Welcome to the final part of my special two‑year anniversary series — the end of the journey.
This piece is about following your heart and discovering what truly matters to you. The answers are already within; you only need to look for them.
If you haven’t read Part 5 you can catch up with it here.
Give It Away
I’ve always felt compelled to help people. Maybe that’s why I started a blog: there are few reasons to invest so much time and money into creating something for others when there’s no immediate payoff. I’ve long enjoyed giving — I’ve even said I’d like to be wealthy just so I could give more away.
And Help Others
Photography has proven to be a stumbling block for many bloggers. I had experience with photography years ago, worked in a camera shop, and studied design at university. I began blogging with a solid understanding of studio lighting and camera controls, and applying those skills to food photography made a huge difference.
Putting those pieces together, I realised I could help other bloggers improve their photography while finding personal fulfilment in sharing my knowledge. Helping others strengthen this part of their work can open many interesting paths in life.
This is why I launched the Blogger Skills Academy, a place for bloggers to learn practical, professional skills tailored to blogging. I’m starting with photography and plan to expand into other specialised classes relevant to running a blog.
Fact 8. I have a large birth mark on the back of my neck and my blonde hair is completely natural; people even stop me in the street and ask me.
Money, or Not
M. Scott Peck wrote that the only place you can achieve something worthwhile is from a position of love. If your motive is something else, like greed, possessions, or status, it won’t allow the same growth. That idea reflects my view of making a career from blogging.
Blogging shouldn’t be driven by the quickest way to earn money, the easiest route to brand deals, or chasing the most followers. I always felt uncomfortable with banner ads on my site — they seemed designed for those pursuing profit above all else.
My approach to monetising a blog is different from many: focus on what you love, preserve creative control, and let meaningful opportunities arise from good work rather than forcing every post to be optimised for clicks.
Fact 9. I had my last alcoholic drink on 25th December 2013 after twenty years of drinking weekly and haven’t regretted the decision once.
Find Your Future
If you want a career in blogging, start the blog and do the work. Identify the parts you enjoy most and devote more energy to them. Stop doing the tasks you dislike — or delegate them if they’re essential. Ignore vanity metrics like traffic and follower counts. Don’t create for what you think others want to see; create for what you want to see.
Learn to tell the difference between something you genuinely dislike and something that challenges you and helps you grow. Both can make you want to stop, but one is worth pushing through. Don’t feel compelled to follow trends or outside advice if it drains you. I stopped publishing two recipe posts a week because it stressed me out; now I publish one recipe and one opinion piece. My traffic fell, but my enjoyment rose.
Your blog should be your independent creative publishing space — don’t let anyone else’s needs or payroll change that.
Keep producing content, seize opportunities, and ask for the ones you want. My first paid writing gig came from emailing a company and asking if they would pay me to write; they said yes. My blog acted as my CV and portfolio.
This path can lead in many directions because the independent nature of blogging is deeply valuable. By not over‑monetising my site I keep full control and can post whatever I want, whenever I want, without tying income directly to traffic.
Fact 10. I’m 38 years old as I write this and I was born in a hospital in Wimbledon, South West London, which officially makes me a Womble.
It’s All in You
The best way to build a career in blogging is to pursue what you love and keep practising. The things that matter most are often the hardest to work through. The resistance you feel may indicate where personal growth is waiting.
When you’re up late with your laptop, ready to give up or cry, take comfort: you’ve likely hit a milestone. You’re moving forward.
Consider blogging not merely in terms of money, profit, or traffic, but as an art and a calling that can reveal your true role. From that place you can find happiness and, eventually, a career. Work hard, listen to yourself, and stay faithful to your values. When faced with a decision, choose the path that opens you to the world and shows compassion to others. It might sound idealistic, but following that advice helps avoid ruts and backwards steps.
Accept what comes your way. If you have an idea, write it down. If a thought keeps returning, pay attention — your mind is directing you to subjects that matter to you. Don’t resist; follow the impulse, because it will keep coming back until you do.
That’s probably why you read this far. Now it’s over to you. Good luck.
Gavin