Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Asia Thomas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Asia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
When I’m the only one in the room who looks like me, my faith in Jesus Christ has kept me and lead me to become effective/successful. I know that no matter where He sends me, I’m meant to be there. Everything happens for a reason. -It’s either going to be a lesson or a blessing. So, I walk in the confidence that God gave me and remember that each and every person in this room walks on the same earth and breathes the same air as me. They are no better than me. Afterall, it’s having a relationship with Christ that truly matters in this life and the life to come.
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?
Sweet Savour Cakery is a Faith-based, Minority, and Woman-Owned business that specializes in creating delicious, one-of-a-kind custom cakes that melt in your mouth and appease your eyes. All of our cakes are hand-crafted with quality ingredients and designed with you in mind. With various designs and unlimited flavors, you’re sure to get a special cake at Sweet Savour!
The most exciting part, in my opinion, is the fact that I let my clients be creative with not only the design of their cake but, with the flavor combinations as well. My clients love that they don’t have to be limited with their imagination and that I embrace who they are. It’s always a blast for me when it comes to baking/decorating their wishes and watching it come into fruition by the labor of my hands! I believe that everyone is special so, why shouldn’t their cake be? God has definitely given me a gift that not only makes people happy but it makes me happy as well.
I have some exciting things coming up in the near future (within the next year or two). Be on the lookout for a Sweet Savour Cakery shop with a fun DIY station, located in Denver, Colorado. I’ll also be hosting fun and exciting cake decorating competitions. For more information, visit my website www.sscakery.com to stay updated on the latest trends.
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?
Looking back, the three most helpful qualities that I possessed early on was: having a hard-work ethic, great customer service skills, and passion. The first two skills I learned from working multiple jobs since the age of 15 and my passion came from God.
As a entrepreneur/business owner, you are going to work more hours and receive less pay in the first few 3-5 years than you would working a 9-5. To be successful, you must not be afraid of hard work. and you must relentlessly go after what you want in life! Nobody is going to push your business or even care for your business the way that you do and nobody is going to give you hand-outs. Everything you receive is based off of everything you put out for your business. Customer service skills are important because you must know how to talk to people and build relationships. Relationships will take you farther than transactions ever will. You can pay for advertisements for your business but, if you have a relationship with the CEO of the advertisement company, it’s going to result in a better outcome. It’s about more about who you know and not what you know. Your network is your net worth. Lastly, being passionate about what you do is highly important. Your passion is what is going to get you through those long nights, the rejections, and the moments when you feel unmotivated to carry on. Your passion is the heartbeat of your company. As long as you still have a pulse, you will thrive again. Never give up because you could be one day away from your breakthrough!
You can best develop or improve on these traits by working on one thing in your business every day, treating every one around you with honesty and respect, and seeking your purpose that God has given you and embellishing it. The scriptures says in Proverbs 18:16 that ” A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My number one obstacle, believe it or not, is telling myself that I am good enough. That I deserve success. That I can accomplish my dreams. To overcome this challenge, I pray for confidence and for my fear of the unknown to cease. I regularly attend networking events and talk about my business. Observing people’s reactions when it comes to trying and/or seeing my products for the first time is a real confidence booster. I get lost in my thoughts often so it’s helpful to be around others who will lift me up when I need it most.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.sscakery.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sweetsavourcakeryllc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweetsavourcakery
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-thomas-78a53522b
- Other: TikTok: SweetSavourCakery
Image Credits
For Photo with me and the cupcakes: Shawn Bosley Brandon Whitfield made my logo The 2 cake photos were taken by me.
