We recently connected with Carmen Spillette and have shared our conversation below.

Carmen , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The hardest part about starting a business—especially in content creation—is honestly just starting. Finding the courage to begin without getting stuck in all the “what ifs” can feel impossible. The risks are real too: financially, emotionally, and with your time.

Building something like this—a blog, a website, a social media presence—takes time. For some people, it’s months. For others, it’s years. And that’s tough because time is money… and time away from your family.

Then there’s the financial side. Yes, starting an online business is more affordable than something like a brick-and-mortar store, but the costs still add up—especially if, like me, you’re building a business, not a hobby.

But the biggest challenge? Your mental health. You’re constantly dealing with imposter syndrome, algorithm changes, new trends… trying to keep up while still staying true to yourself. If you’re not careful, you’ll burn out. And I’ve been there—multiple times over the last two years.

Now, I focus on consistency over perfection. I stopped obsessing over what I “should” be doing and started leaning into what actually feels aligned. I look at my business through a new lens—quality over quantity, always.

Carmen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always wanted to be a food blogger but didn’t have the courage or the knowledge to start. However, when I didd start, I took a few courses and learned a lot of skills from YouTube, Skillshare and most important I listened to a ton of podcasts about my niche and how to build a successful website.

Discipline played a huge role in my success. I worked as much as I can even though I made zero dollars in the the first 6 months. But I knew my hard work would pay off someday.

I filmed, photographed, edited at least 8 recipes per week, I worked while my kids were at school and again when they went to bed. I worked 12 hours per day some days.

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

I’ve always known I was a resilient person, but that quality was truly tested when my father passed away from cancer. That experience shook me to my core—but it also gave me the push I needed to finally start my business. I used my grief as fuel to move forward and create something meaningful.

In the midst of that emotional time, I poured myself into building my brand. Within six months, I had not only built a solid foundation but was also able to start monetizing. That season of my life reminded me just how powerful it can be to channel pain into purpose.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had invested in more courses and coaching earlier on. They really help speed up the learning curve and give you the clarity and direction you need to grow faster. Trying to figure everything out on your own takes way more time than it needs to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eatwithcarmen.com
• Instagram: @eatwithcarmen_
• Youtube: @eatwithcarmen

Image Credits

all images are by Carmen Spillette (me)