How I Became a Full-Time Blogger #GladiatorGals ~ Makeup & Skincare

A post shared by Rachel Martino 💛 (@rachmartino) on Nov 14, 2017 at 12:03pm PST

I have always been a huge fan and supporter of Kelly Clarkson so when Spotify asked me to share my story of self-empowerment to celebrate the launch of her new album, “Meaning of Life”,I was thrilled.

Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to be when ‘I grew up.’ I was incrediblyfortunate to be raised by two very supportive parents who assured me I could be anything I wanted to be and also instilled the importance of a good work ethic. My dad’s advice was always “work hard and be nice.” Simple, yet incredibly powerful. When I was in high school, my mom started her own business. During this time, my dad was laid off from his position and it was powerful to see my mom take on the role of breadwinner in our family. We all rallied around my mom and her business pitching in, me working there after school and my dad helping with the administrative side. My dad went back to work full-time a few years later but seeing my mother take on such an entrepreneurial feat and supporting our family single-handedly always made a big impact on me.

When I enrolled in college I studied French and English with aspirations to be an international journalist. To make extra money while in school I started selling makeup from my dorm room with a direct selling company. I quickly grew to love the freedom and flexibility of earning money on my own terms. I also worked a part-time job at a cosmetic store all while juggling my classes. It was also around this time started my YouTube channel. I knew I loved sharing my love of makeup so I found it to be a fun way to express myself and connect with others around the world. The channel started off super small but grew over time and I couldn’t believe how many people were actually watching my videos. In the summer, I scored an internship with the direct-selling company in New York City to become a Social Media Intern. This was an incredible turning point for me. That summer I fell in love with New York and I felt like I had finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward to graduating college, I booked a one-way ticket to New York and I’ve never looked back. Once I got to the Big Apple I took two part-time jobs in the fashion world while interviewing for a role at a big beauty brand. After a few months of the interview process (yes it can take that long) I got the job! I continued working on my blog and YouTube at night and on the weekends and it spiked with growth. I was living two lives one as a blogger attending events, shooting photos on the weekends and after work and the other as a full-time, albeit tired, social media manager at a big beauty company. As by blog continued to grow I started receiving paid opportunities to collaborate with brands. I couldn’t believe my ‘side hustle’ was actually earning money. And anyone that lives in NYC knows everyone could use a few extra bucks in this City! I loved my job but a part of me was starting to seriously consider blogging full-time. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and my desire to be my own boss eventually won out. I was very careful to save up and take the decision incredibly seriously. It has now been over two years that I have been 100% self-employed and I couldn’t be happier that I took the risk to go out on my own. Sure, there are downsides, but I love making my own scheduling and having the flexibility to travel all over the world and share my photos and videos. I continue to be inspired by other incredible women who have blazed their own unique trails, women like Kelly Clarkson. Her confidence is so apparent in her new album “Meaning of Life”. My favorite song is “Whole Lotta Woman”,which is soulful with country sass, which takes me back to my roots growing up in Kentucky! You should definitely listen to this song along with the rest of the album on Spotify now! And I’d love to hear more about your confidence journeys- comment below!