We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elena Guzman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Do It! Take the Leap!

What’s the worst that can happen? Not making a sale? Taking risks on yourself can be daunting. I told myself many times, “You love baking, why not do it?” I came up with so many excuses not to start: being a new mom, just starting a new job, the timing not being right, not having the money, and fearing failure.

But after years, I decided to put myself out there. My business was not an instant success; I am still working on establishing a clientele. Through trial and error, I realized that I love making everyday cakes that look pretty and taste amazing. I’m not a fan of custom and cartoon cakes, though I still take those orders. However, I don’t know if that is something I will always do. My motto is that a better-tasting cake is better than just a pretty cake. There have been times when I’ve seen beautiful cakes, but they were dry, and the flavor was off. The baker spent so much time on the appearance that they forgot about the taste.

My business is growing slowly, but this allows me to take more risks and try new things without breaking the bank, as orders are manageable.

Risk is scary, which is why many don’t succeed because of fear. I still have fears, but everything I do, I do it scared because there is no other way. Through my errors and successes, I have lost that fear and gained more confidence.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Baking started as a hobby. When people tasted my baked goods, they often suggested that I start a business. I always said I would consider it but never took any action. Then one day, I decided to take a chance on myself.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients has been word of mouth and social media.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My business is still a baby, and I’ve had to pivot several times. Initially, I aimed for perfection and wanted everything to be flawless. As a result, I stopped enjoying what I once loved. When I started receiving more orders for custom cakes, baking became stressful instead of fun and enjoyable. That was the moment I realized I needed to learn to say no to some orders because my business will not succeed if I do not enjoy it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @emmas_sweettreat