We recently connected with Jenae Criswell and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenae, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Being a business owner, it is so easy to be immersed 100% into your business and all things that come with running one. As I am the only one a part of my business, it is extremely important that practice different self-care techniques. One of my biggest practices is setting business hours and putting all of my electronics on do not disturb. This allows me time to myself and my family. I typically try to take at least a day where I don’t do anything business related so that I don’t burn myself out. My next step in my self-care is planning a vacation where I take a week or two to just unwind and reset. I’ve found that sometimes if I’ve been working non-stop, I may experience an creative block. I think prioritizing care of one’s self which in turn be very impactful to the business because then I feel that I am at my best and I can provide my best service to my customers.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the owner and baker of Tink’s Sweet Shoppe. I am a cottage (home) baker that specializes in decorated cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops. All sweets are made from scratch using high-quality ingredients, decorated with an attentive eye, and filled with love. My most popular item is my custom cookies! I love getting to be a sweet part of so many special events and occasions. My favorite part outside of decorating is seeing the reaction when someone picks up their dessert(s). I am currently working on some big opportunities and would love to venture into getting a store front in the future.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One quality that I think that has been such a huge impact in the success of my business thus far is being self-disciplined and organized. I believe with running a business. you have to be self-disciplined to complete everything in a timely manner. I have been doing this full-time for a little over a year now and it’s definitely easy push things off because you are your own boss; there’s no one to manage you or make sure you’re doing what you need to do to complete the task. I also believe that being organized has helped me tremendously. Everything that goes towards running my baking business has a place. From physical items to virtual (such as my invoicing and payments), I have a system that allows me to be efficient in my work so that I can be ready for pick up. I think another quality in running my business is being personable. Knowing how to interact and be of service is definitely a key component to my business. The majority of my business comes from referrals and social media. I also participate in various markets throughout the year that helps me get my face and products out to the community. Knowing how to talk to people and be engaging on social media comes with practice and time and the more that I’m out in the community, the easier it becomes.
For someone that is just starting, I would advise setting a system on how you want to take orders. Write out a small blurb that ask basic questions (like date and theme). Also don’t be afraid to take a chance. I stepped out on faith and have been steadily growing my business to what it is now. Another piece of advice, try not to compare yourself to someone else. This is your journey and no one person will be on the same path. It’s easy to look at someone else’s progress and get down but your growth will come in time just focus on what you have in front in of you!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I typically like to first step away from and breathe. Some times, I will take a walk or talk to a family member/ friend. I find that when I talk about my feelings and what’s going on with someone else, they can help me process my thoughts and give me advice. If I don’t have anyone to talk to, I also like to listen to music or meditate. Reading is one of my favorite pass times. A recent strategy I’ve been engaging in is listening to calming sounds. It helps me clear my thoughts. For me, I know when I’m overwhelmed or stressed, I can’t think clearly which can in turn impact my work. My best advice is to find different techniques that help you alleviate those feelings. We’re all human and at some point in to time, will experience feeling overwhelmed; but we do not have to stay in that state. Find an avenue that helps you decompress.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tinkssweetshoppe.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tinksweetshoppe
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/tinksweetshoppe
- Other: www.tiktok.com/tinksweetshoppe
