Meet Amanda Moody

We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Moody recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Developing the confidence to be a small business owner is not something that happens over night. I struggled for a long time with imposter syndrome and feeling like I was not good enough to be selling my cakes in the beginning. The thing that has helped me build the confidence the most has just been time! I had to fail, I had to make mistakes and learn by trial and error. Trusting myself, my abilities, my training and believing the positive feedback I receive has been so important.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am the owner of Manda Bakes, a home based Cottage Food Operation that specializes in custom cakes and treats for all occasions! I create edible works of art for weddings, birthdays, baby showers, etc. I believe what sets me apart is my attention to detail and my recipes and flavors. I have been creating custom desserts for over 16 years now and the experience that I have gained over that time has been so beneficial to getting me to where I am today. I pride myself on making all my cakes and treats from scratch and with recipes that I have been adapting and perfecting for years.

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?

I began culinary school back in 2009 at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of California San Diego. I believe this education was so important to help me today, not only because of the culinary techniques I learned, but the business side of things. I still utilize bakers math, recipe/menu costing, expense strategies, margin equations etc. in the every day work of my business. Learning to properly use Excel and other spreadsheet apps has also been a lifesaver. There is so much more involved in making a successful cake business than just creating a beautiful cake.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

There have been many times on my small business journey that I have felt overwhelmed! I think that just comes with the territory! What I have found that works for me is taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture. That I am doing what I have always wanted to do, and the fact that I am overwhelmed by the number of order I have is a positive thing. It’s all about perspective. I also am a big fan of fitness and have found that carving in time for my self to workout is a big help at relieving stress and makes me more ready to tackle my day. I love to run, walk with friends, and weight train.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made