[Music] you
I don’t think I ever knew growing up
I don’t think I ever knew growing up just how much my childhood would impact
just how much my childhood would impact
just how much my childhood would impact my career I mean when we become adults
my career I mean when we become adults
my career I mean when we become adults most of us don’t pursue a childhood
most of us don’t pursue a childhood
most of us don’t pursue a childhood passion project as a job it just doesn’t
passion project as a job it just doesn’t
passion project as a job it just doesn’t seem like the sensible thing to do but
seem like the sensible thing to do but
seem like the sensible thing to do but I’ve never been quite sensible or
I’ve never been quite sensible or
I’ve never been quite sensible or practical I’ve always had a dreamers
practical I’ve always had a dreamers
practical I’ve always had a dreamers heart my imagination was always packed
heart my imagination was always packed
heart my imagination was always packed with whimsy and creativity I believe
with whimsy and creativity I believe
with whimsy and creativity I believe that whatever I was going to end up
that whatever I was going to end up
that whatever I was going to end up doing it would probably be insanely
doing it would probably be insanely
doing it would probably be insanely imaginative and also probably difficult
imaginative and also probably difficult
imaginative and also probably difficult as hell to pull off I mean I originally
as hell to pull off I mean I originally
as hell to pull off I mean I originally had ideas of maybe being a filmmaker or
had ideas of maybe being a filmmaker or
had ideas of maybe being a filmmaker or a dancer when I was a little girl but
a dancer when I was a little girl but
a dancer when I was a little girl but then later on those dreams turned to
then later on those dreams turned to
then later on those dreams turned to food and family and that was truly
food and family and that was truly
food and family and that was truly unexpected for me that story began with
unexpected for me that story began with
unexpected for me that story began with my grandmother whom we call Big Momma
my grandmother whom we call Big Momma
my grandmother whom we call Big Momma right in her kitchen and my Nonna
right in her kitchen and my Nonna
right in her kitchen and my Nonna Mississippi I learned right at her apron
Mississippi I learned right at her apron
Mississippi I learned right at her apron as a young girl about my life’s purpose
as a young girl about my life’s purpose
as a young girl about my life’s purpose as soon as I would walk into her kitchen
as soon as I would walk into her kitchen
as soon as I would walk into her kitchen whenever we would visit I would stare
whenever we would visit I would stare
whenever we would visit I would stare and awe at these creations of towering
and awe at these creations of towering
and awe at these creations of towering three layer coconut cakes and bubbling
three layer coconut cakes and bubbling
three layer coconut cakes and bubbling fresh peach cobblers sky-high lemon
fresh peach cobblers sky-high lemon
fresh peach cobblers sky-high lemon meringue pies and golden pancakes oh my
meringue pies and golden pancakes oh my
meringue pies and golden pancakes oh my gosh I’m just getting hungry just
gosh I’m just getting hungry just
gosh I’m just getting hungry just thinking about it sometimes she would
thinking about it sometimes she would
thinking about it sometimes she would wait until we arrived or you know we
wait until we arrived or you know we
wait until we arrived or you know we would all get in the kitchen the women
would all get in the kitchen the women
would all get in the kitchen the women in my family and we’d roll up our
in my family and we’d roll up our
in my family and we’d roll up our sleeves and we get in there and you’d
sleeves and we get in there and you’d
sleeves and we get in there and you’d start baking and catching up and
start baking and catching up and
start baking and catching up and sometimes she would just have everything
sometimes she would just have everything
sometimes she would just have everything ready when I got there I would love
ready when I got there I would love
ready when I got there I would love these treasured moments of being in the
these treasured moments of being in the
these treasured moments of being in the kitchen with my big momma
kitchen with my big momma
kitchen with my big momma my mom and my auntie and they would let
my mom and my auntie and they would let
my mom and my auntie and they would let me dabble in the process a little back
me dabble in the process a little back
me dabble in the process a little back then the kitchen was our place of refuge
then the kitchen was our place of refuge
then the kitchen was our place of refuge it was transformed from anything from a
it was transformed from anything from a
it was transformed from anything from a Sunday church service beauty parlor
Sunday church service beauty parlor
Sunday church service beauty parlor where we would press my hair
where we would press my hair
where we would press my hair get ready for church or it would be a
get ready for church or it would be a
get ready for church or it would be a family therapy session where you could
family therapy session where you could
family therapy session where you could talk about whatever was going on in life
talk about whatever was going on in life
talk about whatever was going on in life these ladies were never ceased by my
these ladies were never ceased by my
these ladies were never ceased by my ceaseless curiosity they were never
ceaseless curiosity they were never
ceaseless curiosity they were never fazed by it and countless questions
fazed by it and countless questions
fazed by it and countless questions about the midst of their magic making in
about the midst of their magic making in
about the midst of their magic making in the kitchen I love to sift the flour and
the kitchen I love to sift the flour and
the kitchen I love to sift the flour and watch it delicately bollocks no into all
watch it delicately bollocks no into all
watch it delicately bollocks no into all of the balls and I wanted to pretend
of the balls and I wanted to pretend
of the balls and I wanted to pretend like I was their sous-chef in a lot of
like I was their sous-chef in a lot of
like I was their sous-chef in a lot of ways and it was something that was so
ways and it was something that was so
ways and it was something that was so magical for me I never knew that it
magical for me I never knew that it
magical for me I never knew that it would find a place in my life later on
would find a place in my life later on
would find a place in my life later on in that kitchen
in that kitchen
in that kitchen I learned to bake my first love cakes
I learned to bake my first love cakes
I learned to bake my first love cakes and I also learned the ins and outs of
and I also learned the ins and outs of
and I also learned the ins and outs of developing my own recipes the kitchen
developing my own recipes the kitchen
developing my own recipes the kitchen means so much to my family and I the
means so much to my family and I the
means so much to my family and I the lessons I’ve learned about preserving
lessons I’ve learned about preserving
lessons I’ve learned about preserving family memories and the history for
family memories and the history for
family memories and the history for future generations came from that very
future generations came from that very
future generations came from that very space a passed down recipe has so much
space a passed down recipe has so much
space a passed down recipe has so much more than we think
more than we think
more than we think so let’s fast forward about 15-20 years
so let’s fast forward about 15-20 years
so let’s fast forward about 15-20 years later when I was in my early 20s and at
later when I was in my early 20s and at
later when I was in my early 20s and at this time I was trying to build a career
this time I was trying to build a career
this time I was trying to build a career that felt valid you know in my mind at
that felt valid you know in my mind at
that felt valid you know in my mind at that time I was going after this career
that time I was going after this career
that time I was going after this career of being a television and a film
of being a television and a film
of being a television and a film producer because it felt respected
producer because it felt respected
producer because it felt respected enough but also still creative however
enough but also still creative however
enough but also still creative however year after exhausting year I felt empty
year after exhausting year I felt empty
year after exhausting year I felt empty in that pursuit there were definitely
in that pursuit there were definitely
in that pursuit there were definitely jobs that I enjoyed and some not were
jobs that I enjoyed and some not were
jobs that I enjoyed and some not were fine but there were some that I just
fine but there were some that I just
fine but there were some that I just absolutely hated y’all I couldn’t wait
absolutely hated y’all I couldn’t wait
absolutely hated y’all I couldn’t wait to get out of there as soon it was as
to get out of there as soon it was as
to get out of there as soon it was as soon as it was five o’clock at night I
soon as it was five o’clock at night I
soon as it was five o’clock at night I wasn’t quite ready to jump off the ledge
wasn’t quite ready to jump off the ledge
wasn’t quite ready to jump off the ledge yet though and really see what my true
yet though and really see what my true
yet though and really see what my true purpose was I thought I needed to prove
purpose was I thought I needed to prove
purpose was I thought I needed to prove something with my career choice I
something with my career choice I
something with my career choice I thought I needed some outside validation
thought I needed some outside validation
thought I needed some outside validation about what I should be doing in my life
about what I should be doing in my life
about what I should be doing in my life I kept thinking maybe I should have just
I kept thinking maybe I should have just
I kept thinking maybe I should have just gone to law school
gone to law school
gone to law school that’s pretty respected and as much as I
that’s pretty respected and as much as I
that’s pretty respected and as much as I loved cooking and BAE
loved cooking and BAE
loved cooking and BAE King I felt for a while like it was
King I felt for a while like it was
King I felt for a while like it was maybe selling out or going backwards for
maybe selling out or going backwards for
maybe selling out or going backwards for me I mean I was this young hip modern
me I mean I was this young hip modern
me I mean I was this young hip modern feminist and I didn’t want to do
feminist and I didn’t want to do
feminist and I didn’t want to do something a stereotypical as cooking
something a stereotypical as cooking
something a stereotypical as cooking baked as a job I mean it was something
baked as a job I mean it was something
baked as a job I mean it was something that I just couldn’t shake though about
that I just couldn’t shake though about
that I just couldn’t shake though about it so it continued to leer me in one day
it so it continued to leer me in one day
it so it continued to leer me in one day a friend suggested that I start a blog
a friend suggested that I start a blog
a friend suggested that I start a blog and at the time I felt like it was an
and at the time I felt like it was an
and at the time I felt like it was an effortless way to practice my passion as
effortless way to practice my passion as
effortless way to practice my passion as a hobby I could be creative with recipe
a hobby I could be creative with recipe
a hobby I could be creative with recipe development writing photography
development writing photography
development writing photography marketing video and so much more it
marketing video and so much more it
marketing video and so much more it turned out my hobby ended up being more
turned out my hobby ended up being more
turned out my hobby ended up being more of a calling from the very beginning I
of a calling from the very beginning I
of a calling from the very beginning I injected all I learned from big Mama’s
injected all I learned from big Mama’s
injected all I learned from big Mama’s kitchen 20 years earlier into the
kitchen 20 years earlier into the
kitchen 20 years earlier into the recipes I shared on my website grand
recipes I shared on my website grand
recipes I shared on my website grand baby cakes
baby cakes
baby cakes and as my audience grew I realized how
and as my audience grew I realized how
and as my audience grew I realized how many people were starved literally and
many people were starved literally and
many people were starved literally and figuratively for that something special
figuratively for that something special
figuratively for that something special that drew them to my small world on the
that drew them to my small world on the
that drew them to my small world on the world wide web and this passion ignited
world wide web and this passion ignited
world wide web and this passion ignited something in me too I mean it felt so
something in me too I mean it felt so
something in me too I mean it felt so natural but I was also challenging my
natural but I was also challenging my
natural but I was also challenging my original ideas of what would make me
original ideas of what would make me
original ideas of what would make me happy and as my following grew
happy and as my following grew
happy and as my following grew opportunities flowed I mean a book deal
opportunities flowed I mean a book deal
opportunities flowed I mean a book deal presented itself and then I decided I
presented itself and then I decided I
presented itself and then I decided I was like maybe I should take this leap
was like maybe I should take this leap
was like maybe I should take this leap of faith and see if I could land could I
of faith and see if I could land could I
of faith and see if I could land could I really just create recipes tell my
really just create recipes tell my
really just create recipes tell my stories and be myself and that be a
stories and be myself and that be a
stories and be myself and that be a business model turns out I could this
business model turns out I could this
business model turns out I could this road hasn’t been easy by any means I
road hasn’t been easy by any means I
road hasn’t been easy by any means I mean in a space of millions I’m talking
mean in a space of millions I’m talking
mean in a space of millions I’m talking about millions of food blogs and even
about millions of food blogs and even
about millions of food blogs and even more food brands I find myself trying to
more food brands I find myself trying to
more food brands I find myself trying to stay relevant and connected all of the
stay relevant and connected all of the
stay relevant and connected all of the time
time
time and as even hard and it’s even harder
and as even hard and it’s even harder
and as even hard and it’s even harder not to see myself in the spaces I want
not to see myself in the spaces I want
not to see myself in the spaces I want to inhabit where was I as an
to inhabit where was I as an
to inhabit where was I as an african-american woman
african-american woman
african-american woman on the top food blogs list where was I
on the top food blogs list where was I
on the top food blogs list where was I on the food network I didn’t see myself
on the food network I didn’t see myself
on the food network I didn’t see myself and since I began four years ago my
and since I began four years ago my
and since I began four years ago my brand has grown way past just being a
brand has grown way past just being a
brand has grown way past just being a food blog television opportunities and
food blog television opportunities and
food blog television opportunities and brand ambassador ships have landed in my
brand ambassador ships have landed in my
brand ambassador ships have landed in my lap that helped me and forced me to push
lap that helped me and forced me to push
lap that helped me and forced me to push my experiences into the spotlight and
my experiences into the spotlight and
my experiences into the spotlight and whether I’m attending a bloggers
whether I’m attending a bloggers
whether I’m attending a bloggers conference or brand trips or speaking on
conference or brand trips or speaking on
conference or brand trips or speaking on panels or even demoing recipes on your
panels or even demoing recipes on your
panels or even demoing recipes on your television sets nationally I am more
television sets nationally I am more
television sets nationally I am more often than not one of the only or the
often than not one of the only or the
often than not one of the only or the only African American woman in that
only African American woman in that
only African American woman in that space however hard it may be it has made
space however hard it may be it has made
space however hard it may be it has made me hustle even more to open that space
me hustle even more to open that space
me hustle even more to open that space up for more experiences just like mine
up for more experiences just like mine
up for more experiences just like mine in the process of preserving my family’s
in the process of preserving my family’s
in the process of preserving my family’s cultural traditions and sharing my own
cultural traditions and sharing my own
cultural traditions and sharing my own history I am creating a community of
history I am creating a community of
history I am creating a community of followers from all different backgrounds
followers from all different backgrounds
followers from all different backgrounds that want to now preserve their own
that want to now preserve their own
that want to now preserve their own traditions by injecting my heritage into
traditions by injecting my heritage into
traditions by injecting my heritage into my company I ended up relating to my
my company I ended up relating to my
my company I ended up relating to my tribe in a very unique way they saw
tribe in a very unique way they saw
tribe in a very unique way they saw themselves in me and became loyal
themselves in me and became loyal
themselves in me and became loyal supporters the thing is I don’t have
supporters the thing is I don’t have
supporters the thing is I don’t have some secret model for success I mean I’m
some secret model for success I mean I’m
some secret model for success I mean I’m only following my heart and remaining
only following my heart and remaining
only following my heart and remaining truly authentic to my roots and that’s
truly authentic to my roots and that’s
truly authentic to my roots and that’s all I’m pretty much doing and with these
all I’m pretty much doing and with these
all I’m pretty much doing and with these simple steps they’ve totally helped me
simple steps they’ve totally helped me
simple steps they’ve totally helped me in a way of building what I truly
in a way of building what I truly
in a way of building what I truly consider an authentic and rare career I
consider an authentic and rare career I
consider an authentic and rare career I started my brand with truly knowing who
started my brand with truly knowing who
started my brand with truly knowing who I was and I think that for anyone
I was and I think that for anyone
I was and I think that for anyone starting a business you need to know who
starting a business you need to know who
starting a business you need to know who you are like I said I had troubles with
you are like I said I had troubles with
you are like I said I had troubles with this in my twenties I mean the idea of
this in my twenties I mean the idea of
this in my twenties I mean the idea of who I wanted to be in my head was not
who I wanted to be in my head was not
who I wanted to be in my head was not exactly who I truly was I had to learn
exactly who I truly was I had to learn
exactly who I truly was I had to learn that there was more to what I was doing
that there was more to what I was doing
that there was more to what I was doing beyond the stereotypes I built in my
beyond the stereotypes I built in my
beyond the stereotypes I built in my mind
mind
mind and not building a business on my own
and not building a business on my own
and not building a business on my own terms was ironically the most feminist
terms was ironically the most feminist
terms was ironically the most feminist and non stereotypical thing I could have
and non stereotypical thing I could have
and non stereotypical thing I could have done
done
done I’m not woohoo I know it’s pretty cliche
I’m not woohoo I know it’s pretty cliche
I’m not woohoo I know it’s pretty cliche to tell you to be yourself but how many
to tell you to be yourself but how many
to tell you to be yourself but how many of us are really doing just that I mean
of us are really doing just that I mean
of us are really doing just that I mean find out who you truly are and
find out who you truly are and
find out who you truly are and unapologetically embrace that in a way
unapologetically embrace that in a way
unapologetically embrace that in a way that feels real for you I started
that feels real for you I started
that feels real for you I started building grandbaby cakes by establishing
building grandbaby cakes by establishing
building grandbaby cakes by establishing my brand mission my vision and my
my brand mission my vision and my
my brand mission my vision and my purpose the food blogging and culinary
purpose the food blogging and culinary
purpose the food blogging and culinary personality industries are still very
personality industries are still very
personality industries are still very very closed off in many ways when I
very closed off in many ways when I
very closed off in many ways when I first entered the food blogging world it
first entered the food blogging world it
first entered the food blogging world it was difficult to find anyone that looked
was difficult to find anyone that looked
was difficult to find anyone that looked like me and who shared similar stories
like me and who shared similar stories
like me and who shared similar stories to mine I had to dig to find support
to mine I had to dig to find support
to mine I had to dig to find support those that were blogging were not
those that were blogging were not
those that were blogging were not getting as much recognition or
getting as much recognition or
getting as much recognition or prominence and it was a very lonely
prominence and it was a very lonely
prominence and it was a very lonely place but it inspired me to navigate it
place but it inspired me to navigate it
place but it inspired me to navigate it even more because there weren’t that
even more because there weren’t that
even more because there weren’t that many experiences like mine I knew that
many experiences like mine I knew that
many experiences like mine I knew that it was crucial that I didn’t give up on
it was crucial that I didn’t give up on
it was crucial that I didn’t give up on pushing through no matter how hard it
pushing through no matter how hard it
pushing through no matter how hard it got I really tell people they need to be
got I really tell people they need to be
got I really tell people they need to be emotional and most people separate
emotional and most people separate
emotional and most people separate business and emotion but I’m telling you
business and emotion but I’m telling you
business and emotion but I’m telling you don’t do that don’t be afraid to touch
don’t do that don’t be afraid to touch
don’t do that don’t be afraid to touch people on a deeper level by making
people on a deeper level by making
people on a deeper level by making yourself relatable and real to them
yourself relatable and real to them
yourself relatable and real to them don’t fall into the trap of being a
don’t fall into the trap of being a
don’t fall into the trap of being a robot I mean people will never be able
robot I mean people will never be able
robot I mean people will never be able to connect with that and they surely
to connect with that and they surely
to connect with that and they surely won’t remember it either tell your story
won’t remember it either tell your story
won’t remember it either tell your story I heard this thing and it’s always
I heard this thing and it’s always
I heard this thing and it’s always resonated with me its facts tell but
resonated with me its facts tell but
resonated with me its facts tell but stories sell don’t just sell what people
stories sell don’t just sell what people
stories sell don’t just sell what people need you know sell them the story of
need you know sell them the story of
need you know sell them the story of what they want to believe about
what they want to believe about
what they want to believe about themselves let them into your world be
themselves let them into your world be
themselves let them into your world be about relationships not just results I
about relationships not just results I
about relationships not just results I mean as a business owner it can be so
mean as a business owner it can be so
mean as a business owner it can be so hard to stop myself from just analyze
hard to stop myself from just analyze
hard to stop myself from just analyze numbers all the time and while numbers
numbers all the time and while numbers
numbers all the time and while numbers are very important to a business’s
are very important to a business’s
are very important to a business’s success they don’t tell the entire story
success they don’t tell the entire story
success they don’t tell the entire story each follower a fan of my brand is a new
each follower a fan of my brand is a new
each follower a fan of my brand is a new relationship that I’ve received I love
relationship that I’ve received I love
relationship that I’ve received I love not just sharing my story with them but
not just sharing my story with them but
not just sharing my story with them but hearing about theirs I engage with them
hearing about theirs I engage with them
hearing about theirs I engage with them on social media I talk to them I respond
on social media I talk to them I respond
on social media I talk to them I respond to them whenever they share photos of my
to them whenever they share photos of my
to them whenever they share photos of my recipes or grandmother’s will share
recipes or grandmother’s will share
recipes or grandmother’s will share recipe photos of baking with their
recipe photos of baking with their
recipe photos of baking with their grandkids it’s the cutest thing and I
grandkids it’s the cutest thing and I
grandkids it’s the cutest thing and I love to share that and my newsletters
love to share that and my newsletters
love to share that and my newsletters and share it with my subscribers because
and share it with my subscribers because
and share it with my subscribers because I really believe like I’m connecting
I really believe like I’m connecting
I really believe like I’m connecting with them on a personal level and I
with them on a personal level and I
with them on a personal level and I thank them for sticking around to also
thank them for sticking around to also
thank them for sticking around to also that real life inform your business I
that real life inform your business I
that real life inform your business I try to experience as much as I can
try to experience as much as I can
try to experience as much as I can outside of work I think sometimes we get
outside of work I think sometimes we get
outside of work I think sometimes we get really caught up in the hustle and the
really caught up in the hustle and the
really caught up in the hustle and the grind of everything I mean you start to
grind of everything I mean you start to
grind of everything I mean you start to feel like if you’re not working 24/7
feel like if you’re not working 24/7
feel like if you’re not working 24/7 you’re just not grinding enough you’re
you’re just not grinding enough you’re
you’re just not grinding enough you’re not working hard enough to get towards
not working hard enough to get towards
not working hard enough to get towards your goal but you need family you need
your goal but you need family you need
your goal but you need family you need friends you need experiences and pauses
friends you need experiences and pauses
friends you need experiences and pauses to build a richer business exercise some
to build a richer business exercise some
to build a richer business exercise some self-care not only will you feel better
self-care not only will you feel better
self-care not only will you feel better but you will have more energy to devote
but you will have more energy to devote
but you will have more energy to devote to your business and you’ll foster more
to your business and you’ll foster more
to your business and you’ll foster more creativity in the process don’t do what
creativity in the process don’t do what
creativity in the process don’t do what everyone else is doing this is my
everyone else is doing this is my
everyone else is doing this is my favorite one so this is crazy because
favorite one so this is crazy because
favorite one so this is crazy because everyone is always looking to pioneers
everyone is always looking to pioneers
everyone is always looking to pioneers to see what to do and I get that you
to see what to do and I get that you
to see what to do and I get that you know you want to learn from them I
know you want to learn from them I
know you want to learn from them I understand but don’t take it’s a copycat
understand but don’t take it’s a copycat
understand but don’t take it’s a copycat status you know if you’re a carbon copy
status you know if you’re a carbon copy
status you know if you’re a carbon copy of whatever brand exists before you why
of whatever brand exists before you why
of whatever brand exists before you why should anyone follow you what makes you
should anyone follow you what makes you
should anyone follow you what makes you new what makes you unique figure out
new what makes you unique figure out
new what makes you unique figure out what is what it is that separates you
what is what it is that separates you
what is what it is that separates you from other people and use that to your
from other people and use that to your
from other people and use that to your advantage the funny thing about
advantage the funny thing about
advantage the funny thing about following these principles is how
following these principles is how
following these principles is how natural it becomes
natural it becomes
natural it becomes I’m basically doing me and keeping it
I’m basically doing me and keeping it
I’m basically doing me and keeping it real in the most authentic way and I’m
real in the most authentic way and I’m
real in the most authentic way and I’m living in my purpose and it has become
living in my purpose and it has become
living in my purpose and it has become so natural it’s like walking most
so natural it’s like walking most
so natural it’s like walking most importantly I’m affecting lives and
importantly I’m affecting lives and
importantly I’m affecting lives and bringing about the most beautiful
bringing about the most beautiful
bringing about the most beautiful memories and traditions that families
memories and traditions that families
memories and traditions that families truly deserve now and like I said if you
truly deserve now and like I said if you
truly deserve now and like I said if you can give back a piece of yourself who
can give back a piece of yourself who
can give back a piece of yourself who you truly truly are that’s enough thank
you truly truly are that’s enough thank
you truly truly are that’s enough thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment