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

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I love telling people about the happiness that I’ve found as a business owner. I came from the typical corporate environment, working my way up the corporate ladder and eventually running a small business that I did not have equity in. I’m grateful for my prior work because it gave me the experience I needed to successfully run my own business.

I think that you can absolutely be unhappy as a business owner. Like with any job, it’s about balance and being in tune with yourself.

One of my favorite things about owning my own business is the ability to occasionally turn down work. Sometimes, the client is just not a fit for me. Other times, I might turn work down because I’m personally feeling run down and need a slower pace. Or, because I know it will be a distraction from other higher priority projects I have going on. I appreciate having this kind of agency over my work, and because I spent 15 years in a traditional 9-5 job, I fully appreciate how much of a luxury it is.

Michelle, 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 started Blackberry Babe as an overworked, overtired new Mom. I found that with a newborn, I was missing a lot of my creative outlets. I turned to something I could do at home, cooking!

My site has grown to reach millions of people every month, and I’ve published over 450 recipes in the past 8 years.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think for most of us, COVID presented a challenge. Overnight, I saw my ad earnings (from in content ads on my site), dwindle to nothing. Most major corporations pulled their ad spend to provide cushion for other projects. And, I saw most of my contract work canceled or paused.

To fill my new found spare time and the gaps in revenue, I started offering charcuterie delivery during the pandemic. My charcuterie boxes hit a sweet spot. We all missed dinners out, and wanted something to look forward to while we all stayed at home. I also partnered with a local bar to offer pickup service. I served several thousand people over the course of 9 months!

While charcuterie is not something that makes sense as a long-term part of my business, I am grateful that I did it. It gave me the opportunity to connect with people during the pandemic and keep my business going during a down cycle.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest story that I’ve had to unlearn is that if work needs to be done, I’m the best person to do it! Running a web-site requires a wide and deep skillset. Early on, I wasted hundreds of hours trying to do my own tech support and site design.

As a business owner, it’s important to really lean into the tasks and projects that give you the most energy. This is the type of work you can do and lose yourself in it, because it genuinely excites you. For the other tasks, I guarantee there is a qualified contractor out there that is ready to help you!

I have found contractors that help me with nearly every single part of my business. Finding them has allowed me to load my days with the work I enjoy most; developing new recipes and getting them published!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackberrybabe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackberrycooks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackberrycooks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/michelle_goth
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/blackberrycooks