We recently connected with Sara Goldstein and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
I feel like the path of entrepreneurship is honestly just a lot of problem solving. I have found that there’s always a lesson to be learned and that defeat is never an option. I opened my figurative doors last September, the day after getting laid off from my corporate desk job. Since then I have gone through divorce, a severely broken back, surgery, zero steady income, and an inability to even walk around the block without my leg giving out. I was told last February that I might lose said leg if we didn’t operate on my back asap; we scheduled the surgery for April, and voila, I lost my insurance a couple days before due to my divorce being finalized. I won’t bore you with the details of my surgery saga, I am just thrilled to say that my operation went off perfectly last month and that my new insurance covered all of the $600,000 bill except $31. I am now walking around better than I have in years and should be getting the green light from my doctor to enter the farmers markets by the Spring.
I tell you this story not to complain but to explain how grateful I am that everything went the way that it has. Every bump in the road has prepared me not only for the next bump, but has taught me how to stay calm and even happy in the name of adversity. One of the most important lessons I have learned this past year is that you never know what anyone else is going through and that you should always lead with kindness and love. There are always options but if one is only focused on the dark, it can be next to impossible to see a way out.
When I was unable to physically work, I always believed in the power of networking and making the connections necessary for when I was healthy and ready to hit the ground running. I found that forcing myself out of the house to countless events not only helped my business but helped my mental state too. Surrounding myself with amazing, powerful, and beautiful like-minded entrepreneurial women and people has truly been a game changer. Whenever I felt defeated and ready to give up, I would find my tribe, and let me tell you, the support that you will receive when you find your people is game changing. Because I never gave up and continued to let love guide my way, I can say with certainty that the universe is lining up my path and that the doors swinging open have me living in daily awe and gratitude.
Sara, 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?
Oh my goodness, great question, thanks! We’re bringing sourdough pizza dough, sourdough pasta, and naturally sweetened sourdough cookiedough to the San Diego farmers markets early 2025. Our delicious fares will be available alongside our amazing merchandising line which is meticulously curated to not only be your go-to kitchen gear because of quality but you’ll also be showing it off due to its fun and flirty aesthetic. Of course, when you bring home your Bake Love to Me pizza dough and pizza pan, you may want some assistance crafting the perfect pie; that’s when we really shine. Every single Bake Love to Me product will be packaged with a QR code that will direct you to our (currently in the works) educational and fun YouTube channel where I will help you make your perfect ragu, lasagna, pizza, etc.
We are a one stop shop for the busy home chef looking to feed themselves and their families delicious yet deceivingly nutritious meals. Our aim is to bring a more European style of eating to the states. Here at Bake Love to Me, we don’t believe all carbs are bad; we believe the wrong carbs are.
I lost 80 pounds on my sourdough journey, and I got to enjoy pizza, pasta, and bread every day. I believe in my products, because they gave me my life back. In 2019, I woke up one day after gaining 80 pounds, looked in the mirror and knew it was time for a change. At 220lbs. I had chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol, and a handful of equally serious health problems that led me to say, “enough is enough.” I didn’t know all the beauty that would unfold once I started that journey, I just knew I couldn’t keep living life the same way. So, I woke up and started baking, I started my happy, healthy, and bubbly sourdough starter named Sondra and slowly but surely removed white sugar from my diet; just like that, my life blossomed.
It wasn’t until September of 2023 that I decided I needed to bring my sourdough journey and my gift of baking to the world. I have big dreams, and they only start with our beautiful local farmers markets. I aim to put an end to food insecurity in this country and eventually go global. My mission is to not only end hunger, but to do it with fresh fruits, veggies, breads, and other nutrient dense foods, none of it coming from a can.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I feel like life is a constant journey of learning new information and having to discard the old. I used to be terrified of change; moving, needing a new car, even finishing a book all scared me. When I learned to truly embrace change and see life for the beautiful adventure that it is, that’s when I started to thrive. Growth is beautiful. We grow up innocently assuming that our parents know everything but in fact, even they are just perfectly flawed and doing the best they can. Unlearning the myth that I would only be happy with a boss, husband, kids situation opened my eyes to how many wonders this gorgeous world provides. Times are evolving and changing; only makes sense that we gracefully follow.
When I first decided I was bringing Bake Love to Me to the farmers markets, I was going in with the goal of cupcakes, cakes, and sugary confections; all foods I myself can’t actually eat for health reasons. My first stages of market research proved that no matter how amazing my baking skills were, the market was already inundated. Instead of getting discouraged or even being stubborn and sticking with plan A, I had a beautiful epiphany and decided to pivot. Why wouldn’t other people want to eat like me? Why shouldn’t I bring sourdough and natural sugars to the public? My diet saved my life. If my goal in life is to feed people, bring joy, but health is also important, then why would I want to feed the world more sugar? My goal is to nourish and help you thrive. So, with that mindset, I turned Bake Love to Me into what it is now, giving me my mission, purpose, and a passion for life that only continues to grow. Never let anyone tell you something isn’t possible, never let anyone make you feel stuck. The world would be even more gorgeous if everyone followed their passion and listened to their inner child a smidge more.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I have learned that the road of entrepreneurship is not a road that can be walked alone. As a woman entering the business world, I quickly found out how important it is to surround yourself with other powerful, smart, and kind women. Finding like-minded people who aren’t only rooting for your success but have beautiful things to teach is so important. It’s amazing how fast you’ll grow when you align the right people in your life. Acquiring mentorships early on through Score.org and networking events helped guide me on the right path. I cannot express how enlightening it is to be able to have someone who’s been in your shoes and come out the other side tell you what you need to work on, what’s just right, and what needs to be put on the back burner.
Let’s touch on networking events for a minute. I truly embrace these and currently aim to attend a minimum of three a week. Living in San Diego affords us so many glorious opportunities and you never know who you’ll meet and who they might know; always be networking. Just this last month I participated in networking events in which we enjoyed meditations, sound baths, cold plunges, and so many amazing people. I talk about Bake Love to Me in every room I enter with anyone and everyone who will listen. My passion for sourdough and health is so strong that I am already out there educating people every day. I not only find that this reinforces my vision, as people eagerly ask for my number and sourdough updates, but helps me build my brand and gets me comfortable speaking to crowds.
I also find that solo time to read, reflect, mediate, and grow is incredibly important. I aim to read a book a week and try to switch them up between business, investing, and self-help. I strongly believe that if we aren’t growing, we’re dying; suppose that leads me back to change being a beautiful thing. Girls that Invest by Simran Kaur was eye opening and a book I would recommend for anyone scared of investing and looking to jump in. A good friend recommended Power vs. Force by David Hawkins. This book not only helped me discover insight into myself but helped me grow as a person. My first mentor gifted me Entrepreneurial LEAP by Gino Wickman, and this amazing book helped reinforce my path through this beautiful journey of life. We should always be growing, learning, blossoming; I find books to be a beautiful catalyst for change and insight.
Like I said, we aren’t meant to walk this path alone. Surrounding yourself with people you admire and respect brings not only love into your life, but an education that might honestly be better than any I’ve ever gotten in school. The resources of books, mentors, and events in San Diego that will help you grow and thrive is endless. I sit in awe and gratitude on the daily for being able to live in this beautiful city and follow my dreams. I know that I couldn’t have gotten here alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bakelovetome.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakelovetome.llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bake.love.to.me?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-goldstein-717242132/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bakelovetome
Image Credits
Photo in yellow dress by Elena Shur, elenashurphotography.com