Push

Sometimes you just have to start, even if you haven't figured everything out. Starting builds the muscle for the next time you attempt to do the thing you want to do but are afraid to accomplish.

This morning, in addition to supervising a Father's Day breakfast made by nine- and seven-year-olds and driving a 12-year-old to a track meet, Nick and I hosted a young woman’s cinnamon bun pop-up at the Sugar Hill Creamery on Lenox Ave. A couple of months ago, I mentioned how this impressive 18-year-old reached out to me on Instagram about opening her own cinnamon bun business in Harlem. She shared that she wanted to build a Sugar Hill Creamery for cinnamon buns in our neighborhood. Her older brother introduced her to our company some time ago, and coming to the store has become a family tradition for her and her family. They enjoy sitting inside the shop with their scoops while meeting new people and building their own core memories.

Nick and Nico before our Father’s Day dinner earlier today

During our early conversations, I encouraged her to start selling her cinnamon buns through product drops and pop-ups, similar to how my friend Auzerais of The Blondery began her business. We've hosted similar events at the store in the past, though I've actually stopped doing them because of the toll they can take on our team. But this time, I offered to staff her pop-up myself because I'm so intrigued by this intrepid and ambitious young woman who wants a career in hospitality.

Over the course of a few conversations, we collectively agreed that hosting a series of pop-ups would be a great way to get started building her customer base, refining her food costs, and locking in her profit margin. Figuring these things out before you have operational overhead is ideal because operating a store and making products that people can purchase are two different things.

Today’s Butter Bun Bakery cinnamon bun drop

Despite the fact that we planned this pop-up weeks ago, as we neared today, there were a couple of key elements that she had not completed—namely the product photos and videos to actually pre-sell her cinnamon buns. I read somewhere that when we audibly share that we want to do something, our brain can process the desire as fact; it thinks we've already accomplished it. In turn, we never do the thing that we said we wanted to do. I think her saying she wanted to host a pop-up may have been the same... until I texted the SHMOM Alumni WhatsApp group and my moms from church WhatsApp group last night to say that she would be selling her cinnamon buns this morning at the store.

When she got home from work at 2 am, she had orders! And then I think things got real. She had to deliver. I'm not sure what her plan was for this morning's pop-up in the absence of these orders. Without marketing content, was she going to bake a few rolls and hope someone purchased them when we opened? Who knows. But now she had real orders that really needed to be fulfilled.

I stuck my neck out for her because I knew she wouldn't flake if forced to deliver. We'd also tasted her buns before, so I knew they wouldn't be a waste of money for anyone wanting to purchase them.

(Left to Right) Butter Bun Bakery Founder with one of her first customers

As she sat waiting for her customers to pick up their orders, she shared that she might not have ever done the pop-up had she not made the commitment to us to do it. I think deep down I knew that she wouldn't have fully gone through with it if she didn't have any orders, so I helped her get some. And guess what? Everyone loved them.

This week, this young baker had the intention of selling her cinnamon buns but hadn't marketed them in time. I think she was more focused on making the rolls than she was on telling anyone about them. This is a great illustration of how perfection can sabotage our progress. But then she got a nudge that forced her hand to deliver, and now showing up for the next pop-up with enough marketing lead time won't feel so out of reach.

I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: sometimes you just have to take the first messy step toward your goal. Getting reps in on that big idea you want to bring to life makes actually accomplishing it more attainable. Your body is building on the muscle memory of the previous imperfect action and adapts accordingly toward more precision.

So, if you're a cinnamon bun fan and you live in or near Harlem, start following her page and stay tuned for the next drop. It's going to be delicious.

Petrushka

Your Local Ice Cream Lady & Life/Business Coach