Episode 648: How to Bounce Back and Thrive After Significant Google Traffic Loss with Jules Grasekamp

EBT648 – Jules Grasekamp

Intro 00:00

Food bloggers. Hi, how are you today? Thank you so much for tuning in to the Eat Blog Talk podcast. This is the place for food bloggers to get information and inspiration to accelerate your blog’s growth, and ultimately help you to achieve your freedom. Whether that’s financial, personal, or professional. I’m Megan Porta. I have been a food blogger for 13 years, so I understand how isolating food blogging can be. I’m on a mission to motivate, inspire, and most importantly, let each and every food blogger, including you, know that you are heard and supported. 

Supercut  00:37

You are going to want to download our bonus supercut that gives you all the information you need to grow your Instagram account. Go to eatblogtalk.com/Instagrowth to download today. 

Megan Porta  00:52

Is there something currently in your business that feels like might be a failure, or maybe you as an entrepreneur feels a little bit like a failure after the HCU and all that’s happened in 2024 I think failure has been a common theme for a lot of food bloggers. In this episode, Jules from Bonni Bakery joins me to talk about this very topic and how we shouldn’t see failure as the stopping point. Failure is just the beginning. Failure is a stepping stone to the next part of your journey. She has a great example of going through a big failure, actually a couple of them, and how she didn’t let that stop her. She kept going, she pivoted. She saw it as a way to refine and to grow, and has such an inspiring story to bring to the table. In the episode, we talk about how to stay motivated, to keep going, how to shift your mindset so you can see failure as a good thing, and we talked about the importance of community and all of this, because without a supportive network of people surrounding you, it’s really easy to give up. This is episode number 648 I hope you enjoy it. 

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Megan Porta  03:11

Jules Grasekamp is the sweet tooth. Scott behind Bonnie bakery a dessert blog showing you how to easily create impressive desserts at home. She uses her experience from 10 years of running her own bakery to give detailed recipes packed with expert tips for success to make show stopping desserts and Grow your confidence in the kitchen. 

Megan Porta  03:32

Jules, welcome back to Eat Talk Blog. This is your second time here, right?

Jules Grasekamp  03:37

It is. Thank you so much for having me back. 

Megan Porta  03:39

So great to have you back today. We’re going to talk about failure and how to have a new perspective on failure, because as entrepreneurs, we all face failure at some point, some years more than others. I think 2024 was kind of one of those years for a lot of us. Oh, yeah, yeah. But before we get into that, do you have another fun fact to share with us? I

Jules Grasekamp  03:59

do. So it’s not quite as fun as my last fact, but right before I started my blog, I thought it was fun that I actually purchased my very first camera completely on a whim, like I I was sitting at home, I was saw something about food photography. I thought, Oh, that looks cool. And then drove to Best Buy at 11pm and bought a camera, and the rest is history. Yeah.

Megan Porta  04:23

I think that is a unique start, a unique way to start. But that’s awesome and it Yeah, the rest is history. Look how it all turned out.

Jules Grasekamp  04:31

Best impulse buy of my life. 

Jules Grasekamp  04:33

Yes.

Megan Porta  04:35

Okay, so tell us a little bit about Bonni Bakery. I know you’ve been on the podcast before, but in case people haven’t listened to that episode, just fill us in a little 

Jules Grasekamp  04:44

Sure. So

Jules Grasekamp  04:44

Bonnie bakery is a dessert recipe blog. I used to have a bakery. I ran a bakery for 10 years, so I use that to help people on my site really understand the baking recipes and the science behind it and help them to really ease. Really make amazing, impressive desserts at home.

Megan Porta  05:02

And when did you start Bonni Bakery? 

Jules Grasekamp  05:05

I was actually think, I think it was, I don’t even know what year we’re on now, about three, four years ago, it was right when COVID hit. So 2020, I think I need to keep track of that.

Megan Porta  05:20

Awesome. So that’s when you purchased your infamous camera in about the COVID era. 

Jules Grasekamp  05:26

Yeah, yeah, just at the start. So I think it was January.

Megan Porta  05:31

So failure, you have this perspective on failure to kind of turn it around and see opportunity and failure instead of getting defeated by it. How did that come to you? Is that something you’ve always had instilled in you, or is this a new thing? 

Jules Grasekamp  05:45

I’ve had it for a long time with the bakery that I mentioned before. There was a period right in the middle of that 10 year journey where actually I made a huge mistake, and things went really badly for a while. I actually ended up going bankrupt, like personally bankrupt at the time, and I was just at this point where this had been. I started the business when I was 16. It had been all I ever knew. And I was like, I can’t give up. I’ve got to keep going. And so I kind of looked at everything that had gone wrong, and I started over, and I filled in all those gaps and all those weaknesses, and the business ended up being, within a very short period of time, stronger than it ever had been before. And I realized that if I hadn’t had those failures, then that never would have happened. So yeah, ever since then, I’ve kind of had that perspective. And then with the HCU happening recently, I had a similar experience, and I just see so many bloggers feeling really disheartened and not sure where to turn. And I just thought this is a great time to have this conversation.

Megan Porta  06:42

Yeah, so during the HCU, was your blog hit pretty badly?

Jules Grasekamp  06:47

Yeah, in March last year, I lost about 80% of my traffic overnight. So it was, it was hard, yeah, but a lot of people were in the same boat. You know, it wasn’t just me, but, you know, same story I as we’ll talk about, I’m sure, like I, I learned from that, made some changes, and now Bonni Bakery is better than it probably ever would have been if the update hadn’t happened. So I’m grateful for it. Now, as crazy as that might sound.

Megan Porta  07:12

So when you got hit, I mean, I know so many bloggers who are in the same boat, it was, it was devastating, and 80% is a huge dent in your traffic. How did you deal with that at first? Was it just like a big blow, like, how am I gonna come back from this?

Jules Grasekamp  07:29

Well, to be honest, at first, I was really devastated, because I had a baby in November. So the November before the update, I know it was, she’s lovely, she’s wonderful, but… 

Jules Grasekamp  07:37

Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. We’re really thrilled. She’s amazing. But I had her in November, and then I had gone back to work really quickly, and I had been juggling being a new mom and having the business, and I just felt this horrible mom guilt all the time, because, you know, every minute I wasn’t spending with her, I was working, and I just felt really bad about that. So when the update hit, I just was devastated, because I felt it had all been for nothing. It’s like, every minute I didn’t spend with her was for nothing. And I was really upset, yeah, so I took it pretty hard. But again, as we’ll talk about in a little bit, I actually went, happened to be going to a blogging event a couple of weeks after that, met some really inspiring people, and I kind of came back from that, dusted myself off, and I was like, right time to do this again. And, you know, from there, just kind of took the steps to to bring it back. So again, it’s, I’m glad it happened, because it’s for a lot of good things.

Megan Porta  08:32

I know a lot of stories are the same. It’s like, just devastating at first, but then as it plays out, and you realize, like you said, you need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and just get back in there. You learned so much. I know so many bloggers who have completely changed and rounded out their businesses in the coolest ways, and I know they never would have done that had it not been for the HCU. So it really can play out in your favor. Failure can play out in your failure, yeah, or in your favor? Failure, yeah, good. So you’ve had this perspective for a while, and then the HCU, everything you dealt with, confirmed that, like, yes, failure is opportunity. So you have to just kind of rewire yourself, I think, because it doesn’t come naturally to think I’ve faced this huge failure. So this is going to be good, you know what? I mean. So how do we get to the point where we can have that perspective in the face of failure?

Jules Grasekamp  09:33

I mean, it’s like you said, I think people are scared of it, and I think the first step is realizing that it’s not something to be scared of. It’s actually a really important part of every journey. Like I don’t think I can think of a single successful entrepreneur who hasn’t had some kind of failure along the way, and it’s not because they’ve never experienced failure. It’s just because when they reach that point, they keep going. And so I think it’s like rewiring that. And realizing shouldn’t be scared of it. Don’t see it as a big, scary endpoint, but as an actual stepping stone. Like when we we’re all recipe developers, right? And like when you’re testing a recipe, if it doesn’t work, you don’t go, oh, well, and leave it, you know? You figure out what went wrong, decide what needs to be different, and you tweak it and you try again. So it’s the same thing with your business. I think you just have to see it as data and embrace it.

Megan Porta  10:27

And that’s not to say that you can’t take a moment, because I think when you probably experienced your, you know, kind of loss after the HCU, you probably had to take a moment to gain your bearings and, like, turn yourself around, right? So I think that’s fair to just say it’s okay to do that. 

Jules Grasekamp  10:44

No, definitely. I think that’s important. Like, you can’t, we’re not robots. You have to feel your feelings and experience it the way you experience it. But it’s just, you know, in the long term, you know, getting back up, getting back on that horse, once you’re able to,

Megan Porta  10:59

yeah, and you made a good point every single entrepreneur, every successful business, every human that you look up to in the entrepreneurial space, has experienced not just failure, but probably massive, numerous failures. So that alone keeps me going like, Okay, this is part of it. This is part of the journey. 

Jules Grasekamp  11:21

Absolutely, it has to be accepting that. 

Megan Porta  11:23

Yeah, but unfortunately, a lot of people do face that failure, like the HCU turned people away and made them run from their businesses. It does happen. People are afraid of failure. Failure is hard, it’s scary, it’s not comfortable.

Jules Grasekamp  11:38

It is, it’s and it’s not easy to change the way you think about it, because it is, it’s we’re sold from a very young age, you have to succeed. Failure is bad, you know, it’s drummed into us from when we’re kids. So it’s really hard to to see it differently. But I think, you know, if you’re able to, and you can change that mindset around it, I think it, that’s when it really kind of unlocks some of that magic. 

Megan Porta  12:00

I always love. Sarah Blakely tells a story. She’s the founder of Spanx, that when she was young, her dad every night would sit down at dinner and say, How did you fail today? Instead of what you know, like, what’s your win today? It wasn’t focusing on the wins or the things that were great that day, but it was, how did you fail? So it taught her to almost seek out failure so that she got used to it. And then, I mean, she’s like, a multi billionaire right now, so she’s clearly driven enough to find that success. But I love that story. I was thinking great idea, yeah, I know I did that with our boys. I think, I don’t know. I don’t think that would go over well. They’d be like, what family? Maybe I should throw that at them tonight.

Jules Grasekamp  12:46

Yeah, see what they say. 

Megan Porta  12:49

I know I might do that. So how do you recommend that we stay motivated to keep going through challenges, especially after 2024 and the HCU and I mean, it’s still happening. We just had an update in December. How do we stay motivated through all of that? 

Jules Grasekamp  13:04

So I think you have to, you talk about this a lot on the podcast, but I think this is where it’s really important to have a really clear idea of your why you know, why you’re doing this. What made you start this in the first place? And I know some people struggle with that, but I don’t think it has to be anything profound. I think a lot of creators started this because they simply want to make a living doing something they love. So just figuring out what that is, and what it is that you love about the job, and how you can make that a bigger part of your day, to kind of have the motivation to remember, okay, this, this is why this is happening. This is why I’m doing this. I think you have to without that. It’s you just have to be very, very disciplined. And I don’t think anyone has that much discipline. So figuring out your why.

Megan Porta  13:51

Yeah, do you have I get this question a lot. I’m going to ask you, what you think? Do you have recommendations for how to find out? What if somebody’s like, I don’t know what my why is. I just want to live a good life and be healthy and be a good human. How do they find something that really just compels them to stay on course? 

Jules Grasekamp  14:10

I mean, it’s different for everyone, but I guess that a big part of it would be figuring out where your joy comes from. You know, on the day to day, not just from your business, but generally, where does your joy come from? What lights a fire in your soul? What makes you feel excited and seeing where those things can overlap with what you’re trying to do with your business? There’s always something you know. There’s always somewhere that you wouldn’t have started the business if there weren’t something about it that does that for you. So I guess just figuring what it is in life that makes you feel that way, and seeing how it applies to to your blog. 

Megan Porta  14:47

And maybe what like this works for me when I think ahead to 2025 we’re just at the beginning of 2025 now, what excites me about the year, what really lights me up like? There are a few trips we’re taking together as a family that just instill joy in me. So just finding those things that really let you open you think about the future or the past too, right? You could go back to the past and into the future and then just honing in on those things and focusing on them.

Jules Grasekamp  15:17

Yeah, absolutely. I think, yeah. I mean you, have control over nothing, really, except your own mind, right? So, yeah.

Megan Porta  15:25

So once you figure out your why, how do you take the next steps to keep going and keep taking step after step?

Jules Grasekamp  15:33

So this kind of ties in with, I mean, if we’re talking specifically about the, you know, coming back from failure and getting back on the horse. I think it has to start with looking at your business through a really brutally honest lens, seeing where it needs to get better. Like I realized that I had gotten really complacent in a lot of areas, and I was just doing the easy thing, so I had to be really honest with myself about that, and then kind of looking at again the list of why you’re doing this, and what it is that really excites you about the business, and how you’re going to mesh those two, how you’re going to use the things that you’re great at to fill in those gaps. So you know, if you are, for example, if the photography is what really excites you, or the recipes or whatever it’s like, making sure that you are working out a plan to fit that into the gaps. And I think then, as well, a lot of people get bogged down with not really knowing how to fill in the bits that they don’t want to do that they’ve had hard, I think, making sure that you have a long term plan for how you’re eventually going to be able to delegate those because if you just feel like you’re going to be doing the stuff you don’t love forever, it’s really hard to Oh, god, okay, I’m going to keep doing more SEO and more this, and more that, whatever it is. So yeah, having that in mind of eventually, I’m going to be able to hand this off.

Megan Porta  16:49

Yeah, I think delegation and outsourcing is so huge when you get to that point that I think it’s such a momentous turn for most entrepreneurs, most food bloggers, it feels so good to offload things that don’t light you up and that you’re not meant to be doing. I mean, we all have to do those things kind of in the beginning and just trudge through a little bit. But there will come a day when you can outsource the things that are not aligning with your soul, because there’s a lot to do in food blogging, right?

Jules Grasekamp  17:19

Oh, there is. And we have to wear 50 different hats.

Megan Porta  17:23

I know. And you can’t be expected to be aligned with all of those 50 hats. It’s just not feasible. It’s a lot. 

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Megan Porta  18:16

Do you have any other tips for staying motivated after a failure? 

Megan Porta  18:20

I mean, I think keeping in mind what we were saying before about how the failure is a stepping stone, like, just like with the, you know, I explained about my bakery, and same with HCU, like, if you don’t have those failures, there is no opportunity for you to see what you might not have seen. You won’t see those weaknesses, you won’t be able to fill in the gaps. So I think trying to see it as an exciting thing, I know that’s really hard, but like seeing the opportunity in what could happen if you kind of take the good parts, the silver lining of whatever has happened, and use that to see, okay, well, if these were fixed and filled in. What could this look like in a year? Whatever you know, like again, for me with the HCU, like my numbers after I made these changes, they went far higher than they probably ever would have before the HCU happened, and that just wouldn’t be the case if I hadn’t have made those changes. So I think you have to just think of the possibilities of, okay, this is really hard right now, but this is what it could look like if I just keep going and keep making these changes.

Megan Porta  19:32

So if somebody did have a blog and got hit by the HCU, and maybe they weren’t 100% viewing their blogging, or their blog as a business. And then the HCU came and they were like, Oh, well, it’s not really technically a business, so I’m just gonna stop. How do they, in the face of failure, get to the point where they can go from like, part time hobby, part time business, to just like, yes. Yes, this is my business. I’m owning it.

Jules Grasekamp  20:02

I mean, I think a lot of that is, it’s all around commitment, right? Commitment to yourselves, commitment to your to your business, realizing that it’s never going to like there’s no one else to do this for you. There’s no one else that’s going to step in. It’s only going to be down to you, and if you’re not doing the work, it’s just not going to happen. So I think seeing that as, you know, as a business, and realizing that this is not just about, I mean, for some people, of course, it’s a hobby. It’s, you know, if it’s what you love and that’s not your goal, there’s nothing wrong with that. You know, there’s absolutely, there’s a lot of joy that comes from blogging. But if your goal is to grow it to that point. I think seeing it that way, seeing it as a business, and making those commitments as if, you know, as if it’s any other business, because it is, is, is crucial.

Megan Porta  20:49

Yeah, so it really is a an internal shift that you have to make. It’s nothing outwardly is going to change anything, right? You’ve got to make that change inside your mind?

Jules Grasekamp  21:02

Yeah, I think as well, like a lot of people, with the the updates, I know people are so frustrated right now. You know, it felt like the hits just kept coming last year. But even though it’s not, I think people are comparing, sometimes, the the income from their blogs to that of a nine to five, and that they’re like, oh, there’s no stability, there’s no predictability. And I know that can be really hard, but it’s not comparable to nine to five. Like, it is a business, and just like any other business, or any other startup, that’s never going to be the same every month, like it’s never going to be something that you can know, okay, I’m going to be paid this amount at the end of the month, but that’s a good thing, because in a nine to five, yes, you have a predictable paycheck at the end of the month, but it’s the same. If you’re napping at your desk or you’re working your butt off every single day, it’s the same. Whereas, with your blog, you have the opportunity like you can, you can hustle, you can grow those numbers. You can, you know, get it x2, x3, x10, times what it was. You could never do that with a nine to five, you know. So I think the it’s riskier, for sure, because there’s always things out of control. But the reward for that risk, I think, is it’s really worth it.

Megan Porta  22:15

I 100% agree. I always say this on the podcast too, the sky’s the limit with being an entrepreneur. There’s no limit to what you can create and what you can earn. Literally, you can earn whatever you want and you can make whatever you want. That’s so cool. And I think that trumps absolutely everything, all of the downsides to being an entrepreneur, so like, absolutely volatility, the uncertainty of, am I going to get the same amount this month as I did last month? Probably not, but that’s what, that’s what kind of makes it exciting, too. And I think if you’re you probably like that excitement. That’s why you started

Jules Grasekamp  22:54

Exactly like it’s unpredictable. But I mean, that’s business, right? And if you let that push you to constantly innovate and adapt. Then, you know, like you say, the sky’s the limit. There’s nowhere you can’t go with it.

Megan Porta  23:08

I have friends and family members who are always like, I don’t know how you can handle this. It’s so stressful when I just talk about, you know, some of the things that are going on on in our world. But in my mind, I’m like, I don’t know how you go to a job and sit at the desk for nine hours. I used to do that, and I am not cut out for that. I am through and through an entrepreneur, and I think you are as well, Jules and everyone listening can relate to that as well. Absolutely. So a lot of this, what we’re talking about just dealing with failure has so much to do with making that mindset shift. Do you do regular, I don’t know, like listening 

Jules Grasekamp  23:51

Yeah, absolutely. I think. I mean learning is obviously a huge part of this. I think you need to always be on top of making sure you’re always learning, bringing in new information, but specifically with the mindset part. I think that who you are consuming and who you’re letting into your your mind can massively impact, you know, the outlook that you have on a day to day basis. I recently started listening to Barrett Brooks. I don’t know if you listen to any of his Oh, he’s incredible. So he interviews, and there are all different industries, but he interviews all these world class people on his podcast, and he asks really different questions that kind of gets to the heart of why people do what they do. And listening to that. Every time I hear it, it just makes me think, Okay, we’ve got to make some good in the world today, you know. So I think whatever you’re consuming will definitely come out in your work. 

Megan Porta  24:49

Yeah, I’ve been trying to start every single day with that, with just a positive something going into my ears and. I have not heard of Barrett Brooks, but I’m definitely looking that up, because I’m always up for exactly what you described him as. My recent one is Brendan Burchard. Have you listened to him? 

Jules Grasekamp  25:11

I haven’t actually.

Megan Porta  25:12

Oh gosh. Okay, so he’s kind of the same. He does a lot of solo episodes. I think his podcast is called Motivation with Brendon Burchard, but just so uplifting. And to start the day, I feel the same as you Jules, when I listen, I’m just like, Yes, I am ready. I am going into this world in this day with positivity and power, and just feel so uplifted. So I think it’s super important that even if it’s not to start your day, that at some point through the day, you’ve got to feel your brain with that positive outlook. I don’t know just anything to uplift you and put you on the right track. Because after a while, when I don’t do that, I feel it. I’m just like, oh yeah, scarcity and everything stinks. And then I’m like, wait a second, I haven’t done my mindset stuff, so I have to get back on track. So I think that is just a huge piece of all of this, especially if you’re dealing with some sort of failure. Yeah, absolutely. How do you feel community plays into this? I feel like it is such a huge piece of this puzzle, just dealing with failure and having people at your back who you trust and who support you. What do you think about that? 

Jules Grasekamp  26:24

I totally agree. Actually, one of my big goals for this year is to attend more like conferences, blogging events, hoping to come to yours actually in April so but that’s one of my goals, because going to these events has been a huge game changer for me over the last few years, really, partly because of the learning. So like I said before, I think that making sure that you’re constantly learning is the only way to really stay on top, you know, like you have to, especially in our industry, it’s constantly changing, so you have to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on. And kind of communities are a great way to do that, because everyone in our community, I find, and I’m sure you speak to a lot of us, but I feel like it’s a very generous kind community that genuinely seem to want each other to succeed, which is wonderful. So these events, when I go to them, often, I end up learning more, the same, if not more, from the other creators, as I do from the actual workshops. So I just think it’s wonderful. I think things like this podcast and people like Tastemaker, who have their whole thing about community over over competition, I think they really foster that. And I just think it’s such a wonderful, generous, generous community just helping each other out and trying to help each other to grow. So yeah, I think that for that reason, they’re fantastic. But also, you know, the learning from each other and the learning from the workshops is really important, but also to just feel inspired by the other people you meet, like it’s like I said, everyone kind of helping each other out is inspiring already. But you know, if you’re going through a tough time, if you’re experiencing a failure or a setback or whatever it is, I think going to an event like this, you can meet people, first of all, that might be in the same boat, which makes you feel not so alone, but then also meeting people who might be navigating the rough waters successfully, and you can see what they’re doing and feel inspired by that. Like, that’s what happened for me when I had the March update the HCU. And then I went to that event, I met all these creators who on both sides, some were struggling and some were handling it, you know, getting through it. And I came away from that thinking, well, if they can do it, there is absolutely no reason why I can’t do it, too. And I came home and I turned things around, and now we’re here. So yeah, I think events and communities and going to these kinds of things, or even just communicating online is such a massive part, because you can’t exist in a vacuum.

Megan Porta  28:54

I totally agree with everything you said. The in person piece of that is so huge, virtual masterminds and all of that are great as well, especially if you meet regularly. But there’s nothing like meeting other people who do exactly what you do, and we do a very weird job here. So I think it’s so important to in person get together with these same people. There is nothing like that. Do you think if you went back to last spring and did not go to that event, that you would have been as motivated to keep going?

Jules Grasekamp  29:29

That’s a really good question. I was feeling really down, specifically because I I just felt all that guilt, and I thought, oh my gosh, I I should just cut my losses and just spend the time with my daughter, and I don’t think I would have bounced back as quickly. I think I still would have, because, you know, I’ve had that experience before in the past, and I, you know, I think it’s partly personality as well. You know, people, especially in our industry, people are just like we want to keep going. But I definitely think that it, it made me bounce back faster, and it gave me a direction, because I think a lot of people, myself included, felt a bit like headless chickens. They didn’t really know where to put their attention, like I felt for ages, like I wanted to work on it, but I didn’t know how. So going to that kind of gave me an idea of how to move forward.

Megan Porta  30:16

Also getting together with people in person, you mentioned earlier, having that perspective of, oh, other people are going through this too. You might be in a more you might be ahead of other people on the timeline. So you can also see that as an opportunity to help others, which I think, yeah, can completely uplift you and reinvigorate you and your business, right?

Jules Grasekamp  30:40

Absolutely, I think, as well that it, it makes you take a step back and realize how far you’ve come. You know when you’re able to help someone and see there’s something that you can do for them, that you realize that yourself six months ago or a year ago, you might not have been able to help them with like it’s so it’s great to acknowledge that, but it’s also just so rewarding to know that you’re helping that person get on the next stepping stone and to move forward. And I think that, like, it’s, that’s just the community that we’re in. Like, it’s, I don’t think every industry is like that. So it’s, I’m really grateful that that ours is, so, yeah, it’s, it’s a really nice, nice thing. 

Megan Porta  31:17

It is, I know you, you’ve said this a few times, just about our specific community being so uplifting and supportive, I don’t know that there’s another niche that has such a generous, kind spirit. Collectively, honestly, I have people outside of the food blogging community all the time. I’m getting like emotional all the time. Tell me I cannot believe how just kind and generous and supportive you guys are it is that is not common. I don’t think so. Just be so so grateful of this supportiveness that our community brings, and take it. Not take advantage, but tap into that and lean into it and also contribute to it, also be one of those generous people, which everyone listening already is, I don’t have to tell you that, but yeah, it is a unique space, in the best way.

Jules Grasekamp  32:09

It is, and it’s a cycle like you say, like you’re sorry, just that. It’s, you know, everyone’s giving, and that’s why it works. You know, everyone’s trying to contribute what they can. It’s really wonderful. 

Megan Porta  32:19

Yeah, that’s a great way to look at it just being a cycle, like you give and obviously you get, but you just keep contributing to those cycles. Community, I think is essential if you, especially if you’ve dealt with a failure, if you’re going through something really hard in your business, absolutely find, I just recorded a mindset episode about this yesterday. Find an in person event this year in 2025 whether you’re dealing with failure or not. I just encourage everybody to find a retreat, find a conference or multiple and go and just meet people in person and open up and, you know, do all the good things we do have. This is not meant to be a sales at all, but to help if you are looking for a place Flavor Media Summit is April 23 through the 25th this year. 2025 so check that out. And then I am hosting a retreat for Eat Blog Talk in early March. March, 6 through a night, they believe so those are two opportunities. There’s so many more. Just find something. Jules and I are encouraging you to do that. Is there anything else, Jules, you think that we should know if we are facing failure or if it’s on the horizon? What should we know? 

Jules Grasekamp  33:36

I think you know, just like we’ve already kind of said so many times, it’s it’s not the end point. This is just the next step of your journey, and the only way that you’re going to know is if you keep trying. You know it’s sometimes it’s a tempting to give up, but you know you’re never going to know what’s at the end if you don’t keep going and keep taking those next steps. 

Megan Porta  34:01

I love it. This is such an important conversation, so thank you for bringing it to the table. We so appreciate everything you’ve said today with us. 

Jules Grasekamp  34:09

Thank you. 

Megan Porta  34:10

Yeah, do you have a favorite quote or additional words of inspiration to leave us with? 

Jules Grasekamp  34:14

I do, actually, I chose one that was relevant to the topic. So mine’s actually from Winston Churchill, and he says, which is a strange choice, I know, but he said success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. And I just love that, because I feel like it sums up everything we’ve been trying to say.

Megan Porta  34:34

Oh gosh, I love that. Yeah, that puts something in my mind. It’s just like, failure doesn’t hang you up anymore. You get to the point where it’s like, this is my next step. It’s just going from failure to failure and being okay with it. I love that. We’ll put together another show notes page for you. Jules, if you want to peek at those head to eatblogtalk.com/Bonnibakery2. Tell everyone where they can find you.

Jules Grasekamp  34:58

Sure. So my site is bonnibakery.com it’s B O N N I bakery.com and I’m the same on social media everywhere. And I just want to say as well, if anybody is struggling to get through a rut with this, reach out like I’m happy to chat about any of this, and that’s what we’re all here for, right?

Megan Porta  35:16

Oh, thank you. That’s very generous of you. Again, generous people in the community. So thank you for that, and thanks for listening food bloggers, I will see you next time. 

Outro  35:28

If you enjoyed this topic, you’ll also love the episode. I recommend in the show notes, click on the episode description to find the link. Thank you, and I will see you next time you.