# The Secret Ingredient: How to Grow into a Top Food & Lifestyle Blog - Link: https://seasonedpro.blog/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/ - Published: 2017-10-26T11:24:25-04:00 - Author: Feast This is an introduction to your post - you want to start with a summary of what you're writing about, and hook your readers! ![Seasoned Pro WordPress DIY Blog Theme for Food & Lifestyle Bloggers](https://seasonedpro. blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SeasonedProDIYBlogTheme_2017.jpg) The secret ingredient that makes your recipe pop, like pickle juice or fish sauce, can sometimes get weird. Jump to: * [What is grit?](https://seasonedpro.blog/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/#what-is-grit) * [But how do you get grit?](https://seasonedpro.blog/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/#but-how-do-you-get-grit) * [So, what does grit look like in real-time?](https://seasonedpro.blog/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/#so-what-does-grit-look-like-in-real-time) * [Comments](https://seasonedpro.blog/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/#comments) So, we’re getting weird in this blog post too. Or, at least, _different_. ![Seasoned Pro WordPress Theme for Food Bloggers](https://seasonedpro.blog/wp-content/ uploads/2016/01/SeasonedProforFoodBloggers.jpg) ![Seasoned Pro WordPress Theme for Lifestyle Bloggers](https://seasonedpro.blog/ wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SeasonedProforLifestyleBloggers.jpg) Because the secret ingredient to growing a top food blog isn’t your innate talent, knowledge of spices, or the [online course](https://feastdesignco.com/5-online-courses-that-will-rock-your-freelance-world/) you took last year. _It’s grit._ ## What is grit? In 2004, [psychologist Angela Duckworth](http://angeladuckworth.com) discovered why some individuals accomplished more than others of the same talent, intelligence, and resources. * [Accessibility](https://seasonedpro.blog/accessibility/) * [Archive Page](https://seasonedpro.blog/archive/) * [Blog Page](https://seasonedpro.blog/blog/) * [Browse Recipes](https://seasonedpro.blog/recipes/) * [Column Classes](https://seasonedpro.blog/columns/) * [Disclaimer](https://seasonedpro.blog/disclaimer/) * [FAQ](https://seasonedpro.blog/faq/) * [Full width modern homepage](https://seasonedpro.blog/full-width-modern-homepage/) * [Media Kit](https://seasonedpro.blog/media-kit/) * [Page Layouts](https://seasonedpro.blog/layouts/) - [Content/Sidebar](https://seasonedpro.blog/layouts/cs/) - [Full Width Content](https://seasonedpro.blog/layouts/fwc/) - [Sidebar/Content](https://seasonedpro.blog/layouts/sc/) * [Privacy Policy](https://seasonedpro.blog/privacy-policy/) * [Recipe Index](https://seasonedpro.blog/recipe-index/) * [Recipes](https://seasonedpro.blog/recipe-index-page/) * [Recipes](https://seasonedpro.blog/recipes-index/) * [Sample Page](https://seasonedpro.blog/sample-page-2/) * [Services](https://seasonedpro.blog/services/) * [Simple Category Index](https://seasonedpro.blog/simple-category-index/) * [Subscribe](https://seasonedpro.blog/subscribe/) * [Terms & Conditions](https://seasonedpro.blog/terms-conditions/) * [Theme for Recipe Sites](https://seasonedpro.blog/) * [Workshops](https://seasonedpro.blog/meal-plans/) * [Contact Page](https://seasonedpro.blog/contact/) Her results showed the predictive variable of real world performance was grit or a strength of character. Now, she’s a New York Times Bestseller, winner of the MacArthur“ genius” award for 2013, and has a [TED Talk](https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance)…. clearly, she’s onto something. ## But how do you get grit? In her TED Talk, Duckworth admits she doesn’t know the definitive answer for developing grit. But don’t give up yet (that wouldn’t be very gritty of you)! She does mention two equations in her book, [_Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance_](https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Passion-Perseverance-Angela-Duckworth/dp/1501111108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447597032&sr=8-1&keywords=Grit+Angela+Duckworth): * Talent x effort = skill * Skill x effort = achievement In short, you could be born with a knack for something--in your case, probably cooking. And you could hone that talent by investing in a mentor, coach, or culinary school. But to go from blogging _for fun_ to blogging _for a career_ requires a huge effort. It’s throwing everything you have at the wall—like pasta--and seeing what sticks. It’s giving yourself permission to pivot when a strategy or idea doesn’t work (we did this, [read about it here](https://feastdesignco.com/dear-is-now-brunch-pro-a-permission-slip-to-pivot/)). And it’s having the courage to continue towards your goals even when you face failure— _over and over again_. Most importantly, **it’s getting started today**. Even if you don’t have an eye-catching logo, [a strong following on Instagram](https://feastdesignco.com/get-audience-first-year-blogging-spoiler-theres-no-magic-bullet/), or a professional camera. You can apply effort and intention to what you’re able to do right now—or at least after reading this post. ## So, what does grit look like in real-time? [Read the rest of this article at Feast Design Co.](https://feastdesignco.com/the-secret-ingredient-how-to-grow-into-a-top-food-blog/) Photos by [Brooke Lark](https://unsplash.com/photos/29h2n639YDA?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) It’s throwing everything you have at the wall—like pasta--and seeing what sticks. It’s giving yourself permission to pivot when a strategy or idea doesn’t work (we did this, [read about it here](https://feastdesignco.com/dear-is-now-brunch-pro-a-permission-slip-to-pivot/)). And it’s having the courage to continue towards your goals even when you face failure— _over and over again_.