With 10 cookbooks, 1.2 million Instagram followers, and several hit TV shows, it's hard to believe Ina Garten could ever have been something other than a chef. Clearly, she's found her calling.

But the Barefoot Contessa's career actually started in government, and it turns out it took a lot of convincing for her to get where she is today. Early on in her career, Garten worked in the Office of Management and Budget as a budget analyst. Crazy, right?

After years of doing the same job without seeing any impact or change occur, Garten decided she needed to "do what I want to do," she told PBS in a recent interview. It was then that she went out on a limb and bought The Barefoot Contessa, a specialty food store in the Hamptons (with a boost of confidence from Jeffrey, of course).

Garten owned that store for 18 years, and had written several cookbooks when Food Network started calling. Even with her success, she didn't believe she could carry a television show.

"I just didn't think I'd be good on TV," she told PBS. "I just couldn't imagine why anybody would watch it."

She also admitted that she finds cooking difficult — and that struggle plays a big role in how she creates her recipes.

"It's so hard for me," she says. "That's why my recipes are really simple, because I want to be able to do them."

Thankfully, both for Garten and her legions of fans, Food Network was persistent. They kept calling, and eventually, the cook agreed to do a season. She thought she'd shoot 13 episodes, and then the network would leave her alone.

Fifteen years later, Garten sees what the network did, and realizes her lack of formal training is actually her strong suit. She's now known for creating recipes that both taste great and are accessible — she wants people to look at a recipe and feel comfortable both finding the ingredients and actually preparing the meal.

Today, Garten says she loves what she does, and doesn't plan on stopping. (Phew!)

"I hope I can do It forever; I'm having a ball," she said.

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