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

Shelby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Being successful is a relative term in my Opinion! I am already successful. I have my family, friends, hobbies and my everyday job. Being able to make my hobby a side gig was just a plus! You have to look at things with a perspective of “I already am” in order to become that.

If you want to be creative, tell yourself “I’m already creative” and just keep going. If you want to be fit, think to yourself “I’m already fit”, and do the things a determined fit person would do! Success starts in your head first. Always! Then just put in the work and you will inevitably be rewarded.

Shelby, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Firstly, I am a mama and wife. We live on the outskirts of our little town with 15 acres and our small homestead. We have livestock and a greenhouse we tend to regularly, which I think is great for my babies in the future!

Along with that, I do a lot of home baking. I have loved being in the kitchen ever since I can remember! When COVID hit and most of us had to be home, baking became my creative outlet. I was so scared to share what I was doing, you just never know how people may react. But then I thought, if I love something so much, I should just share it. So I did! And the rest is history. My small hobby & food blog turned into my home baking business. It’s so fun being able to express my creativity and have it turn into a side gig. I encourage anyone else who is hesitant to share something with the world to just do it! The answer will always be no if you never try.

I mostly specialize in large gourmet cookies. They’re not the kind of cookies you can go find in store! So, they’re great for our community events, birthdays, showers, teacher appreciation days or just on a regular Friday when you need a cookie! I create each batch with something different and versatile so the options are practically endless and I think that’s what makes it so much fun! Sometimes I fail terribly, but that’s just part of the learning curve. I do my best to keep cost down and ingredients as fresh and local as they can be. It brings me so much joy when people can share the happiness I do, in the simplest form of just a cookie!

How did you build your audience on social media?

The best advice I have for this is, JUST POST IT. I know there is so much hype over having one niche and sticking to it, and being so aesthetically perfect its overwhelming and discouraging. I was in this same spot when I first started. I didn’t know how to narrow down my audience. I still don’t know how to narrow down my specific audience. I slowly took pictures and edited the way I liked or knew how. I made content based on what I thought people wanted to see. While some of these strategies worked, they didn’t always. I was so confused and discouraged, I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up.

Don’t create based on what you think people want to see. Create things you love, and post the things you love. Write about the things you love and take photos of things you love. It takes time, but eventually you will find the right crowd and grow more. Don’t overthink it, just do it! The best content is the most personal content. Be genuine!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Honestly, just being able to share my passion and bring joy to other people is enough for me. I have made tons of new friendships in the small business world and that is HUGE. It’s just a community of people you want in your corner. Cheering you on all the time through the good and the bad. Talking with other small business owners and exchanging ideas. Talking with other creatives and working together towards the same goal. It’s all so much fun and I learn new things every single day!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saltandsugar.biz/
• Instagram: @saltandsugarbakingco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltandsugarbakingco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saltandsugarbakingco