Overcoming Failure as a Businesswoman | Christina Little and Her Home-Based Bakery

American Sweets Down Under: Christina Little of little bakery

"I don't think of myself as a businesswoman. I think of myself as a problem solver."

Today meet Christina, former mental health coach who now owns a bakery. Christina is an American living in Australia. During the conversation we talk about

• Failure vs. curiosity
• Deciding who to listen to as an entrepreneur
• The unexpected tasks for bakery owners
• Her next project
• And more!

Be sure to have your notebook ready so you can capture Christina’s tips.

Want to follow Christina’s journey and connect with little bakery?

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Credits

Editing: Greg Herman

Music: “Corporate Inspiration” track - by Oleksandr Savochka at Pixabay

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hi everyone and welcome to Highlight Her. I'm Jenny, and each week I sit down with women entrepreneurs to talk about their stories, the inspiration behind what they're building, and the next steps in their journey. Consider yourself sitting in the third chair at our virtual table. Today, Christina Little joins us. She's the founder of Little Bakery, home of American Sweets in Australia. I'm excited to learn more about her journey because even though I know a little of it as her friend, I know there's lots of ups and downs. She hasn't had time to tell me. You see, I'm in the United States and Christina is in Australia. We met through a mutual friend on Facebook, and our energies clipped. We quickly became friends and business cheerleaders. I know you're going to love her too. And I have to say, I'm a little emotional about this whole thing. I'm so excited she's here with us. Let's get chatting. Hi, Christy.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Oh my gosh, Jenny. I am so excited to talk with you. I'm gonna cry.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

I'm gonna try not to cry. I knew she's a lot. Yes. Thank you so much for joining us today. Before we dive into your business journey, I have a question. What's a moment in your business recently where you thought this is why I do this?

SPEAKER_00 1:23

No. Oh, oh wow. That is a great one. Um, well, I just got through my first market season. So I signed up to do um what's called my area, my council. So here in Australia, they do councils, is Campbelltown. And so we just did the Moonlight Markets and they do it through the summer, and we're coming out of summer, and there's four of them, and I did three of them. So I'm just finishing up. And I have to say, four, yeah, yeah. I just didn't do Christmas, uh, the December one. And uh, I have to say that there were so many moments with the market because you're getting that one-on-one with people, that was such a treasure. I have my businesses set up, it is not a brick and mortar, and I do I bake to order. So I'm only gonna get to see you when you pick up, and that's if you purchase, right? Right. So the market allows. Um, and the reason I did it was the market allows to be face to face with people. I had samples of everything, I got to talk to people, right? And it was just such a fun um, it was a fun endeavor. The purpose of it for me was to get into the community because American sweets are so different that I needed to get samples out and people tasting it. So for me, that was that is why I'm doing it. Like so many people would try the sweets and they'd be like, Oh my gosh, that's really good. And I'm like, Oh, thank you, you know. I know, I know. Like it didn't matter to me if you purchased or not, it was really please just try, just just see, get a taste, get an understanding. And um, and then uh Jenny, the other thing, just seeing people try and then purchase, but the other thing was people's feedback was just kept continually blew me away. Because you know, as a right, as a home business person, and if you are not a brick and mortar and you're not out with the people consistently, you kind of are doing your thing, and you're like, maybe someone's out there with right, right? But when you're in front of people and they're like, oh my gosh, I've been following you for a long time. I'm so glad to see that you're at the market, or oh, I missed you at the summer market, we were looking for you, and I was like, Oh my gosh, you know, so it's those moments. So the market was beautiful for so many reasons, but it allowed me to have that face-to-face where I yeah, it's just like, oh wow, yeah. Sure.

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Was there any feedback that you really loved that affected something that you're working on right now?

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Want to say yes and no. Um, yes, and that several people wanted me to be kept suggesting other markets that they thought Little Bakery would be really good in, and other people uh really talked to me each time. Like I had several people talk to me about, oh, or should you be in a cafe? Have you thought about this one? So to me, I heard we want to get you out there more than just you know, the bake to order. Um, so yeah, and what I'm working on is and I'm sure you've seen it, it's fairly new here, is those bakery sheds or some people call them farm stands, things like that. I do want to do that, and that is my goal for this year. I'm really working to figure that out, the logistics of that. So it was great to hear, though. I don't really, I'm not sure that I'm a market person. The goal was to get my name in this community because I am in this community. The goal was to get people to sample. It's not a great money maker for me, and that's okay. That's not that was not the purpose for me. Um, but I think that uh the shed or the baker's run or whatever you want to call it, I would call it a sweet nook, would be both meeting my goals of being in the community, being of service to the community, and making a profit. Do you know what I'm saying? So that was really great. Yeah, to hear that feedback that people are like, I would love it to be out here more.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

So how validating is that? Oh my gosh, this feels so special.

SPEAKER_00 6:16

Oh my gosh, you know, and Jenny, you have to temper that, don't you? Because here's the thing about public opinion it's fickle, yes. So, like, I am on like sky high and feeling great, and it's so good. And then you get a week where you go back to your normal and you're like, okay, I've got this to sell, and no one responds, and you're like, Oh yeah, you know, and it's just for whatever reason, you know, it's that they're out, it's a long weekend and they're out of town or whatever. It's just the whole idea that you really can't get football, you just gotta stay true.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Yes, so true. Okay, before we get into your journey as little bakery, I want to give people a little background because your situation is unique. You're sharing sweets from your homeland, so to speak, in your current home country, right? So, can you just give us a quick background on how you came to Australia as an American and then how Australian desserts and treats differ from Americans?

SPEAKER_00 7:28

Uh, yes, I married uh just a gorgeous Aussie man and we met 21, 20, almost 22 years ago. And um so there was no discussion. I'm from Missouri, I love Missouri, I love St. Louis, absolutely. But you're talking, you know, Midwest to Australia, and Australia's beautiful. So we moved here. I I moved here. He this is where his home is, and um so that's how it came. We have this lovely story, and anytime anyone would want to hear it, I would definitely share. But um, so that's what brought me here, this gorgeous man of mine, and we set up a life here, and the differences I would say mainly is, and people probably, if you've traveled, you might already know this. Um, that it's just that American sweets are much sweeter. That was my guy. Um, yeah, and the other thing is is that um, well, so like cookies for them, they they call them biscuits, and I understand why. A cookie isn't it it's starting to become a thing here, but cookies to them are softer and they don't necessarily have cookies, they have the dry because they have tea. Tea is their base, right?

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Kind of like the British biscuits, right?

SPEAKER_00 8:54

Exactly. So it's gonna be that crispy kind of cookie that you can talk with your tea and and all of that. So that's different. Their cakes are different, they don't necessarily use frosting. Um, it would be more of um it would be a frosting, but they use cream a lot and cream being whipped cream but no sugar in it. With like fruit, okay and they use a lot of custards, so they have what's called a vanilla slice. So it's just uh it's it is much more English.

SPEAKER_02 9:34

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

And and that's and I think the difference is just a lot about sugar, a lot about what you pair it with, things like that. I hope that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

It does make sense. So now we're gonna go way back to the beginning when you thought, I think I want to start little bakery. What was happening in your life at that time? Do you do you remember? I don't know, I don't know that I could always remember. So if you can't remember it, it's okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:05

I actually do. It's so vivid to be. You know, I've had this amazing journey with pain, and it's been such a blessing in my life, uh, and such a great teacher in my life. And I was coming out of um the severest part of it. So I was trying to get back into the workforce, and I am uh I have a psychology degree and psychology background and have always worked with people, and I went into uh getting my coaching uh certification, and I really love that mental health coach, but along with that came a lot of sitting, a lot of reading, a lot of talking. And at the time I was very new on managing my pain, I was very new in that part of the journey, and sitting and talking were probably the worst things my body could handle, and I noticed that that I wasn't it wasn't aiding my health, it was deterring it, and I was really struggling. So um, in that I I kept thinking, what could I do? What could I do? So forgive me if I go back a little bit further, but before the pandemic, I um I started just baking because I needed something to do. It was when I was in the thick of the pain, and you just I was missing American sweets. So I started baking and I felt very left out uh alone, you know, as pain does, it really separates you. Sure does. So I started baking and giving away to my community, meeting my neighbors, so I could get to know them and all my doctors, because I had a quite a lovely team, and and I just kept giving away. And the feedback was they would ask when I was gonna bake. Like I started with pumpkin bread, and something very common to us, not at all here. Pumpkin here is savory, not sweet at all. But the feedback was really great, and people really loved it. And fast forward back to where uh this started, I started thinking, oh well, I really miss American sweets, and I am a huge sweet tooth. I just started thinking, would that work? So it was in the design, right? Yeah, you and and I think Ginny, you and I have talked about this. Questions, oh my gosh, best thing ever. You have to consistently be curious, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Yes, it's what that's something I've learned older. The older I got. Yes. For sure. Yes. I say my mid forties and on.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Agreed. I think earlier on you're trying to prove that you know you represent.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

Do you want to take questions? Because you think there are questions to ask. Like for you know, for someone like me that's a rule follower and a perfectionist and people pleaser, I'm not gonna ask questions.

SPEAKER_00 13:10

Oh my gosh, good point. Oh gosh, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. The question of is there another way would not come up with the thing. Um, so I get asked that question. So I'm like, what can I do with this work? And so the design phase was probably about nine months to a year where I just talked about it and thought about it and worked on it. And I have, I am blessed with uh I'm pretty sure I talked to you about it at the time, and my sister and Darren, my husband. And uh, so there's like three or four people who I really trusted. And I'm like, here's what I'm thinking. So it first started out as here's what I'm thinking, what do you think? Here's what I'm thinking, what do you think? And it became more as it became more um, I'm definitely do this. The question changed to, I'm doing this. What obstacles do you foresee? And then I need to look, right? Because then it wasn't, I'm not gonna talk to people who like I I I'm being very choosy in who I talk to. If I know they're not gonna be able to give me feedback on uh it as I just think you have to be I I think you have to be careful when you're in the the phase of this is new, it might not speak to everyone, it might scare people in your life, but if you've decided you're gonna do it, then you need to talk to people who are going to help you figure out those obstacles and how to get through them and not talk to people who might put their fear on you and go, don't do it. Do you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 14:50

Yes, like I think there's a difference. Yes, I think that's really smart of you because you've made your decision to do it. So don't bother talking with the people that are are gonna shoot it down. And then at the same time, you want people that are going to give you good feedback and not just oh, you're gonna do great. Right. Right, exactly. You need those both. Yeah, you need the willingness to, well, have you thought about this? Or maybe you need to tweak it a little here, or have you considered?

SPEAKER_00 15:21

Exactly. Exactly. And that's that's the point because you can't deny that new things or even old things that you're doing new for you are gonna have problems. You can't deny that that's gonna happen. It's okay, that's gonna happen, accept it, and what what are the steps through it and around it? Or yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

So when did you realize it might work?

SPEAKER_00 15:46

Uh so I started in 2023. I started in February of 23. So I three. I just hit my second, so I'm on my third year. Is that how it works?

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Like, would you well you did the year 23, year 24, and year 25. So February would have been your third year anniversary.

SPEAKER_00 16:12

Wow, yes. Thank you. I just celebrated, I celebrated it incorrectly in February. I said here it is, number two. So there we go. That's okay. It's number three. Um, yeah, so it's really exciting. So that summer before, or your summer, our winter, I had gone back and visited my family and uh spent a lot of time with my sister, who is an amazing businesswoman. And uh that's when I had decided. So I came back from that trip and I was like, okay, I've got about four months. I would like to start it in January. Let's go. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Awesome.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

Is there anything that was a big learning curve for you in the beginning?

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Here's what I think with my business in particular. I think I am blessed in that it is my business. It is a soul, basically a soul operation. I have beautiful people who help me, like for the market and different things, but basically a soul operation. I view it all as learning. I'm constantly staying curious. So, yes, there have been failures, and I try to balance that line of reactionary and learning. And by that I mean for me, because I am a baked order, I needed to figure out what people liked. And this is before the market. So, and constantly keeping true the fact that it's American sweets, and my other goal was not to compete. There are brownies here, I don't do brownies, so why would I reinvent you? Yeah, I don't want to compete with anybody, I just want to offer something that's different and that I love and it's nostalgic, and that's all. That's all my goal is. Is um so I was very anytime people oh, you should do this, I'd be like, Oh, that's such a great idea. That's really done here already. So I'm moving toward this. What do you think? So each week, I was thinking it takes a long time because you have to know, you have to, and and the other thing is is that I went through weeks where I did try what people suggested and it would fall. And I just know that wasn't for me. Like I did rice crispy treats, nothing. And they are treats and they work, and some people do treats. I decided after that that I'm not the treat, I'm not your treat bakery, I'm your baked bread bakery from American American sweets. So, yes, that kind of thing, the week to week on what was working, especially that first year. I didn't define little bakery beyond American sweets. So I've tried the gamut, you know, I did zebra, little zebra cakes, you know, from on the little Debbie, you know, right? Um, to Puppy Chow, to um whoopie pie. I mean, like I've run the gamut to figure out what is what is the next step down in specialty for little bakery and what would work. And so basically that first year was a lot of okay, but that didn't work in my. And also, I had that first year before I could even get into. Well, I guess the first two years before I could get into the market, how am I gonna get people to try this? Because they're not gonna test them if they don't understand what it is. So, like one year I tried a Thanksgiving um I called it a gratefulness party where I heard all kinds of Thanksgiving sweets, full table free. If you were a customer, if you were a proposed customer that you've followed and you were interested but never tried, just come out and have a party and try. Very few people. And so you have to go, okay. So is so what is that about? It was just my main, like five main customers that came. And that's fine, that's great. Again, it if you go in the thing of, oh, that failed, rather than oh, that's interesting. Why didn't more people come? It's it became more of a thing of do people not want to be in a home of people they don't really know? Or um, was it just too soon to offer something like that? You know, so again, all those things, I did have a lot, a lot, a lot of moments to learn, try things and learn. Um, but I had to keep my mind space in, oh, that's interesting. Why do we think that is, rather than, oh my gosh, that's such a failure. Yeah. It feels so different. And I tell you what, in this business, emotions really can affect your brain, and you need your brain to be sharp.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

For sure. I um I keep hearing you talk about curiosity, and I think that that's such a good takeaway for our listeners, especially those that haven't started their own adventure yet, that you know, it's not failure, it's why didn't this work? How can I change it? Yeah, I think that's fabulous insight on your part. So what surprised you the most about entrepreneurship?

SPEAKER_00 21:42

Uh what um the most was that I was an entrepreneur.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

That's okay. Were you proud of yourself?

SPEAKER_00 21:50

Yes, because you know, Jenny, I I think of myself as a problem solver. I still don't think of myself as a a businesswoman or b an entrepreneur. I am solving a problem. I am trying to figure out how to help the family financially and help my body stay healthy. So that. Other than that, honestly, I didn't think of myself as that. And again, I think if I I think because I I just drill into myself, stay curious, stay curious, stay curious. Everything else, it does bother me, but not like it's not something I carry with me. It will bother me in the moment of when it happens. I have to rally, I have to grieve whatever happen, you know, whatever didn't work. And then I go, okay. So let's see what what can we differ? Let's talk about it and figure it out, and then we'll go to the next thing or try it again in a different way. So yeah, just but I think I might have some of them.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Resilience and perseverance. I'm hearing you say.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Oh, absolutely. Perfectly said. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 23:01

So is there something about running your business that people don't see from the outside?

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Here's what I think. Are we trying to specifically with baking or just business in general?

SPEAKER_01 23:15

What uh however you want to answer is fine with me. Because you could take it either way.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Yeah. I will take it baking only because, again, I don't think of myself as a businesswoman. Um, I think of myself as a problem solver and a baker. And for baking, what I think people don't realize, and I did not realize I may have an eight-hour day in the kitchen, but like probably because of the size of my kitchen and the size of the order, I'm actually baking maybe four or five hours because in that time you're doing the whole scrubbing or setting the kitchen so you can bake for the public. Do you know what I'm saying? So you're setting that up, and then because you've got issues with space, you're doing a lot of Tetris, like you're okay. This I've only got so many pans, and this pan is cooling, and so this has got to be here. So then this has to move to the freezer, but or the fridge, and then that has to move to the freezer, so the pan can move to the fridge. Do you know what I'm saying? So it's it's um, so you've got time where you're doing that, and then yeah, it's it's all that that treacherous, and then there's the behind the scenes of what am I gonna post? Because I have to use social media as my marketing, right? That is a clear marketing school, and that is an everyday process. And for me, for someone I it is a social thing, but I am a one-on-one social person to constantly post and not get to hear back from people is a hard medium for me, for sure. So um that a lot of behind the scenes. I have to do a lot of that's the other thing in the kitchen is you're photographing a lot. You may use one percent of what you photograph in a day, but you're videotaping, you're photographing, you're trying to figure out what will work for stories or for po, you know, for actual posts or whatever that might be. So that was very shocking to me. The amount of time, and that affects your schedule because how much time you think you're in the kitchen isn't based just on baking, it's the other things that go are involved. And each day, you don't just have that either. I'm like I'm working on the idea of doing this sweet nook. So each day I need to set aside time in the office to research how is that logistically gonna happen here? Who do I need to talk to? Do I need a different certification? So you've got that time, and then you've got the inventory, so you've got to make sure that you schedule so it's all those things that you don't uh if you're uh I didn't think through as just a a a you know bacon for my family, that as a business you have to make time for. And and the other thing that people don't see is you're always at work when you work from home. And if it's your own business, your brain is always at work. So you have to get out of the house, don't you? You have to give your brain that actual physical, environmental get out of the house so that you're you're creating you're creating that pattern interrupt, aren't you? You're giving your brain that reset so they can think about other things. Darren even reached my hand, Leslie. So I baked yesterday. Sorry. I baked yesterday, and my mind was just we've got several things going on at home and um in the business. And so we were watching um baseball last night because we were huge baseball fans and it's spring training in the US. So um I was talking to him, and every like 10 or 15 minutes I'd say something and it'd be a new topic. And finally he looked at me and he said, Honey, just turn your brain off. Let your brain just rest.

SPEAKER_01 27:31

And I was like, Oh my gosh, you're right. I thought, do I know how to do that? I'm not so sure I know how to do that. So how did you turn it off?

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Well, I I held his hand. Honestly, it is a it is a it's a great break for me. I am very tactile as well. So holding his hand really helped. And then I went and got a project that I could listen to the game, but took some brain power to um to do physically, like with my hands, and that broke me out of it too. So it's twofold. I did, I first just I put my hand over it his and he held my hand for a little bit, and then I was like, okay, I'll do a small project while I'm watching the game. And it took me out of the moment.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

I sometimes do puzzles for that same purpose. Oh, I love that. More more so for me, it's more like when I'm anxious, not necessarily business related, but puzzles are the same concept. And I know you enjoy your Lego exploration, and it's the same thing. Finding something to do that occupies your hands can turn off your brain for a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 28:42

Yeah, that will take both.

SPEAKER_01 28:44

Yeah, you're absolutely right. You talked about all those dynamics of working from your home and the bakery. And I don't, I'm not sure about the answer to this question because I know it's really a heart project for you, that it's something you really enjoy. Has there ever been a time when you thought about quitting?

SPEAKER_00 29:03

I don't know if thought about quitting or more, is this something I can do? More of a um, you know, like a am I qualified for this? Is this really? There have been, I think, two months, which is so little, but when you're going through that, it's hard. Where I have had no sales. A month is like a lot. I am not making a profit, but it does cover the cost. And I know that I'm building like customers, and so I know it's just gonna take time. But when that happens, how could you not go through the whole thing of, well, am I wrong about this? But I have to say, Jenny, for me and this, you're right, it is it's not just based in that I want to help with the family finances, it's it's more based in I want a purpose that my body can do, that I have fun at, that I bring joy to people. So I haven't actually thought about quitting. I doubt myself, and then that's when I have to say to myself, just stay curious. There would be a reason, I just don't know the reason yet, and it may not present itself yet. Like January after uh, so I started in February, so my first January, not one sale, and I offered healthy breakfast cookies, so I thought, oh, you know, everyone's gonna be on that whole generally resolution. Um, and uh so I offer something healthy, not one taker, and this is a country who that's their thing, like it is it is a very big thing, and then I had to step back and I'm like, that's not little bakery. You're not going to shop little bakery for low sugar, gluten-free. That's not little bakery. That my peeps who are looking at me are not gonna look there. That's not what they're gonna see. And the other thing I realized is January, because it's summer here, people are gone. They are not buying anything, they're after the holidays, they're not buying sweets, they're actually on vacation, they're not here. So this January, I took off. It's I think those are the reasons. One, I don't do healthy anymore. I may bake it for myself. I love cookies for any reason at any time of day. So if I can make myself a precious cookie, I'm all there, right? Um, but that's not so it's again. I just think you have to constantly go back and ask your be curious. And I do think there are times where you probably would need to shift or shift your business or shift your aim. But I tell you what, if I if I if I don't stay curious, it can really take me down.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

It sounds like you've really honed in on a mental viewpoint that helps you be successful as a business person and not take on more stress and emotion than you need to.

SPEAKER_00 32:18

And you know, Denny, I think that's because thank you. Um, I really try. I think part of that is honestly my psychology background, and I love coaching. I think coaching is a phenomenal, it it's just a way to not allow yourself to be stuck, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 32:38

Yes, you kind of coach yourself.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

I do a lot, and then I I I don't get to talk to you as much to you as I would want to, but I do and specific about who I talk to. And and I say you because you and I talk a lot, because we're very similar, we have very similar mindsets on how to work through things, and I think that's the key is you've got to put people around you that you're gonna talk to. And again, I'm not putting anyone down. I'm saying in the positive, I wouldn't have a committee of 50 people, I would have a committee of two or three that I really trust that are gonna help me ask ask questions. And again, I'm not at the place of am I gonna give this up? I'm at the place of, well, what the what do you think but what do you think was happening? What was going on? Um, what do I need to do, you know, just curious.

SPEAKER_01 33:37

I love that so much. I think it's going to take you farther because you have you're starting with that ability.

SPEAKER_00 33:43

I hope so. I think I do think you're right. I think if you constantly say, I think if you're constantly curious in business and you're not stuck to it has to be this way, you probably will succeed longer because things will happen, won't they?

SPEAKER_01 34:01

Pilot hurt actually was like that. I wanted to do like an email newsletter over the summer, last summer, and build an email list and have send emails about things going on locally with businesses. And I thought, I have built email lists before, I've built a 25,000-member Facebook group, I can do this, and it fell flat, so flat. And I was so discouraged. And then um I thought, okay, I did I actually just kind of let it go for a while. Like I just didn't think about it because it didn't do anything. And so then in um, let me think, it was the end of last year, the beginning of this year, I thought, okay, well, let's try building a Facebook group. And again, I have experience with Facebook, although Facebook likes to pivot, doesn't it? It likes to change things up. So I'm gonna build a local Facebook group and my local Facebook page. And I got followers to my page very quickly. I got about 200 followers pretty quickly, but no traction besides that. Like the Facebook group itself doesn't have very much interaction. And so I thought, okay. And then Greg suggested a podcast, and I hated the idea. Like, no, I'm not a podcaster. But I thought about it a little bit more, and now I'm really excited. It's like a never-ending source, right? There's a never-ending supply of business women to talk to, and I just love talking to business women. So now we've gone from local to expanding, including local, but now it can, you know. So just like you've had to look at things and what's not working, sometimes we have to pivot.

SPEAKER_00 36:00

What did you can I ask you then, Ginny? What did you do? Because here's what I know about you and what I'm constantly amazed by you, which is why I do think this is an incredible podcast for you to do. Um, you are a cheerleader of other women, you are of people, but uh specifically of business women and women in general. And uh for something like that to fall, and because I think you're so good at using social media and emails and stuff. So, how did you deal with that falling flat? What did you do with that, that first one, the the email?

SPEAKER_01 36:41

I was discouraged um for a while, and then I just kind of those of you that are listening and don't know, I also had a skincare and makeup business. There were some changes in the makeup and skincare business, nothing bad, just changes that I didn't have the energy for. And so that's when I thought of iteration two of highlight her, and then I was probably telling Greg that it wasn't working, or I don't know what comment I made, and he said, You should do a podcast, and I laughed. So I went to an event on February 1st, hosted by a woman who is building her own business women community, Blair of We Sore. And someone at that, I don't want to say her name because she's my next guest. She came up to me. She said, How is your your highlight her thing going? What was it called? Your highlight thing, what was it called? And I said, highlight her downriver because the area they were along like the Detroit River in this area. So they um called this like five to eight cities downriver. Um, and I said, you know, it's not, it didn't really go the way I wanted it to. And she said, well, don't give up because I think it's great. And something to that effect. And oh my word, that blessed me so much. It it like gave new life, really, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 38:08

So two things I take from that, Jenny, is one, the power we have in encouraging each other, which is what you're doing the podcast for, and someone offered that to you. Yeah, that um the lift up, that don't give up, you know, because you are doing it alone a lot. So you to have someone reach out and go, This matters, do it. You're good at this. And I don't know, and her very well. But she must have been. I mean, whatever she read, do you think she reads it?

SPEAKER_01 38:40

She's following on, you know, she we're local connections and she was following online, but wow, I'm not even sure that might have been the first time I met her in person, if not the second.

SPEAKER_00 38:53

That is powerful. The other thing I'm noticing is that um I hate to say this because you know it in your head, but it is such a different thing. You just have to do things and they have to fail or succeed. And if we could change the way failure is seen as more of it's just a trying, it's not really a failure. It would make it so much easier because you have to try. You didn't know that the email thing wouldn't work until you tried it. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 39:25

Exactly. Exactly, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:27

It would have surprised you because you are, I don't see. I just, yeah, it's hard, but I think that's why you have to have a strong mindset. Our minds are so strong. You have to know what you're going into. I think that's isn't that key, don't you think? Just be really clear, yeah, on how you're gonna handle things, who you are, so you can go forward.

SPEAKER_01 39:50

So here's a fun question. Do you have a most rewarding moment in your business so far?

SPEAKER_00 39:57

I do. Okay, so between you and me and everyone who will hear this podcast, I am not a cake decorator. I did a cake decorating course. I absolutely love it. I love um, I did it because I missed American cakes. Again, I am just bringing what I want. Right. Just trying to feed myself and take care of what I want. And I'm like, sure, there's other people. Anyway, um, I love it. I am not very good at it yet because I haven't had that many hours. So I don't highlight that I decorate cakes because I don't. So I have done a few. If someone reaches out to me, I can fit it in my schedule and I think that I can give them what they want. I will absolutely try. If they're willing to try with me, I am willing to try. But I got to do this um first year smash cake for a little one. Just did it, and it was a little ducky cake. Oh my god. I love it. What's that?

SPEAKER_01 40:58

Okay, Jake Nurse. Is it on your Facebook page? It is, isn't it? Still, yeah, because I should leave her, yeah. When we're done, go you should pin it and then um so all the listeners out there go to Little Bakery on Facebook and look for her rubber ducky first birthday smash cake. It is adorable. And you need to leave a comment and tell her what that you found the cake through the podcast. And I love that. We're gonna get her lots of first birthday smash cakes because she needs, I told her, she needs to market the daylights out of this thing. It needs to be what she is, one of the things she is known for because it's so sweet. I'm so glad you picked that.

SPEAKER_00 41:46

It is so well, it was such a delightful, the whole experience was so delightful. I can't even tell you how beautiful God was and and all that came out of it. Another baker um in the area, did I tell you this? Saw it and she reached out to me and she's like, I just love your little decky cake. And she's like, I would really love to try that design. Do you mind if I bought it? I'm like, girl, all yours. Take it on fun. It's not a propriety of me or anything, it was just something I had fun with, and um, she highlighted me and was really lovely. The little girl, oh, the photos, the photos of the little girl eating the cake, and her mouth, first thing her mouth went to was that little duck. There's a photo of her mouth on the little duck. Like God has just fed my soul the delight. Here's the thing: I loved making it and how it came out, it was it just that cake will be my favorite for a very long time because it's so delightfully cute. But the other thing is is that um uh sorry, distraction. The other thing is is that seeing the photos and knowing that something I made was a part of something so precious, and then those photos will last forever. Now, I'm not saying that anyone will remember how that cake tasted, they won't because no one else probably had it, and that doesn't matter. What matters is that that little girl absolutely loved that cake, and everyone around seemed that I heard loved it, and to be a part of something so special that feeds my soul. I'm like, oh my gosh, if I could just make ducky cakes for the wisdom, why her life I'd be so happy.

SPEAKER_01 43:33

I think you're gonna you might need to start a list of ideas of different kinds of ducky cakes you could do.

SPEAKER_00 43:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:42

Oh, that's a good idea. Oh, seriously. I would like to look at that tub. Yes, there's another assignment for our listeners. When you go to the ducky cake picture and you find it on Little Bakery on Facebook, you can tell her what other kinds of duck cake she should do. Oh, I'm like so. I think you already answered this, but I'm gonna ask it again just in case. What is the next step in your journey? Something you're working toward or dreaming about right now? I think I know the answer, but maybe you have something else.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

Uh it is the sweet nook. And um and I didn't specify. So here's what I want to do with the sweet nook. My my desire for little bakery is to be known as the just because bakery. And so yeah, right?

SPEAKER_01 44:27

Just like is that your tagline? The just because bakery.

SPEAKER_00 44:31

It is becoming. I just thought of it and started doing it in the um during the market season. So I haven't really got to use it, but I will because the market season, I was really hitting the Mad Hatter and um Alice in Wonderland. Um, but I like the just because bakery. And so what I thought with the sweet nook is that in the mornings I would stock it and open it like at seven or something, uh, wherever it is located. And it would be stocked with anything you can put in your lunchbox. So three little cookies or three little brownies, like that's your thing. Like you're on the way to work, you're like, oh, I just want a little something sweet, or oh, I didn't have anything for the kids' lunchbox, or oh, the kids would like a snack after they get home from school, or oh, I would like something with my tea this afternoon at tea time. So, and then in the afternoon, I thought it would be great if I stocked at like from four to six thirty with more with more of your oh, we're going over to so and so's house. I'll grab whatever. Or um, or I just would like to have a dessert tonight after dinner. Let's grab this. So, two ideas, and but both are oh, just because and I'm driving by and I know there's a sweet little bakery sweet oak right here.

SPEAKER_01 45:50

Okay, here's your new t-shirt.

SPEAKER_00 45:52

Little bakery, just because Jenny, did you see any of the photos from the market? Because I did put the white little bakery t-shirt on the back. I put just because baker. I was the just because baker. So I am, and I'm working on, by the way, Jenny, my life is sweet t-shirts with my graphics later right now.

SPEAKER_01 46:13

Perfect. Awesome. Okay, we're gonna do a quick lightning round. Usually, these when I hear people do these or they ask me, I hate it because I'm not good at thinking on my feet, but I tried to keep them easy. So I don't know if you've seen them going around. Some um here in the States, they'll do like a lightning round and they'll ask simple, fun questions and kind of like either or.

SPEAKER_00 46:40

Okay, I'm ready. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_01 46:42

So early bird or night owl. Oh, night owl. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Coffee. One tool or app you couldn't run your business without chat GBT.

SPEAKER_00 46:54

All right, and Facebook.

SPEAKER_01 46:55

And then your favorite way to unwind after a busy day of baking. Mexican dominoes with Darren. Tell us more.

SPEAKER_00 47:02

What is it? It's specifically the Mexican train dominoes.

SPEAKER_01 47:08

Yeah, it's we have Domino's pizza around here. And I was thinking, I was thinking, is there a Mexican version of Domino's pizza? Wouldn't that be so good though? Come on. Oh, that's funny. Okay, so the game Mexican dominoes. I love that. Spending time with your sweetheart. Okay. So, listeners, remember in the highlight her origin story, aka the first episode, I suggested that you start a notebook for the ideas you'll collect from our guests. It's time for you to get out your pen and paper, your notebook, because whether or not you can believe it, we have reached the end of our episode. And I have one last question for Christina that I'm going to ask all my guests. So get ready. If someone wanted to start something similar, what's one piece of advice you'd give them so they can write it in their notebook? One tip.

SPEAKER_00 48:00

Can I do a three? What question are you going to ask yourself when you are challenged or have failures? What people are you gonna surround yourself that will um build you and help you build? Just you gotta start.

SPEAKER_01 48:14

That is so good. All right, listeners, before we sign off, ask yourself what is one small action I can take this week toward my own idea or business? If you ever feel like sharing, reach out with a comment or an email. If you were inspired by Christina today and want to follow her and encourage her on her next step, her sweet look, you can find her on Facebook as Little Bakery. It has a pink background and a mixer with love. You can find her on Instagram and she has a Linktree site. I will be sure to put all that in the show notes. Thank you for listening to the Highlight Her podcast. And if this episode encouraged you or inspired you, be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss the next guest. After all, you never know if her story will inspire your next step.