The Reality of Chasing My Dreams: The Challenges No One Warned Me About

From Childhood Dreams to Hard Realities: My Journey as an Ambitious African Woman

When I was much younger, I wanted to be a musician—lol. Later, I thought about doing marketing or management, even though I had no real idea what those careers entailed. I just loved the idea of being in charge. The truth is, I never had a clear vision of what I wanted to become. Instead, I followed my studies and chose paths based on the subjects I excelled in or enjoyed the most.

Then I discovered blogging. Around the same time, I started a business while still a student, and for the first time, something felt completely right. What began as a hobby soon turned into my passion and purpose. I started dreaming of success—winning awards as a blogger, building a thriving business, and making an impact. But I had no idea how tough the journey would be.

Here’s what no one told me about chasing my dreams:

1. The Shift from Hobby to Business Is Harder Than It Seems

Doing something as a hobby is very different from turning it into a business or income source. At first, transitioning from hobby to business seemed easy, but soon I realized they required two completely different mindsets.

• As a hobby, blogging felt fun, relaxing, and pressure-free. I could write at my own pace, without expectations.

• But as a business, everything changed. I had to think about consistency, marketing, making sales, and creating an income. There was pressure to succeed because of my investments and goals.

I found myself constantly switching between these two modes. Sometimes, I’d lose motivation and want to return to hobby mode. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t meant to do anything else. Over time, I learned to embrace the business mindset while still keeping my love for blogging alive.

2. Limited Resources Can Slow You Down

One of my biggest challenges was the lack of resources. For me, this included:

• Finances – I couldn’t always afford the tools, courses, or materials I needed to grow.

• Time – Life’s responsibilities made it hard to focus 100% on my dreams.

• Motivation – Some days, I felt unstoppable. Other days, I wanted to quit.

• Tools & Opportunities – Not having access to the right equipment, internet, or platforms sometimes made things harder than they needed to be.

3. Motherhood Changed Everything

Balancing dreams and motherhood was one of the toughest challenges I faced. I had to take long breaks from my blog and business, especially after having children. Some women handle both at the same time, but I personally found it overwhelming.

I wasn’t prepared for the impact motherhood would have on my career. If I had known, I would have planned differently—maybe sought help or structured my work better. Instead, I struggled at first, feeling torn between my ambitions and my responsibilities as a mother.

Each time I took a break, I found it difficult to regain my momentum. Picking up where I left off wasn’t easy—I had to rebuild my motivation, relearn skills, and push myself back into the mindset I once had.

4. The Battle with Self-Doubt & External Opinions

Another challenge I faced was the mental and emotional struggle of self-doubt. Society often didn’t understand or value what I was trying to build. People advised me to change my career path because success seemed slow.

At some point, I even started believing them. Impostor syndrome took over—I felt like I wasn’t good enough, like I was failing, like my dreams were too big. These thoughts slowed me down many times. I even abandoned my blog and business for long periods before finding my way back.

Turning Challenges Into Strength

Despite everything, these struggles have shaped me. They’ve made me stronger, more resilient, and more determined than ever. Today, I use my challenges as fuel to keep pushing forward.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Challenges will always come, but they shouldn’t stop you.

• Taking breaks is okay, but always come back.

• Modify your plans, upgrade your skills, and keep striving for your dream.

It’s been a long, difficult journey, but one thing remains unchanged—I still want this. I still dream of success. And I’m still willing to do what it takes to make it happen.

So, to anyone struggling with their dreams: Keep going. Adjust your plans if you must, but don’t give up. Your success story is still being written. 💛✨