How Did I Get Here? Part 2

So, here I am, quitting my teaching job and opening a bakery. A gluten free bakery. Because I have to eat this way now. I found out my diagnosis after my brother's death (more on that later).

Did I have food experience? Well, I worked at a doughnut shop as a clerk for two months in the summer once. And that's it. Did I know how to run a business? No. Did I know how to run payroll? No. Did I know about building codes, or taxes, or ordering equipment, or getting supplies? Um, no.

But confidence, intelligence, and a heavy dose of delusion can get you really far. “I'll just figure it out,” was my entire motto. Why couldn't I do it? My brother started a business and then another one and another one and he was doing great. I wasn't a total dummy either, I did well in school. I come from a family of super nerds. But what I didn't realize… it doesn't matter how much confidence you have or how much intelligence you have, everyone thinks you're crazy when you start a business.

And I started a GLUTEN FREE bakery. In 2011. In Kentucky. And I didn't actually know anyone who was gluten free, except for myself. Talk about crazy pants ideas….

You hear so much unsolicited advice from people who never started businesses that you waiver a little bit. “Should I be doing this? Maybe I AM terrible at this?” In fact, my ex-husband, who was my husband at the time, told me that opening a gluten free bakery was the “dumbest idea ever.” He's an ex for a reason, though.

The truth is this, everyone who ever starts a business is taking a huge risk. It doesn't matter how smart or how experienced or how much you love it, it's hard to do and it's hard to succeed at it, period.

So I did it, as best I could, with about a quarter of the money I actually needed. I found a shop for rent that had already been a bakery. It was not really up to date, but if I slapped some paint on the walls and laid new flooring, it was good enough. After all, it’s not like I had enough money to renovate the place. Then I spent the bulk of my cash on equipment and containers and ingredients. Was there anything in the budget for me for the first year? Not at all. I basically worked for free for an entire year. But that is a totally different blog for another day.

And so began a great adventure. Like all adventures, it was exhilarating, and terrifying, and emotional, and rewarding. That's life. That's EXACTLY what you want from life. An adventure that you look back on with some regrets, and some awe, and some pride, and some great memories.

But how did I get to this point? How did I get to a home bakery that pops up at farmer's markets and how did I get to this blog that shares all of my recipes with you? That's the adventure part….