Meet Justinne Whichard

We were lucky to catch up with Justinne Whichard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Justinne, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by constantly seeking inspiration from various sources and embracing new experiences. One of the biggest influences is my deep connection to the community and the feedback we receive from our customers. Listening to what they love or want to see more of inspires me to experiment with new flavors, ingredients, and menu ideas.

Travel also plays a big role in sparking creativity. Exploring different cuisines and techniques, whether through trips or even research, helps me bring fresh ideas back to Sticky Fingers Cafe. I also enjoy collaborating with other local chefs and bakers, as sharing ideas and learning from each other keeps my passion for food growing.

Staying connected to my roots—baking alongside my mother growing up—reminds me of the importance of authenticity. I take those traditional recipes and find ways to give them a modern twist, which keeps the balance between honoring the past and innovating for the future.

Lastly, carving out time for personal growth and self-care is essential. Whether it’s trying out a new recipe at home or reading about emerging food trends, I ensure that I continue to evolve both personally and professionally. This, in turn, fuels the creativity that I bring into the cafe every day.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the owner of Sticky Fingers Cafe, a cozy spot in Lago Vista where we specialize in homemade pastries, artisanal coffee, and comforting breakfast and lunch dishes and the most amazing sweets. What excites me most about what we do is the ability to bring people together through food that’s made with care and attention to detail. The atmosphere we’ve created is warm and inviting, making it a place where customers feel like they’re at home.

Right now, we’re focusing on expanding our catering services and will soon be introducing a loyalty program to reward our regulars. We also plan to host more community events, including themed brunches and local collaborations, to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers. At Sticky Fingers, we aim to do more than serve great food—we want to be a part of what makes our community feel connected and supported.

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

Looking back, the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey were resilience, adaptability, and attention to detail.

1. Resilience helped me push through challenges, like tight budgets and unexpected setbacks, without losing focus on my goals. My advice for those early in their journey is to embrace obstacles as part of the process. Building resilience means staying committed, even when things get tough, and learning from every setback.
2. Adaptability was key as I grew Sticky Fingers Cafe, whether it was adjusting to customer feedback, market changes, or new trends. To develop adaptability, stay open to change, be willing to pivot when necessary, and always look for new ways to improve and innovate.
3. Attention to detail has been essential in maintaining quality, from recipe consistency to customer service. Focusing on the small things makes a big difference. To improve on this, develop a habit of reviewing your work carefully, whether it’s in your product, service, or operations, and never stop aiming for excellence.

For anyone starting out, I’d say focus on building these qualities through experience, continuous learning, and staying dedicated to your vision.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe there’s a balance between going all in on your strengths and improving areas where you’re not as strong. Focusing on your strengths allows you to excel and stand out in what you do best, which is essential for success. However, addressing weaker areas is equally important to prevent them from becoming roadblocks to growth.

For example, when I started Sticky Fingers Cafe, my strength was baking and creating recipes. I leaned heavily into that, making sure our pastries were top-notch and a key part of our brand. However, I quickly realized that areas like marketing, which isn’t my strongest skill, needed attention. Ignoring them would have held the business back, so I invested time in learning more about those areas, and getting advice from experts.

By improving in those weaker areas, I was able to make more informed decisions and grow the business sustainably. At the same time, I continued honing my strengths in the kitchen, which remained the heart of the cafe. My takeaway is that leaning into your strengths gives you an edge, but developing a well-rounded skill set ensures you can handle the demands of running a business or career.

The key is knowing when to delegate or seek help in areas where you’re weaker while still developing those skills enough to make confident decisions. In the end, both approaches are necessary for long-term success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stickyfingerscafe.com/
• Instagram: stickyfingerscafe.lv
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stickyfingerscafelv/
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/x1TiOQg6Cx