Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

From the point of dreaming my bakery into existence and actually opening it, I was terrified to put myself and my work out into the universe. I was worried about how everyone would react, would my cake and cupcakes be good enough? Thankfully, my calm has always been my husband and our two littles. they are my biggest fans.

Once I put myself out there, I thought that the rest of my family would follow suit in being supportive, but that didn’t happen, there was a lot of hesitation and resistance from them, I think where the lack of family support came from is the expectation that support directly means having to purchase products, like an unsaid obligation. But there are so many ways to support a small business, that are completely free, as simple as “word of mouth” referrals and sharing on social media.

A few important things to remember when family support is not immediate:

1) You are not alone: there is a little public community that will support you, that have been in your shoes if you’re willing to put yourself out there.

2) Judgement can come from good intentions: they could be worried about disappointments or setbacks you could face. Respect where they come from and don’t have resentment- it’ll eat you alive!

3) Be unapologetically you: be all versions of yourself, it’s a vulnerable place but support will come and your own little unspoken tribe will be created.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I own an operate my own home bakery, Sweet Works By AJ specializing in custom cakes and cupcakes.

I’ve been baking for a hobby for roughly 15 years. I learned how to bake before I learned how to decorate, so taste came before beauty. Which I don’t think is always the case with some beautifully made cakes. A cake is something that is celebratory and a centerpiece so it should taste just as amazing as it looks.

I’m 100% self taught, there has been a lot of long nights practicing and perfecting all that I do so that I can truly bake dreams into reality. I work with buttercream, gum-paste and sugar paper. My favorite is to pipe intricate details or sculpt buttercream.

I decided to open the bakery after our daughter was born, as a mom of 2, it was my fierce way of reclaiming things that bring me joy. I want them to see me be happy in all I do in this life and know that no dream is impossible.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

A lot of research went into my business plan, how to be successful and what regulations I needed to keep myself and customers safe.

There was no initial capital put together to start this venture. I definitely flew by the seat of my pants financially. I slowly purchased the items I needed to be able to complete orders. As I received my orders, I would continue to purchase required equipment or tools needed and put money aside. Eventually I was able to upgrade equipment and build “stock” ingredients, boxes, etc.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Overbooking! Oh goodness, the stamina and resilience needed to overcome that.

As any new business owner, you tend to take on more than you can handle without even realizing it.

I had so many orders one week that I was in the kitchen 12 hrs a day to complete them. I stood back and looked at myself like “Amy, what are you doing!? This is meant to be fun!” Lots of late nights, tears but with lots of success. Every person that had ordered from me that week turned into a repeat customer and it was then I realized that I could actually be successful, if I figured out my weekly order limits.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sweetworksbyaj.com
• Instagram: @sweet_worksbyaj
• Facebook: Facebook.com/sweetworksbyaj