An Alaska Baker's Journey

What is the purpose of business?   An article written by Charles Handy in 2002 asked this question.  At that time there were many corporate scandals being reveled, and faith in the business world was shaken.  Handy writes " The great virtue of capitalism – that it provides a way for the savings of society to be used for the creation of wealth."  He continues, "to many, it seems that executives not long run their companies for the benefit of the consumers, or even for their shareholders and employees, but for their personal ambition and financial gain."   Handy states "The purpose of a business is not to make a profit.  It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better."   What is the purpose of Bearfoot Bakery?  We make high quality breads and pastries that are fresh, this is what we do.  Our purpose is to show love to our community.  We do this with fresh, wholesome products that have not av...

https://www.waspbarcode.com/buzz/10-hidden-costs-running-small-business  Cost/Profit can create a fine line in business.  The cost of making a product vs. what it can reasonably be sold for determine if a product is worth making.  In a bakery I am looking at cost all the time.  Cost doesn't mean just my ingredients, but it also has to include the labor.  Over the years I have battled this dilemma.  What can I reasonably charge for a product compared to the time invested into that product.  As food prices are going up, I have to evaluate if I can continue to make a product with the my current pricing, raise prices, or discontinue that product.   Here is an example.  I love brownies, but the cost of butter, chocolate, and other ingredients to make a single pan of brownies is around $10.  Add my time and other expenses invested in making brownies, and I would have to sell an 8x8 pan of brownies for $20, which seems excessive.  The...

We all have dreams.  Those dreams might include a vacation, learning a new hobby, or reaching a goal.  All dreams should have a final destination.   Do we give ourselves permission to dream?  For a long time I did not.  For over a decade I was too busy and too tired. I had four little kids, I was a homeschool mom and a wife.  Life was fine, but I went about each day the same as the last.  I didn't have any idea where I wanted my life to go.  I wasn't depressed, I was busy and tired.  Its not that I didn't allow myself to dream, I just didn't have energy to invest in myself.   What stops us from dreaming, or pursuing a dream.  During that stage of life I didn't have the mental energy.  I had 4 children in 10 years and I was focused on providing them an education as well as all the other necessities of life.  Many others may find themselves with similar issues with family, health, or finances that make them feel st...

In 1899 Elbert Hubbard wrote the essay "A Message to Garcia", a true story of initiative and responsibility with Colonel Andrew Rowan as the hero, the only man who could get through difficult terrain, during war time, to find and deliver a important message to General Garcia.  Throughout history we identify the hero by the way he/she will shoulder the responsibility and continue one when things get hard.  My instructor shared a quote that really stood out, and gave me some new perspective.  "Accept mistakes as the price you pay to learn."  As a people, we fear to fail.  We often see failure as a sign that we can not do something.  Instead we need to see failure as a chance to start over and try something new.  In his work to invent the light bulb, Thomas Edison often said that he had not failed, he just found 10,000 ways it won't work.  Do we look at our failures in that light? Last week I lamented about the stress, the late nights, the exhau...