started Christmas shopping. I didn't get much done but at least I feel
good that I've started. Especially because it seems like everywhere
I've gone lately.....it's been super busy. It seems like everybody
else started a few weeks ago. I love to see the happy shoppers (no,
they really are happy at this point... in about a month....that may
not be the case.)
On friday night I went to see "Cake Boss" at a theatre in the northern
suburbs. When I bought the tickets, I couldn't imagine what the show
would be about but I thought it would be fun. So I got some decent
seats and we went. The show was crazier than any concert that I've
been to and that's saying a lot. Lots of great party music blasted
while the sold out crowd (2000 people) danced and screamed with the
excitement. There were shirts shot into the crowd, decorating
contests for men, women, kids and so much more. It was wild! The crowd
went crazy for the entire show. Loads of couples and families.
Grandparents and lots of kids too. What a great event for everyone!
Buddy Valastro told the story of how his father had bought the
business from the original Carlo when he wanted to retire. Buddy's
father had come over to the United States as an italian immigrant when
he was 13 years old and started to work for Carlo at that age. Carlo's
son wanted to go into the Space industry and didn't want to be a baker
so Carlo sold the bakery to Buddy's father.
I love the show and I love the crazy italian family that works at the
Bakery. If you haven't seen the show, the bakery is called "Carlo's
Bakery" and it's located in New Jersey. The owner and top baker is
Buddy Valastro. He runs things and the rest of his family (sisters,
cousins and brothers-in-law) all work there as well. Being
italian....there are a lot of loud family conversations. And they make
the most amazing cakes. It's so cool to watch them come together.
These cakes aren't regular cakes with roses on them.....these are
cakes that can be made to look like just about anything. They've even
done a full size race car I believe. It's a great show.
But the thing I love most about it is the family. They argue and joke
with each other along with playing pranks on each other. Mom comes in
and yells at everyone now and then to get back to work or whatever is
on her mind at the moment. But they all love each other and you can
feel it. There are many shows about cake making but this one has the
family dynamic that makes it something special.
Buddy spoke about his late father with such pride and told about his
passing that then forced Buddy to take over the bakery for the family
at age 17. He always loved baking and had a passion for cake making at
an early age but wasn't prepared to take over the business at such a
young age. He jumped in against all of the adversity that existed at
the time. How would the other employees handle working for a 17 year
old? How would suppliers handle that as well? How would he know what
to do without having the experience of running a business? There were
even lots of local business owners that told people that the business
was going down and others that said he would ruin it. But he loved it
and he loved his father. So he quit high school and went to work to
help support the family (4 sisters) and to help his father's legacy
continue. And now at 33 years old, he has made the bakery one of the
most famous in the country and they have just built a huge new
facility that will enable them to ship cakes all over the country.
Buddy has made "Carlo's Bakery" a very big success.
So here we have another example of how adversity and doubt enter into
any worthwhile endeavor. Sometimes we are thrown into a situation that
we have to find our way and sometimes we chose the path we're on but,
no matter what.....doubt and difficulty will come to make us "rethink"
the direction we've taken. It can strengthen our persistence to
succeed or it can cripple us with doubt. I think we can all agree that
we wish this didn't happen and that it's difficult enough without it!
But, the one thing I know is that any successful band, business,
artist, business owner, writer etc etc etc that I've ever spoken with
or heard interviewed has spoken not only of the adversity but of the
most difficult part and that is the doubt that crept in because of it.
Doubt is the killer of passion I think.
So often the doubt is delivered as the direct result of people that
tell us we can't or shouldn't follow our dreams. Some have ulterior
motives, some are well meaning but uninformed, some are jealous, and
others just speak without thinking. But all are wrong! Following our
passions is what makes us come alive. It's the reason that we keep
moving forward like salmon swimming upstream. It's not only for the
good of ourselves but it's also for the greater good of the world we
live in. For example....let's look at Buddy and his story. He is doing
something that he loves and he also made it successful so that he and
his wife and kids along with his whole family and many many others can
support their families. BUT beyond that....he has brought families
together to enjoy the tv show and then share their love of baking in
their own homes. He even spoke about other bakers thanking him for
making baking a cool job now. Who knew that all of this would come
from one person's passion.
So you may not realize now, all that will come of your passion but I
can tell you for sure that if you let doubt creep in, it will take
over like a poison and that all of the great things that are ahead for
you and the gifts that you could bring to others....will never be, if
you give up. That's a guarantee!
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