a leap of faith.

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I saw quote on Instagram last night that really spoke to me.

if you can't find your purpose, find your passion and your purpose will come.

I am the type of person who likes a lot of different things and has had a very hard time over the past 5 years trying to find my exact purpose. In college, I went back and forth between the Design School and something more science focused like Nutrition or Exercise Science. I was the same way in high school- I played varsity sports and was also in AP Art. My younger self didn’t think it was okay to want to be good a so many things that are so opposite from each other and I tried to force myself to pick just one.

I think we get it in our heads that we NEED to be experts in a certain area. I remember back when I started my blog 3 years ago, I was dead set on going to culinary school because I thought that if I ever wanted to succeed in the food industry, that I needed some sort of higher education or qualification in order for people to respect me.

Today, I’ve realized there is something to be said about an amateur bake/cook/photographer who is self-taught and damn good at what he/she does. A lot of bloggers that I follow are exactly that. They are people who thought they knew their purpose, and then discovered their passion in recipe creation and food photography and are living their dream, with their blog as their business (Oh She Glows, Edible Perspective, Peas and Thank You…just to name a few).

About a 2 years into my blogging career, I realized that this little thing called Fit Foodie Finds does not have to be JUST a blog- it CAN be my career. If you are truly passionate about what you do, it will shine through your work and people will notice. Your best work is your most passionate work.

I have begun to make a steady income off of Fit Foodie Finds through my ad revenue, sponsored posts, and freelance content creation. Never EVER did I think that doing something so fun and energizing could be my full time career. And today I am excited to say…that it is.

I put my 2 weeks notice in at Anytime Fitness HQ on Friday so that I can spend more time building my business and allow myself extra hours teaching Group Fitness/Yoga Sculpt. The best part is- AF is extremely supportive of everything that I am doing and is allowing me to stay on part time. Anytime is a brand I don’t want to let go and I am so fortunate to have such an amazing support system through my workplace. A large part of Anytime’s core values is Passion and Purpose, two things that everyone should have when it comes to their career. Anytime has helped me explore many different sectors of the health/fitness industry and discover mine: recipe creation and group fitness/training.

I know what you are thinking….”you just posted about your incredible story of how you got your full time job at Anytime Fitness Headquarters. And how much you enjoy working for AF.” Well- now I am able to pursue my dream with the support of an amazing organization that has heart and wants to see their employees succeed.

I am still in a little bit of shock that I took this leap of faith at 23, but very excited for what my future holds. My family (especially Blake) has been extremely supportive over the past 6 months as I put my plan together and actually followed through with it. So thank you to each and every one of you.

That is all for now. I will have more to share when some other things play through, but for now I leave you with this…

Do what you love and you'll love what you do.

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About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

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Sam @ Hygge Wellness
October 11, 2016 3:07 pm

I went back to read your post from so many years ago for some inspiration and also to see how far you’ve come! It really is so amazing how much you’ve been able to do with your business. It has been so cool to “follow” you all these years! It gives me so much hope as I leave my career as an attorney to become a self-employed entrepreneur. I may not be blogging full-time, but I am still so inspired by you and everything you’ve done : )

felicia | Dish by Dish
February 4, 2015 9:30 am

Lee… I’d love to blog as a full-time career too..! This post and your blog are so inspiring! Although I have quite a long way to go though… But 1% improvement every single time (as Bjork and Lindsay at Pinch of Yum say), and there will be vast improvements in the long term!!

Sarah
October 4, 2014 11:35 pm

I love this story!! It sounds very similar to some of my own thoughts, reactions, experience as a photographer ๐Ÿ™‚ Love that this has come full-circle for you. Many of the quotes that you posted are ones I keep close to me too.

As they say in life, “It’s now or never.” Do what makes you happy!

Looking forward to keeping up-to-date with your work, Lee!
Sarah

caren
March 15, 2014 10:38 am

I LOVE hearing stories like this! Congrats to you for taking a huge leap of faith to do what you love. I’m right there with you ๐Ÿ™‚

caren

Lauren
August 3, 2013 2:37 pm

Love the passion & drive for following your dreams! During my internship this past year, a speaker told us to “Feel the fear and do it anyways” (by Jack Canfield). I took that quote to heart and am in the process of following my dreams and starting to build up my own business (RD nutrition private practice). Even though it’s just thoughts and plans now, it’s steps towards action. I’m so glad that people our age aren’t waiting 10+ years of “getting experience” to follow their dreams.

Kimberly {Manifest Yourself}
July 17, 2013 7:49 pm

CONGRATS! I am so excited that you have found something (else) that you love and can trun into a career. Can’t wait to see where this big step takes you!

Janelle
Janelle
July 17, 2013 11:24 am

Good for you !! Ever since finding your blog I look forward to your posts and recipes every day I share them with everyone n am getting quite the reputation in a good way lol I’m “ball crazy” lol and you have been such a huge part in my fittness journey ! So yay you !!!

Caroline
July 16, 2013 5:12 pm

Woohoo!! So excited for you girl! I took the leap a little over a year ago now to quit my full-time job and start up my own photography/design business and I haven’t looked back since! It’s been so rewarding and awesome, REALLY hard work, but worth every second. Can’t wait to following along on this new adventure of yours : )

Sara
July 15, 2013 4:40 pm

Congrats Lee! I love your blog and excited to read it through your new adventures! ๐Ÿ™‚