And here we sit, 365 (366 for those keeping up with their leap years) days later, in awe at what has happened in this past year. Are we where we ultimately want to be? Heck no. But we are much closer to our end goal than we ever thought we could be last December.
To celebrate the past 365 days of awesomeness that 2012 has brought our baker, we present to you a list simply entitled
12 Things We Learned in 2012
1. It is never too late to try something new. We say that only being 26, so maybe that sounds a little funny. But 4 years ago we graduated college with a degree in history and secondary education. And now we're trying to start a new business. It's amazing the path our lives take if we simply open ourselves up to possibilities.2. Baking is not as simple as following a recipe. There's so much more to it than that. This is not a simple "Follow steps A-G" business. This is artwork, this is creation, this is pure joy and love. If you don't love baking, and you're a baker, your customers will see it in every piece you create. My pieces may not be 100% perfect, but you can tell I put my heart and soul into each one.
3. Practice makes perfect. I've had some pretty big mess ups this year. Some of which people still lovingly accepted. Some of which I quickly pitched. But working at something until I get it, it's such an amazing feeling when you can pull off the unthinkable.
4. Powdered sugar has a way of ending up in really strange places. Always wear an apron and never wear an outfit that you look at and think, "Hmmm, maybe I could go out later tonight in this."
5. Never bake on an empty stomach. The customer will suffer, as will your waistline.
6. Put yourself out there. Take risks, be adventurous. Don't be afraid to say, "Hi my name is Lis and I run a small bakery!" You never know who might remember that one line later down the road. We've been selling that line for the past 6 months, and have booked 1 bridal shower, 2 weddings, and several parties. It feels great to know that my enthusiasm for my business has lead to a steady growth in business.
7. Take your finances seriously. Don't put your business money in with your actual money. Open up a separate account, and act all "adult-y" with your funds. Spreadsheets, finance trackers, find a way that works for you and stick with it. You will only regret it later if you don't.
8. Find your weakness and educate yourself. I'm not a business woman, never have been. So I took tons of classes, read books, and asked for advise from business professionals in the area. It's amazing what I've learned in the past year about running your own business. It's hard work, that's for certain. But if you're passionate about something you love to do, make sure you learn all the ins and outs of it.
9. Always thank those who help. Starting a business takes a little luck, a lot of planning, and a mountain full of help from friends and family. When help comes from loved ones (and it will), make sure you acknowledge how much you appreciate their time, services, and support. I have a stack of cupcake-themed thank you notes that I constantly use to let people know how much I appreciate their support. You can't open a business by yourself. Make sure you take time to let those who have helped know how much their helping hand means to you and your business.
10. It's OK to make messes. Just remember to clean them up. No matter how tired I am, everything at least gets rinsed out before I go to bed. Waking up to dirty but rinsed mixing bowls is much better than waking up to dirty mixing bowls with dried on batter. The bed can wait 5 more agonizing minutes. The dishes cannot.
11. Be open to new opportunities. This is a hard one for us to remember sometimes, because we have a dream idea in our head about how our business should look 5 years from now. It's good to set a plan, but keep yourself open to new opportunities. We never know where it might lead. Personally, I started out as a teacher, but allowed myself to slowly be lead to baking. Who knows where I might be if I hadn't allowed myself the chance to try something new.
12. Have fun or get out of the kitchen. Baking is an absolute joy for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way. If the time ever comes where I think, "This isn't any fun for me" I need to either readjust or hang my apron up. Good baking comes from the heart, not from a recipe card, and I need to remember to have fun each and every day I step into the kitchen.
There you have it, 12 lessons from 2012. Keep following our bakery in 2013, we have some amazing things planned for you!!
Happy New Year, readers!
Lis
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