Practicing the Pivot

4 years ago I left a full time job as the Pastry Chef of the Cleveland Museum of Art and a decade in the restaurant business, because I burned out. I had no idea what my plan was, because I didn’t have one.

When I burned out, I lost sense of myself, my passion and could barely focus on anything. I had spent a decade learning pastry in places all over the United States, I got to work in some of the most beautiful and fancy places and I had to learn a new place, new people and new systems fairly quickly. No one does pastry the same way. I have had to learn how to adjust over and over again. Some call it a Pivot (my favorite scene in Friends btw :)

Becoming a business owner was never the plan, again, I don’t usually plan a whole lot besides what my next carb or dessert will be. I took a job as a Barista at Starbucks, also took a part time job at Lola Bistro and started getting calls for desserts almost daily from people that I had met. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had already begun networking.

I have had to restart my life, find a new way to reignite my passion for pastry and also pay my bills. I was a hot mess for awhile. I had taken a couple of weeks off to release some of the anxiety and breathe, went to therapy and started to focus on what was the next step for me. I was a Barista for about 4 months, and I worked part time at Lola Bistro for 6 months and then I was a nanny for awhile. During that time, I had to pivot, research, educate myself and figure out what direction I was going to go in.

I started connecting with business owners and went to every meeting, every arts and crafts show, joined every group that I could and started to soak it in, one thing at at time. The first year of my business, I definitely not identify myself as a business owner or have a clear niche, focus or direction to go in.

I kept on going and pivoting, and realized that a running a business could definitely work. It was not going to be easy, I would have to wear all the hats, learn all the non-baking stuff and manage working part time as I explored my options, and kept on moving forward.

Pivoting is part of the process. I am figuring things out as I go and I feel 1000% more focused, my passion is reignited and my non-baking skills are coming in handy. Running a business is a challenge in itself, running a business alone, is insanity. Yep,I am a bit insane. Doing it and doing it pretty well for a badass baker who burned out and has not business background or business partner.

If you are in a place in your life where you are stuck, confused, anxious, just remember to breathe, take time for yourself and be open to anything. A lot of people dream of being or doing something. As long as you can find opportunities and passion in something that allows you to be creative, have fun and connect with amazing people, great things will happen.

Hang in there! Keep on pivoting! You got this:) I hope to see you in a virtual class soon or feel free to reach out to me anytime. I love hearing from you!

xoxo

Annie