2023 is 11 DAYS AWAY(!!!) 

And as much as I enjoy spending time with family and doing all the FESTIVE things,  I’m also using this time to self-reflect, organize my thoughts, envision new goals, and map out my 2023. (This is important!) 

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I fully believe that REST is  NON-NEGOTIABLE. I know first-hand that you can’t operate, create, and problem-solve when you’re tired and burnt out. So, I hope you’re using this time to reset, regroup, and get re-energized before the New Year. 

But I also hope that you’re using this time to think about what big goals and dreams you wanna achieve in 2023. 

And if you’re reading this saying, “I have NO IDEA what things I should even be thinking about” or “I have ideas but I don’t know how to start,” then keep on reading… 

Reflecting, planning, strategizing, and mapping out your year are CRUCIAL to...

It’s the same story every single year –

MILLIONS of people set new goals, dreams and intentions for the year. They want to get fit, get their finances in order, buy their dream home – and yet by the time the middle of January rolls around people slip back into their usual routines and fall off the wagon. 

It’s back to the same old same old. People fall back into poor habits and continue to do the sh*t that no longer serves them. 

According to U.S. News, more than 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the second week of February. 

That kinda sucks, tbh.

That’s why in today’s blog post, I’m breaking down 4 reasons WHY people fail to achieve their New Year goals every year (plus what we can do differently). Read on to find out if any of these relate to you… 

#1 You’re not ready to change

Let’s get straight into it… 

OUTCOMES are the result of ACTIONS,...

Tis' the season for IMPOSTER SYNDROME!

If you haven't experienced what this feels like yet- then I applaud you sis!

But if you have I'm gonna share four tips with you that you can do today or whenever those feelings arise that will help you push past this feeling and get back to the confident self you should be!  

In case you don't know what imposter syndrome is or how it feels lemme break it down for you here:

Imposter syndrome is the feeling or idea that you're not good enough despite the successes and milestones you've achieved.

To keep it simple, you feel like a fraud. Despite all the things you've accomplished whether that's education, in your career, or your experiences- there is apart of you that still feels not good enough and deserving of the things you've received.

Fun Fact about me, when I started my bakery business, The Cake Mamas, I didn't have a ton of support from my fiends and family.

It could be they were "looking out for me" because it "wasn't the right...

Let's face it, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, or gift-giving in general, can sometimes bring on more stress than joy. That's why I've compiled a list of some of my FAVORITE holiday gift-giving ideas for you!

Whether you're shopping for your parter, your best friend, or YOURSELF, you'll find all my holiday faves here!

I separated them into categories so you can browse for that perfect, thoughtful, useful, and fun gift for everyone on your list! Let's start with...

Gifts for the Busy Business Owner 

Radlove Electric Adjustable Standing Desk  

Let’s face it, sitting all day sucks! I’m obsessed with my standing desk because I find that I'm more productive when I'm standing. I'm able to focus more and stay on task better when I'm standing and moving around. Which is why this desk is great for to pair with the next thing on my list! Keep reading… 

Work on Your Business AND Your Body with the Umay Under-Desk Walking Pad 

A Treadmill that fits under...

Running a business with huge dreams and big goals is amazing. If someone would’ve told me 13 years ago I’d be coaching small business owners and creators from all over the world how to build their OWN dream businesses, I think I’d say, “NO WAY,” but also do a little happy dance inside counting down the days til this moment came true. 

But focusing on my own dreams, while helping others achieve theirs, and trying to be a present mom can really take a toll on my own health- physically and mentally if I’m not careful. 

And to be completely honest, I’ve struggled in that area. Throughout the year I’ve gone through lots of ups and downs with my physical health. I’ve felt self conscious, I’ve felt like no matter what I do I can’t lose weight and I just feel like my body is changing and I don’t know what to do to figure it out. 

On the flip side, I’ve struggled with my mental health. Being a...

I don’t know about you, but when things feel extra heavy and life keeps throwing obstacles my way, I find it really hard to not feel lonely and attacked. 

Especially, when those difficult seasons start to impact my business. 

When the business struggle hit hard and the sales stop coming in, it’s hard not to second guess yourself and think about whether or not you should even keep doing this. You start to question whether all your hard work is even worth it. 

And the last thing you wanna hear from people when you’re feeling this type of way is to find the blessings. 

In moments like these, you just want answers and someone to tell you what to do. You want someone to hear you out, to support you, and all of your problems to go away! 

What you DON’T wanna hear is someone’s woo-woo B.S saying: “Hey, maybe you should try practicing some gratitude.”

Or at least that’s what you think.

But here’s a crazy...

Oh the HOLIDAYS! I feel like people are either full on Mariah Carey during the holidays or they're total scrooges.

Personally, I’m a HUGE fan of the holiday season. I love celebrating with my friends and family, participating in all the holiday activities, making memories, and just spending time together.

But, the holidays as a bakery owner is TOTALLY different story!

You're either busy as hell, drowning in orders, or you’re making NO MONEY and struggling.

During the holidays it was typically a really slow season in my bakery, The Cake Mamas. When you think about it, the holidays is the one time a year, EVERYONE is baking- even if they’re terrible at it. Yeah, we would have custom orders to get us through, but really where we made the MOST money during the holiday season was with corporate parties and events.

Now, you may be reading this as a home baker, or you’re renting a commercial kitchen, or you simply don’t have the capacity to fulfill large...

MOST business owners I work with have previously NEVER taken a business course in their life.

And that’s because they never thought they’d wind up starting something of their own, from scratch, and making that their primary source of income. 

But the MOMENT you put a price tag on your stuff, you’ve got to start INVESTING in your BUSINESS SKILLS just as much as you’re investing in your products and services.  

Why? Because becoming the BEST baker, artist, creator, or freelancer you can be isn’t going to do sh*t if you can’t SELL what you’re creating. 

And if you’re not bringing in sales, you’re not really running a business. You’re running a NON-PROFIT organization! 

Get ready for some TOUGH love, sis: It’s NO ONE else’s responsibility to invest in your skills. And if you don’t show up for yourself and do the WORK, your business, and bank account are gonna suffer!

And if...

When it comes to MARKETING your business, I’ve often heard people say, “It’s all about spreading the word to AS MANY PEOPLE as you can.”

And to be honest, everytime I hear this, I roll my eyes. And this is why… 

One of the most important things about running a business is getting the word out there. You have to talk about your business, you have to get out into your community, you have to reach different audiences. 

And yes, you SHOULD be using hashtags on social media and talking about what you do when you meet new potential customers.

But if you think that marketing your business just means talking about your business, posting whatever content you want, with no idea who you’re speaking too and what you can do for them, consider this blog post a long-overdue INTERVENTION. Because sis, this is exactly why your SALES suck! 

To reach (and attract) the right customers, you need to focus on reaching the RIGHT people first. These are...

Pop quiz: What’s a super simple, powerful and inexpensive AF way to GRAB people’s attention, establish your brand’s IDENTITY, and make sure you’re not boring and totally forgettable?

The answer – Your BRAND LOGO.

Your logo is the FACE of your business.

A great logo visually communicates your brand’s personality. It builds recognition, gets people to trust you, AND helps you STAND OUT in the crowd.

Basically, it makes you UNIQUE and lets everyone know who you are and what you’re about. 

Now that you know that your logo adds a sh*t ton of value to your brand, you’re probably thinking – OKAY Janelle, but how the hell do I create a great logo with ZERO design skills?! And NO MONEY to pay for a graphic designer??? 

Want my hot take? 

Use Canva.

Canva is a FREE design tool where you can design practically ANY KIND of visual content.

I swear by it because it’s SUPER easy to use and comes with TONS of templates that...