Meet Kara Lydon, RD, LDN, RYT, an amazing dietitian who takes beautiful food photos that inspire her colleagues and clients to cook and eat delicious meals. Not only does her creative side help drive her career path, she has also learned how to push fear aside when it comes to paving her way for her future. Read on to learn more how you can be a successful entrepreneur like Kara. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? I’ve always had a passion for food. I became a pescetarian when I was twelve years old so I quickly had to learn about the nutrients I needed to stay healthy and that Pop Tarts and bagels weren’t going to cut it anymore. As I got older, one of the things that attracted me to the field was the countless avenue you could take with it. I knew that if I ever got bored in one specialty area, I would have a million more to explore.

Your Job Title? Nutrition Consultant

Company you are with now? Kara Lydon, Inc.

Website:
http://karalydon.com/

Other Social Media links you would like to include:
 – Twitter: https://twitter.com/karalydonrd
 – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karalydonrd/
 – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karalydonRD/
 – Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karalydon

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you? There is rarely a “typical” day for me! On any given day, I might test and shoot a recipe for my blog or a client, write an article for an online publication, work on a presentation, have a coaching session with a private client, teach a yoga class, write my e-book, represent a client as a spokesperson, or work on nutrition communications and marketing for a client.

How did you get your current job in dietetics? I’ve had an interesting journey in dietetics. I started blogging when I was a dietetic intern as a way to try my hand at writing and do something creative. I kept up my blog while I was in my first job as an outpatient clinical dietitian and Chobani Greek Yogurt found my blog and reached out to me as they were looking to expand their RD team. I decided to take a leap of faith and try something brand new – nutrition communications. I spent two years at Chobani working on nutrition communications, PR, and influencer marketing and learned so much about business and communications while I was there. After a company restructure, I found myself jobless and at a pivotal point in my career where I had some time and space to ask myself, “what’s next?” After countless job applications and spinning my wheels, I realized that I was too afraid to admit to myself that what I really wanted was to start my own business so I could combine all of my passions (writing, food photography, recipe development, speaking, coaching and yoga) into one career. I finally bit the bullet and took another leap of faith and launched my own business.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? I was born with a hard work ethic and a perfectionist personality, which has helped me to strive for excellence in everything I do and to stay motivated running my own show.

I think I was also born with an ability to communicate with others but have definitely honed in on my writing and presentation skills over the years through workshops and programs like Toastmasters.

As an entrepreneur, I have to wear many hats like the accountant, the agent, the secretary, and the lawyer so I feel like I’m constantly learning new skills.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? Be true to yourself. Follow your passions and don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what  would it be? Travel!

Sarah Koszyk is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta. A family-based wellness program and blog focusing on recipes, family health tips, and videos with kids cooking in the kitchen. She is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach specializing in sports nutrition and adult and pediatric weight management. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn.