Published on 26th February, 2024

Baking is an art that requires a combination of skill, precision, and creativity.  Whether you're a beginner or an experienced baker, there are three key elements that are crucial for success: confidence, consistency and challenging yourself. 
Let's explore how these elements can help you improve your skills in the kitchen.

Confidence

The precision needed in baking can be intimidating which leads to many people avoiding baking because it requires expertise and finesse.

Confidence requires you to stand tall. Whether you are a home baker or running your own business. You're putting yourself out there to be judged and criticized and if you lack self-confidence, it can get tough.

First and foremost, you need to trust in your skills and believe in your ability when you want to try a new recipe and worried it will not turn out perfect. That's when self-doubt creeps in. Your baking skills just like anything else gets better with time.

Secondly, having confidence in yourself and your ability allows you to take risks, try new baking techniques and experiment with flavors. You can push yourself to create more complex and challenging recipes, and the result will be worth it.

Consistency

Consistency reigns supreme. Whether you're a home baker or retail bakery, you want to ensure that your product remains consistent each time so that the consumer receives the product they know and love.

This means following the recipe to the latter, using quality ingredients, and measuring accurately every time you bake.

Baking is a science and even the slightest variation in ingredients can affect the final product. By maintaining consistency, not only can you guarantee that your baked goods turn out the same every time but also identify any problems or adjustments that need to be addressed.

Challenge Yourself 

Challenging yourself is a pivotal aspect of growth in any skill, including baking. By trying new recipes and techniques you can expand your knowledge and improve your skills. With baking, creativity can take you to another level. 
It is crucial not to get stuck in a routine and to constantly challenge yourself to try new things.

This may also help you discover new flavors and pairings that you may not have thought of before.

Every obstacle you face is an opportunity to learn and conquer any anxieties or doubts you may have about your baking abilities.

"A ship is safe in a harbour but that is not what ships are built for." - John A Shedd

By pushing yourself, out of your comfort zone, you can build confidence, resilience and become a more skilled baker. 
Go to networking events, meet likeminded people, find a mentor, apply for that dream job. You are meant for so much more in life but it all starts with you.

Failure is not real

I like this quote by Paulo Coelho that changed how I perceived failure and mistakes.

'The secret to life is to fall seven times and to get up eight.'

With this digital age where we have the internet at our fingertips and people posting on social media the final product but not the failures. This pushes the notion that progress can occur without errors which is absurd and false.

No one is posting their failures but that does not mean they have it all figured out.

Consider baking as a success ladder. The more errors you make, the more skilled you become and the higher you get on the ladder. Mistakes are inevitable in life. However, you should not rely solely on making mistakes; instead, learn from them.

Every mistake teaches us something about what not to do in future.

Baking is a journey and it is important to enjoy the process and continue to learn and grow. So stay consistent, be confident and challenge yourself to become the best baker you can be.