A day in the life of a cake baker/designer/artist!
I don't really know why I am starting this blog, other than to have a place I can come to at the end of the day or week and put it all into words. I guess I am doing this for me - no one else.
There are days I think I must have been crazy to have left a very secure job with fifteen years invested and decide to open my own cake shop at the age of 55. It took EVERY penny of my measly retirement funds to get the shop open - and then it was "sink or swim". So far, I have been swimming... but there are times when the shore is no where in sight, I get tired and feel like I might just "go under" and sink to the bottom! Being in business for yourself is a real step of faith. No matter what spiritual or religious beliefs one might possess - it really does require a tremendous amount of faith in your own ability, as well as in a higher power. There are indeed days when I am so encouraged as orders come in, I meet with customers and feel so blessed just to have had our paths cross - whether they order a cake or not. Those are the rewards. But there are also the days when the bills come piling in and I am stressing over whether or not I am going to have enough at the end of the month to cover all the bases!
Relying on prayer and a faith in God, I stand back and marvel at how my needs are met and I start all over for the next month.
The thing that I enjoy most about this business of cake baking and design - is that in most cases, it brings joy to people! People just LOVE CAKE - plain and simple! And if it is a GOOD CAKE - they love it even more. I try and aspire to always provide DELICIOUS and beautiful cakes. I am NOT perfect and I am prone to human error. But it I ever have a customer who is unsatisfied and they express that - I will do whatever it takes (within reason!) to make sure I make it right!
Well, that is all for my first blog. I am new at this and will probably have to learn a thing or two!
There are days I think I must have been crazy to have left a very secure job with fifteen years invested and decide to open my own cake shop at the age of 55. It took EVERY penny of my measly retirement funds to get the shop open - and then it was "sink or swim". So far, I have been swimming... but there are times when the shore is no where in sight, I get tired and feel like I might just "go under" and sink to the bottom! Being in business for yourself is a real step of faith. No matter what spiritual or religious beliefs one might possess - it really does require a tremendous amount of faith in your own ability, as well as in a higher power. There are indeed days when I am so encouraged as orders come in, I meet with customers and feel so blessed just to have had our paths cross - whether they order a cake or not. Those are the rewards. But there are also the days when the bills come piling in and I am stressing over whether or not I am going to have enough at the end of the month to cover all the bases!
Relying on prayer and a faith in God, I stand back and marvel at how my needs are met and I start all over for the next month.
The thing that I enjoy most about this business of cake baking and design - is that in most cases, it brings joy to people! People just LOVE CAKE - plain and simple! And if it is a GOOD CAKE - they love it even more. I try and aspire to always provide DELICIOUS and beautiful cakes. I am NOT perfect and I am prone to human error. But it I ever have a customer who is unsatisfied and they express that - I will do whatever it takes (within reason!) to make sure I make it right!
Well, that is all for my first blog. I am new at this and will probably have to learn a thing or two!
Comment
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Comment by Regina Ziliani on July 2, 2008 at 7:43pm -
Victoria,
I have enjoyed viewing all of your cake pictures on iMatthews, and look forward to visiting your website. I look forward to ordering from you in the future. It is evident by your posts here that you not only love what you do, but you work hard to make sure the customer is satified.
I am opening my own business soon, and your words here have inspired me to keep pressing on. Thanks so much!
Regina Ziliani
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Comment by Victoria Moore on May 26, 2008 at 3:51pm -
How does one forgive oneself?
I think I may have made an error in taking a new customer's order for her daughter's 1st Birthday last week. First birthdays are a big deal. The cake was going to be so cute in pinks and greens and very girly. I was excited about doing it and excited about creating joy for the family and friends and was all set to create the decorations and bake the cake for NEXT Monday.
I am trying to recollect the phone conversation between me and the little girl's mom when I wrote up the order. Whether it was my error or hers - the bottom line is - I had written on the order that the cake was to be picked up on June 2nd - BUT THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS for today - Memorial Day. The little girl's dad came in to get the cake and there was NO cake ready for pick-up. I do not make cakes ahead, they are all made fresh and custom baked - but this may have caused me to give that "food for thought" for the future - keep something in reserve. I hope there never is a "next time." I don't enjoy having something like this happen.
The mom was very, very upset when her husband called to let her know we were a week late on the order. I called her myself to apologize for the confusion and told her I had the order for next Monday, June 2nd. I can understand her being upset. I would have been upset too. But she wanted me to whip up a cake in time for the party. There simply was no way to have a cake ready - baked, cooled and decorated in 2 hours time. I apologized over and over and offered to pay them whatever it cost to buy another "ready made" cake. I felt that was all I could do at that point. But needless to say I feel AWFUL. "I am so sorry" just doesn't seem to make anything OK. I just don't know why I wrote June 2nd on the order if she said for May 26th? She said she told me it was for Memorial Day. Perhaps I looked on the calendar and wrote the wrong day. I just don't know - but I feel so totally low right now.
But I realize I have to forgive myself and not totally beat myself up for this error. I have to think about all of the things I have done correctly and right!
I also have to stop and think about how I have been "burning the candle" at both ends and never allowing myself a day off from my business. That can begin to take a toll on a person both physically and mentally.
If anyone else reads this and has any suggestions on how I could have handled this any better and has suggestions on how to let go and forgive yourself for a mistake made - I welcome them. Thanks!
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Comment by Victoria Moore on May 6, 2008 at 8:46pm
- Thanks so much for commenting Darryl! I just want to say you have and continue to be a world of inspiration and encouragement. It is pleasure to have you as a neighbor in The Malone Building and you help to make me feel not quite so "alone" out there in the sea of entrepreneurs!
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Comment by Darryl Parker on May 6, 2008 at 8:30pm - Amen sister! We business owners all have our ups and downs. No entrepreneur can be an island - although it feels like we are on one every once in awhile. Reach out. Network. Find others. Its done a world of good for me to work with local small business owners each day.
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