Meet Jasara Ponton

We recently connected with Jasara Ponton and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasara, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

First and foremost, I want to start off by saying thank you so much for the opportunity to share a part of me, my business and my story with your publication, I greatly appreciate it! My persistence is based on my love for baking and hopefully given the opportunity to create sweet memories for my customers, friends, and loved ones! So, whoever the naysayers, haters may be honestly, I don’t hear them! And I say that to say it’s due to the fact that my drive is much bigger and louder than their noise!! I am fueled to drive my business because it’s something I have loved doing for so long and I don’t let chatter from outsiders that demean me, my business, and my greater good an opportunity to take up space, drain my energy, and plant seeds of doubt into anything I’m pouring love into!!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a family taught Home Baker! I have been baking thanks to my mother since I was four years old. Baking as an outlet has brought me so much peace, comfort, joy, and fun! Especially after me transitioning from being a sighted person to being blind as a result of a service-connected complication I had while I was in the military. As far as I’m concerned, being a baker & sweet treat creator is extremely exciting for me! Coming across a recipe whether its online or in cookbooks that I may have around my house; recipes for me are always fascinating. I get to flex creative muscles I haven’t tapped into with a recipe. I may be trying it for the first time. Whether I’m making a fruit tart for the first time or a Boston cream doughnut or a new recipe for a cupcake or cookie that I haven’t explored yet it challenges me to flex those muscles. I’ve loved while I was in school due to baking having to be very specific. It is a scientific craft, and it is always involving math in the form of measurements which I have always loved to explore as a child! Baking for me first and foremost is about having fun in the kitchen with the ingredients that are in front of me!! In my mind, I become a dessert wizard bringing ingredients together for the common goal of being absolutely delicious!! Well as far as my future endeavors go, I am definitely looking into shipping and honestly, I would love to have a baking truck or trailer. I could take on the road! As well as some baking merchandise.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

There are several qualities and skills I found to be helpful for myself being a person who is blind! One in particular that stands out to me immediately is patience! I know more often than not that may be easier said than done. However, I feel that patience is very necessary for the building blocks of your craft, your drive, your WHY, as well as the love for what you do! Having patience with yourself is definitely a cornerstone of many aspects in life, especially when it involves being an entrepreneur, being creative, stepping out & doing the unknown, having the patience to explore, and excel in your business, and most importantly, in my honest opinion, the patience to not always get things right! Another great aspect I found to be most helpful for myself is getting quality feedback and whatever you’re doing whether it be baking, designing, making clothes, skin care, hair, or makeup! The honesty can definitely propel you forward to adjust what you’re doing and adjust as needed. I honestly must say the helpful and creative feedback that I have gotten has absolutely helped me adjust in my business with something I may have been lacking, or an aspect of my business that I may have needed to cut back on. Finally, I would offer another piece of advice. When I need motivation if I’m feeling complacent is to absolutely do something new even if it’s in small batches to test something unknown, unfamiliar, however not on a large scale to where though it’s going to be costly just to test the waters and see if you as an entrepreneur may want to edit your menu, your platform, and your skill set. You never know when something new could be an absolute gem and perfect addition to what you’re already doing.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am definitely open to collaborations with entrepreneurs, influencers, and other businesses who may enjoy what it is that I do as a baker, and have a love for food, great quality ingredients, and an open mind and heart in working with someone who is disabled.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themelanatedblindbaker.com/
• Instagram: @themelanatedblindbaker