Cupcakes Are Boss: 8 Creative Business Lessons From The Kitchen

I started baking cupcakes about 10 years ago.

Back then we were living in the Los Angeles area, the original mecca of the cupcake shoppe craze, and it was just a thing one grew accustomed to. I kept hearing about the BEST cupcakes ever and, depending on who I was talking to, those cupcakes existed at no less than 12 different shoppes. Don’t get me wrong, I was delighted to discern for myself, the sacrifice of eating bites of those different cupcakes being something I was willing to endure for the good of humanity... and my own informed opinion. I’ll never forget the day I tried the 3rd or 4th cupcake on that list, and for the 3rd or 4th time I was completely and totally— underwhelmed. Everyone of them was just “meh.” So I got curious and started learning about cupcakes and baking in general. Up until then I was an experienced cook who loved tearing it up in the kitchen, but baking wasn’t my jam.

Cupcakes changed that.

I set out on a mission to learn how to make cupcakes I love, cupcakes I would think were better than the ones I heard were the BEST. I researched and experimented; I tried and failed; I tried and succeeded; I started learning what combinations were winning and which ones I shouldn’t try again. Ten years later, I bake regularly for a personal recipe blog, as well as the once-in-a-blue-moon wedding or party when I feel like it. Funny enough, baking has taught me a lot about doing business as a creative. More accurately, baking taught me about the importance of cultivating a keen discretion for when to obey rules and when to write my own.

Here are 8 little bits of business wisdom I’ve learned in the kitchen:

1. Baking taught me that experimenting isn’t always the best option.

There are reasons we don’t drink orange juice and eat mint chocolate chip ice cream. Namely, it’s disgusting. But the truth is, orange juice just doesn’t go with mint, and it’s best if I don’t try to make it so. This applies to business as a creative; sometimes applying a method instead of reinventing one is the best approach.

2. Baking showed me that there’s ALWAYS a place for innovation.

Just like experimenting just to say you did it isn’t always the right course of action, following a plan just because that’s how it’s always been done isn’t, either. An informed, creative approach to the status quo equals innovation, and from what I can tell, there’s ALWAYS room for that.

3. Baking gave me a love for learning.

The more you dive into something, the more you discover there’s so much more to learn! I found that to be true of baking… and I’m finding it true everyday of my creative business life. It has given me a profound love of learning, and I get excited knowing I won’t finally “arrive” at the knowledge I need. Constant learning leads to fluid expertise & an agile mind.

4. Baking helped me find that some systems are to be followed to the letter.

When it comes to experimentation, not only is it not the best choice sometimes, it can be detrimental to you & your product. There are certain systems in business that function the same way, especially when there’s more than just one person involved. I have learned that meticulous attention to certain systems (i.e. accounting) can save LOTS of heartache and frustration.

5. Baking helped me see that just because it’s been done doesn’t mean it should be.

Outside of experimentation, there are also products (or brands, flavors, colors, etc.) that are released into the world confidently… and NEVER should have been. I saw it in the kitchen, and I continue to see it in the business world. Just because someone says it should be a certain way doesn’t mean it actually should. Even if that voice seems more influential than yours, or that you must be missing something, or that you probably just need admit that you were wrong… if you just know that it’s never going to sit well with you, DON’T DO IT. There will always be someone else who will, and I need to be comfortable with letting them. But me? I’m going to do me. :)

6. Baking gave me the confidence to speak with authority as an informed person, not just shooting in the dark.

The more I bake, the more I’m able to speak as an expert. And you know what? The more I “business,” the more authority I have to speak on business. I feel more confident talking about my method for making a silky yet structured frosting, but that’s because I keep doing it. Same thing for writing and creative direction. The more I do it, the more I know it. And the more I’m willing to share what I know with other people.

7. Baking showed me the value of scheduling, budgeting, and time management.

This one I learned more from failure than from success, but I still learned! One too many times in the kitchen ALL day and night helped me understand the need for detailed scheduling, budgeting, and time management. I’ve become more efficient in the kitchen, and as a result I’m KILLING IT in my day-to-day workflow with my creative business. I know that if I want to spend time relaxing with my family at night, I have to have incredible focus during the day. Facebook goes away; lunch is typically at my desk while working. But those small sacrifices mean I have more of the quality time I’m looking for. Thanks, adulting!

8. Baking helped me see creativity as a viable skill, not just a hobby.

Most importantly, I’ve seen how creativity isn’t just something people have called me throughout my life, some little party trick I pull out occasionally for people to marvel at. Creativity can make me an income. That’s what’s up! For a while I was getting more work than I could handle when I was baking for events, and part of that is because I took a different approach to baking. I didn’t offer every flavor; I didn’t even offer all the standard or popular flavors. But I DID offer my signature items. Because I was unique, I was able to charge more money than others did. I have found the same in my business. My creativity is a skill that I can actively hone, actively grow to help establish a lucrative business. There’s great power and freedom when we realize what we possess.

So there you have it. My list of business gold I picked up while wearing an oven mitt. Who would have guessed? :) Also, if you'd like to check out my cupcake blog, here she is in all her glory—> Craft Cupcakes

What about you? What wisdom have you been able to pick up in unexpected places?