Panic-citement

One of the things that has surprised me the most about building a business is that baking for profit is even more satisfying than baking for "pleasure". In fact, the pleasure is magnified. It is magnified because of the panic that accompanies it (somewhat like the panic/pleasure of a roller-coaster ride). Some days the panic becomes sheer terror.

On those days, my head spins with "will it bake right"--"will I finish on time"--"will it look right"--"will they like it". I hover anxiously near the oven to make sure my cupcakes are rising or the muffins aren't burning, or the juice hasn't bubbled over on the cobbler crust.


The cobbler always bubbles over.
More often than I'd like, the cupcakes fall.
But I haven't burned a muffin. Yet.

Another cause for panic is the customer request: "Can you make...?" to which my answer is always "Certainly, no problem!" Confidence on the outside, fear and trembling inside the apron. But always with the panic is the excitement of the challenge, the creative process of inspiration, planning, and implementation, and the anticipation (and anxiety) of the presentation.

Sometimes I wonder if panic and angst will always be part of my baking ventures. But the utter joy and satisfaction I find in the process (and yes, even the terror) is worth every nail-biting moment. And the worry keeps me from gaining too much weight from sampling the goods.