The biggest leap of my life!

Let’s be honest, I never dreamed of becoming a business owner. I never thought I would go back to school for a 2nd time after graduating at Kent State University.

I did not know that I could become a Pastry Chef and actually get paid to create desserts. I never thought I would quit my full time social work job at Cuyahoga County Department of Children & family Services and move to North Carolina to go to a Culinary School and get an associate’s degree in Baking and Pastry Arts at the age of 29. I never thought I would have a teacher tell me on the 3rd day of pastry school tell me that I needed to find a new career. I never thought about how many amazing places I would get to live in and work at once I became a Pastry Chef. I was in it solely for the passion, the creative outlet and the need for a change in my life. I aspired to go on the tv show “the Real world” but I did not plan on being TV, I just loved the idea of moving to a new place and discovering what else is out there and finding my identity.

I never thought I would burn out after a decade in “the business”. I never thought I would walk out of a job without finishing my 2 weeks notice because I was burned out physically and mentally. I never thought I would go to Bali. I never thought I would start a business at 41 by myself with no business background. I never thought I would be a badass baker. I never thought I would teach 90 baking classes in 15 months.

I have always gone with the flow but never really considered what I truly wanted to do in life. I am extremely thankful that I took the biggest leap of my life 13 years ago today. I quit my Social work job, sold my house, and moved to Charlotte, NC and never looked back. I have lived in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and eventually made my way back to Cleveland in November 2010.

I think a lot about what I “should be doing” but what I have realized, is that the less “thinking about it” and the more I do things that are out of my comfort zone, I am much more confident, self aware and happier than ever.

My advice is this, yes think about what you want to do, but take the first step and every step after that. It will be extremely crazy, bumpy, overwhelming but it will also be amazing, fun, rewarding and life changing. If not, keep on keeping on, you will find your way or in some crazy ways, it will find you.

If I can do it, you can definitely do it!!!

xoxo

Annie