We were lucky to catch up with Taylor Ditzel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I definitely got my work ethic from my dad. He has worked so hard to provide for his family, he started at the bottom of the food chain and worked his way to top. My dad knows what it means to have nothing and have to work what you want in life and he instilled that into my brothers and I as well. My brothers and I had chores to do growing up to earn our allowance, I used to pick weeds in the yard or help with housework. I believe in doing this it taught us nothing will be handed to us and it made us responsible adults. Im grateful for my dad and my mom for always being supportive but also teaching me how to be responsible for my own success.
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 make custom cakes and treats for any event you can imagine. I have always made cakes on the side while working a full time job, and recently within the last 2 years I decided to take the plunge and become my own boss. The most special aspect of my job is making someone’s vision come to life and being a part of some of their biggest moments. It’s so rewarding being the person to make someone’s gender reveal cake, or baby shower, or 1st birthday cake. I will always be a part of that memory for them.
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?
For me the 3 qualities the have impacted my journey are patience, dedication, and perseverance. Success doesn’t always come right away, it took me years to feel ready to become a full-time cake decorator. I was dedicated to my passion and I just loved what I was doing so my success grew out of that love.
My advice to anyone starting out is so cliche but don’t give up. It’s going to be hard, you’re going to want to quit, if you have clients they are going to make you feel horrible at times and test your patience but, you need to take those criticisms and hard times to drive you forward. I have had plenty of moments of “why am I even doing this?” but I keep going because I have SO many loyal clients that have supported me from the beginning and they make me love what I do.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I’m an anxious person and I feel overwhelmed a lot of the time haha. The best thing I can do for myself is make lists. I have a list for everything, I sit down and organize myself by what I need to bake, or what cake toppers/decorations need to be made. Then I will break those down into different days and what I need/want to accomplish this day.
Contact Info:
- Website: taylornicolecreates.biz
- Instagram: @taylornicolecreates
- Other: TikTok: @taylornicolecreates
