Meet Taylor Varble-williamson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Varble-williamson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Taylor, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I would say that my resilience definitely comes from both of my parents, but mainly my mother. She never gave up… like ever. I don’t even think that was in her vocabulary. They went through a lot together and had to bounce back from multiple hardships. I compare the two because owning a business is the same way, you have to be able to make it work. There is no other option! Growing up, my dad was in the Military, so he was away a lot. Seeing how my mother handled taking care of three small children, who, by the way, were extremely close in age; definitely showed me how resilient she was. Nothing was ever a problem; nothing was ever too much, and we never knew how truly hard it was growing up because they never showed us. My parents are the reason that I am anything that I am today, and I will forever be thankful for their guidance, tough love, and many life lessons. We lost them both in 2022 and 2023. I started my business at a time when I had no clue what was ahead for me and my family. I’m thankful enough that God gave me the chance to work for myself in the midst of a horrifying cancer diagnosis for my mother, just a few months after burying my father. With this, I was able to spend time with her that had I not been where I was with this bakery, I don’t know if I would have gotten that time. My mother fought so hard until the very end, and I will make it my mission to carry that quality throughout my life and business.

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?

My name is Taylor Varble-Williamson and I am the owner of The Mixing Bar, a home-based bakery, specializing in wedding and specialty cakes. I started making cakes when I was 9 years old. I made my older sisters birthday cake and from there- I never stopped! After graduating high school in Texas, I knew I always wanted to come back to Louisville to go to school. In 2015 I graduated from Sullivan University with an Associate of Science in Baking and Pastry Arts degree. During my last quarter at school, I was luckily enough to outsource an internship with a small bakery where I grew into a full-time position, I worked my way up to be the owner’s right-hand gal and I was creating or having a hand in the majority of the orders going out the door. Sadly, the business that helped me grow in the industry closed its doors in 2018. I debated whether or not I wanted to even be in the wedding industry anymore or if I was completely burnt out at that point. From there I decided that I wasn’t done, I accepted a position as the lead baker at another local bakery but soon decided that I no longer wanted to work for someone else when I could have the creative freedom that I wanted and needed working for myself. This is when The Mixing Bar was born! Right now, the plan is to keep working out of my home, but the long-term goal would be some sort of pickup kitchen/station, or a roadside set up of some sort. I’m not really sure what the future holds, but I am super excited to see where I can take this little business of mine!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I would say hard work, adaptability and willingness to learn as you go. It’s easy to say that all you have to do is work hard, but that really is true. If you put in the effort, eventually that will lead to success if you work hard enough. One thing I’ve learned is to always celebrate your milestones, regardless of how big or small. Being adaptable in situations is absolutely crucial to a business. It allows you to respond to change and new situations, making you more resilient. Try embracing new things and going to a place that takes you out of your comfort zone, whether that be a networking event, a local business or even just talking to another business owner. Things happen every single day and you have to be able to overcome and push forward. Lastly, you have to be willing to learn as you move forward. Constantly seeking new knowledge and skills has kept me ahead of the curve. This includes staying up to date on industry developments, learning from all my other bakery owners/peers/online forums, and investing in personal and professional growth. Like everything, this wasn’t super easy, as I had to put myself into a bunch of uncomfortable situations. That’s how you grow! Make a habit of setting aside time for learning. Attend workshops, read industry-related materials, and connect with other professionals. Lifelong learning not only enhances your expertise but also keeps you motivated and engaged to keep moving forward, even when it’s hard. And believe me, owning a business is HARD!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Honestly, my husband is my absolute rock and biggest supporter. I wouldn’t be able to have this business without him. Not only does he always have faith in me; additionally, he helps calm me down in times of stress, which, let’s be honest is a lot! He’s in the business world himself so I know that I can always go to him for advice, and I love using his brain. He is so smart and knows a lot about the law which comes in handy when I can’t understand some of the business lingo that the government sends me, haha! He pushes me to be the best that I can be and motivates me to work harder. We have both lost very important people in our lives and having him to walk by my side through that has been one of the most beautiful experiences in such a time of sadness. Bradley, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be able to live my dream and for always being my biggest and loudest supporter. Thank you for also being the best wedding Cake delivery helper a girl could ask for. I love you more than anything!

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Image Credits

All photos taken by me

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