Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ally Kepley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ally, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Food blogging was an idea I tossed back and forth for many years. I liked the idea of having somewhere to share my recipes and having a business that I created and blossomed, myself. The main issue I had that kept me from just going for it was fear. I was afraid of doing things that looked too hard (I’m looking at you web design), afraid of failing, and afraid of putting myself out there. It honestly just sounded like a nice thought that I’d never actually execute. Fast forward many years, experiences, and self-growth- I finally decided to take the plunge during the start of the pandemic. I hadn’t been afraid of these past things for some time and had forgotten that this was something I had really wanted to do once upon a time. The uncertainty of times ahead helped tipped me over the edge, and off I went. I started brainstorming what I wanted my to center my food blog around, watched countless Youtube videos on creating a website, and how to take those mouthwatering photos. I spent almost an entire year learning and practicing, while also realizing how much work this actually was. It didn’t scare me away though. Instead, I kept pushing and practicing until I was ready to hit publish on my first post in 2022.

Ally, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been baking from probably around the time I could walk. I spent a lot of time with both of my grandmothers growing up, and I always loved being in the kitchen with them. I had an Italian grandma who taught me how to make all kinds of delicious, authentic Italian food, and a sweet little southern grandma who taught me how to bake desserts. As an adult, I realized I had met a lot of people who felt intimidated by baking, and I wanted to create a recipe website catered around elevated, approachable recipes that anyone could make.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My whole life is centered around resilience and picking myself back up over and over again. As a single mom who works full time, life can get busy and chaotic, with my blog having to sit on the back burner at times. Over time, I’ve learned to have grace with myself, but also practice mindfulness and routine to keep my goals in check. I think it’s important to take breaks when you need to, and remember that we have to take care of ourselves first. Stay mindful and always remember your “why”, so that you can keep working on achieving your goals.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Atomic Habits is an excellent resource for anyone needing to structure their life better, especially for a business owner. One key takeaway, is realizing that time should be looked at as the same resource as money. Time is money, and the better you are at managing your time, the more you can accomplish. Creating these kind of habits for yourself is such a game-changer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.therebelspatula.com
• Instagram: @rebelspatula
• Other: Pinterest: @rebel_spatula TikTok: @rebel_spatula