Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Southern. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I fell into what I love. Sometimes you just have to take a chance. I had filled out a questionnaire at the corporate company I worked for suggesting what job titles I would be interested in working within the company. One of the options was cake decorator. They had a girl leaving, so they needed the position filled. They looked within the company to fill that spot and saw I was interested. They let me try the position out for a while. I fell in LOVE. I was so excited. I told the manager I would love to learn more. She could tell I was ecstatic with the opportunity. I worked side by side for 5 years learning everything I could from the senior cake decorator. I was naturally talented she said. I learned very quickly. When you find a passion you know. You are excited to learn and do more with that passion. I never would have realized almost 16 years later I would have my own bakery and my skills would be refined as much as they are. I’m still in disbelief, but extremely happy I am able to do what I love.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The best part of my job, and also possibly the saddest is this. It’s hard when people come in and tell me things like “My family member just passed away and they always loved your cake” or “I have cancer and the only thing I really wanted was some of your cake”.
I just feel like my cakes hit home and make a difference. With one taste it brings hurting people back to a time when they were happy. It brings comfort to those whom have lost their loved one and helps them remember what they loved. It allows people to remember the way grandma, or mom use to make their cakes from scratch. You can’t just get that from any store. It breaks my heart to hear someone has died, but it makes me feel at peace knowing I have helped people in some way. Maybe this was my purpose on Earth. I’d like to think so.
It’s also fun to be a part of each individual’s life events from their birthday, engagements, wedding events, baby showers, baby’s first birthdays, and birthdays as the children grow. We are with people through everything by making their events shine with the perfect cake.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’m really appreciative that in the corporate grocery world I actually had quite a bit of experience with ordering supplies and managing things. This has greatly helped me with how I run a business now. It has also showed me how to work with difficult personalities sometimes. It has shown me that quantity is not always the best thing. Quality products are more appreciated and fulfilling. The people you work with and develop relationships, sometimes you just have to make it fun for the employees to want to work. The more walking on eggshells make for unhappy work environment. So cut up, make jokes, be funny, you only have one life to live, and you need to work, so you might as well have fun while you do it. It makes it more of a family environment where you want to be there more.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Right now, like everyone else, inflation. The egg prices really hit us hard. We use a lot of eggs. We went from spending maybe $50.00 a week on eggs to $500.00 a week. I tried changing recipes to decrease egg usage with applesauce. This did not go very well. We had to change it back as this made a negative impact on my business.
Unfortunately less people are buying cakes due to price increases. I’ve had to increase prices just to battle egg costs as well as other ingredients skyrocketing. It’s getting better. I just try to work hard so that I am able to help my employees out as well. I know they are struggling just like us and I want to be able to give them raises. They deserve it. They are amazing employees and I could not do it without them. I love them like my family. They are great people.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hoosiergirlcakery.com
- Facebook: Hoosier Girl Cakery, LLC-Monroe, GA
Image Credits
Adam Southern, Arya Southern, Ami Leavelle, and Kristina Williams
