I must say that I’m a bit overwhelmed. I just got back this week a week-long trip visiting my grandma in Mexico. Now that I’m home, I feel the list of to-dos piling up each day. To make matters worse, I haven’t necessarily written these to-dos down, so I walk around with a looming regret without really knowing what they are. However, to help myself feel better, here is a list of things that come to mind: 

• Bakery branding
  • Design bakery logo.
  • Order business cards.
  • Order rubber stamp with logo.
• Applications
  • Submit Cottage Food Operations (CFO) application to the Riverside County Public Health Department (Already filled out, just need to print and submit).
  • Contact the Riverside County Department of Mental Health to ask about the farmers’ market permit to sell.
• Accounting.
  • Open a business bank account (I already have my EIN).
  • Choose and order a Point of Service for customer transactions.

I think the most stressful of all of the things pending is designing the bakery logo. Since I am going to be the one designing it on the iPad, I am aware that there is a lot of room for error. Mind you, my perfectionism isn’t helping either. A small—but very deep—part of me knows that, at the end of the day, it needs to get done, and I can’t afford to wait for “the perfect moment” because it does not exist. Let’s see how I get through this week with that grain of hope.

Another thing that worries me is the thought that I am moving too slow in the start-up of my business. I am afraid that I am not working on as much as I should in order to get things done. It’s silly, I know because (1) I have another full-time job, and (2) starting a business takes time. I’ve got to straighten out that part of me that thinks I should have had things done yesterday.

I have to remember that I am a business of one and wear all of the hats (baker, owner, accountant, janitor, recipe developer, food photographer, marketing director, etc.), in addition to keeping up with my blog. All good things, all good things, but I get overwhelmed when I try to wear all of these hats simultaneously.

Interestingly, writing all of this down has helped me feel better, more grounded. I have a lot to do but aim to at least get the logo situated and applications submitted this week. I’ll keep you updated.