amazing food, and I want to change the world!! That’s all.

Until then, I’ll be dusting myself off every time life throws a punch—and trying again.

I hope you do too.

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