The Hidden Strategy: How I Leveraged Spreadsheets to Achieve Success in Baking

Ah, life’s grand tapestry! One minute you’re climbing the corporate ladder, and the next you’re baking cupcakes in your kitchen while wearing two toddlers as accessories. In this delightful narrative, Jess Lawson recounts her unexpected tumble into redundancy—and how it accidentally turned her into a baker and, later, a business coach. Because, really, who doesn’t love a plot twist with a side of frosting?

In a world where plans are set like concrete, Jess found her path rewritten in flour and sugar. But fear not, intrepid souls—she managed to piece together the corporate skills she “acquired” to fashion a flexible career as a mother of two pint-sized chaos agents. Let’s take a stroll through her unexpected journey and discover some useful (and amusing) tips for crafting a career that suits the whims of children, life, and hopefully, some well-timed coffee breaks.

You know how life has a flair for the dramatic? Mine decided to stage a riveting cliffhanger when I faced the awful specter of redundancy. One minute I was in the customer engagement team, and the next, I was knee-deep in cake batter—not exactly the career trajectory one might predict. Spoiler alert: the corporate climb was paved with colonizing spreadsheets and impossible deadlines, but Jess discovered her true calling in the kitchen (complete with all the joyous screams of toddlers). Who knew baking could lead to business coaching? If only my life choices came with an instruction manual, or at least a recipe.

Having ascended the corporate ranks, I realized my journey had been more of a detour than a straightforward climb. Imagine being on a road trip, eager to reach Disneyland, but ending up at an awkward barbecue instead. This detour featured lots of chaos—specifically, the chaos of two wriggly humans and baking adventures gone slightly awry. But through it all, Jess learned that sometimes what feels like the end is merely an over-cooked hors d’oeuvre to a new, more flavorful chapter.

So, what hot takes does Jess serve up on her culinary and entrepreneurial journey? Let’s get to the meat (or tofu, if you’re feeling veggie) of it:

Tip 1: Build on What You’ve Already Learned—Because Skills Are Transferable Like Bad Jokes

Before the baking escapade commenced, Jess was all corporate hustle, focused on customer engagement—sounds glamorous, doesn’t it? But then, like a poorly timed casserole explosion, she faced redundancy. Suddenly, it was not just about finding a new job but about creating a life that fit around the unpredictable whims of toddlerhood. Deliciously impossible, right? But fear not! The skills she baked into her corporate existence were still golden—planning, organization, and the uncanny ability to break down complex tasks (like toddler tantrums) survived her career transition.

Practical takeaway: Don’t start from scratch unless you’re baking cupcakes. Your past experiences and skills are the leftover frosting that can decorate a new cake, or in this case, a new career.

Tip 2: Start With Structure—Because Chaos Is Not Your Friend

Jess’s baking business skyrocketed faster than a toddler on a sugar high. But with great potential comes great burnout risk—she wasn’t about to replay the corporate burnout script. It’s sage advice: start with structure. Even if your ‘business’ is just you making one batch of cupcakes for a random neighbor, create a system. She created master spreadsheets, not just for fun but as a strategic life preserver. Seriously, organizing with spreadsheets can be the equivalent of wielding a spatula in a kitchen full of chaos. It’s a tool for survival.

Practical takeaway: Organization is not just a suggestion; it’s your lifeboat in the stormy seas of entrepreneurship. Set up your systems early unless you enjoy the thrill of unmitigated chaos (spoiler: you don’t).

Tip 3: Look Out for What Resonates With Others—Eavesdrop Politely

As her baking business took wing, Jess ditched the glossy Instagram-perfect cakes and pivoted to the real-life chaos of entrepreneurship—everyone loved it. They did not want to just see frosting; they wanted to know how she managed to charge for her creations while juggling toddlers. These questions were her lightbulb moment. Instead of ignoring them, she embraced them, realizing her true calling was in coaching other hilariously brave women—a most ironic twist for a baker.

Practical takeaway: Tune in to what people are asking. Those questions are the gold nuggets that can lead to your next big career pivot—except without the confusing treasure map.

Tip 4: Redefine Success—It’s Like Redefining Pizza Toppings

Now, Jess fully embraces her role as a coach for women business owners. Her journey didn’t follow the neat trajectory of a corporate ladder. Instead, it zigzagged, reminding her that security is self-made, baking is all about community, and coaching pulls it all together. Her ultimate takeaway? Sometimes you need to take a detour, and it’s okay—no one is stopping you at the metaphorical rest stop.

Tip 5: Invest in Yourself—Even Pennies Count (And Not Just for Your Kids’ Piggy Banks)

Now, if you find yourself wondering what your next step is and thinking that your idea is worth a tiny investment, guess what? It probably is! A small business grant can push you over the edge from idea to reality faster than a toddler snatching your last donut. So take a leap—enter Simply Business’s competition to win £500 for your small business. It’s like finding money in the couch cushions, plus it just might propel you toward the wild world of entrepreneurship.

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