Kristina Norman 5/22/25 Kristina Norman 5/22/25

When Success Takes Too Long: Navigating Growth in Your Cake Business

The Impatience of Entrepreneurship

Today, I want to have a heart-to-heart about something we ALL face as entrepreneurs: the frustration when success seems to be taking forever. You know that feeling, right? When you're putting in all the work, but growth feels painfully slow?

It feels like you’ve been at this for years and the success you really want just quite isn’t here….yet.

You keep asking yourself “When will I finally feel stable and financially secure in my cake business?”

I'll be the first to admit it – I'm naturally impatient when it comes to seeing results in my business. I've been there, watching other cake designers seemingly explode with success overnight while I was working just as hard (if not harder) with what felt like minimal progress.

It's incredibly frustrating when you're pouring your heart into beautiful cake creations, trying to book those premium orders, and dreaming of financial independence through your cake business – whether that means supporting yourself fully, opening a studio, or whatever success looks like for you.

Readjusting Your Expectations

One of the biggest mindset shifts that helped me was learning to set better expectations about success and its timeline.

Here's the reality check we all need: what looks like "overnight success" for other cake designers is usually the result of YEARS of behind-the-scenes work. Those cake designers who seem to have it all figured out? They've likely been experimenting, failing, and tweaking their approach for much longer than you realize before they finally found their "secret sauce" for success.

The key is to trust your own path. Your journey won't look identical to anyone else's, and comparing your chapter 2 to someone else's chapter 20 is a recipe for discouragement.

Stay Present in Your Journey

When you're constantly fixating on "why isn't this working yet?" or "why am I not where they are?", you're actually slowing yourself down. That doubt, shame, and guilt creates negative energy that can sabotage your progress.

I've found that staying present in the moment – acknowledging you're doing your best with what you know right now – actually speeds things up. By focusing on the only moment you truly have control over (the present), you're more likely to take effective action instead of spiraling into comparison.

Remember: Other cake designers' success is not the benchmark for your own. Their journey isn't yours, their client base isn't yours, and their circumstances aren't yours. Be inspired by them, but don't let their timeline dictate your expectations.

Evaluate Your Growth Actions

If success feels painfully slow, it's time for some honest self-reflection. This was a game-changer for me when I felt stuck.

Ask yourself: What am I ACTUALLY doing daily to grow my business and develop my entrepreneurial mindset?

For the longest time, I was an expert at wanting business growth and dreaming about premium clients, but I wasn't consistently changing my behaviors to align with those goals. I'd fluctuate between hyper-motivation and self-doubt, lacking the discipline to stick with growth-oriented actions.

Sit down and evaluate:

What specific actions am I taking to grow my cake business?
What thoughts am I regularly thinking – do they align with the business I WANT or the business I CURRENTLY have?
Am I being consistent with my marketing, pricing, client experience, and skills development?

This evaluation can be eye-opening. Most of us realize we're getting exactly the results that match our current actions – not the results we desire. That's why many cake designers come to me for coaching – they've recognized their current approach isn't working and they need proven strategies instead of continuing to spin their wheels.

Success requires trying different approaches, but with discipline and commitment to your vision. If what you're doing isn't working, it's time to try something else – not give up on the dream itself.

The Non-Negotiable: Never Give Up

The single most important factor in eventual success? Persistence.

The cake designers who ultimately succeed are the ones who refuse to quit, even when progress feels painfully slow. What derails so many talented cake artists is giving up too soon, letting doubt convince them "it's not meant to be."

Creating something truly great requires consistent belief and aligned actions over time. You cannot allow yourself to give up on your dream, even if everyone around you doesn't understand your vision.

When I've faced my toughest entrepreneurial challenges, what pulled me through was a 100% commitment to my goals. I decided failure simply wasn't an option. I might need to pivot, learn, or adjust – but quitting? Never.

Being an entrepreneur isn't easy – if running a successful, premium cake business was simple, everyone would do it! The challenges you're facing are actually building the exact characteristics you'll need to sustain success when it arrives.

Additional Strategy: Invest in Community and Learning

One element that significantly accelerated my business growth was connecting with other cake designers who were a few steps ahead of me. Having a community where you can share challenges, celebrate wins, and learn from others' experiences is invaluable.

This might mean joining cake business groups, attending workshops, or investing in mentorship. When you surround yourself with others who understand your journey, success starts to feel more attainable because you can see the specific steps others took to get there.

If you'd like more resources to help you on this journey, make sure to check out my Cake Business Library. It's filled with ebooks, templates, checklists, guides, and so much valuable information designed to help you transform your cake business and achieve the results you're truly looking for.

Additional Strategy: Track Your Progress

When success feels distant, we often discount how far we've already come. Start keeping track of your business metrics and milestones – even small ones.

Document improvements in your cake techniques, increases in your average order value, positive client feedback, or social media growth. These tangible measurements will show you that you ARE moving forward, even when it doesn't feel like it day-to-day.

Celebrate Small Wins Along the Way

Something I've learned that's absolutely crucial for maintaining momentum is celebrating your wins – even the small ones that might seem insignificant at first glance.

When we're focused on big goals like hitting certain revenue targets or opening that dreamy cake studio, we often overlook the meaningful milestones we're achieving every day. Did you master a new technique that used to intimidate you? Did a client rave about your flavors? Did you finally raise your prices without apology? These are ALL wins worth acknowledging!

I started keeping a "wins journal" where I document everything from perfecting my Swiss meringue buttercream to landing my first wedding order over $1,000. On tough days when success feels distant, flipping through these victories reminds me how far I've actually come.

Celebrating small wins isn't just about feeling good (though that matters too!) – it's about training your brain to recognize progress rather than fixating on what's still missing. This positive reinforcement creates momentum and builds confidence that carries you through the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship.

So take a moment right now – what win, however small, have you experienced in your cake business this week?

Honor it, celebrate it, and let it fuel your next steps forward.

Need a Goal Setting Guide to help you reach your cake business goals this year? I got you! Click here to download my Free Cake Business Goal Setting Workbook Guide for you to smash and accomplish your goals this year. It’s free and it’s located inside my Cake Business Library.

SUCCESS IS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

If you're feeling that frustration of slow progress in your cake business, I hope these strategies help refocus your energy and expectations. Remember, success isn't about speed – it's about sustainability and building something that truly aligns with your vision.

The truth is, if you don't change your thoughts and actions, you'll stay in the same pattern. But with the right mindset, strategies, and support, you CAN create the cake business of your dreams – one that commands premium pricing and attracts your ideal clients.

Kristina Norman 5/22/25 Kristina Norman 5/22/25

Make 90% of your Cake Orders Wedding Cakes

How I Built a Wedding Cake Business Where 90% of My Orders Are Wedding Cakes

I love all aspects of Cake Design. I love looking at sculpted cakes, trending cakes, themed party cakes, non traditional cakes. I love them all. But one cake style I love more than anything else are wedding cakes. I’m obsessed with the entire wedding industry in general.

So, this post is for the Cake Designers who want to create a business where 90% of your orders are Wedding Cakes.

However, you can apply these strategies to whatever kind of cake business you want to create.

I did this in my cake business and so can you. This isn't something that happened by accident. When I opened Aspect Cakes and Pastries six years ago, this was my vision from day one, and it's what I'm passionate about helping other cake business owners achieve too.

It All Starts with Intention

How did I manage to create a business where most of my orders are wedding cakes? The very first step was setting this as my primary goal and intention. I didn't just hope for it to happen – I designed my entire business model around this vision.

What does that really mean? It means I made the conscious decision to focus EVERYTHING on booking wedding cakes and being okay with leaving other opportunities behind. I chose not to split my attention between celebration cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and random orders. Instead, I tailored my business specifically as a wedding cake business and intentionally shifted my focus away from everything else.

This was a deliberate choice to attract a steady stream of brides month after month, week after week. To succeed with this approach, you need to show up as the cake business that brides actively want to work with.

Still attracting budget cake customers in your cake business? Let’s change that around! Click here to download my FREE eBook: 10 Strategies to Become an High-End Wedding Cake Business. It’s located inside my Cake Business Library.

Standing Firm in Your Vision

One of the biggest challenges was remaining firm in this decision. Friends, family, and even strangers will try to sway you, suggesting that you should take any business that comes your way. People will say, “If someone wants to pay you for a cupcake order, why wouldn't you do it?"

Of course you can take more “basic” cake orders. Especially if you need the money. However, that’s not the message I am trying to convey today.

Taking business advice from people who don't have their own business or who are working for someone else full-time is a major trap that many entrepreneurs fall into. Let me be clear: you will NOT grow your dream cake business by listening to people who haven't created the type of business you aspire to build.

I had to be incredibly firm in my vision and truly commit to it. I shaped absolutely everything to position myself as a high-end wedding cake business – from my online presence to my networking approach, branding, pricing strategy, advertising methods, and social media content. Everything needed to support the image that I am a wedding cake specialist.

Becoming THE Go-To Wedding Cake Designer

If you want to build a thriving wedding cake business, you need to completely transform how you appear online and how potential clients perceive you. Brides are constantly booking cakes with designers, and you want to be their first choice.

Your goal should be to become the business where wedding planners, photographers, and florists automatically recommend your services. You want to be known as THE person who creates spectacular wedding cakes – not just any cakes, but specifically WEDDING cakes.

The Power of Mindset

I can't emphasize enough how much mindset work went into this transformation. I spent countless hours affirming and truly believing that I could create exactly the type of cake business I wanted.

One of my favorite mantras (and those in my paid courses know this) is: "I am the most talented cake designer in Colorado." This simple affirmation has been incredibly powerful for boosting my confidence.

I regularly repeat to myself, "I always have a book-solid cake calendar for the upcoming year." These mantras and affirmations have reinforced my belief that I am the premier wedding cake business in the Denver-Colorado mountain area, capable of serving brides both in the city and mountain locations.

You Can Create the Business You Want

I want you to really take this to heart: you CAN have the exact type of cake business you desire. If you want to focus primarily on wedding cakes, it's absolutely possible – but you need to change how you're currently operating.

If you continue on your current path and aren't booking many wedding cakes, you need to make significant changes. This includes adjusting your mindset, how you present yourself, your client booking process, and how you convert inquiries into paid wedding cake orders. Without these changes, you'll continue getting the same results.

Do the Inner Work First

Here's a critical point that many miss: you need to do the inner work BEFORE the customers show up. Many cake business owners believe they don't need to change anything for customers to start pouring in. The reality is quite different – you need to transform your mindset first before you'll see external results.

Let me share a success story that will inspire you. One of my clients completely transformed her business by first transforming her beliefs about what was possible. When we started working together, she was exhausted from endless budget orders and feeling stuck in a cycle of undercharging.

Through our work together, she made a bold decision: she would only offer premium designs at premium prices, even though everyone in her circle told her "nobody in this area will pay that much for cake." She revamped her portfolio, refined her messaging, and started showing up with unshakeable confidence.

The results? Within 8 months, she was fully booked with high-end clients willing to invest in her artistry. She's now earning more while working less, creating designs she loves, and serving clients who truly value her work. And trust me, this transformation happened in a market that others would consider "impossible" for luxury pricing! Your location doesn't limit your potential – your mindset does.

Your Dream Wedding Cake Business Awaits

This transformation isn't something you need to figure out alone. I've walked this path and guided countless other cake artists through the same journey. The roadmap exists, and I'm here to share it with you!

Ready to elevate your cake business? I've distilled my most powerful strategies into a free guide that reveals exactly how to build a calendar filled with premium wedding cake orders. It's the same approach that helped me transform my business into one where I create stunning wedding cakes for dream clients week after week. Click here to download.

Want to continue this conversation? Let's connect!

Drop your biggest wedding cake business challenge in the comments below.

I read every single one and love sharing personalized insights with my community.

Remember – building your dream wedding cake business isn't about luck or location. It's about making a conscious decision to become the premium cake artist you know you can be, and then aligning everything in your business to support that vision.