Hustler of the Month: Julie Johnson, Owner of Cakeaholic Obsession

Right, right. So with all that, on top of all the obligations and responsibilities you’re facing, things have to be chaotic for you. What keeps you motivated?

My daughter J’Lah is in the 9^th grade, she has three more years before she graduates. And somehow, I’m going to have to pay for that [laughs]. So I’m thinking to myself that I need to set up a foundation where she’s able to be like, ‘If this school thing isn’t working out, I’ll be here with you at the bakery.’ I just feel as though I need to set some type of foundation for my children where there is a fallback. Like they can go out there and try their hand at whatever career that they want, but if it doesn’t work, then they have something to come back to. I didn’t have that, my parents didn’t have that, and I think that’s something I need to build. That’s all the motivation I need.

One of Julie’s cake designs 

What advice would you give to anyone who might be interested in opening their own business, in particular their own bakery, but they’re holding back out of fear of failure.

My advice would be fear nothing. I read so many books, read so many articles, and I kept doubting myself because I kept seeing the end number of how much everything would cost and I just kept saying, ‘Well how am I ever going to be able to afford to do it?’ But as I was working, I was buying that mixer, that stool, those tables, and my house then became my storage, you know? The only thing I swiped really hard for was my equipment. But other than that, I little by little was putting aside every time I got a bonus, or every time [I got some extra cash] I bought something because I knew eventually this was where I wanted to be.

I created a vision board in 2013. I literally put everything that I wanted for 2014 on my vision board. And it was just me knowing if this was what I wanted to do, what the sacrifices were I needed to make to get here. My husband and I usually go on three vacations ever year–we went on no vacations in 2014. Zero. So it was like if I know this is what I want to do, then sacrifices have to be made. And I think that once you set your goals, and look at your goals, and analyze your goals, and realize that if you’re trying to get somewhere—and that’s with anything—then you have to put the sacrifice in; put the work in. And you can’t say, ‘It’s not happening for me.’ Well, what are you doing to make it happen? Just keep it going and don’t get discouraged.

What’s next for Cakeaholic Obession?

I want little girls to see what I’m doing and be inspired by it, so I want to do some type of mentoring for [young Black girls] where I’m giving back. I think that’s so important because nothing is handed to us. So that’s the ultimate goal for me, to give back to our young girls because they need to see that.

If you or someone you know are a Black business owner who’d like to get some shine on MissCM.com as Hustler of the Month, please contact us at contact_cm@misscm.com for more information on how to be featured. 

To rate and review Cakeaholic Obsession, click here.