Today is the eight-year anniversary of the A Lady in London blog! It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since I quit my hedge fund job in San Francisco to move to London to see where life took me. If someone told me back then that I would be a professional blogger two years later, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it’s been a great adventure, and today I want to share some thoughts on how I got here.

London Garden

8-Year Blogging Anniversary

In the weeks leading up to this milestone, I’ve thought a lot about taking risks in my personal and professional life.

I’ve never seen myself as a big risk taker; I was a diligent student, earned a spot at a top university, and started my career as an analyst in the rather conservative financial services sector.

Taking Risks

But the real highlights of my life have been the times when I’ve taken big risks. In retrospect I often forget they were risks—that tends to happen when things turn out well—but they were, and they were important ones.

Risk 1: Language School

The first real risk I took was when I was 18. I was accepted to university, but on the strange condition that I start a semester late.

I was devastated to not be able to go to college when all my friends did, and considered turning down my place at Brown to go somewhere else (gap years aren’t a thing in the US).

But then I realized that having a few extra months before starting university didn’t have to be the curse I thought it was.

In fact, it was a great opportunity for me to do something I never would have done otherwise: go to language school in France.

I had always wanted to learn French, and I saw it as a perfect opportunity to do so. But when it came time to go, I was terrified.

Leaving the only home I’d ever lived in to move to a foreign country where I didn’t speak a single word of the language (ok, I knew bonjour) was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.

But by the end of my second day in Nice I had found a few friends that were interested in traveling in Europe on the weekends, and I quickly discovered my own love of travel.

Risk 2: Moving to London

The next big risk I took was leaving my job in San Francisco to move to London. It was less scary this time, as I had planned for the move both personally and financially over the course of the previous year.

Still, it was a big jump, and not everything went as smoothly as I hoped in the first year. But that move was when I started the A Lady in London blog, and if I hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t be writing this right now.

Risk 3: Blogging Full-Time

The third risk was quitting my full-time job to run the blog as a business. It was early 2010, and making a living from blogging was still very new.

I wrote about the experience on the six-year anniversary of the blog (you can read the story here), but it goes without saying that it all turned out well in the end.

Turning Points

Thinking back on it, those three risks turned out to be the best decisions I’ve ever made. Discovering my love of travel led to my studying abroad at university, which is when I started my first blog.

It also led to my moving to London, which is when I started this one.

My life and work have resulted from quitting my job to run the blog full-time, and I feel so lucky that I’ve found something I love to do and have had the courage to turn it into a career.

Taking risks isn’t easy, and they don’t always turn out the way I think they’re going to. But even through the scary times and the self-doubting times, I’ve held onto the idea that it’s better to take risks and see where they lead than maintain the status quo and never know.

The thought that I could have missed out on the chance to live in London and travel the world as a professional blogger just because I was afraid to take a risk is even scarier than taking the risk in the first place.

So now it’s your turn. I often get emails and messages from readers saying they wish they could leave a job or move to a foreign country, but don’t have the courage to do it.

I want to use the opportunity of the eight-year anniversary of the A Lady in London blog to encourage you to take that big risk you’ve been waiting to take.

Be calculated. Be prepared. But go ahead and take it. You never know where it will lead, and that’s the most exciting part.

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74 Comments on Lady’s 8-Year Blogging Anniversary

  1. The best decisions I ever made have also been risky ones: radically changing my major at University, accepting my first job in finance in Switzerland (where I knew no one and didn’t speak any French), quitting a job without having another one lined up, switching countries and careers… All of has led to so many incredible opportunities! I do consider myself more of a risk-taker, but as you mention, these risks are usually calculated.
    Congrats on your 8th Anniversary!

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  4. Congrats on making 8!

    As Steve Jobs said, “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.”

    So true.

    All the best,

    Mark

    Reply

  5. Your blog and IG posts bring me so much joy. I applaud your risk-taking and thank you for sharing your journeys and discoveries. I’ve learned so much about London, a place I dearly love, and can’t wait to use your posts as a reference to plan my next visit.

    Cheers, thanks and congratulations on this momentous milestone for your blog!

    Reply

  6. Congratulations, Julie!! I still remember meeting you in Mongolia in the summer of 2010 – shortly after you had quit your job to run this full-time! I, a recent college grad, completely envied you. I still do – what a wonderful life you lead! I’m so happy for you and all of your success!!

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  7. Congratulations on 8 years doing what you love! I found your blog about 5 years back and just loved reading about your adventures in England. I visited the UK while in college, back in 2003 and I’m finally coming back this September for a week before heading to South Korea for 2 weeks! It’s not as risky as moving there, but I feel that it’s the first step in discovering more about myself and what I want (:

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  8. Great blog – congrats on 8 years! Forgive me if I’ve ever asked you this before but…What is the secret for a North American being allowed to live and work in London? On my bucket list is to live in England for a year (at least) but everything I’ve looked at says 6 months is the max for someone without a direct British ancestor. Any advice?

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  12. Congratulations, Julie! What an amazing accomplishment and I totally agree with what you’ve said about taking risks (calculated and prepared risks… I agree with that part, too). Can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for you! x

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  13. Congratulations on big success at doing something you love … I’m remembering my flight to Europe to study in Germany right out of college. I’d be gone a whole year. I cried all the way over, but it didn’t occur to me to turn around and go back home.

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  17. Julie
    I attended the Guardian Masterclass yesterday about blogging. Your presentation was informative and well delivered. Just started my blog (please take a look) and reading this blog has inspired me more.

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  18. Thanks for sharing, I found this so inspiring! It’s amazing what we can accomplish if only we are brave enough to take the risk. I love reading your blog and congrats on your 8 year anniversary 🙂

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  20. Congratulations! It’s so wonderful to hear how taking a risk was rewarding to you! Starting my blog wasn’t a major risk because I was on maternity leave, but I was nervous to put myself out there. I’m glad I did it because I have met so many great people through it!

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  22. Hey Julie! Congrats on 8 years. So amazing… It’s always nice to reflect on these things too. It’s only been just over a year for me (in fact I just wrote about that ‘quit your job fear’ too). I hope in 7 years I’ll be looking back like you are now! Well done and here’s to the next 8 🙂 Cx

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  23. Congratulations Julie! I never knew that about you taking a semester in Nice to learn French — isn’t it funny how life works? Only in hind-sight can we clearly see the chain of events leading us to where we are now — in the moment all you can do is open yourself as much as possible to risks and opportunities, follow your heart, and see what happens. I like your advice about being calculated and prepared as much as you can but in the end just take the risk. It’s so encouraging to see you out there inspiring others to be courageous =)
    Xo

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  24. Can I ask which language school you used? I have always wanted to do this! I am taking steps to move to London in the next couple of months. Looking forward to new adventures!

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  25. Congratulations on the anniversary! I admire your gumption. You have been an inspiration to me and I thank you. I love reading your blog and hope you will continue for a very long time. Cheers!

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  26. Congratulations!

    I’ve been your reader since I moved back to Taiwan (from London), and your travel experiences, life, glamour taste inspired me! I started my blog this January for my creative management biz and I can tell that it’s always great to know someone who works so hard to make dreams come true, you are one of them 🙂

    Wish you have a great time for this special anniversary 🙂

    Reply

  29. I can relate to your story of moving to England! In 2008 we left our dream jobs, our apartment, friends and family and moved from Bulgaria to Canada. I didn’t think of it as a risk back then, and I don’t think of it as a risk now. We were quite young, we knew English well and we were able to find relatively nice jobs quickly.
    Congratulations on your blog anniversary and keep writing about the amazing places you visit! 🙂

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  30. It’s funny, up until now I’ve never really thought of the decisions I have taken as being risks! But I suppose they were! I turned down a job in Houston and came back to the UK from New York, and while I credit that with being a big decision that has led me to where I am now, I thought of it as an opportunity – but probably because in hindsight it turned out well! I got divorced, moved continents and jobs within the space of a month, so when I actually stop and think about it, that’s quite a big risk!

    I should probably give myself more credit for taking those risks, really! Thanks for a different point of view and making me think differently!

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  34. Very inspiring! I really enjoy your blog. I quit my full-time job in a publishing house to work as a freelance editor six years ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. Then after years of debating, I took the plunge and moved to London from Canada last year. Definitely scary, but incredibly worth it. It’s great to hear your story – keep up the wonderful writing!

    Reply

  36. I find most people make big changes in life when they fear NOT changing, rather than the change itself….At least I do! I usually take big leaps once I am absolutely, 100% fed up. I can’t bear the idea of things remaining the same–then BAM, I buy myself a ticket somewhere.

    But I wonder if I actually planned my life changes, like you did with your London move, how different might I approach change. Planned risk-taking vs. Spontaneous risk-taking. Hmm, you’ve got me thinking!

    Loved this post. Needed it. Thank you!

    Reply

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