Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Sims. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kim, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is one of those things that will be a constant struggle in anyone’s career. One of the best things for my career is hearing how other bakers that were ahead of where I was at the time, still get it. From hearing podcasts and from seeing posts in different baking groups, I found out that even the best of the best in the industry, have imposter syndrome. I started seeing that everyone struggles with the same doubts, questions and hardships that I was facing as a beginner in the industry. Sharing those struggles with the world helped me to see that we are all human and that everyone starts out the same, and with work we can all do better.
I would also say that becoming close to other bakers has also been beneficial. Having the mindset of community over competition helped me reach out to other bakers to network with them, instead of against them. With that, I became very close to a few bakers. Through our friendships, we’ve been able to cheer on each other’s successes, and help with difficulties when things happen. Having those close connections and seeing that they are just like me, really helped my imposter syndrome subside. I am now able to see the accomplishments I’ve made, and feel worthy of those accomplishments because of my friends support and love. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still in awe at where I am at, and sometimes feel the imposter syndrome take hold during challenges. But with the amazing communities and relationships I’ve built with other bakers, I am able to push past it. I like to remind myself daily that I’m human, and always learning.
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 own a cottage bakery, Wesley’s Treats Hallie’s Sweets, in Spring Texas. I am a nut free bakery and can accommodate many allergy friendly requests. I have food allergies myself, and know how hard it is to find a safe business to accommodate them. I am allergic to tree nuts as well as peanuts, so they do not enter my home, practically eliminating cross contamination concerns for those allergens. I am also allergic to eggs, as well as other allergies and sensitivities. Because of that, I have devoted many hours on food allergy research and proper procedures for handling food and avoiding allergens.
With the knowledge and research skills I have gained for my own safety, I have been able to to go beyond my own food allergies, and accommodate other common ones as well. I am happy to accommodate orders with tree nut, peanut, dairy, egg, soy, and gluten, as well as some uncommon allergy requests as well. Although most of my orders are not allergy requests, I love that I am able to help those that have food allergies like me.
My bakery is not the only business I own. I co-own The Woodlands Cookie Classes, LLC with my partner and fellow baker Heather Brookshire. We teach monthly cookie classes and have a blast doing so! We teach everything from the dough, through the decorating process. This year is exciting because we are planning more advanced classes, a digital class or two, and we will have our own event space in the second half of the year.
Finally, my most exciting news is my husband and I are in the process of opening a Beans and Brews Coffeehouse location in Spring, TX! I grew up on Beans and Brews coffee, and absolutely love their brand from the coffee to the atmosphere of the stores and people. I used to joke when I was a teen, that I wanted to open a Beans and Brews with a bakery. Never joke about a dream, because you never know where life will take you. We have signed on for two locations, the first coming mid 2024. We will have our own conference room that I can host our cookie classes from, as well as other community groups. I will not be selling my baked goods daily at our first location, but there are more things in the works that can change that in the future.
Everything that I have learned from building my baking business has lead to the opening of our Beans and Brews. All my hard work is paying off, and I am grateful everyday for everything I have achieved. I’m very excited about the future and the possibilities that it brings.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My mom always said “You can do hard things.” This is probably the most important thing she ever taught me. It taught me that even though a situation or dream seems impossible, I have the power within me to make it work for me. I have had many times in my life I have wanted to give up or not even try because it seemed like it was too hard, but those words helped me push through and I’m in awe at what has happened. I’m grateful for her pushing me forward when I was younger, and cheering me on in all of my endeavors in life. She gave me the gift of perseverance that has lead to my successes. Thank you Mom!
Another quality that I have found is the desire to learn. I have found that I love learning all sorts of things, and I’m not afraid to seek out opportunities to grow. It can be terrifying at times to show your lack of knowledge in an area, but I have found that many people are willing to help guide you and point you in the direction of learning. We are all on a journey together in life, and we don’t know what we don’t know. Being willing to learn and seek these challenges has helped me grow in business and individually. I always look back at my past self and laugh a little that I was afraid, because the journey was so much more fun and rewarding, than scary.
Lastly, along the same lines of the other two, the willingness to take risks is the key. Taking a risk is terrifying! There’s always more pressure and responsibility to start any business. I, again, laugh a little at how fearful I was starting a cottage business, and now I’m in the startup process of Beans and Brews and reminding myself I’m going to feel the same way looking back at where I am now. That’s not to say, don’t be smart when starting a new venture. I made sure to talk with all the professionals to make sure we were capable of our new journey. I highly recommend to always talk to a variety of professionals and ask all the questions before starting on something. There are so many professionals willing to help you along your path and guide you through. Don’t be afraid to have consultations with multiple options and find the best fit for you, your personality, and your industry.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My confidence has grown a lot in the last year. I was able to see the growth I have done over the previous few years, and accept that I can make my dreams come true. Being able to accept and appreciate my challenges and growth gave me the confidence I needed to venture forward into bigger goals. I was able to see how I have proven myself in many areas, and be more open up to learning more as well.
Once I understood everyone ahead of me has been where I am, and recognized other people are also eager to help out those behind them, a new world opened up for me. I wasn’t as shy about where I am at. I learned that it’s ok to not know everything to start something new. I started asking more questions, even if I felt like I should’ve know the answer.
Someone told me “You don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s ok! My job is to educate you on your options so you can learn and make the best decision.” This helped validate my feeling in the process and be open to asking more questions. If someone made me feel bad about not knowing something, I’d find another professional who was willing to educate me. It’s ok to find someone that works with your knowledge and is willing to help you along the way. No one goes through any journey alone. My confidence grew once I understood this, and I’m so grateful for that lesson.
Contact Info:
- Website: WesleysTreatsHalliesSweets.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wesleys_treats_hallies_sweets/
- Facebook: facebook.com/WesleysTreatsHalliesSweets
