Meet Nikita ‘Keet’ Ford

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nikita ‘Keet’ Ford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Nikita ‘Keet’, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
I have always been a generous person. I have always believed that my purpose was bigger than just myself, and helping others has always been something that has been embedded into my character. As an educator, I see children go through things I could never imagine every year. Because of this, I try my best to give back by giving bookbags and school supplies to families in need. As a person who has witnessed mental health disparities in my own personal life, giving back to mental health causes is extremely important as well. I love to also contribute to non-profits to help for causes in the community. It is important because we will get farther by being together, not a part.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a baker, I am in charge of creating lifelong memories. Sounds scary right? It fuels my desire to want to be the best at what I do. Think about it..when you go to an event, what is the thing that is on display for everyone to see? THE CAKE! With that in mind (no pressure), I always try to recreate a client’s idea for what they want their desserts to look like for their special event. I am not only a baker, but I am a scientist, a mathematician, an artist, and the list goes on. It warms my heart when clients send me pictures and videos of their events and rave about their desserts. There is no better feeling to know I had a hand in making a special event more special. It really is a rewarding (but sometimes stressful) business.

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?
Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are perseverance, being firm but welcoming, and knowing what are the best pans (color-wise) to bake in. Let me elaborate…

Being a baker, cake maker, or cake decorator, is not a small job to take lightly. There have been times in my career when a cake doesn’t bake the way I need it to. Or the 2-tiered cake I just worked my behind off won’t sit right and doesn’t look right. What do you do? Lay in a fetal position and cry? If you feel that’s best; however, you still have to come back to that cake and make things right. Perseverance is so critical to the baking business because there are factors beyond our control that may control the outcome of our cakes. Work through it, you can do it.

Being firm but welcoming is key for people to know you are knowledgeable and take your business seriously. You don’t want to give off the impression you are new to the game or don’t know how to price your products. Research your area, know your worth, and stick to your guns. This is your business, never allow anyone to tell you how to run it.

Lastly, it took me some time to really get the color of cake pans right. I used to bake in dark pans. I didn’t like how the bake was in those dark pans, so I love to bake my cakes in light aluminum pans. I love to bake brownies and pound cakes in darker pans. Baking is a science. You learn a lot through trial and error, and what works for one, may not work for all. So practice until you find your niche.

I learn something new every day. There is nothing wrong with being intermediate or even advanced in your craft but never shut the door on learning something new. New knowledge is critical and if you are not learning something new about your craft, can you really say you’re an expert? (Trick question but you get my drift) :).

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
As a mom to four boys, a reading specialist who works full-time, a wife, and overall just a friend, daughter, etc. it is easy to feel overwhelmed with LIFE. Not to mention, those cakes that need to be baked but the motivation just isn’t there at the moment. I just protect my peace and prioritize things in my life. People always ask how I do it, and the answer is simple really. Prioritize. My family will always come first. If they are not straight, then I have to make sure they are before anything. Next, is my professional life in order? Then I move on to stay organized in my business. I make sure my orders aren’t just invoiced, but I also write them on a huge calendar because it helps me stay connected to my obligations. Putting pen to paper has been scientifically proven to strengthen your connection to what you write, so I make sure to do that. Overall, when I feel defeated, my clients always find a way to remind me that what I am doing is worth it. I currently operate a 5-star bakery and their love and unwavering support always lets me know, I got this. And guess what? So do you!

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