2012 Twenty Questions Interviews : Liz Krause
20 Questions Interview
with Liz Krause
Marketing Manager, Italian Cook
1. What's your name?
Liz Krause.
2. Where are you from?
Silver Spring, MD.
3. Who are you today?
A very happy wife whose aim is to work full time at home and make a good income.
4. What do you do? (Elevator speech)
I am a Marketing Manager at a small telecommunications company full-time and work on my cooking website part-time as well as help my husband with his home-based software company. I'll probably eventually go back to helping him full-time when his business needs it.
5. What's your story (how did you get here)?
I wanted to start a web-based business so I took a class and they suggesting choosing a topic that was an area of interest so I would never get tired of learning more about the subject. At the time I was very frustrated with my lack of cooking skills and felt bad for my husband who often had to "save the day" when it came to my meals. So I picked Italian cooking as a topic and have since then tried to always learn new and creative ways of cooking simple foods that taste amazing and wouldn't make a fellow Italian cringe. I also figure if I struggle with this I bet there are a lot of other people who could learn what I've been learning. Maybe I can help them. My husband is my biggest supporter and he is a very creative and inspiring person. He is an artist, enjoys cooking and is a programmer for his day job.
6. Why is creativity important to you?
Creativity is important to me because it is always a challenge to learn something new or do something new. If I am not challenged I get bored very easily. Creativity always pushes me to push my current limits and I love it when the results are rewarding like a new dish for dinner! Even beyond cooking, if I'm put in a position of the same mundane tasks, I'll become very dissatisfied.
7. When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?
I don't know if I ever felt like I had a creative dream or calling, but I always knew I thought outside the box from an early age from writing poetry on my bedroom walls to now through my recipe site where I put together cooking videos to prove how easy cooking can be. I love being creative.
8. How did you embrace it?
I think when you have a passion for something, you just do it whether it's on a small scale or a large one.
9. How did that feel?
It's very rewarding. For example, the first few years my cooking was really improving and when I'd pull together a great simple dish that was amazing it made me very proud of myself. I seriously never knew how to cook until I got married at the age of 28 and even then it wasn't until a few years later that I finally started taking it seriously and enjoying it.
At the same time, I'm a goal-setter. Having an ambition to dedicate my time and energy towards excited me.
10. Where has your journey taken you?
I'd say I'm still starting out with this journey, I never feel like I've arrived or "made it." There is always so much to learn the journey never stops. I would have never guessed I'd be owning a recipe website!
11. What challenges have you faced?
The biggest challenge for me is using my passion as a way to make enough income that I could support myself. I'm still working on that but it's hard with a full-time job and other things in life. There are times at night I just want to cook and try something new but I know I don't have the time because I have to get up early and go to work, so I'm always trying to squeeze as much extra time in as I can!
12. What worked for you?
That's a tough one. What really works for me is getting advice and tips from people I respect in regards to their cooking style. Specifically, my husband's family who totally love Italian food. I try to pick their brains as much as I can whenever we visit. Being open-minded and willing to take criticism is really key too.
13. What didn't work for you?
I don't know really, it's just always a learning game.
14. What three tips can you share with those starting on a similar path?
Read as much as you can, respect other's opinions but still have your own, and obviously never give up.
15. What are you working on now?
I'm still working my day job, but I work on my website whenever I can. I really want to engage more with my readers and visitors so I'm excited to see where my efforts lead.
16. What's coming up for you in the next year?
If I knew I'd tell you!
17. What else do you desire/dream to do?
I want to live in Italy for a few months with my husband and experience the culture. I was there once for only 10 days and it was amazing. I really want to go back, but this time with him. He's my best friend and we do everything together.
18. How will you make that happen?
Honestly, I've got to stop dreaming and start planning. Even if it's a 5-year plan, we will get there faster once we start actually planning.
19. What question would you like to be asked (or are just itching to answer) that's not on this list?
Do you ever have to give yourself a pep-talk?
Yes! I tend to bite off more than I can chew and I wear myself out. This puts me into a funk, but I've gotten really good at recognizing that and making myself just take some time, get some rest and examine my eating habits and I'm back to my old self very quickly.
It's hard also when you want to make your interests a money maker business and you don't see the results you want. Sometimes you wonder if it's really ever going to happen, but fortunately I'm pretty stubborn so I just dig my heals in more and keep going but yes it gets hard at times. It's important to have someone who is an encourager to talk to. Never talk to a "realist" during those time!
20. What's your Web site address?
It's www.simpleitaliancooking.com!
3/23/12