We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melyssa Aguirre a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melyssa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success can take many forms. For some, it’s climbing the corporate ladder and earning that promotion; for others, it might be achieving a personal milestone like a long-awaited weight-loss goal. What’s fascinating is that while the goals themselves may differ, the underlying strategies for achieving success often remain the same: discipline, consistency, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
Staying disciplined can be challenging, especially when distractions like scrolling on your phone, binge-watching TV, or socializing with friends tempt you away from working toward your goals. However, discipline is the practice of staying committed to your purpose, even when it’s inconvenient. Over time, this commitment becomes a habit, making it easier to stay focused.
Consistency is just as crucial. By consistently putting in the work, you build momentum, which creates compound results. For example, you commit to working out 30min five days a week. Each session you make small improvements, after the first month, you notice you’ve started lifting five more pounds than when you started, after three months you notice yourself stronger, slimmer, and more energetic. After a year, the consistent effort has transformed your fitness level, making it a natural part of your routine —a small yet significant achievement born from steady effort. This same principle can be applied to almost any area of life. Small, deliberate actions integrated into your daily routine can lead to significant growth and progress over time.
Of course, the path to success isn’t always smooth. There will be setbacks and challenges along the way. Instead of seeing these hiccups as reasons to quit, view them as opportunities to adapt and improve. Use the lessons learned to refine your approach and create better strategies. Success is not about avoiding mistakes—it’s about persistence, growth, and continuously striving to be better.
Melyssa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those of you who don’t know me or have yet to hear my story, my name is Melyssa Aguirre. I’m a 22-year-old small business owner in the bakery world, combining my love for baking with my passion for sharing culture with the community. Starting a bakery wasn’t something I dreamed of as a child —it came about through trial and error, a journey of discovery and persistence.
Growing up in Nashville, I noticed the city lacks hidden culinary gems. That inspired me to create a space where people could discover something unique and meaningful—a place to enjoy flavors that feel both familiar and new.
As a proud Peruvian, I grew up surrounded by impeccable dishes prepared by the best chefs I know: my mom and grandmothers. Food was always at the heart of my family, and they instilled in me a deep appreciation for our culture and its incredible cuisine. Peruvian food is vibrant, diverse, and bursting with flavor, reflecting the rich history, unique geography, and multicultural influences of Peru.
As of right now, we specialize in Peruvian baked empanadas, mini sandwiches, and side dishes paired with a selection of pastries, cakes, and more. Our offerings include a distinctive mix of traditional and non-traditional treats, reflecting our passion for blending flavors from around the world. Our goal isn’t to operate as a traditional restaurant but rather as a bistro bakery, offering a carefully curated menu of traditional Peruvian recipes and delightful pastries. It’s all about bringing a taste of our rich culinary heritage to the community in a warm, approachable way.
What sets us apart from other bakeries is our unique blend of savory and sweet offerings inspired by authentic Peruvian recipes—something you won’t find just anywhere. We don’t just bake; we create experiences rooted in culture, flavor, and artistry.
We understand the importance of creating unforgettable experiences for your events, and that’s where we shine. With our diverse catering menu for both corporate and social gatherings, we take the stress out of finding food that’s not only unique but also a conversation starter. As the baker, I take pride in experimenting with recipes and crafting each dish with care and authenticity, ensuring we’re the perfect choice to elevate your event and leave a lasting impression on your guests.
I’m incredibly proud to see what was once just a dream transform into a growing recognition of my business as home to some of the best empanadas in town—it’s truly mind-blowing. We take immense pride and care in baking our delicious products for the community, and it brings me so much joy to see people connect with and enjoy our food.
As a business, core values are at the heart of everything we do. Two of our biggest ones are quality and passion. Without these, you wouldn’t experience the authenticity and uniqueness that set us apart. Of course, there are days when I feel burnt out, but knowing that I’m showing up for all of you keeps me going. Your support motivates me to push myself, improve, and continue to expand our menu with even more delicious options. In many ways, you’re the reason I keep striving to be better, and for that, I’m truly grateful.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
As I mentioned earlier, I threw myself into this journey with no clear direction or idea of what I was getting into. At the time, I was navigating some major changes and challenges in my life. I was preparing to earn my associate’s degree in business management and moving out of my childhood home, where I had lived my entire life.
I wasn’t a big fan of college, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic had completely reshaped my senior year and college experience. With my classes being entirely online, I found myself with a lot of free time. I used that time to dive into books on business, finance, and building relationships, which fueled my curiosity about entrepreneurship.
My boyfriend was deeply invested in the entrepreneurial journey, and together we often brainstormed ideas and explored ways to create a business of our own. Those conversations, combined with my growing passion for the business world, became the foundation for what would eventually evolve into my own venture.
While our endless discussions fueled our motivation, there were times when I felt insecure, unmotivated, and simply not good enough. In those moments, my boyfriend was always there to lift me back up. We both shared the same dream, and his support inspired me to push forward. In turn, I motivated him as well. Together, we became each other’s source of strength and encouragement, driving one another to dream bigger and work harder.
Since I wasn’t working a full-time job to fully focus on my studies, I ventured into small hobbies and side hustles to try to make ends meet. I experimented with making candles (which unfortunately lasted two days). Then, I tried buying wholesale pallets and reselling the items on Facebook Marketplace. I even partnered with my boyfriend to buy and sell cars. At first, none of these ventures provided a steady income. Eventually, I gave up on the wholesale pallets because they weren’t consistent, and while my boyfriend was finding some success with his car-selling business, I hit a breaking point.
Around this time, I had already started my baking business, which was originally called Sugary Dulces. I was gaining followers and starting to receive small orders here and there. Those moments gave me a glimmer of hope because I finally felt like I was doing something right after trying so many things. However, even with the small wins, I questioned myself if the dream I was chasing was too big for me to handle. The uncertainty and self-doubt made it a constant battle to believe in myself and push forward.
To make matters even more stressful, my semester was ending, and I found out I would need to take summer classes to complete my degree. On top of that, my move-out date was quickly approaching. Desperate for a steady income, I began applying to countless marketing, office, and leadership roles, only to be met with rejection after rejection. The constant dead ends left me feeling frustrated, defeated, and on the verge of losing hope.
It was an emotional battle—I didn’t understand why this was happening to me. I started questioning everything: What was my purpose in life? What was the long-term vision for Melyssa? What steps could I take to create the life I truly wanted? I realized I wanted something bigger; I wanted to create something meaningful, something that could make an impact on the community and give me a sense of fulfillment.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve just completed my second year as a farmer’s market vendor. Over these two years, I’ve built meaningful connections with other business owners, formed friendships with incredible people, and received unwavering support from local companies and communities. Not only have I grown a business from the ground up, but I’ve also experienced tremendous personal growth. Along the way, I’ve honed skills in problem-solving, sales, relationship-building, and resilience—skills that have shaped both my business and who I am as an entrepreneur.
What began as a young college student’s side hustle has grown into something truly fulfilling. Through trial and error, I’ve learned from my mistakes, stayed optimistic, and remained determined in the face of challenges. Now, I have the privilege of seeing the smiling faces of people in my community not only enjoying my sweet treats but also discovering and appreciating the rich culture of Peru. Sharing my passion for baking and my culture has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey, and I look forward to continuing to bring people together through the very thing that brings me joy.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Joining various farmers’ markets has been instrumental in raising awareness for my brand. These markets allow me to connect directly with my customers, many of whom I see weekly. We catch up and chat about how their week has been, and I make it a priority to be there every week—I wouldn’t want to let them down, especially when it comes to their weekly empanada fixes!
When I was younger, I rarely missed school because I didn’t want to fall behind or miss out on learning something new. That same mindset carries over to my business. I don’t want to miss out on meeting potential new clients or seizing great opportunities by not being present.
What truly sets me apart is my approachable and friendly nature. My goal is to create a warm and inviting environment at my booth, where every visitor feels valued and appreciated. It genuinely means the world to me when someone chooses to support my small business, and I believe it’s only fair to return that love by providing them with the best experience possible.
Besides sharing my delicious empanadas and pastries, I take immense pride in offering artisan-made products crafted with care and tradition. One standout item we make in-house is our dulce de leche, a labor of love that takes hours of careful mixing to achieve its perfectly creamy consistency. We also prepare our own dough and jams from scratch, using only the best ingredients. It’s a true testament to the dedication and passion I pour into every creation.
To ensure every bite is as fresh and flavorful as possible, everything on our menu is made daily. We bake in small batches, allowing us to focus on quality while also adapting to what’s most popular. This not only minimizes waste but ensures that every item meets our high standards. Our approach ensures that every time customers take home our treats, they’re enjoying the finest and most flavorful experience possible.
To wrap it up, I take great care in considering not only the success of my business but also the overall customer experience. My goal is to build genuine connections with my community and show gratitude to those who support my journey. It’s about more than just selling products—it’s about creating meaningful relationships and lasting impressions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tastedelima.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastedelima/profilecard/?igsh=N3drNDY2bTVrcTJt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KvnRvEYtC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/tastedelima?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa4uvCrzA1_MNNDHUOTe-rmeotHG-KzHtCgtL4qMaHne9UUqq-kXr6B7eA_aem_5xzx9pKi3ulJycF0dyWsdQ
- Other: https://www.hotplate.com/tastedelima
