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

Markethia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

I finally found the courage to push my business and get my LLC license around the fall/winter of 2019. Then boom, covid hit the following months. That was a very crucial time for me. Not only was I just in the beginning stage, but I was also trying to find a way to manage the business, still working in the education field, be a mom and wife, all while covid is happening.

I felt as though I couldn’t compete with the other bakers that were around for quite some time, so I lowballed my prices, just to try to get my name out there and build my clientele. Unfortunately, covid made that hard as well.

Why didn’t I start sooner? I was very scared. I was scared of failing. I was scared of not being able to compete. I was scared of not being able to get my name out there, for everyone to see. I kept procrastinating because of these things, until my family pushed me enough to get the ball rolling.

The past is the past and that’s something we can’t change. However, maybe if I would’ve started sooner, I would’ve had time to build my brand before the pandemic came around.

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

Back when I did the first interview, I was a mom of two, and now I am a mom of three. Juggling mom life, business, and everything else is even more hard than before, but with the help of my husband and family, they keep me grounded and help me manage it all.

I started my business by simply planning and executing my family and friends events. As time went on, I became more invested and I thought, hey, maybe I can turn this from a hobby into a business. Soon as I was going to take that leap of faith, my grandmother became sick and passed away months later. That was a very crucial time for me and I lost my passion in wanting to continue.

Months later, I was still perfecting my craft and continuing to learn about the business. My close family and friends took heed to everything and kept pushing me into finally starting. They believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Look where we are now.

In the beginning, I was only interested in the event planning and decorating side. Due to the pandemic, that didn’t take off as well as I wanted it to, so I began to dabble into treats. I started off small with just cupcakes and cookies, then I was asked if I could create different treats. Even if I didn’t know how at the time, I was never afraid to get into the kitchen to try. I quickly learned great things never come from comfort zones. So I pushed myself to learn how to bake and create. You’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you try.

With all the growth and knowledge, I am now able to provide full decorating and baking services.

When setting myself apart from others, I consider myself a perfectionist. I put myself in my customers shoes. If I am not willing to buy it, taste and presentation wise, then I will not deliver it to them. I will find a way to fix it and get it right. My brand and my name means everything to me.

I am proud of myself for not quitting. There were numerous of times where I felt as though I wasn’t built for this. My family and friends will never let me fail but God and my husband goes above and beyond.

I want potential clients to know, even the big time bakers, event planners, and decorators, have all started from the bottom, from the beginning, before they have gotten where they are now. We’re comfortable with always sticking with what we know and who we know. All a small business owner want is just a shot, a risk being taken.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

This question will have me being very transparent. With that being said, God, my husband, and my therapist helps with my resilience.

I have dealt with depression before and sometimes my anxiety gets the best of me. Being a perfectionist takes its toll as well.

I may be working on a cake order and I can’t seem to smooth the frosting right. I may be working on candy apples and they are now dipped and may look horrible. I may have multiple orders all due at the same time and I am panicking because I feel as though I have bitten off more than I can chew. It may be midnight, almost 1am and I am still working while having to be up in a few hours, just to start my workday allover again.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. Remember, the only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It’s natural to feel that family and friends are supposed to be our biggest supporters, the ones believing in us when nobody else will. Unfortunately that isn’t always the case. In this business, you will understand that just because a person may know you personally, wether they are family or friends, you can’t assume they will always support you and help build your business. You have to learn how to grind for what you want and get it yourself. I had to learn I am not entitled to their support and no one owes it to me. I had to learn how to push on without them.

Sometimes all you need is one person. One person to share your ideas. Share your post. Like your post. Tag your business. Comment something nice. Comment an emoji. Post a picture. Shout you out. Leave a review.

All of these things are priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://form.jotform.com/220405081669050
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/eventfullyyours_byshunb