From Office Job to Cake Business: Michelle Rice’s Success Story

Speaker A: Before we dive into this next episode of Both sides of the Check, let me take a moment to recognize our sponsor, Ms. Kat Consulting. We help people that are looking to start their own business, take your concept to company. So if you're interested in learning more, make sure you go to connectwithmiscat.com in the meantime, sit back, relax, and we're going to pull back the curtain of entrepreneurship while. While we sit down with another great check writer. Everybody, it is your girl, miss Kat. Your coach, accountability partner, and teacher. And I'm here another episode, Both sides of the Check. And you know, here on Both sides of the check, we feature the. The best of the best check writers. Okay, I'm a little biased, but, you know, that's just because they're on the show. But we have some great check writers, uh, that, you know, are here to talk about their journey of entrepreneurship. So today we're going to just jump right in because I'm excited for this next conversation. So why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself to those that may not know you. Yes.

Speaker B: Thank you. My name is Michelle Rice and I am a Jill of all trades. But to pinpoint what I do, I do a lot.

Speaker A: Okay?

Speaker B: So I'm a pastry chef. I'm a self taught cake decorator. I'm an independent consultant for a jury company. I do hair, I do makeup. I'm a caterer. You name it, I do it. I'm a serial entrepreneur.

Speaker A: I love that look. I freaking love that. And it's crazy because a couple of episodes ago, um, me and my homeboy Ryan, we were talking about being the Jack and the Jane of all trades. So now we have a Jill. Okay. Okay, cool, cool, cool.

Speaker B: So.

Speaker A: Ooh, where do we start? Well, I see we got some, we got some pastries, you know, and I was, I was trying to do the right thing, you know, because next month is my birthday and I was trying to lose a couple of pounds, but I'm gonna have to indulge. Okay, so let's start here. Let's just start here because we got some pastries, you know, um, on. On the table. How did we f. I don't know where to start. How about this? You, you tell us where this, this starts.

Speaker B: Oh, man. So I was born way, way back yonder, okay? Like, I'm old school, but my great, great granny, she was the baker.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: And I was in the kitchen, you know, just like any normal little girl. And, uh, I learned how to bake my first seven up cake at literally age seven.

Speaker A: Wow. Okay.

Speaker B: And then I remember receiving, um, an Easy Bake Oven. And it was like, boom, here we are.

Speaker A: Yes.

Speaker B: You know, so I was always the one who was designated to do the treats for like, potlucks and family gatherings, you know, when there was, um, a family gathering. So fast forward, this is where we are. I decided to go back to school. And, uh, after people telling me I couldn't go back to school, look. What? Like, don't tell me what I can't. And so I got, I got in school and, um, you know, after having raised three boys and all that good stuff and went to school to be a pastry chef.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: And um, I just knew I needed to do something else, you know, with my, with my gift, you know, And I kept saying, I'm gonna go back to school. I'm gonna go back to school. My pastor pulled my coattail one day. He said, I keep hearing you talking about going back to school. I ain't heard you say you enrolled in school. I said, oh, say less, say less. But the funny part about it though, I enrolled in the school just because, you know, I had that push the whole time. I didn't even realize that it was a French culinary school. Mhm. I literally did not. I was on a high. That adrenaline had me rolling. And so the first day in class, the chef said something and it didn't sound appropriate.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: I'm like, what? What is he talking about? I got the butterflies in my stomach. I went to the restroom, you know.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Gather myself together. Yeah. And I came back. I was like, okay, all right, here we come. Two years. Here we come. And even while in school, um, I watched, uh, YouTube and I tell everybody that I attended YouTube University.

Speaker A: Gotcha, gotcha.

Speaker B: So, yeah, that's where the cake decorating part comes in.

Speaker A: Got you, got you. Okay, so let's, you know, so we don't take the audience and you know, the people that's tuning in, we don't want to take them too fast. We want to, you know, kind of dive in. So I would imagine in one point in life you had a nine to five. Right. Did you have a job? Right. So let's talk about the job that you had in the transition from job to full time entrepreneurship. Let's start there and see where that journey takes us.

Speaker B: I was in corporate America, specifically oil and, uh, gas and um.

Speaker A: Yeah, so you was making that money on.

Speaker B: Yeah, it was interesting because, um, even then I was doing treats and I was sitting at my desk and um, this one company that I was at, I'd have a cooler sitting to the side of my desk. And the truckers would come in. I'm like, hey, I got this. I got that. And then, um, people would say, hey, this cake is good. I would bake for the Christmas parties and whatnot. And, um, I went to school after. Well, I left out of corporate America, and then I decided to go back to school and. And, uh, then that's when I transitioned to the culinary field. And I got a job working at a celebrity chef's restaurant, um, over in River Oaks. And then from there, I went to a nearby coffee, uh, and bakery. And that was in July of 2019. And all along I kept saying, I can't work for anybody else. I cannot work for anyone else. In that space. Spirit just kept tugging at me. And I noticed that even in corporate America and even in culinary, it was just like a thing where. How can I say it? The microaggressions is what pushed me.

Speaker A: I got you. Yeah.

Speaker B: And then with the talent that I have and the compliments, with all the, you know, the cakes that I would do, um, I had really kind of started doing it part time. And then, um, I started receiving a lot of compliments, you know, on my treats and stuff. And I was thinking, you know what? This might be something, you know, to this. And so the last place I worked at was in July of 2019. And I literally felt ill. Like, I know that there's something else for me to do. It's, uh, gotta be something else for me to do, because I have literally signed on to make somebody else's dream come true. What about mine? You know, because at that point, I had gone through a divorce. I've raised three kids, two of them which were already gone, um, and whatnot. And I've been there for everyone and their mama and them, you know, and I'm like, it's time to do me.

Speaker A: I want you to pause right there. I want you to pause right there. Because what we not finna do is just dance over that. Because I'm sure that there is somebody out there right now that is listening to this. And like, man, I have been there for everybody else. I've watched everybody, everybody else dream come to life. I've, you know, like, you said that boss, you working on that job, you're, you know, you're making them rich. At some point in time, something gotta click with inside of you to say, it's my time. And I'm. So. I. I'm assuming that's what kind of happened with you.

Speaker B: Yeah, it Did. And, and I remember the owner of the last place I was at in July, I was sifting powdered sugar and she walks up to me and she says, those rooms that reminds me of the snow on the apps that we just visited. Or, uh, something to that nature. And I stood there and I was just like, you know what? I gotta go, I gotta go. I cannot do this. But that fear kicked in and I don't serve a God of fear for sure, you know, So I had to, I had to keep saying over and over and over and affirming that, um, faith over, over overpowers fear.

Speaker A: Most definitely.

Speaker B: Right? And so then, um, even though, like I said, I was kind of, you know, dibbling. Dabbling. Dabbling with the cakes part time, I said, it's time to make it full time. Because, I mean, what else, what else could happen for sure? What else could go wrong for sure? And so, um, I decided to do that in what, October. No, September. And then I, uh, backdoored and I started something else, um, as a plan B because again, I allowed fear to kick in. And then here we go. Someone buzzed me and they needed help with their business. I put the S on my chest. And let me add this. I'm an older sister to four siblings under me, so I have that older sister syndrome.

Speaker A: Huh. Understood.

Speaker B: I'm always helping. I'm always helping. I've been there since 19.

Speaker A: Understood.

Speaker B: So I put the S on my chest and I go running, you know, okay, what do you need help with? Only to get that same microaggression and getting talked to crazy. Like I don't know what I'm doing. Like, I have an associate's degree as a chef with the, um, focus in French baking and pastry art. I'm self taught. I do this in my sleep. Why are you coming at me talking at the side of your neck like, uh, be for real.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And so, um, and then even in doing that, I was putting my orders that I was receiving on the back burner to serve somebody, to help somebody else.

Speaker A: Wow.

Speaker B: I did that once, I did it twice. And I said, you know what, Michelle? Are you a glutton for punishment? Like, what is your problem? You got to take that ass off your chest, let them figure it out like you did.

Speaker A: Mhm.

Speaker B: Because wasn't nobody there to help me. True, true story. What? Nobody was there the whole entire two years that I was in school?

Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. And it's, and it's not, you know, not to be petty. Right? We're not here to be petty. But but it is some type of accountability, let's use the word accountability. Like if you can get out there and grind and go get it out the mud for the lack of better terms. Like, I don't understand why people will just come and be like, oh, Michelle, just come help me and just come. You know, I know that it wasn't, you know, nobody did that for you, but you should just do that for me, you know what I mean? So at the end of the day, I total understand that sentiment. You know what I mean?

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: And so you, you, I would hope that finally you decided, you know what, I'm going to do this for me. I'm going to go full time. And so what did that look like for you when you finally, you know, shifted through the, those, those difficulties or syndromes for the lack of better terms and decided, you know what, I'm going to be there for myself and I'm going to do this full time.

Speaker B: No pun intended. But man, it was sweet.

Speaker A: I love it.

Speaker B: Real talk, it was sweet. Um, I didn't depend on my family. Um, just a little side note, my background, my family dynamic is very, uh, toxic. And so I knew that they would always have their hand out. Oh, she makes sweets, she do treats and all that, you know.

Speaker A: Yeah. Um, oh, really?

Speaker B: Okay, so majority, 99.9% of my customers, my friends come through word of mouth, social media, but family, they were always looking for a discount, you know, um, and so, but it was sweet. I did what I needed to do. I started off, um, from home and then there's the Texas cottage laws you have to abide by and everything. And I said, um, if I worked hard for them, I love it. I'mma put in that same energy for myself and then some, uh, that part.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: So when I say sleep, what was that?

Speaker A: Gotcha.

Speaker B: What was that? You know, so I basically, I just started out with like, just doing small, you know, things like cupcakes and cakes. And then, um, in my self taught journey, I learned the art of buttercream, how to apply fondant. Because the culinary school, they don't teach you that because it's French, you know, in fact, they look down on American baking and pastry arts. We had one week of that and that was it.

Speaker A: And two years.

Speaker B: And the two years, one whole week. And I'm like, what's up with that? But anywho, you know, so I had to teach myself some things from the little bitty things to the major things. Wedding cakes. Yeah. You know, and um, it was, I don't Know how to stress it enough. It was literally sweet. And I did it by myself. I did it scared, you know, I did it tired. I did it sleepy. I did it with one eye open, one eye closed. You know, I did it because I knew that I did not want to go and go back to the workforce. I didn't.

Speaker A: I love that. And you know what, What I can say, uh, I don't know the exact number of episodes, so don't quote me, but I think we're like 37, 36 episodes in, and everybody's story is different. Everybody's reason of why it clicked or why they started this entrepreneurship journey is so different. And for you, I'm just hearing that, like, you just. Whatever. It's like, let me just get it out the mud. Like, I don't have no help. I don't have no support, you know, Like, I'm just. I'm. I'm just gonna get it. And is it fair to say because of that fear, like, the fear of having to go back to a nine to five, uh, would you say that that kind of was, like, on your back? Like, I ain't trying to do this no more? Is that safe to say?

Speaker B: It's safe to say. And not only that, but because I have three boys, three young men. I had to be their, you know, their inspiration. Um, I grew up selling cool cups and pickles and hot chips and Cheetos and whatnot. That was my hustle. So it was in me. And so then, um, having kids and all, so I was like, okay, I enjoyed that when I grew up. Let me show them how to do it. But I had that mindset that, let me show them how to do this, because I don't want them to have to experience the same thing as I did in terms of working for others.

Speaker A: I love it.

Speaker B: Be an entrepreneur. Work for yourself. Work for yourself. And we literally turned that little side hustle into a business. I had a cash register. One of the boys would go to the door, take the order, come back and fill it, ring them up. And we would have people literally knocking at the door at 12 o' clock in the morning.

Speaker A: And, you know, they say, your gifts will make room for you.

Speaker B: Come on, preach. So.

Speaker A: So I guess it's safe to say, you know, that the gifts and talents truly made room. But what I'm also hearing, so, you know, it. It appears that busting into entrepreneurship was through the pastries and through that side, but then obviously some other things kind of, you know, birthed from that. Um, so Tell us a little bit about like, what you know, we know that the pastries, definitely, but what else kind of, you know, once you got out there, what else did you see on the other side of the fence?

Speaker B: I saw a lot. But most importantly, I was at an event that I was, um, providing the desserts for. And I saw a young lady, she had a table set up and it was jewelry. And I'm like, okay, on m the backside. I'm a jewelry girl. I'm a girly girly. And so I walked over to her and I talked to her and she says, hey, I'm a consultant for such and such. And I was like, okay, cool, give me a card. Part of me was like, I m don't know. But then part of me was like, okay. Part of me was like, I m don't know. And then I started watching some other consultants on social media and the one that I actually signed up under, I resonated with her spirit, you know, more than the other two understood, right? And so I was like, you know what? I can add that to what I'm already doing because on the flip side, I got the cakes. Pardon me? On the flip side, I got the cakes and um, you know, my treats and whatnot. But everybody really don't eat sweets. So let me make them cute, let me accessorize them.

Speaker A: Understood.

Speaker B: You know?

Speaker A: Mhm.

Speaker B: So that started in September of 2019. So it was just like full on, you know, cake and then the jewelry and I'm like, okay. So I've been doing that for six years.

Speaker A: I love that. I love that. And then, you know what's crazy, a lot of people talk about multiple streams of income you get. I'm saying. But I think that that's definitely something important as an entrepreneur. Especially like when you first step out and you don't know how the tree's gonna go or how, you know, you just don't know what stream might blow up first. Right? So at the end of the day, having multiple. Ain't nothing wrong with that because this might slow up. Because we know. And I, and I, I'm guilty to say, like, I started out in taxes. Like that's how I ventured out into entrepreneurship. Most people understand that taxes is seasonal. So once, you know, once the season is up, then what you. Right. So again, you know, being in pastries, it might have its hot time and then jewelry might have a time. So definitely nothing wrong, you know, with doing multiple things. But let me ask you this though. Once you finally crossed over full time, right? Because this is both sides of the check. Right. And as check writers, we know that sometimes we might hit an nsf, a non Sufficient fund. We hit that, we try to go write that check, and it bounced back. Right. So is there a time within your journey that, you know, once you transitioned over, that you almost gave up?

Speaker B: Oh, yeah.

Speaker A: Look, and I. Let me rephrase that because I'm sure that's m. That might have been last night.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: So. But was there, uh, like, a momentous time that really, you were at the crossroads? Like, you know what? Let me. I think it's time for me to go back.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: A nine to five don't sound too bad right about now.

Speaker B: Yeah, I ran into a lot of people who I guess they thought I was, you know, born last night, just not at night.

Speaker A: Gotcha.

Speaker B: You know, and it was one time, um, I had someone from church.

Speaker A: Not the church, baby.

Speaker B: Not the church.

Speaker A: Go ahead.

Speaker B: She would never speak to me. Literally would never speak to me. And so another person, a third party, you know, presented m. This. This gorgeous, um, plan of doing her cake for her wedding. And I was like, but she doesn't talk to me like, why would I want to do that?

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: You know, so the girl eventually backed out of wanting the cake done, but the bride to be reached out to me. That lady asked me if I could do the cake, bring the cake, like, deliver not just her come pick up, but to deliver the cake to the venue. And she paid the deposit and then paid the balance two weeks later. I said, audacity. You must be out your mind.

Speaker A: And she was serious.

Speaker B: She was. She was dead serious. And then another. Oh. Then I found out that the groom left her at the altar. Not. Not the literal altar, but he. They. They. They didn't get married.

Speaker A: I. I could put two or two together and kind of understand why. Exactly.

Speaker B: Exactly.

Speaker A: But I, uh. Wow. So. So she tried you.

Speaker B: She tried me. And I was like, hey, go try Jesus, not me.

Speaker A: I got you. So with that happening to you, like, what. I guess what I would say is, like, for somebody that's listening, what mental state did that put you in? Or how did that affect you so badly that you were like, you know what? I don't even. This ain't it. Or I don't want to do this no more. Because you just was like. So I guess you were just like, I can't even believe this is how people think in real life.

Speaker B: Well, it messed me up because I'm like, you are in church. And not only are you in church, but you're in ministry. And I'm like, if this is what

Speaker A: someone like her would do, what would the regular people?

Speaker B: Exactly. So I'm just like, you know what? Don't even worry about it. Don't even worry about it. Let me go back to, you know, the nine to five and just. But I couldn't. I couldn't. And then another time after that, I had someone that hit me up. She wanted to pay me in, um, Everything beats, uh, treats, um, ebt. Yeah. She wanted to pay me by way of ebt. And I was like, ma', am, miss, ma', am, miss, lady miss, ma'. Am. It doesn't work like that.

Speaker A: That this is.

Speaker B: It doesn't.

Speaker A: I've had some very interesting conversations, and this is the first time that I've. I've heard of these things. And guys, for those that are listening, the reason why we share these perspectives with you guys is because as potential entrepreneurs or, you know, looking to venture off into this side of the fence, what you have to understand is that people are crazy. Like, uh, people are just crazy. And they will try you because they think, oh, you know, they're black or they don't do real business or ghetto. I mean, whatever stigma, you know what I'm saying? They're a woman. You know, we get tried because we're women, we're black, whatever the case may be. So this is just, uh, you know, the other side. This is both sides of the check. I'm trying to show you the other side that people will try you because they think that for whatever reason that you're unqualified or. Cause they wouldn't go into the bakery with something like that. But they just assume that, okay, I could try her like that.

Speaker B: And it's crazy, it's bonkers. And they stopped talking to me because, um, I stick to my policies. I stand my ground. I'm ten toes down. Hey, you, like you said, you can't go to Walmart, you can't go to Kroger. And funny story, I even tried that, um, being a cake decorator at both, what they call them, big chain stores. And people would literally come in, they want these fancy smancy cakes on a Walmart price, and then would ask me, oh, do you know anyone who can do a cake like this? And in my head I'm like, um, yeah, yeah, but you already shopping here, so I already know what your budget is. You know what I'm saying?

Speaker A: Exactly.

Speaker B: And so I get a lot of that too. And that's something that makes me want to Just say, you know what? I'm done with this. You know, you gotta, um, chase em down for the deposit. Cause my thing is, if you call me and you're inquiring about a cake, in my brain, I'm expecting you're ready for your invoice for your, uh, deposit, for sure, you know, but what I've had to learn is that, okay, she's just inquiring. She's gonna go, she's gonna check with this person, she's gonna check with that person. She gonna see if Nunu can do it. You know, she gonna see if her cousin for real. But then she circles back, and by that time, I done moved on to the next cake order.

Speaker A: And. And you know what? Something that you said, uh, kind of even resonated with me. And I. And again, this. This show is to expose, but also to educate, you know what I'm saying? I want people to understand that, you know, like, everything ain't always sweet, you know what I'm saying? On this side, on this side of the fence. But one thing that, That I would imagine that helped get you through is you said that, hey, I, um, I formulated a policy, and now it's like, hey, this is my policy. This is, you know, what it is. And, and this is how. And I think that if you have some. Some standard that you, you know, you stand by, if that's fair to say, then that helps you get through those clients and customers, you know, that beyond that other stuff. Right, right. If that's fair to say. So. And. And, you know, and I do want to ask you because as we kind of near the end, one thing that I like to do is, you know, on the show, we like to leave deposits. We like to leave, you know, nuggets and just advice for those that are looking, you know, to. To join this journey. And one thing about you, you said that, you know, people tried you. They were trying, you know, they were trying to get over this. And the third. So for some people that are crossing over customer service, things of that nature, what are some, I guess some. Some nuggets or jewels or gems that, uh, you know, they might start a little treat business or what, you know, whatever, and they may encounter that. How do you get through that?

Speaker B: Stick to your guns. Do not, do not fret over folks who try to come at you sideways. Just stick to your policies. And all customers aren't good customers. You know, sometimes you got to pass it up. Sometimes you have to say no and nip it in the bud at the first sign. Of disrespect. You know, if you get a customer who doesn't want to pay you, and they say, oh, I want to pay you in cash, no, if that's not your policy, don't accept that. Stick to your guns. God will send you the customer. You just have to have faith and don't let the enemy get in your head, you know, because if it's truly something that you want to do, he will try to, you know, kill, steal and destroy for sure. So don't allow it. Don't allow it. Shut out the noise, no matter what you have to do. In fact, you gotta want it so bad that. What's the saying? Um, you gotta want it more than you want to breathe.

Speaker A: For sure, you know, Thomas.

Speaker B: For sure, you know, so just be genuine. Be real. You know, don't. Don't be rude. You know, Even though they want to make you go there with them, you know, but at the end of the day, you know, just provide a good service and make sure that you're. That your. That your items that you present. Um, because we eat with our eyes, you know, be accountable. Don't put anything out there that's looking all raggedy and, you know, do your homework in terms of your packaging and how to present it, how to price it, you know, and get your certificates or, uh, uh, food safety, um, uh, items in place and all that good stuff, Even if you have to do it from home. Everybody can't afford a kitchen incubator, as they call them. I love that, you know, so do it from home. Make sure, you know, you ain't got some critters running around. Cause, baby, the minute you. Oh, and take good pictures. Take good pictures. Um, he mentioned it, you know, take pictures of your stuff. Don't plagiarize. And take, you know, pictures of other stuff, people's stuff, and try to pass it off as yours. I've seen that a lot too.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And I'm like, wait a minute, that ain't yours, girl.

Speaker A: I know the person that baked that cake, like, exactly. And that's crazy, but I think. I think the baseline of what you're saying, and if I could sum it all up and just use what, like, use what you have, you get. I'm m saying, like, you, God has given us enough and use what you have and let him increase it. Is that. Is that fair to say? That's.

Speaker B: That's so fair to say. Because if he takes you to it, he gonna take you through it.

Speaker A: I. I love that. And that's. That's very, very, very true. So if we want to, you know, I. I know you. You do a lot, and we didn't have a chance to cover all of that. But for those that want to connect with you and learn more and just, you know, get more information about you, how do we do that?

Speaker B: I am on social media. I'm on Facebook under Michelle Rice, and I have a separate business page for curbside cakes and treats. Also, if you are into the bling and jury and you want some affordable jewelry, I'm on social media Facebook, uh, specifically under be Jewel Butterfly, which is B E E be Jewel Butterfly. So you can find me there because you can get both and be cute and, you know, indulging in some treats at the same.

Speaker A: I, uh, know that's right. I know that's right. Well, I appreciate you, Michelle, for coming in and just definitely, you know, giving it to us raw and sweet and. And, you know, giving us a treat for lack of better terms. Right? So I appreciate you sharing your journey, sharing your story. And for those of you guys that, you know, um, just are looking to become an entrepreneur, that's your dream. You're like, you know, I have this idea. I don't know how to take it to income. I'm, um, your girl, Ms. Kat. Your coach, accountability partner and teacher. Come find me on all socials at Ms. Kat. Uh, I'm sorry. connect with Ms. Kat. Connect with Ms. Kat on all socials. If you want to, um, get into our concept to company, um, course you can do so by going to connectwithmiscat.com get your merch, guys. Merch.connectwithmiscat.com I got everything that you need. But in the meantime, in between time, make sure you stay locked in. Make sure that you tune in every single Monday. And at 6am when we bring you another episode in another great Czech writer here at both sides of the check.