Episode 636: Discover Your Dream Career – Turning Passion into Purpose and Breaking Free from the 9-to-5 with Madeline Anderson

EBT636 – Madeline Anderson

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

A couple important topics touched on in this episode. Number one, do you have a dad in your life, whether it’s a spouse or your own dad, or maybe a son who’s a dad who could use a little bit of support being a dad to a girl. If so listen to this episode. Madeline Anderson, founder of Girl Dad Network, has your back with this also. Madeline brings to the episode her experience and her journey going from a nine to five job to being her own boss and finding a career that she’s super passionate about and lights her up, finding that work life balance and tapping into the power of mindset. Madeline’s story is super inspiring. She worked a side hustle for a couple of years to get to the place she’s at today. Her journey will inspire you, and her product that she side hustled for so long, hopefully will inspire you as well. I love her mission, helping people to work on their relationships with their kids, especially when it comes to dads and their girls. It is episode number 636, I hope you enjoy. 

Sponsor  02:04

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Megan Porta  02:44

Madeline is the Author of Girl Dad and Founder of Girl Dad Network. She was born and raised in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Business Economics. She believes we should all leave the world a better place than we found it, which is why she created and advocates for Girl Dad Network.

Megan Porta  03:03

Madeline. Welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for being here. 

Madeline Anderson  03:07

Thank you, Megan. I’m so excited to be here. 

Megan Porta  03:09

Yay. I can’t wait to talk about your story. I think it’s so inspiring, and I think it’s going to inspire my listeners. But before we get to that, do you have a fun fact to share with us?

Madeline Anderson  03:20

Yes, yes. I have two actually. My first fun fact is that my mom was my fourth grade teacher, and I know it was. It was a fun time. I did have to call her Mrs. Anderson, but… 

Madeline Anderson  03:32

Oh, you did?  Yes, I suppose yeah. 

Madeline Anderson  03:35

But she was also part time. So it worked out because the other teacher graded my homework, and it wasn’t like an unfair advantage or anything, yeah, not that my mom would, you know, give me A’s or whatever… 

Madeline Anderson  03:49

Yeah, yeah. And then the other one is that I lived in Australia for six months when I studied abroad Sydney Uni, and it was just the most incredible experience. So for any Aussies out there, love the country, love the culture, and can’t wait to go back. 

Megan Porta  03:55

Staight A’s…

Megan Porta  04:05

Oh, is that the only time you’ve been there? 

Madeline Anderson  04:07

Yes, unfortunately, but it’s hard, you know, it’s hard to get there you know.

Megan Porta  04:08

It is literally across the world, and it’s, yeah, I have not been there, but it’s on my list. That’s really cool, that you had that experience, and then did you stay with, like a family, or who did you stay with when you were there?

Madeline Anderson  04:26

So I actually went abroad with my two best friends, and we coordinated with some of my guy friends that I grew up with, who went to another UC school, and so we were all in the same program, and he brought his friends, so we had a little crew. And it was just incredible. 

Megan Porta  04:43

Oh, that sounds so fun. We have two boys, 14 and 17, and I really just always hope that they take advantage of those travel opportunities, because once you get, to quote, adulthood, it’s so hard to do that. And like, once you have a family and you’ve got a job. Of which we’re going to talk about, and all that other stuff. It’s just hard to get away so so glad you took that opportunity to travel. 

Madeline Anderson  05:08

Thank you. Me too.

Megan Porta  05:09

Yeah. Well, let’s talk about your story, because I met you a couple months ago at a conference, I guess, and I was just so impressed with your story and the way that you started your business. So tell us about Girl Dad Network, and maybe how you started it and why, and just any other details you feel are relevant. 

Madeline Anderson  05:31

Yeah, of course. So it started with me growing up with an incredible father, and it really wasn’t until I went off to college that I realized just how rare our relationship is, and now it’s my mission to change that. So it started with me writing a book called Girl Dad, but it has become much more than that. As you mentioned, I recently launched Girl Dad Network, which is an online platform for fathers with daughters, and it has courses resources, like a gift guide, Activity Guide, handwritten note templates. And then every month, there’s a live call with me and the other dads in the group, where they can bring up challenges that are happening at home and get real time advice on how to navigate. And then I’m also a speaker, and I am launching a podcast soon. So the Girl Dad world has evolved quite a bit over the past few years, and I’m so excited to see where it continues to go. 

Megan Porta  06:27

What does your dad think of your business? I’m sure he’s so proud of you.

Madeline Anderson  06:31

So proud my little sisters. So there’s three girls in our family. I’m the oldest, and when he got the first copy of the book, and was like, reading it. My sister said that she like, knocked on the office, knocked on the door of the office, and and came in, and he was like, crying. So it was like, it’s like, you don’t really see your dad cry often. But I think he was really proud, and I think he’s honored that his teachings and his actions have contributed so much to the world, because if it wasn’t for him, then this book wouldn’t be written. And it’s not just about him and my relationship. I interviewed a bunch of fathers and daughters from all over to get their stories and their lessons and advice as well. So yeah, yeah, it’s a really comprehensive book. But he, yeah, he’s definitely really happy about everything.

Megan Porta  07:23

So in the book, is it a lot about your experience, and then you just sprinkle in other stories? Or how is it structured? I haven’t read it yet.

Madeline Anderson  07:31

I would say it’s, it’s not mostly about my experience. It’s mostly about lessons of being a father to a daughter, from the daughter perspective. And within each lesson, there’s stories from my experience and my my advice and kind of like what I know as a daughter. But there’s also probably double the stories from other people, other dads, other daughters. So yeah, it’s, it’s a mixture of kind of everything. 

Megan Porta  08:02

So when you had the idea to write this book, did you have a nine to five job at the time? 

Madeline Anderson  08:09

Yes, I did. So I was working in finance. I went there right after college graduated from UCLA, and it was kind of like my dream. So I had gotten the internship I had, you know, done really well in the internship, gotten the full time offer. Was super excited, and honestly, I had a great experience. But after about two and a half years, COVID hit, and that’s when I really started to question, you know, what I was doing, is it the right move for me? So I was in my bedroom running, you know, analyzes and and I was reflecting on why I was in the position I was in, and is this really what I wanted to do with my life? And I determined that really, no, I I loved math and I loved people, and so I thought going into finance was a perfect blend of the two, and it was while I was there, but you know, when I was in my bedroom during COVID, I realized that that’s not really specific to finance. So what I did actually, is I wrote down on a piece of paper everything that I liked about my job, everything that I didn’t like about my job, and then I wrote about what skills I have, what I think I’m good at, and then what things that I don’t think I’m very good at. And I took a good look at it, and I realized that everything that I wrote in the this quadrant about why I loved my job had nothing to do with finance. It was all about, yeah, it was all about, you know, the people, the relationships, helping others and and it was like, okay, you know, if I like math this much, I can, you know, do math on a Saturday. If I really want to, like I don’t need to make this my full time career. So that’s when I started having these thoughts. And it was around that time that I also was feeling a lack of creativity, and I didn’t realize that was a muscle that I needed to work on, because I think there’s always been aspects throughout my life where I’ve been able to be creative, but I was really not using that side of me and I wanted to, and it was actually just a random day I was driving down the street, and a thought popped into my head that said, you should write a book called Girl Dad. And so I called my dad right away, and we had a really good chat about it. He was super excited. He was like, Oh, you got to put in this story and talk about this. And so that’s when I decided to write Girl Dad. But I did not quit my nine to five to write the book. I wrote about it, or I wrote the book in my free time, and we can talk more about that, but yeah, that’s kind of, I feel like I’ve been talking for an hour. So I think that’s really just the the like background as to where it came from. And my nine to five experience.

Megan Porta  11:00

I love that the thought came to you as you were just driving. I think that happened so much. We’re like, we’re in the shower doing something that is not engaging our brain, and those kind of intuitive thoughts come into our heads. I remember you telling me this when I met you in Los Angeles. You said, yeah, just the same thing, like, oh, I have to get started on Girl Dad, you’re like, Wait What’s Girl Dad, it was like, right, coming from a higher place beyond yourself, which is the coolest thing, and you just knew to listen up.

Madeline Anderson  11:31

I think we were talking about too, how later or recently, I guess I read Rick Rubin’s book, the Creative Act a Way of Being. And he talks about how, you know, humans, we are vessels for bringing an idea to life. And it’s not really like our idea, but we are the thing that makes it come alive. So it’s basically like given to us, right? And then we we choose whether or not to pursue it. And so that felt really accurate for me, because I was just zoning out, right? Like, not even thinking about, like, oh, what kind of business can I start? Like, what should I do with my life? None of those thoughts. I was just driving and then it was like, You should write a book called Girl Dad. I was like, Oh, actually, that sounds like a great idea. And it’s Yeah, and it’s funny, because, like, as an author, you know, usually you think of the book first, like, the content of the book, and and then you start building the title around kind of what you’re writing about. But for me, the title came first, which is, yeah, it’s rare, but it again, felt just like it was this, this higher thing that I had to take on. So I’m really happy that I did.

Megan Porta  12:37

And so from your book, you formed your membership, correct, correct, and to you. And in your membership, you have, is it dads only or who is all in it?

Madeline Anderson  12:48

Yes, it is just for dads. It has a lot of resources to help them with their relationships with their daughters, but it’s just a community of dads, and I want to make sure it’s a place that they can go to chat about whatever’s happening at home, and also to get easy resources for bettering their relationship. Because dads are busy. I mean, everyone is busy, right? And we don’t have time for long content that, you know, maybe there’s one takeaway in there I want, I wanted to build something that’s got a lot of like, quick, actionable takeaways, and that’s the root of what my courses are built around. And then also, just like the resources, for example, the the handwritten note templates, like I have handwritten notes provided for dads, like little drafts that they can kind of copy and make their own. But it’s, it’s so that they can, and they’re, you know, they’re categorized by the different occasion, like whether it’s a celebration or, like, an I’m sorry, or whatever it may be, that way they can just use that as inspiration, crank out a handwritten note and make their daughter’s day, and obviously, again, they can customize it, make it their own. But yeah, that’s kind of the theme of Girl Dad Network is just making sure that dads have resources that are quick and actionable and meaningful.

Megan Porta  14:04

And just out of curiosity. What are the ages of the daughters, mainly of dads in the group? So is it like younger, older or a mix? 

Madeline Anderson  14:12

It’s a mix. Yeah, it ranges quite a bit. There are courses and resources that are specific to each kind of age group. But I think, you know, in an ideal world, I love working with dads with young daughters, so, you know, you can lay the foundation and just really set your daughter up for success. But a lot of times it’s not until something happens, like a divorce, or, you know, the teenage years hit, and it’s just a little bit more complicated, and there’s more questions on how to navigate. And so that’s a lot of times when dads seek out help. And so that has been common. But either way, I think the range is quite, quite wide.

Megan Porta  14:50

Yeah, and then I’m just so curious about it, and I’m so impressed by your story. Sorry. Thank you all these questions. But do dads typically seek you out, or is it sometimes like mom? Moms like, oh, they need to connect more with their daughter that type of situation. 

Madeline Anderson  15:05

Yes, I would say moms are actually quite often the ones who kind of initiate things. Yeah, there’s been one daughter who has kind of been like, Hey, I think my dad would Oh, really. Like, but I that’s kind of rare. I think that, and also, like, I’m not marketing it towards the daughters this is, and I’m really not marketing it towards moms either. I guess I’m just putting it out there. Yeah, but I do think that moms are typically, you know, a lot of moms have the eye for these kinds of things. It’s… 

Megan Porta  15:34

Yes, it’s on our radar. 

Madeline Anderson  15:35

Yeah, it’s exactly, it’s on the radar. And so, yeah, I do feel like it is. A lot of moms, even with the book sales too, they they really tend to spike in around Father’s Day and around Christmas. So that tells me that, like, I don’t have information on who’s buying the books because it’s through Amazon, but it tells me that moms are probably the ones who are purchasing because they’re they’re being given as gifts.

Megan Porta  15:58

So I was telling you my audience is mainly women. A lot of the women listening are moms. Yeah, I think this would be such a great gift for at the time this is being published, like Valentine’s Day will be coming up, or if you have, like, Father’s Day the summer, or a birthday, or something like that. And, yeah, I just think this is such a good resource, and improving relationships between parents and kids is so vital. Everyone’s so busy, and they need reminders to just be present with their kids, right? So absolutely, what you’re doing is so important, and I hope that you get some traction. 

Megan Porta  16:38

Thank you. Megan.

Megan Porta  16:39

Yeah. Okay, so I love your story. You were working. You’re like, wait a second, this isn’t actually what I want to be doing. So you started writing your book part time. How did you create the time for that? Because you had a full time job,

Madeline Anderson  16:53

Right. It’s funny. I actually would just go to a coffee shop every Saturday and and every Saturday that I was in town, and I did travel quite a bit too, so I would just work there for a few hours. And it was more of a passion, because it was something that I just wanted to do. I didn’t even think of it as like side hustle or a part time job at all. It was more just like I’m doing this for fun. And so after about two years, I looked and I realized, oh my gosh, I have a book here. And that’s kind of, you know, how it came to be, but, and sometimes I would work, you know, after work, if I had the energy and the creative juices, but it was hard, after a demanding day, to kind of switch categories and like, you know, use your creative side. I feel like, for me at least, what I’ve realized is that my creativity and my writing is best in the morning, and everyone, I think, just needs to kind of go through those trials and figure out what time is right for them, because everybody is so different, and our brains are all wired, yeah, differently. So yeah, the weekends were my sweet spot, and I made it kind of like a treat, you know, for me to go outside. You know, I was living in Santa Monica at the time, it was sunny out, and I would sit at the cafe, get a little matcha and just crank away. And I felt really good about it. And so it was like positive reinforcement every week. And I was watching this grow and build. And so I think that, yeah, when it comes to doing something part time, while you have a nine to five, it is important to find what works for you and to make sure that it’s something that’s motivating and not feeling like like a daunting task and and if it does feel that way, I would really encourage yourself to, you know, reconsider, like, why you’re doing this, and Is this the right thing for you? Because I think there’s a lot of pressure these days to, like, quit your nine to five and work for yourself, and it’s like it’s becoming the new thing, right, especially for my generation, Gen Z. Like, everybody wants to be their own boss. Nobody wants to do a nine to five. And I actually think that that’s not a really great way to do it, because you do learn a lot. Obviously, everyone’s on their individual paths, and it’s not up to me to tell you what to do, but I think it’s it’s important to find your own balance and find time outside of your normal job to test the waters with this, the side hustle, whatever it is. But when it comes to like blogging or writing. I do feel like the weekends are such a good time to kind of treat yourself. Make it like, this amazing experience. Don’t feel like, oh my gosh, you know, I gotta go, like, write a blog post and like, I have to do this. I have to do this. Make it like, like, romanticize it like, light a candle. Like, you know, maybe grab a glass of wine. I don’t know, like whatever works for you and your creativity that I think that’s the the key there. I’ve

Megan Porta  19:48

even heard of people taking, like, a night in a hotel room, if you have a family and you just need to get away from your house, not need to get away. But you know, like, if you if you want to do something like this, and just, yeah, treating. Yourself to like a massage and then right sitting in the hotel room and having a glass of wine or whatever, like, I love that, because when you’re at home, it does tend to be equated to work. At least for me, it’s like, oh, I have to go to my meetings or my calls, or I have to go to the kitchen and take pictures of my food, and that is work, but somehow, when you step away, it’s fun, right, right? Yeah. Do you have any other tips for that, just making it fun? Because I know there are probably people listening who are like, I’m trying to do the side hustle, but it doesn’t seem fun. I’m it’s still a lot of work if they can’t step away from home. Do you have other tips for just incorporating fun into it?

Madeline Anderson  20:41

Well, I think, you know, there’s, there’s a lot of, like, music you can incorporate, like some Jazz Playlist, or whatever makes you feel energized and happy. I think the candle is a nice thing, like getting into the senses, right? Like smell, noise, so visualization, sight. So if you’re able to, like, go outside at all, I think that can be really nice. Obviously, when you’re writing on your computer, it’s a little tricky, especially if it’s, like, really sunny out. But I think the other thing is just, just getting started and how, how you are setting your goals up for the day. Because I have learned the hard way, many, many times, and I still make this mistake where I like write this whole long to do list, and then I like, get so overwhelmed, I just end up doing, like, house chores all day and distracting myself because I’m like, I can’t, I don’t. There’s nothing that I can start on right now that’s not going to take, you know, a few hours, and I just don’t have that in me right now, rather than breaking things down into smaller tasks, and also just focusing on spending like 10 minutes on something like, if you say, Okay, I’m just gonna write for 10 minutes. That’s not daunting. You can start it, and then all of a sudden you’re gonna get in your flow state, and it’ll be two hours and you’re gonna be like, Wow, I’m so glad I did that, and you’ll feel good afterwards. That’s the thing is, like, if you’re doing something that’s right for you and something that brings you value and brings the world value, you’ll feel good after you do it. It’s just starting. That’s the hard part. So I think, like, really setting little goals for yourself and and, yeah, like romanticizing it, making it fun. Think about the impact that you’re going to have. Think about the why that you’re doing it. And do it for that. Instead of, you know, just, oh, there’s this task I have to check off my list.

Megan Porta  22:32

I think what you said is so powerful, the impact and the why that alone, if you can just keep that at the top of your mind, you can get more easily into that flow state. It can be hard. Sometimes. A lot of food bloggers write their own content so they know what it’s like to sit down with a blank screen, like I have to write about this chili recipe again, it can be hard to get there, but once you’re in that flow state, oh my gosh, isn’t it like magic, you’re just like, it’s almost like some one else is taking over you. And I’m sure you’ve experienced that Madeline, where it’s not you writing anymore, it’s that whatever higher source told you to write, Girl Dad is taking over.

Madeline Anderson  23:14

Oh yeah, it is. And it’s the best feeling. It’s just Yeah, being in flow is there’s nothing like it. 

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Megan Porta  24:25

Okay, so once you started writing, so did you say it took you two years to write the book? 

Madeline Anderson  24:31

Yes, a little over two years.

Megan Porta  24:33

And during that time, you kept your job, so you were just making it kind of a fun experiment on the weekends.

Madeline Anderson  24:39

Yes, I did end up switching to a different nine to five, but I still had a nine I was I was trying to get more in tune with my my creative side, and also aligning my skills and my interests when I came, when it came to that like four quadrant note that I made. And so I ended up working in partnership process for a real estate startup, because I wanted to do the startup life, and I wanted to work with people, so partnerships felt like the right thing to do. But then after that is when I ended up publishing Girl Dad, and again, I was writing during that whole experience on the weekends, and I was really grateful for the new experience that I had with that job, because it required different skill set and, you know, different entirely different kind of business, but I learned a lot, and that’s why I wanted to get into a new position. Yeah,

Megan Porta  25:35

that’s huge too, because I can see where some people would just carry on with what they were doing, even though it wasn’t aligning at all, just like, Okay, I just got to get through this, right? But you found something that aligned a little bit better still, knowing that you were going to eventually probably leave there correct? 

Madeline Anderson  25:53

Correct. Yeah. 

Megan Porta  25:55

And then once you finished your book, how quickly did it? Did you publish it after that.

Madeline Anderson  26:01

Okay, so I guess the the two and a half years includes the kind of, like editing phase too. So that was, yeah, so when I started writing it two and a half years later, I published it, and I think the editing process was longer than I expected, but it was probably about eight months so, and I worked with an amazing editor, and we, we just, you know, went back and forth quite a bit. And I did the cover design pretty much myself, but I had somebody look at it. And, yeah, it was, it was a really fun process, actually. And I think that was another telling thing for me, is like, I love playing in Canva. I love, you know, using these, these, like ideas that I have, and bringing them to life. I think the creator role is, is really what I love so much. But it was through these experiences that I learned that, which, again, I think is important, because once again, everyone wants to do the all the Gen Z’s want to just have their own job and, you know, never have a boss and all that. And while that’s a great idea, you know, in theory, I think it’s really important to go through different experiences and really reflect on everything and make sure you know what you like about things, what you don’t like, and what you’ve learned from all these different experiences, because ultimately, that’s what’s taken me to exactly where I am today. I’m trying to curate my life, to align it best with all of my passions and interests and the skills that I love to use, and at the same time, try to limit the skills that I lack and don’t find interesting, because I feel like, for me, that creates like a pause, and it kind of disrupts the flow. And I want to stay in the flow.

Megan Porta  27:50

You are so self aware and mature for your age, I cannot even like, I cannot. I would never have been able to articulate what you just said when I was your age, ever. And I’m sure your dad has something to do with that, right? Like being raised the way you were. Well, with a good, great dad and great support, probably set the stage for. 

Madeline Anderson  28:11

Absolutely and I do have a wonderful mother as well, which helps

Megan Porta  28:16

Don’t diminish the mother. 

Madeline Anderson  28:18

No, it’s always, yeah, I always feel bad for my mom, because I’m like, but I’m like, Mom, you’re so amazing. Yeah, no, it thank you. I think that my parents had a lot to do with that, for sure.

Megan Porta  28:31

Because as I’m thinking about my kids as they get, you know, like, somewhere around your age, I don’t want them to go through some of the work experiences I’ve been through, but at the same time, it’s probably good for them to go through that, because they become aware like you are, like I needed this experience. I need to be here where I know what my skills are and where I you know what I’m lacking and all of that. So as much as we want to protect our children, I think they do need to go through the grind sometimes, and, like, I here’s a job I don’t love. It’s probably a good part of experiencing life as a young human. And then, okay, your book got published, and then you left your job right after that. Or how did that align?

Madeline Anderson  29:17

Yes, I actually, I got laid off during, oh, okay, yeah, so during, like, a third round of layoffs at that partnership company, and that was another learning lesson for me, but my whole team essentially got dissolved, and so it was perfect timing. It was a month before I went to publish Girl Dad, and I was really not happy. I learned a lot of lessons in that job, but I did not enjoy a lot of what I was dealing with, and I think it was maybe causing some mental health issues, just feeling really, really down and anxious and all these things. And then when I got the call that I was being laid off, it was. Like the clouds had parted. The sun was shining like, and I was like, Wait, so I get, I get paid to, like, be let go. This is amazing, right? Because, because I think at the end of the day, like, I, you know, getting laid off is a really, really scary thing for a lot of people, right? But if you are confident in your life path, and you know that things are going to work out. It’s, it’s totally okay, it’s part of it. And again, it’s a learning experience. And sometimes you need it, like I, I needed that to happen, because I probably would have had to push back the launch. I probably would have been, you know, half working on Girl Dad, half doing that and and and I think I would have been doing myself a disservice, and I was able to go full in on Girl Dad, and it was a life changer for me. So I’m so grateful that happened, and I’m, I’m sorry for anyone who you know has experienced a layoff, because it is a really scary thing, and I don’t want to, like, undermine that, but it also, I think, can be a really teaching moment that you don’t realize until maybe a few years later. You look back at that moment, you think, thank goodness that happened, because I would not have gotten here if that’s happened. So, yeah, I think that’s that’s an important thing to keep in mind.

Megan Porta  31:17

Yeah, well, I have a similar story. I got, I had a job too, where I was like, Wait, this isn’t what I want to be doing. I don’t want to be sitting in a chair all day doing this. It wasn’t lighting me up, but we had really good health insurance through my job, and we have a kid who has extensive medical needs, so it was like, I don’t know that I ever would have left there on my own, and, yeah, I got let go. And at the time, same thing, it was like, Oh my gosh, this is the worst. I felt like it was the rock bottom of my life, like, how could this have happened? But looking back, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me, thank goodness, because I don’t know that I would have left there, and I don’t know that I would have pursued food blogging in my business the way that I have. So yeah, it’s a hard thing to go through, but an important lesson for us. 

Madeline Anderson  32:10

It is the purpose later on. But when you’re in the thick of it, you just it’s really hard to see where you’re at, but I always think about, like, I like, visualize life paths as, like, actual paths. And it’s like, anytime something like that happens, it makes me feel like, Oh, I’m just out of fork in the road, and the path is changing, but the grass is greener on the path that I’m going down now. And the other path could have been like destruction and all these, like, you know, things that were not positive, but you don’t get to see that you don’t like. It’s like cloudy vision, and you just kind of have to trust it and take the the left turn, or the right turn, or whatever it may be. But that’s life, right? That’s it happens to all of us in very different ways. Being laid off is one of those forks in the road, but there’s tons of them, and we just have to kind of embrace them and move forward and then then you can look back and learn.

Megan Porta  33:11

Yeah, oh my gosh, yeah. Interesting that eventually you will look back and learn. I get into places now where I think about my experience, you know, like being like from my job, and how it was so, so scary then, but how I can now look back and see the good and now what I’m in, I mean, I’m not going to be like, go for my job, because I work for myself. But if I’m in another situation where I’m like, Oh, this feels awful, I can kind of parallel it to that experience and remember that good things come to you, know, patience and through these, quote, terrible experiences. So it’s kind of a good lesson to carry with you through life. 

Madeline Anderson  33:53

Absolutely. 

Megan Porta  33:54

Yeah. So once you once that happened, and you were kind of released, and you said that burden was lifted from you. I remember feeling that same thing, like the whole world was lifted from my shoulders at the same time as being so scary. But I felt like, oh my gosh, I can now be creative and pursue the things I want to do and go bake and cook and write and all that stuff. So you felt relieved, I assume. And then, oh yeah, where did things go from there?

Madeline Anderson  34:22

Yeah, I mean that that was really the start of Girl Dad and the business that I’ve built. So things have just been kind of continuing to go from there. And I think that, you know, I’ve learned a lot about working for myself since then, and I think it is really good for me, because I’m, I’m someone who’s multi passionate, and Girl Dad allows me to kind of have different lanes. So it’s not like I’m doing the same thing every day. I I can kind of like be in tune with my body and mind of the day and feel like, Okay, today is like a writing day, or today is like I’m going to be creating in Canva, or building a course, or something like that. So. It’s allowed me to pursue different mini passions within this one business. And I think that aligns really well with just my personality type, my undiagnosed ADHD. But I think that that’s just like the entrepreneur mind that everyone, you know, everyone’s talking about it right now. It’s like we all have ADHD, but it’s like, it’s a different I don’t know it’s if you can manage it and and ride the wave of it, then it can be really good for you. And that’s how I’ve kind of felt with pursuing Girl Dad Network and Girl Dad business and speaking and doing all these things, because it’s, it’s just all these little mini passions that I get to to work on, and I also travel a lot. I’m engaged, and my fiance and I are all over the place with visiting family and doing business trips and everything. And I think it’s been really a blessing to be able to have flexibility to work for myself and also to to see the direct impact that every ounce of work that I put in has on others, like everything that I do is with a purpose. It’s not I’m not just doing like a mundane task to to do it right, like I structure my day around making sure that what I’m doing makes sense. And so that’s been something that’s really exciting for me. And I’m still like very much in the thick of the the growth phase, and I’m I have a lot of I’ve got a lot ways to go and lots to work on, and so many ideas, and just continuing to build this business is my top priority. So I’m excited to see where it goes. 

Megan Porta  36:39

Yeah, I love those pros, and I think a lot of us can relate to that. Just the freedom and the flexibility to, like, really build your own schedule and your own life. For me, that’s like number one. I have this family who I want to spend time with, and they’ve been my why this whole time, just my priority, like, I want to spend time with them, so I need to figure out a way to make that happen. Do you have any downsides, like, Are there any parts of being an entrepreneur that you’ve just been like, Okay, this is not the best I’ll trudge through.

Madeline Anderson  37:15

I mean, there’s a lot, there’s a lot of downsides, and I think that that’s why it’s so important for everyone to take a minute and really, really think about what they want out of their career, because it’s so easy to, like, see people for me, at least on Tiktok, like, all the Gen Z’s like, oh, I, you know, I work for myself, and this is how much I make, or this is what I do, and it’s inspiring and it’s cool, but also you have to kind of realize that a lot of that is not even real. You know, some people post those things just so that they can get more followers and everything. And you need to make sure that you’re pursuing something that is right for you, because it is. There’s a lot of challenges. And I think, like the number one challenge is probably the financial uncertainty. Because, you know, everyone sees the entrepreneurs after they make it right. They’re not, it’s like, oh yeah, so and so is like, doing so well, she’s so successful, or he’s so successful because he started his own business. Well, usually it doesn’t happen on day one. And so that’s a huge challenge. And, you know, especially in the early stages. And also, like, you know, there’s no insurance and or, like, retirement, like, so, you know, you mentioned you were staying in your job for that reason. Like, I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that, and it is a scary thought. So there’s a lot of uncertainty and risk. And then I think also, there’s this, like, romanticized, like, life that you’ll get when you work for yourself, where, oh, so much freedom and flexibility, and you know, you only have to work a little bit. But realistically, like most entrepreneurs, work more than a nine to five. They work like a six to 10, you know, or they work on the weekends, or they work any chance they get. And I think I can relate to that, because I love to work. So for me, it works out, and I think that’s another positive of my personality type and why I’m doing this. But for some people, like, they really just want to have just the consistency of, like, going to work and then being done with work, and that’s great. Like, if that’s something that they feel aligns with them, then there’s not a real reason to, you know, seek out, like the the unknown if it doesn’t align with your personality type. So, yeah, I think the long hours is is tough, and then also, like, it can be isolating if you’re in a business where you’re only working for yourself, and you don’t have like peers around you, and maybe you’re just hunkered down in your your bedroom when you’re just writing, you know, like, if, if you need people, if you’re a people person, or outgoing and extroverted, then maybe that’s another thing that you need to consider, and you can obviously mitigate that by working at coffee shops. Or trying to go for walks and get, you know, stimulation from like, other people outside of your home, but it is like another thing to consider. But yeah, I mean, there’s, there’s a lot of cons. Honestly, it’s, and I’m not trying to be negative at all, but it is. It is one of those things where sometimes it makes sense for people to just have the solidified nine to five. Sometimes it makes sense for people to have the nine to five and work on a passion project, like blogging or writing or doing something creative on the side, and keep both jobs. And then sometimes it makes sense to abandon the nine to five and focus fully on your passion project. But I think it’s really up to the individual, and it takes a lot of thinking and ensuring that that’s right for you before you take that leap based on what everyone says.

Megan Porta  40:51

yeah, this that’s why I think the side hustle is a good idea. What you did was smart because you got a taste of it without like, Oh, I’m just gonna quit my job. Like you said, it’s the trend like, quit your job and do what you love. Well, okay, but maybe we should think about this first a little bit right sort of thing. So just doing it on the side, I think is a really good way to do that, to see if it is something you’re passionate about, and making sure all those other things fit. Like the isolation is a huge piece for food bloggers. We don’t, we don’t really see anyone. So if you need to see people, figure that out first. But yeah, I don’t think you were being negative at all. I think that’s just reality for entrepreneurs. That is something you have to think about if you want this life. My 14 year old son, he’s so creative and so smart. And I always ask him, like, do you think you’ll be an entrepreneur? And he’s like, Oh, I just see how much you’ve worked in your life. And I don’t know, like, I don’t think he aligns that with something that he could do, even though I think he’d be really good at the work part of it, some people just don’t have it in them to go through kind of the more negative aspects of being an entrepreneur. So it’s, it’s no joke. I mean, it’s a lot. 

Madeline Anderson  42:10

It is. It is a lot, yeah. 

Megan Porta  42:12

But the freedom, the freedom I have because of it, is, like, for me, no brainer. I would put up with this and more and so many things, because that means so much to me. 

Madeline Anderson  42:26

Absolutely couldn’t agree more. 

Megan Porta  42:28

Okay, your story is so inspiring. Madeline, thank you for sharing it. And then is there anything else? So I guess I do want to go back to your and kind of finish off your story just a little bit. So the money is a big thing. You mentioned that, like, am I going to be able to replace everything I made at my full time job? At what point did you feel comfortable with that?

Madeline Anderson  42:49

I would say not until recently. And honestly, I’m still, like, I’m still in that growth phase, like I’m not, I’m not at a point where I’ve, you know, tripled what I was making at the nine to five, and that’s okay. I’m thriving, you know, not yet. But I say that because I think words are important, and I say not yet, instead of like, you know, I can’t or I won’t be there, because I feel, I really do, think it’s a matter of time, and I’m putting in the work, and I’m putting in the effort, and there’s real value to what I’m bringing to this world. And I’m, at the end of the day, I’m just, I really just want to help fathers have great relationships with their daughters. And I know that if that’s the mission, it will it will make sense financially, but even if it like isn’t, it’s still bringing me so much joy and purpose. And yeah, but I would say it took a good two years to to really make me feel comfortable with where I’m at and and I’m still looking forward to the future and and feeling even better. But it’s, it does take time. And I, I was, you know, I’m a saver, and, like, I really had to be deliberate about things, but at the same time I knew, or I still know, like, it will work out, and I just have to give it some time and give it a lot of effort.

Megan Porta  44:12

It’s like that diagram I think all entrepreneurs have seen and can relate to, where there’s somebody digging for gold, and they stop, like an inch before they get to it. And they’re like, you know, I’m done. I can’t do this anymore, but if you just keep going, seeing entrepreneurship as a long game is so important, this is one of the messages I speak about a lot. You cannot get in and just assume that you’re going to shortcut this journey. It is not meant to be a short journey. It is meant to be a long game. And the people who have that in their minds are the ones who like truly succeed and find that freedom that they want. And you’re there. You know it. You know you believe in what you’re doing. And so many of my listeners do too. They know what they’re doing is good, and there’s. Serving people, which is so great, but it’s hard to do the thing over and over, day after day, week after week, but yeah, it’s worth it in the end, keep at it. You’re doing great things in this world. Madeline, I love your book and your message, and you are improving the world. So thank you. 

Madeline Anderson  45:21

Thank you, Megan, that means a lot. 

Megan Porta  45:23

No, it’s really cool to see what you’re doing. Do you have any last bits of advice for people who might be doing the side hustle? They’re just feeling frazzled? It’s a lot for them. Just any last words before we start saying goodbye. 

Madeline Anderson  45:36

I think two things. One, I would say, make sure you follow what lights you up. Because I think passion is important when it comes to having a successful side hustle, like, don’t just do anything you know, because you think it’s going to make you money. Because you saw somebody post something in it, they said that, make sure it’s authentic to you. And then, with that being said, I think authenticity is extremely attractive. And that would be advice number two, would be, be really authentic to yourself. I think especially as writers, food bloggers, it really comes out in in your words and in your branding, if you’re authentic to yourself. So rather than, you know, trying to pick a niche that you think will will thrive because it’s you know, because of your research, or whatever it but it’s not authentic to you. I would say, try to just be the most authentic version of yourself when it comes to the art that you’re putting out here in the world, because everyone is an artist. Every writer is an artist. And even if it’s the same type of story or the same kind of recipe, you bringing it to life in your lens or through your lens is what is going to make it stand out. And there will be people who resonate with you based on your authentic self, so don’t try to be anything. Just be you and keep doing things that you’re passionate about. 

Megan Porta  47:08

Beautifully said, thank you. That’s such a great way to end. And I feel like with all this inspiration you’ve left us with, maybe I don’t even need to ask you this question, but I usually at this point ask for either a favorite quote or words of inspiration. Do you have a quote, or do you want to leave your inspiration at that?

Madeline Anderson  47:25

I do have a quote. It’s one of my favorite quotes, and it’s the obstacles in your path are your path. And I think it’s just so powerful because it’s so easy to see roadblocks and obstacles, and, you know, feel like it’s a daunting thing, or, you know, it’s a pause in the flow, but when you look back, those are the moments. I mean, it’s like what we talked about with being laid off. Those are the moments that create your path and push you forward in a new direction, or continued you down the same path in a after overcoming a hurdle. And I think they’re, they’re so powerful, so embrace them. And yeah, I think just know that they’re, they’re part of your path.

Megan Porta  48:12

Yes, love that. What a perfect way to end. We will put together a show notes page for you, Madeline, if anyone wants to go look at those head to eatblogtalk.com/girldadnetwork. Now I would love for you to tell everyone again your book where they can find it your if you have a website or social media where people can find you? 

Madeline Anderson  48:34

Yes, absolutely. So the book is on Amazon. It’s Girl Dad: Stories, Lessons and Advice from Girl Dads and their daughters. And then I have a website, girldadthebook.com which kind of has everything on it. But if you are looking specifically for Girl Dad Network, the online platform for dads with daughters, you can go to girldadnetwork.com directly, and feel free for anyone who wants to book a call with me, or, you know, have their husbands book a call with me to chat more. Would love to help out anyone who is interested. So looking forward to chat more.

Megan Porta  49:11

Yeah. Well, thank you so much for this. This was a wonderful conversation. It’ll be so inspiring for people, and thank you for listening food bloggers, I will see you next time. 

Outro  49:23

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.