Baking For Business Podcast
The Baking For Business podcast is dedicated to helping you start and grow your home bakery business and scale and expand with digital products. We believe bakers and treat makers can earn money in multiple ways by sharing their gifts and talents.
Learn more at https://stan.store/amandaschonberg
Baking For Business Podcast
#Ep 98: From Side Hustle To $8k Brand Orders: One On One With Linda Renee Sweets
From landing $5k and $8k orders in her home bakery to evolving her brand and mission, My' Asia's journey with Linda Renee Sweets reveals the untapped potential many bakers miss when focusing solely on social media and individual clients. Named after her late mother and cousin, her Texas-based cottage bakery has transformed from a passion project into a thriving business serving major corporate clients like the Dallas Mavericks, banks, hospitals, and churches.
In this episode, you will learn:
How she grew her business after relocating to a new state
How she grew her brand without spending tons of time on social media
How she secured corporate orders ranging from $1k to $8k
How her mindset has evolved since operating a business, and so much more.
🚨Want to join us inside More Dough and start adding corporate clients to your baking business? Tap here to enroll before the doors close on June 27th, at 8pm CST. https://www.bakingforbusiness.com/moredough
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Two ways I help my students earn $2-10k monthly👇?
1.) Grow your home bakery business inside The Entrepreneur Community by clicking here
2.) Learn to sell digital products inside Digital Product Community by clicking here
Hey, sweet friends, my name is Chef Schaumburg. I started my baking business with a bottle of DeSorono and one Bundt cake pan. Fast forward to today, from news to magazines, speaking on national stages and more. I can truly say that baking has changed my life. So now, as a bakery business coach, I get to help others have the same success. I've helped hundreds of my students across the world in my global membership program create six-figure businesses, mainly from home.
Speaker 1:The Baking for Business podcast is an extension of that, from actionable tips to valuable tools and resources that can impact you as a business owner. I truly believe y'all. We would never have been given a gift if we couldn't profit and prosper from it. So come on, darling. What are you waiting for? Hey, what's going on, sweet friends, and welcome back to the Baking for Business podcast. Thank you, guys so much for tuning in today. I pray that this episode blesses you, because I have an amazing baker here who has had amazing success in her business and, more importantly, baking and working with corporate clients. And so my Asia is here. She is the owner of Linda Renee Sweets, which operates in Texas. She operates a Texas cottage bakery and she makes some beautiful cupcakes and breakfast items and cakes, and so we'll get to hear all about all the things she offers. So, my Asia, thank you so much for joining me today. It's a pleasure to have you on.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited.
Speaker 1:I'm so happy to have you and for those watching on YouTube y'all, she has the most beautiful smile and the most beautiful, beautiful hair. She's such a pretty, pretty young lady, and so my Asia, tell me a little bit about your journey. What got you started with baking and into this industry?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I started during the pandemic officially baking Um, but before that I actually started my bakery business well before as a kid, really baking. I love the Food Network, all the things culinary, so that was my initial thing. But I think COVID, and through my mom passing it, reignited me going back into the kitchen and fully like immersing myself. And it was people pushing me during my master's program like you have to sell these items, like you cannot not sell this. And so then I relocated to Texas and started officially selling my sweets and my desserts. So that's what got me started.
Speaker 1:I love that and sorry to hear about your mom. I can definitely relate. Did you have any particular inspiration from her or another family member that gave you the bacon bug?
Speaker 2:She didn't give me bacon, we would cook like I would cook so much with my mom. Saturday morning, sunday mornings, every Super Bowl, all the parties were at our house and I was in the kitchen Number one like her sous chef, basically in the kitchen number one, like her sous chef, basically in the kitchen, and I remember just as a little girl, like just loving cooking and I think you know, sometimes we get away from the things that we enjoy, but that's what started it and my business actually named after my mom and my cousin who passed away. So that's where Linda Renee comes from. It's both of their names.
Speaker 1:So, yes, I love you actually just took took a question from me because I was going to ask about that and I always think it's amazing when a business has a name that has a story behind it, and so which? Which one's, Linda, which?
Speaker 2:one's Renee. So Linda is my cousin and Renee is my mom, so that's where they come from. So Linda, renee, yes.
Speaker 1:Awesome. So it's definitely like you're carrying a portion of them in your baking business and when you're in the kitchen, and so inside of Linda Renee Sweets, what are some of the items that you offer?
Speaker 2:Yes, so I now have breakfast items. So I do croissants, I do muffins, pastries and danishes, and then on the, I even offer lunch now with croissants and like tuna salad and chickpea salad to give everybody a variety. And then on the dessert side, it is cupcakes, cakes, cookies. So a lot of grab and go items, something really simple and I learned that from you. So something simple that my clients really enjoy and it's able to get served quickly.
Speaker 1:So I love that. I eat all of those so they all sound. They all sound delicious. So I know a lot of bakers are always, they're always posting on social media, they're always trying to grow on social media and you have actually had amazing success without really even being on social media much. Did you ever think that was a thing?
Speaker 2:No, I would tell you, I was one of those people who I would. I really didn't care for social media like that, but I was like I have to make my business work. It has to work. I have to find a way for it to work, and that was through investing in you and the products that you offer and really invested in my business.
Speaker 2:That shifted my trajectory, to be able to step outside of social media, and I think one of the things that you teach us is not just social media but the importance of overall networking. So it's no single form, you know, and sometimes the people on social media, they don't necessarily correlate to actual paying clients. So they might like to see your stuff, they might enjoy it, but it doesn't necessarily mean revenue and I wanted the revenue, so it was emailing. You know some of the platforms. You told us about something that you taught. So I think that was one of the things that I really took heed to and just putting myself out there in my community to joining different organizations, so really immersing myself in Dallas and I've worked with a lot of nonprofits, even through just the things that you've taught us.
Speaker 1:So, yes, I love that. What did your business look like? Because you're a graduate. For those listening, my Asia has taken the Mordo program. So that's the six week coaching program for once a year where I work with you guys, live every single week and we go over how to prepare for corporate clients, how to find corporate clients and what to do to make sure you're ready for them, and so a lot of times people will say, well, maybe she talks about it on a podcast or it's on YouTube, or I don't want to invest in the course because it's already out there. Did you feel that way with the course? Did you feel like things were already out there or you actually took away some tangible items from the course?
Speaker 2:For me. I took away so much from the course that the money that I spent, I seen the increase. Within a month I received it double back. So it was almost like you made this investment. You can see, you know this is one investment. So if you can make this investment, just imagine if you making others and doing other things. And so I think in the beginning I knew the importance because I listened to the podcast. So I was listening to the podcast 2022.
Speaker 2:And then I took the course in 2023. So I did kind of wait a year just to see okay, do I really want you know, cause sometimes we on a fence about it. But once I did it and applied the work so you could take the course and not do the work, and so now it's, you just wasted your investment, right. But I was like, okay, I'm going to put in the work, I'm going to do the things and you make it easy for us. So you, you helped us so much. I'm like always like this is so easy, what was I waiting on? So once I did that everything, I've seen so much more money that I feel like you know I should be paying you some more money.
Speaker 1:I love it, I'll take it. I'll take it. That's amazing and I'm happy to hear that not only are you earning money but honestly, that you applied yourself to just see all the different businesses that you work with. And because when I'm on your social media file and I've looked over and it's like I'm dropping off of this business, I'm dropping off of that business. I'm like, is she like me now? Does she only specialize?
Speaker 2:I actually do so I did, I switched that over. That was something that was a change that I made completely after your course, I completely went to corporate clients and my my regular clients. I love them, I do and I'll do little things for them throughout the year as just a appreciation. But it became, with me working with clients like the Mavericks and different banks and different companies, it was like my other clients. They couldn't really get in necessarily onto my schedule because it was so many bigger order and larger quantity of orders that I was like, okay, I have to change something because now it's not working for them and it's also not working for me to provide them a need. So and it was really hard to do that was one of the hardest decisions I had to make was saying like, okay, I specialize in corporate catering.
Speaker 2:I'm a corporate caterer you know so and they was all like no. So I do try to make sure I still include them throughout the year and do different things, but I have truly been blessed through the investment with corporate clients that I completely changed to.
Speaker 1:I just do corporate clients and and for anyone listening, because I don't want you to be like, oh my gosh, do I have to?
Speaker 1:you do not have to change everyone, you don't everyone's journey is different, but I get it because when I first started, for me it was wholesale and a lot of people listening.
Speaker 1:I always like to tell you that the difference between corporate and wholesale at wholesale, someone is buying your stuff at a lower rate and then they're reselling it. That's not a corporate client. A corporate client buys your product. A corporate client, first and foremost, is any brand or any entity that just particularly wants to be your client, and this is what's known as B2B business to business, as opposed to, like what MyAsia said with her regular customers, which is what's known as B2C business to consumer. And so the benefit is is that you're just not selling to one person for like a party who may want like a cake or desserts for you know, a girl's night out, a bachelor wedding you're selling to a brand that's probably buying for their employees, which could be feeding them for 20 people for breakfast or 200 people for a staff meeting or 200 people for a staff meeting and when it finally started picking up for me it's like I was in year three in business.
Speaker 1:So this is like 70 years ago, because I've been self-employed for nine years. I was working wholesale and I used to feel so bad because I could not keep up with my wholesale orders and I was like wait a minute. But who says I have to? Like what's wrong with just telling people no and only focusing on this one avenue of people? But sometimes we're so afraid, so did you feel that there was that fear of that People won't understand? When I turned down regular orders?
Speaker 2:Yes, and I am a people's pleaser, like people pleaser. Yeah, I do not want to tell my clients no, because they have came to me and trusted me with an experience. I go above and beyond. They will tell you anything, any extras, I'm extra, that's part of my business, that's part of what they expect. So having to tell them no and also I did do wholesale, so I was in a restaurant in Dallas too and I had to tell them no as well and sever that partnership.
Speaker 2:But thankfully what I ended up doing with them was doing community classes. So I kept the relationship, still bridging that relationship and that importance of fostering it, because we still got the connection. So I ended up no longer selling to them with wholesale, but I still kept the relationship. But it was really hard even to say like this isn't, this is no longer working for either one of us. You know, because then they also started taking less orders because their business was becoming slow at the time and I'm like I'm trying to make everything work but at the same time you also have to look at a bigger picture and if something's not working, you can't force it to work. So that's what I, but I really struggled with saying no. It was really hard for me.
Speaker 1:It's nothing wrong with that. We're all human, even though we are business owners, but at least you did know, hey, okay, I have to set this boundary. I have to try because it's it's, it's only, it's only one. You right, and so, absolutely, I love to hear that. And so you mentioned one of the companies earlier, but tell me about some of your, because, as you stated earlier, you took it two years ago, so you're a 23 graduate, and, for those who don't know, I have actually been offering this course for eight years, so it is amazing to see people from. It kind of really feels like school or college, to see people from past years graduate. So you're a 23 graduate, even though now we're in 2025. So tell me what have been some of your orders, like, if you can name drop, who have been some of your clients that you've baked for.
Speaker 2:Yes, so I have did the Mavericks. I've did an event for the Mavericks, dallas Mavericks. I've did an event with Gateway they're one of the churches here Large orders, so I've did stuff. I've did stuff with pretty much different law offices. I've did stuff with hospitals in Dallas and I also do outside cities. So I've worked with some of the surrounding cities as well. So I always expand my territory. I tell God enlarge my territory.
Speaker 2:So, that's what I do and sometimes it does require me to drive a little distance, but I've worked with schools. It does require me to drive a little distance, but I've worked with schools. So Dallas ISD, I've provided stuff for different offices, different campuses. And one of my clients he actually was volunteering at an event and he texts me and he's like your desserts are here and you don't even sell to me anymore and he's like I'm in here telling them, you know, because it's now no longer for him. But he was like I'm volunteering at this school and I get your desserts and I haven't had them in so long. And he was just so happy and he was telling everybody and I think that's part of the experience. You know you might not get it here, but you at this event. That's a bigger scale, so they purchased it. So I did. You know, employee, teacher appreciation, nurse appreciation, weeks, so really knowing what's going on, different community, Plano, ISD. So I've worked with schools, hospitals, basketball teams, so churches, nobody is off limits. I love.
Speaker 1:Do you feel that I love that? Do you feel that it has definitely made you more of like? I like to call them community rock stars, because a lot of times we all want to stand out in our community and sometimes we think as home bakers, like OK, well, like you mentioned those elite places like your local colleges, your local churches, your local basketball team Right and crazy part is Dallas Mavericks is actually my husband's favorite basketball team. Right and crazy part is Dallas Mavericks is actually my husband's favorite basketball team. So do you ever feel like wow, like I'm really up there, like the caliber of my clientele has definitely changed?
Speaker 2:Yes, so I can share this.
Speaker 2:So even when I'm, when I'm sometimes in North Carolina, I did something for Duke Energy here and I just remember crying when I got the order, because this was the same people who turned off our lights one time, you know.
Speaker 2:So being able to be in a space where you're now working with companies that you know you've experienced your life being turned on, your power being turned off, you know it really puts you in a place of humility but also a place of such full gratitude and you're able to work with companies you never imagined working with. And even when once you said I was like, oh yeah, and I did do Dallas College, so I've worked with Dallas College as well. So through another platform, you told me about that, you taught us about. So I've been able to work with so many different businesses that I never expected that I would be in that seat. You know, when you think of a bakery business, you do kind of limit yourself or you say like, oh OK, well, it's going to be to this person or these people, and then you invest in your business and it opens your eyes to something way larger than you could even have imagined. So I I'm always just in gratitude and appreciation for the things.
Speaker 1:I love that and your smile and your energy is is so infectious. You're just so, so beautiful. It shows and I know, I know that feeling One of my past orders was actually the very last job that I had and I was like, wait, that is so. It's so crazy, like I used to sit at this desk and you guys get to give me a check and now your company is hiring me to feed you. So it's like I go from working with you to like working for you somewhat.
Speaker 2:So yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And that happened to me last week. I was in, I was in this office building and my old job that the first job I ever got fired from. Um, they had my first and only job. I haven't got fired from a lot of jobs, let me be clear, um. So I go to the office and in the office I'm like this is the same building, you know, and the lady's, like you know we are going to contact you some more. We see your products and we've ordered from you before and she's like we love, we love your products. But it's just a full circle moment, you know, especially in places where you've been laid off or you've worked in there and now you're serving them. So you come in, you come in like okay, I can do this, you know it's a different level of confidence.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It reminds me of the parable that the last will be first and the first will be last. Yes, yes, I love that and you mentioned. So you changed your menu. You said you added some breakfast items, and I'm a huge advocate of that. That is. That's actually one of the biggest tips that I would give to anyone for free. When it comes to corporate clients is that you need to have what I like to call a dual menu things that can be served for breakfast and for dessert. Was that change scary? Because normally I know you do the cupcakes and cookies. You're like who is this person telling me I have to sell a muffin, or I have to sell a croissant and then, to take it a step further, who was this person that tells me it's okay to sell it and it's also okay if you don't make it?
Speaker 2:that tells me it's okay to sell it and it's also okay if you don't make it. Yes, it was. It was not only scary. I remember getting a coaching call with you and us going through it, you know. And again, investment, you know, after your course, I'm like okay, because I don't really agree with this. So let me, let me meet with her one-on-one so we can talk and really, you know, go through it. But it was through your encouragement, like trust this, this is going to bring. You know, go through it. But it was through your encouragement, like trust this, this is going to bring you what you need.
Speaker 2:And it was my first order through a platform that you told us about was $1,000. And when I got it, I was on the road and it sent me the notification and I pulled over and started screaming. I was like hold on, let me pull this thing off, let me read. And so I pulled my car over and I'm like a thousand dollars. Mind you, I've only made this type of money during events, so farmer's markets. I did another event in Miami one year, so doing these events. So you working all day, opposed to I've worked for six hours or five hours for this order and I just took home a thousand dollars quick. So it was, and it was mainly breakfast items. They. They ordered some cupcakes, but they mainly wanted them. So I'm like, okay, she knows she's talking about.
Speaker 1:So, looking at some of your products now, what would you say is one of your top sellers when it comes to breakfast items?
Speaker 2:My top sellers are muffins, and then I do a continental breakfast platter, so it's muffins, pastries and croissants something we also collaborated on and that is probably my top seller on a platform that you taught us about. It really sells. I would say that's what people, mainly in their office buildings that's what they call me for they're like okay, I want to get 70 of these for our office and that's what they do. So I would say that's my number one seller.
Speaker 1:I love that. What takeaways have you had since now expanding your source of revenue to add corporate clients as another stream of revenue? Have you found that it's helped with your sales? Has it helped with your confidence? Has it helped with your content, or has it maybe helped in a way that you don't have to make as much content?
Speaker 2:I for sure don't make content. You can tell me I will put something out here and there, because I do. You know people, people enjoy seeing you on social media and I've had people message me like we love when you post stuff we do, and so I will try to commit to it once a week. Um, but I have decreased posting content because I'm able to now focus on working, baking and being in the community. I have definitely seen an increase in orders. There are, especially during the holidays, you can't contact me. Pretty much it's done. You can't reach me because they know I'm baking, I'm working, and I would say my other biggest takeaway I would say is relationships.
Speaker 2:I am a part of organizations that you have told us about, that you taught us about, and through there they've told their businesses because they work at places. Everybody in here works somewhere, right, so they're like, oh, she's so nice, she's kind, or she brought these samples to us, because that's another thing you teach us about you stay ready. You don't got to get ready. So I take stuff when I go places and I know some people you know you kind of have like, oh, I don't want to waste product or but it's not a waste. I can say that it will never be a waste.
Speaker 2:People like to eat, they like to try things. So I would say those are my biggest takeaways, like keep some stuff, give out some stuff, keep your cards. And also presentable, be presentable. You know, sometimes when we drop off stuff, especially client to client, I was to my clients. I was sometimes, you know, have on sweatpants when I go into them office buildings, let's put together, because I don't know who I'm going to run into and I want to be a reputable baker for them. So I want to be somebody they're like. Okay, I can trust her. And also, if it ever comes to we need you to serve an event, right, we need you here working event. Okay, I want you to know I look good, I want you to know that about me. But I would say that's another takeaway.
Speaker 1:I love that. I remember I'm reading a message that you sent me because, like I stated, you're a 2023 grad and it's from October 25, 2023. And you said hey, chef, great news, I was able to get on the site that you recommend and I just received my first order. The order was one case, so thank you so much. Like I stated, that was a couple of years back and sometimes people may feel like, okay, well, is it consistent like that? Since then, have you had any more 1k orders?
Speaker 2:I have had a 5k order, I have had an $8,000 order and when you see those type of numbers, yes, pause, pause. I'm sorry, I got chills all over again.
Speaker 1:You said I had a.
Speaker 2:he was like, no, that's small A $8,000 order A $8,000 order with the church, and the turnaround was quick. They was like we need this in a few days and I didn't sleep, I'll be honest, I did not sleep. I was like I'm doing this, I'm I called out of work Cause at the time I was at a school. I was like I'm not coming to work, I'm not doing that because I just made $8,000 and I went to the stores, got all my stuff, um. But I would say that like if that small seed and it wasn't to me, it's not even small at this point but that small seed of investment in your course turned into well over what I paid for the course. So that's why I'm like I probably owe you money at this point.
Speaker 1:But I love the mindset, though, because it's great and that's one of the things that we talk about in a lot of our courses and I know you've taken other courses besides Mordeaux but I love how your mindset changed. You were like I heard about the course in 2022, but I was on the fence and the course is only $350. For anyone listening, $350 is how much the course is, but you finally took it in 2023. But now your mindset is like 350. What is that? That's so small. Isn't it amazing how our money beliefs change when we actually receive it?
Speaker 2:Yes, and I think it helped me to get out of lack Right. So not living in a lack mindset or oh I can't, I can't make that, I can't do that. Oh, I can't make that, I can't do that. I've seen it happen. I've even heard stories of other people from your courses and that's what kind of made me take that leap. But I've seen it happen for me. So I know if I can make $8,000, we can turn this to $20,000. We can keep it going. And I would say December of 2025, I made $10,000 that month. I could have just been like, okay, I don't have to do nothing else, but I was still talking to people. So I'm like, okay, we still need some more orders. So for my birthday, I was working and it was like 2024 of 2024.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:December 2024.
Speaker 2:Um, I was working on my birthday and everybody's like why are you working? And I'm like I love what I do, so there's nothing. It didn't feel like work. It just felt like, okay, I'm working on an order, I'm getting this done. And again, that was a large quantity order. It was 900 pieces for a church and I did that for them. They were so grateful, so thankful, but it truly is, whatever your mindset is about it. So if you are limited in your mindset, whatever your mindset is about it, so if you are limited in your mindset, you're going to be limited in your output If you expand.
Speaker 2:That's, that's what it's going to be. So I had to make shifts, like you said, because beginning I was like Ooh, I don't know about this. And then I was like you know, I'm gonna do it. And then now I keep, I keep investing. I'm also in an entrepreneur community, so I'm I am a Chef, sean Berg's girl, okay.
Speaker 1:I love it. I gotta I gotta send you something. So you're so sweet. But honestly, it's really beautiful, MyAsia, to just watch you grow because so so many people, like I said, I remember when I did start working with you, when I met you, your account was brand new. You have about 300 followers. Now you're at about 700 followers.
Speaker 1:So I know when someone's at 300 followers and I know what their mind is thinking like okay, can you help me go forward? Can you do this, can you do that? And I come in and say, hey, I can show you how. If you just step away, sometimes people are like, like, what the hell? Like is it possible? And so now to hear just that you have this peace of mind, that you're not necessarily too concerned about social media, you've expanded your mindset and you've had some amazing wins. Would you recommend for someone else who's on the fence, like you were back in 2022 when you didn't take it? Would you recommend someone who's on the fence, like you were back in 2022, when you didn't take it? Would you recommend someone who's on the fence to take the class?
Speaker 2:I would, and I would say I would say, believe in your investment too. So if, if you take the class, trust that it's going to be a return, right, I think sometimes our faith is so small that we can't really see the outcome because, just because we don't see it right, we like, oh, I don't know about this, believe in it. I'm gonna take this class and this is what it's going to be. Speak, speak and declare what it is that you want the return to be, and I think that's that's what it's going. It is what it is. So, because you said it was, you know, um, so I would say anybody should take it. You, if you really want to level up your business, you know, we in a level up season, level up, let's do this. I think this level me up to the point where I don't I I can work whenever I feel and it's a place where I love my clients, my regular clients, my OG clients and my corporate clients. But I'm also able to say, okay, I can close this off because I've made my goal for this month and I didn't have to spend a hundred hours in the kitchen either. Right, so that's another thing. You not tied to a kitchen, as long, even if the order is big, you can bulk stuff, you can get stuff done quickly. So I think I would say, invest in yourself and don't be limiting your mindset, because the unthinkable or things can happen that you never expected could happen.
Speaker 2:And that same church because I say that is because that church I was DMing them in 2023. Hey, I would really like to. Can you get me in contact with someone? And they found me through the platform and it was when I dropped off their. That church I was DMing them in 2023. Hey, I would really like to. Can you get me in contact with someone? And they found me through the platform and it was when I dropped off their order that they said oh, can you do another event in two days? Yes, I can. So it was. And then another week later they contacted me and now they've become someone who always come to me. So I think it's well worth the investment, for sure.
Speaker 1:I love that and that's what a lot of people don't understand. I hear Baker say all the time well, I'll just go buy a business and drop off some samples and that is fine. There is nothing wrong with that. But a lot of these businesses use additional services. A lot of these businesses they hire places to handle things for them and so when you don't know that level of platforms and places where you should be, then you're missing out and they may eat your sample. They may very well love it, but they just have certain avenues that they go through ordering and if you're not there, they won't see you.
Speaker 1:And that's what the whole class is about is about getting you more visibility so that you can be found online, like you mentioned, on Google and some of the other secret sauce places. I like to say that we cover in the class. And you mentioned bulk, but I know to a lot of people that terrifies people Like I have. Like you said, you had 900 pieces. I have Shupan, who's a graduate. I know she had to make like 800 cupcakes once for Amazon. Did you feel you had the confidence to handle those bulk orders or did your mind was it like hell, like how am I going to do this?
Speaker 2:For me. I did have the confidence just because I went to Miami and did a large scale event and I was a vendor there and so I overbaked for that event. But I had the confidence to say, even if I mess up, I'm gonna make this work. I have no choice but to make this work. I'm not giving them this money back, I'm about to get them a good product. So even if it calls for me to not sleep and I think that's another thing it's a sacrifice. Are you willing to sacrifice 350? Are you willing to not have your Chick-fil-A or something to be able to pay for this course? And that's what it ultimately is is a sacrifice. But I will say I always have confidence now in knowing that there is no too big of an order. I might need to plan better. Or I might need to say, hey, I might need a day. Or even if I got to hire somebody, hey, I need a friend phone, a friend phone to somebody. But we, we're going to get this done.
Speaker 1:I love that confidence of like I will no longer turn something away now because I know how to get it done.
Speaker 2:Yes, and you, you do have to be strategic, and that's part of the planning, right, you have to be intentional about it, and so that's what I do strive to be very intentional about my business, about my brand, and so I. There are certain things I do for corporate clients making sure you know I know events Some one of the offices they have a dessert Friday. I know that they like to rotate products, so I'm hey, I got some new stuff. It might not be on a platform, but I just wanna let y'all know I can make this as a new flavor so that they don't get tired of it and so that they are still using me. So I think you gotta have the confidence and believe in yourself. I love that.
Speaker 1:It's all about building relations. I tell people all the time conversations turn into conversions.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I was somebody who, at farmer's markets and events, I really wouldn't talk like that. Believe it or not, I do not talk, I am very introverted. I can't tell that's because it's different, it's different. But if I'm in events I'm very, you know, small. But I had to get out of it because nobody's going to know your story, your brand, anything about you, if you don't share it. You have to open your mouth to share it and you will be amazed at what people will pour back into you by you just saying, hey, how you doing.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I love it. What is the future for Linda Renee Sweets?
Speaker 2:um, you know, I don't really know. I I have the corporate clients now for two years since your class almost it's been two years and I love it. I, just I, I probably my clients I know they're not gonna want to hear this, but we'll probably never go back, except to you know it's okay, except to like some stuff when I do events for them. I would say that, um, but I think it's just continuing to work with corporate clients and expand it. I'm not someone who wants necessarily a storefront. I know some people really want that.
Speaker 2:Um, that's not my necessary path or trajection right now in this time and space. But you know I'm always open. I think that's one thing that you have taught me as a mentor and as a coach is just be open minded, like, keep an open mind. You never know, and I think sometimes I was really stuck in my ways and even just investing in re-changing my logo. You've been with me to change my logo. It's so many things that you've been here with me to support me with, and so I think for me I'm not really sure what it looks like, but I do know I'm gonna keep my corporate clients going.
Speaker 1:I love to hear it. And you're right, I'm always open to you guys making money multiple streams. That's the entire mission of baking for businesses to teach you guys multiple streams. And I love to hear that you have had a 1K order, a 5K order, 8k order without getting a storefront, because a lot of times bakers assume well, when I get the storefront the sales will come and I'm like no, you have to have the sales before.
Speaker 1:A storefront is going to bring on more overhead, more costs, more expenses. So if you can't market from home, you won't be able to market from a storefront, and so I'm not against them, but in our industry, we just see more of them close than we see stay open, and there are just so many other ways to do it, and so I'm just grateful that that you took a chance on joining Mordeaux, that you graduated and that you do see that there are other ways, and, more than anything, I am a person who is avid about digital products. However, you did all of this and you have not sold any digital products, and that is what I love too, because a lot of times, bakers will think I want them to follow my path, and you don't have to go that route. You can make money in the corporate world and you can make money in a digital world. It's just really up to you, and so I'm so happy that you've had success on the corporate side without even or ever going digital.
Speaker 2:Yes, I do. Now I do want to do more of digital. I do want to get into another stream with the business. I don't know what it necessarily looks like yet, but I know, you know, I can call you, I can get on a coaching call, I can. I feel like, okay, let's, let's brainstorm, let's plan this together. So I do see, and I've seen so many people have success with it, right, like they have successful business women and being able to see them grow their businesses in more than one way and still bake. So I do want to get into different things. I just don't know when, but I will.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm always here when you're ready. It's no pressure. You've done amazing work and had amazing success with the things that you've accomplished so far, and it's just so nice to see all of your goals come to fruition and just to hear about all of the achievements that you've had since taking Mordo, and so thank you so much for coming on today and for sharing your story and your brand and your beautiful energy with us. Before I let you go, MyAsia. What do we have to do?
Speaker 1:We got lightning round y''all we have to play a game of lightning round my asia. What is your favorite color?
Speaker 2:um, I would say black.
Speaker 1:I love that black. And what is your favorite dessert?
Speaker 2:my favorite dessert. I'm gonna have to go with the plant-based reese's that they make now. I love them I I can eat them all day okay, nothing wrong with that.
Speaker 1:And what is one kitchen tool you cannot live without?
Speaker 2:I'm gonna go with any tool, any tool. Oh, it's my KitchenAid, kitchenaid. Okay, I love the.
Speaker 1:KitchenAid. All right, I love that. What is one book that's your favorite or that you would recommend someone read? Can I do two? Go for?
Speaker 2:it. Don't Believe Everything you Think. And I'm going to say, let them. Theory by Mel Robbins. Those are my two yes yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Definitely those are the things I got to do too. Those are wonderful. And the last question, my Asia, is who is your celebrity crush?
Speaker 2:Now that I told you I do not have a celebrity crush I used to, but I don't I don't think. You know, as a kid you find you feel like, oh, he is. Morris Chestnut was just a fine man to me as a kid. He still is. He is still a fine man, but you know, I was, I'm younger than that man. That's why I'm like I don't know if it's, but yeah, I would say Morris Chestnut was like my childhood, but now I don't really have one.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, we, we will take Morris Chestnut when you get a new one. You can always come back and let us know I will. From the bottom of my heart, myesha, thank you so much for coming on and sharing your journey and your gifts, and really just your encouragement. Like I said, you're such a beautiful soul and I really appreciate all the inspiration that I know other people will get from hearing your story.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you so much for having me and just being here and listening Y'all. This is not advertised or branded, but y'all need to invest. Invest in yourself you're so sweet. I know chef Sean are gonna get me for saying that y'all, but I'm gonna say it to y'all just invest in yourself for real. You don't do nothing else seriously and that's outside of your business in life. Just really make an investment in you, buy books, whatever it is that makes you a better person.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I love it, darling. Thank you so much beautiful.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Wow, what an episode, you guys. My Asia has such a beautiful spirit and I'm sure you definitely felt her energy and excitement and joy, but also really just the ups and downs of her journey as being an entrepreneur, starting a baking business and having my agent on today's show truly was a gift. Her story is really one of resilience, purpose and transformation and, as you guys know, I can definitely relate with the loss of her mother and just finding her passion after that. Like I stated, I love how she carries their names, the memory of her loved ones, in her business, because it really just gives so much purpose to what she does. And it's truly probably one of the reasons why I know the Lord is shining down on her business, because it's just so awesome watching her have so many wins, even after relocated to a brand new state. She still shows what's possible when you don't give up on yourself.
Speaker 1:And another thing that I love about MyAsia because too often people will tell me well, I'm niche, I'm different, maybe I'm like a gluten-free or I'm low sugar or this my Asia actually has a vegan baking business, you guys. So that's one of the cool things about it is that she was still able to have success. As we say that, she's a graduate of the Mordo program, she still serves her clients and when it's good it's good. So I know I eat anything as long as it tastes good, but my Asia is not just making vegan treats. Honestly, she's building a legacy and she's taken a leap from full time educator to full time entrepreneur. All I put in systems in place to just really help her to continue to avoid burnout, even though, as you heard, she stated she loves taking the bulk orders, because she really does love what she does, and that, right there, just really speaks to the joy and the gratitude that she has. And so if you ever felt like the odds were against you, or you had to start all over or you're like man, I feel like my dream is too far away, then please let my age's journey be your reminder that it is possible. She's proof that when you invest in yourself, when you show up in your business, your growth is always worth it.
Speaker 1:So again, thanks so much to Myasia for coming on the podcast today. I really do appreciate you, queen, and I look forward to seeing her have so many more wins and if you would like to join us sometime, I may be sharing your success story. We would love to have you inside of Mordo. The doors to Mordo are now open. They actually close depending on when you're listening to this, but they close June 27th of 2025, this Friday. So we would love to have you inside of the program.
Speaker 1:It only opens once a year and Mordo is a live coaching program. Replays are always available, but it is really dedicated to helping you get started with corporate clients, adding another stream into your baking business and really with how to present yourself, how to attract and how to start baking for brands and companies in your city, and we would love to have you. You can always visit wwwbakingforbusinesscom backslash Mordo or check the link in the show notes. Again, thank you to every single person who listened to this episode. Share with a friend and if my Asia's journey inspired you, then please would you go ahead and forward this episode to a buddy so that they can be encouraged to. Thanks so much for listening, take care and bye for now.