I almost gave up

Being a food blogger/home-based baker isn't always the easiest thing. There are times people always ask me,

"Hey, why don't you set up a cafe!"

"Eh, you should set up shop."

"Have you thought about doing this full time after graduating?"

Honestly, the idea of doing this full-time in the future always scared me to bits. Currently, I am doing everything by myself from scratch. From posting, writing, publicising to purchasing ingredients, baking, managing sales and delivering. I don't know how our local home-based bakers can cope with so much to do! (I always admire all their work)

This is me being brutally honest with myself and all of you. There are times I enjoy doing what I do. And there are times I question why I take up so much and continue to do what I do. It takes up A LOT of time, energy and money.

That brings me to this bake box. It is called the 'Christmas special bake box' that was filled with sugar cookies, madeleines, a carrot cake cupcake and a fudgy brownie. I released it about a week before Christmas 2020.

To be honest I was planning to sell around 20 boxes for the Christmas sales. However, due to the lack of response after a few days, I decided to drop it. In my mind, I wanted to make sales. I wanted to earn some cash during the holiday break. (it may sound a bit selfish for some, but this was how I thought I could grow as a baker)

I was really discouraged and thought about whether I should stop sales and focus on blogging for the rest of 2021. Maybe sales and marketing just was not my thing. Maybe it was not meant to be. As a home-based baker/blogger, it was honestly not easy to drop sales. Being a home-based baker in SG is extremely competitive and stressful. There is so much pressure to make something that stands out from the rest while providing good quality, customer service, managing finance, and effective marketing of the product. I will be the first to say that I am not the best in any of those aspects and am learning as I go.

As a student, I never got the time or chance to find any part-time job. (You know how nearly everyone tells you to find a job so you can earn some money?) That was my mindset when I wanted to make sales during the holiday.

I believe that it was God's way of slapping me in the face when I did not get any sales for that box. It was because my heart was in the wrong place. I was trying to make sales for the money and not for the experience or impact it may have on others. Because the world influenced me into thinking that earning money as a student was more important.

It was not easy to realise this. It took me a few weeks to get the picture. To understand what I needed to do. There were times I asked myself, "Should I really do this? Or maybe I should just give it all up..."

After much prayer and self-reflection. I decided to stop sales for a while and focus on blogging what God wanted me to write. It was not easy. Baking uses ingredients, and that costs money. If I didn't continue sales, I would not be able to cover the cost price when it came to baking for the blog. I would be losing money for something that is just a hobby.

That was when God reminded me that everything I am going through is for a reason and purpose that I may not currently see. So I decided to trust Him by stopping intentional bake sales and focus on baking for the blog instead. This led to the "Beyond the dessert" series. Feel free to click the box below to check out the series!

Click me for "Beyond the dessert" the series

It was not easy. Putting my thoughts into words. However, as time passed, I slowly learned to understand what God wanted me to focus on. Once I placed that as my focus, it became easier to write and enjoy baking with purpose. It was less stressful and became something I looked forward to do with meaning. Once in a while, I do get sales from strangers or friends and am always honoured to be asked to bake for them. That is how God shows me that as long as I obey Him, He will provide along the way.

So yes...I ALMOST gave up. ALMOST let my worries and concerns take over. But once I learned to focus on God, He used this platform better than I could have ever imagined. That is why we should never box God up. He can do things you least expect. He can fix the broken, and comfort the lost. You may not see it now, but one day, it will all make sense. Don't stop trusting and having faith in Him. He is a promise keeper and will never let you down.

I do not know what is going to happen for Bake to Bless in the future. Maybe we will have a shop. Maybe not. Maybe it is just here for the season and may not last the next 5 years. Whatever happens, I am placing my trust that God. No matter how good or bad things go from my perspective, it is all part of a bigger plan I may or may not understand.

I hope that my testimony has encouraged you in one way or another. God bless and have a great week ahead!

Cheers,

Eleanor