CELEBRATION MONTH!

Happy January Everyone!  It's going to be a great year!

I look forward to celebrating many things this month:

1)  Getting over (almost) the nasty New Year's week bronchitis battle.
2)  My BIRTHDAY ...ummmm...TODAY....and awesome Facebook greetings and a late night dinner with hubby at The Chef's Table.
3)  Baking up a storm to help our "home-away-from-home" Starbucks gang celebrate several more birthdays and say "goodbye" to a lovely barista, who is going to another store.
4)  Updating my LOCAL MENU with new bakery items and catering information.
5)  Anticipating NEW online customers and an INCREASE in the catering business.

It is by no means an easy task to start any type of small business, particularly in food service.  If you've read my story ABOUT you'll catch a very brief introduction as to how I started.  You must have a plan, be open to change, anticipate financial roadblocks AND overcome them, have a back-up plan, make a TON of mistakes, maybe even make the same ones over and over, ask for advice (lots of it), and accept criticism, gracefully and without making excuses...okay, so I wasn't so hot at that sometimes!  

The real challenge for any young (hey, or OLD) business person starting out is to NEVER GIVE UP!  There will be setbacks and disappointments, and maybe even the dreaded no-no of comparing yourself to other similar businesses or whether your stuff looks like, or doesn't look like stuff on PINTREST.  Keep researching, practicing and talking with encouraging friends and mentors.  Give YOURSELF a pep talk.  Find YOUR niche.  

After almost five years, I am still learning about timing and planning, changing out menus/products, and yes, making NEW mistakes.  I will never be Mrs. Fields or even like some great local bakers and candy makers that have their own store or custom packaging.  However, I am improving, doing my best to serve my loyal customers, receiving encouraging and positive feedback from a bunch of people and graciously accepting and often implementing others' suggestions and constructive criticism.

It IS going to be a great 2017.  Hang out with me on my blog and let me know where you are with your business plans, goals and dreams.  We all learn from one another!

​Have a blessed week!