Meet David Dial | Social Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Dial and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I decided to start my own business when my wife and I moved from Atlanta to upstate New York. I was looking for a career change, and I was looking to build a business around something that I love to do – cook and bake. My sister had started a blog a couple of years before, and she suggested that I look into the blog world. I said I would give it a try for 6 months, and I truly thought that I would end up finding a more traditional job at that point. However, the flexibility and creative outlet that came with writing a blog was wonderful, and I stuck with it…and that was 13 years ago now! Sure, it was a scary time to just start something brand new, but I put my head down and focused on the end result – which for me was making enough to pay our bills. It definitely took a lot of time, and there were periods when I questioned whether it was worth it. Despite the ups and downs, I’m glad I started the blog and ventured into the world of online recipe creation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My background is actually in higher education policy, but after working in the field for several years, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. I needed a more creative outlet, and that’s where the blog came in. I was looking for a way to earn an income while also enjoying something that I love to do. Online recipe creation was a perfect fit!

It was not easy to get established in the online space. Many people think you just create a website, and you’ll have instant success. It’s not that easy. Through years of sheer stubbornness and determination, I’ve gotten to the point where I feel comfortable with my business. I was always proud of the site, but there were some very lean years there at the beginning.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I now live in Asheville, North Carolina, and Asheville is known for its food and drink. Whenever friends come to visit, we always stop by a number of local breweries (Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues and Highland come to mind). We also make a point of stopping by some of the local restaurants for which Asheville is famous! My wife and I are big bourbon collectors, so when friends are in town, we typically end the evening on the back porch enjoying a whiskey!

Apart from the food and drink, there are lots of great hiking trails and waterfalls in Western NC, and we like to get out and visit a couple of these. If the friends have younger kids, then a stop by a gem mining shop is always fun entertainment for everyone!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This has to be my sister! When I first started down this road, I barely knew what a blog was…much less how to actually start and write one. I spent many hours talking to my sister in those first months when I was figuring things out. I eventually got the hang of it, and I didn’t need to rely on her as much (daily!), but we still chat about the blog world often.

Website: https://spicedblog.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spicedblog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spicedblog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpicedBlog

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/spicedblog/