We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle Wetsch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michelle, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout
Avoiding burnout in my profession is incredibly hard… especially as a people pleaser. It’s so easy for me to say yes as far as taking on other orders, even when I’m already feeling overwhelmed with what’s on my plate. One thing I have really been working on is trying to just stay focused and organized throughout the week. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to say no if I realistically can’t take on more than what’s on my plate. Another thing I am firm on is having my weekends open for time with my family and friends. Yes I may still have pickups or deliveries I may have to make, but for the most part, I am not physically in the kitchen working on weekends. If I do need to take an extra work day and go in on a Saturday or Sunday, I will. But typically my kids and family take priority.
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?
I am a Custom Luxury Cake Artist based out of Wake Forest, NC! I custom make cakes and baked goods all from scratch and using quality ingredients for anything from weddings to birthdays. I’ve done treats for corporations and even commercials on tv!
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?
Being consistent is highly important. Yes I may be a spontaneous person, but with my business I have to stay consistent in everything. Having a system and a routine will help me stay focused and successful. Being consistent helps me be able to grow my skill. With every order i complete i am able to practice my trade daily. I’m always trying to learn more. Whether is a new technique, or method, I am always willing to grow. Confidence is also important. Many times I will fill my head with self doubt for no reason. I just have to remember to pause, take a step back, take a deep breath, relax my mind, and come up for air. I do know what I’m doing even when I’m overwhelmed and stressing and thinking that I don’t. I know my clientele trusts me and I know that I can deliver above and beyond. When I find myself in a different mindset I just practice that and stay confident. One thing that stuck with me from Culinary School was to document everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. This has helped me grow my business. I post on social media all the time. It’s free advertising! Word of mouth is incredible and really works.. Most of my business comes from word of mouth and from social media.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always down to collaborate with people! There’s a phrase that goes, “collaboration happens at the top and competition happens at the bottom.” I believe that. I’m always one to root for and help other people succeed. I think it’s very important, especially with small businesses. Yes you can be successful on your own but help and having someone there next to you is even better. I’d also love to get into more wedding and corporate events! If you’re reading this, just reach out to me! Shoot me a message any time!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chellewetschcakes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/chellewetschcakes
