We were lucky to catch up with Travesia Agee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Travesia with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from my maternal grandfather, Tyree Richburg (Papa) and my dad, Joe Agee. Papa was a man that wore many hats and was many things to many people but he instilled in me that if man doesn’t work then man doesn’t eat. Papa was a man of faith and a minister but before that he was in the military. He later became a police officer and worked his way through the ranks and became Chief of Police for the City of Prichard Alabama. Knowing that Papa was dedicated not only to his career but also to his community is something that I will always hold on to. My grandfather being a minister taught me that no matter what you keep your word and you do the work. He worked hard serving the church and the community. He stayed active in local government by attending council meetings while also serving as Chaplain at the local hospitals. He was the epitome of never stop working and serving. Growing up my dad worked hard. From being in the military to running multiple businesses, he always had something going. He had a full time job working at a food delivery company in the warehouse. He invested in vending machines and had them at his job and my siblings and I would have to go with him on Saturdays to stock the machines and collect the money. This was the beginning of the entrepreneur developing inside of me. My dad worked full time, had vending machines, a hot dog cart, a food trailer (before food trucks became popular lol), and purchased a shopping plaza (containing 3 different shops) all at the same time. I grew up helping with the machines, the food trailer, and cleaning the shops in the plaza. My dad’s mantra was “scared money won’t make any money” and this taught me to take the risk. That has helped to drive me in running my own business. Both Papa and my dad have taught me to never give up and that I can actually have and be anything that I want but it takes hard work, dedication, and consistency.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a full time employee but I am also a business owner. I am the owner of Let Them Eat Cake, LLC located in Mobile, AL. Let Them Eat Cake specializes in home made southern table desserts. Our mission here is to bring everyone back to the table, one slice at a time. Baking has been something that I have been doing since a child and I have loved it every since. My mom was tired of baking and decided one year that it was my turn to learn to make her famous red velvet cake that she made every year for Christmas. I learned and became responsible for making the cake for my household and two of my aunts every Christmas. I have always cooked and baked for friends and family. The kitchen is literally my sanctuary and is where i find solace and peace. For years one of my best friends told me I needed to go into business for myself and become a caterer. She even offered to pay me to be her live in cook, shout out to NiNi for the support back then lol. In 2019 I decided to start my business to bring in money to help with bills. I never imagined that the business would be as successful as it was in the beginning. Our top sellers are cheesecakes and ironically that is not the thing that I started out doing but has becoming the main attraction. The busiest time of the year for us is holiday season so right now we are getting ready for that and working on adding in shipping some smaller items. Please subscribe to www.letthemeatcakemobile.com to keep up with all things Let them Eat Cake.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say my three most important qualities that have been the most impactful are, prayer/keeping God first, being dedicated to my craft, and not being afraid to fail. Praying through the process has literally been a saving grace. I had to become intentional about praying about every aspect pf my business and it has absolutely worked for me. I know that God has given me the vision for my business and he will see me through every step of the way. Staying dedicated to my craft and business is definitely a top priority that requires a lot of work mentally and physically. Sometimes the business requires late nights and early mornings but its a sacrifice to see the vision come to life. Not being afraid to fail is something that most people do not possess and it also keeps people stagnant. Failure is always an option when doing some things but you have to look at it differently. What if i fail? but the other side to that is what if i succeed? I would tell people to keep their faith strong, stay dedicated to the vision that YOU have for YOUR business, and look at failure as it not even being an option and the only option is success!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing that my parents have done for me is giving me wisdom and showing me how to operatein faith. My mom is the epitome of faith even when I find myself not operating in my own faith. She supports my business and motivates me when I need it the most. My dad is the one that will ask me the tough questions when it comes to my business to make sure that I am on the right path and that I am staying the course to make the vision come to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://letthemeatcakemobile.com
- Instagram: let_them_eat_cake.llc
- Facebook: Let Them Eat Cake, LLC
- Linkedin: Travesia Agee
Image Credits
Images by: Apple of My Eye Photography and LA Photography
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