We were lucky to catch up with Myeshia Washington recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Myeshia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
As an African American business owner, I am usually the only one in the room with my background and lineage. In the baking and edible industry, it is rare to find a black owned business. This arena has very few minority business owners, therefore I put every effort in showcasing my talent as well as changing the stigma behind the African American Culture. I have learned to adapt in each situation, tailor my products to the customers that attend and ensure to provide education with each purchase.
As a business owner that suffers from anxiety, I use a lot of prayer and self-affirmations to calm my racing thoughts. I am hyper critical of my products and what impression given when meeting me for the first time. With self-care, prayer and a lot of deep breathing, I can be the best I can be. Being the only person in the room who looks like me has helped me develop the skills to take on any environment, whether large or small. Each opportunity is another chance to strengthen my confidence, calm my anxiety and become as successful as I deem to be.
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?
My name is Myeshia Washington, and I am the owner and sole operator of Peach 44 LLC, dba, Peach 44 Creations. My company specializes in southern baked desserts, particularly THC infused items. My mission is to change the perception of edibles and promote the health benefits of the plant. As a medical patient, I have experienced the best and worse of managing anxiety, depression and chronic pain. As an advocate of healthier options, I strive to offer a product that helps patients without the use of a pharmaceutical treatment plan. Each order is custom made to the patients needs and wants.
Since February 12, 2021, I have participated in multiple events, including but not limited to, health and wellness fairs, pop-up shops and private events. Currently, I am the sole vendor for a monthly guided paint class. Custom orders are accepted and made daily based on availability.
As I have continued to learn and grow, I will be adding savory foods to my growing menu options. In the first quarter of 2024, my company will offer weekly menu options to include but not limited to lasagnas, gumbos, pasta and Mexican inspired dishes. These items will be available for order and pickup at designated times. There will be an option of a traditional meal or an THC infused meal. The sky is the limit and I plan on showing exactly what I can offer.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important skills and qualities needed to run a business include patience and resilience. Learning to take time to develop your brand and products is essential as a business owner. Understanding that each opportunity, customer, experience is not the same. Remaining flexible is also key to handling the many moving parts of business ownership. In the past two years, I have learned that resilience and the will to succeed must outweigh it all. With criticism, failed opportunities or bad outcomes, you must learn to keep fighting and not take these things as a reason to stop. Every journey is different, however with resilience, patience, understanding and flexibility, you can succeed at all your goals. These principals apply in all areas, whether in business or personal dealings. Keep going, even when it seems that you aren’t moving forward!
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
In my personal life and as a business owner, I believe it is best to be well-rounded. Taking the time to improve in areas in which you struggle is key to growing for me. Once you understand your strengths, you can focus on improving your weaknesses. This is something I do daily. I know what I am confident in but rising to the challenge and improving on things that I struggle with are personal achievable goals. It is not an easy process to turn the focus internally, but the benefits outweigh the discomfort.
In the two years that I have owned my business, I knew what products I was confident in. I could make a peach cobbler or cheesecake with no thought at all. When it came to cookies, I struggled repeatedly. Instead of taking them off the menu, I took the time to research and practice. As a baker and business owner, if you can’t make a chocolate chip cookie, why would a customer try a peach cobbler? In the beginning, they were too big, too small, well done and underdone. After many hours, tears and utter frustration, I stopped and evaluated what was wrong. I started with the ingredients and found that if I didn’t measure correctly, the outcome was hit or miss. I then moved to the baking temperature, testing and timing over and over until I found the right one. This was not easy, and it caused my confidence to be low. But the joy and feeling of success when I conquered this problem was indescribable. This is just one of the many trials and lessons I have experience on my journey to be a well rounded business owner. If I can’t invest in myself, why would another do so?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Peach44creations
- Facebook: Peach44creations
- Other: Social Club: Peach44 creations, I am also listed on Google.
