In 2021, I retired from the National Park Service after 27 years of Federal Service.
Through Baked & Board, I reinvented myself and have learned a lot from this endeavor. Here are the top five lessons I’ve learned as a small business owner.
1. “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.” – Dolly Parton
Dolly said it well! A little bit of research and a lot of gumption are required to start a small business. But it’s worth it. People tell you that you may fail or you won’t make any money, but if you do your research and produce a good product, the customers will come.
2. “There is no finish line. There are only mile markers.” – Michael Ventura
As an owner, the day begins and ends when you say it does. Small businesses can operate around the clock because when you are the CEO of the operation, you set the hours. Some days I am baking well into the evening for a customer to pick up the next morning. Decorating custom-designed cakes takes a long time to achieve a certain look. Charcuterie takes time to prepare the fruits, cheeses, meats, and vegetables in a creative arrangement. Marketing is essential and has a huge learning curve. It is important to pace myself and measure success in small things that give me joy. A job well done equals a happy customer. A few “Likes” on social media give a little boost to the day. My mile markers are simple but meaningful.
3. “Wake up Beauty, it’s time to Beast.” – Unknown
I love this quote because it describes what you learn about growing your vision. When I put my time into my vision, I can hustle like a beast! And there is great pride in the hustle.
4. “I’m an optimist, but an optimist who carries a raincoat.” – Harold Wilson
This lesson I take with me every day. I always hope for the best outcome but plan for the worst catastrophe. Planning, forecasting needs, and making suggestions to customers who might need more information and guidance go a long way toward a successful outcome. Sometimes this means making a recommendation that a customer dislikes, but in the end, it can help prevent things from becoming an issue.
5. Adapt and Overcome. – A Park Ranger Code
This final lesson I learned through my many years as a park ranger. Park rangers are often met with challenges on the job: the landscapes, working with the public, keeping visitors safe in an ever-changing world, and protecting natural resources. Change is a constant, and you learn how to improvise to meet the issue. Being a small business owner is very similar as every day presents new challenges. Tenacity, courage, and creativity go a long way. Adapting to what cannot be changed and employing creative solutions builds understanding, empathy, and incredible confidence. This is where resilience is born, and being resilient is the main ingredient for success.
Baked & Board has grown in many surprising ways in the last year including custom cakes for any occasion and the delivery of grazing boxes for healthy lunch options. Additionally, I recently launched catered tea parties and am hopeful the Carlsbad community will embrace this idea. This option includes a full-service catered tea party delivered to your site, elegantly served tea sandwiches, homemade cakes and cookies, and a selection of freshly brewed teas. All are served in a fun, colorful selection of tea cups and saucers. Tea parties are perfect for celebrations: bridal and baby showers as well as engagement and garden parties.
The goal of starting Baked & Board was to share my love of creating beautiful and colorful food to inspire people to come together more and celebrate life. I hope that it will inspire our community to share more moments with family and friends. Through food, we experience a connection to others. We express our culture, share our stories, and relive our memories. I also want to help foster new connections and experiences in our community. As a park ranger, I helped connect people to parks and natural spaces. Through my business, I want to continue connecting people and enriching community connections.
Article written by Elizabeth LaBrecque and originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2024 Spring edition.
Elizabeth LaBrecque
Hello, I’m Elizabeth LaBrecque. I retired from being a park ranger with the National Park Service and decided to start my own business. I started Baked & Board to share my love of charcuterie and fine baked goods with my local community of Carlsbad, New Mexico. I’ve had many roles in my life as a wife, mother, ranger, and now, small business owner. Each role has added challenges and adventure. I’m excited to see what this new challenge will bring.
