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Wired for Work

Wired for Work

My name is Kayla Brown and I am the owner of Sugar Cubed, which is a bakery in Downtown Gresham. We specialize in artistically designed cakes, freshly baked cupcakes, and cookies. I’ve owned my business for 10 years now. The first five I spent alone in my parent's basement honing in on my craft, hustling like crazy, and being a one-woman show. 

Five years ago, we moved into our storefront and have grown our staff to 10 people. My role looks a lot different now and I spend much more time problem solving, inventory tracking, and mentoring my staff. I love it so much.

 

Why do you think work is so important in regards to our calling and walk with God?

Most of us spend more time at work than we do with our own families. It’s honestly how a lot of us identify ourselves. 

What are the first two questions you usually ask someone when you meet them? Typically, it’s what’s your name, and what do you do? Not to say that our identity is solely found in our work, but it is usually a huge part of how we identify and relate to others. 

I also think it’s the best place to practice “discrete discipleship”. Whether that’s with your customers or coworkers, there is always an abundance of opportunity to show grace, servanthood, humility, and also our own flaws as Christians which could open the door to someone wanting to know more about God and what he’s capable of.

 

How do you see God/your calling playing out within your work?

I could spend days telling stories of how God has woven his plan so perfectly through every milestone of this business — it’s crazy (hopefully there will be a book someday.) But I think for me one of the biggest revelations has been the joy I find in seeing others find their calling within my business. 

For 5 years I did this by myself, it was just my little cake dream, but I knew even back then that God had big plans for this business and although I was completely happy doing what I was doing, I longed to share this passion with other people. I wanted other creatives who felt lost in using their gifts in their work to realize that they have more options out there than just freelancing or graphic design. 

I desired to create a work culture where you could do what you loved with people you loved serving a community you loved. I am so lucky that my job is literally to create joy for people, there is so much gratitude and glee associated with what we do, it’s incredibly rewarding.

 

When it comes to strengths and abilities did you realize and learn those through your work or choose your work because of your abilities?

So I have always known I wanted to do something creative for my job, even in high school I loved to paint and do ceramics. I was never the “best” in class or supernaturally gifted at anything (very middle of the road) but I loved being creative. 

When I decorated my first cake it was the first time in my life where something just clicked, and I felt like I had a natural talent for it. It combined all my favorite things, working with my hands, getting messy, working with a sense of urgency and time limits, and all the problem solving and uncertainty that comes with working with such a delicate medium. I like the adrenaline rush it gives me. 

When I became a boss and responsible for others representing my business, I realized that I love mentoring and teaching and handing things off to other talented people and watching them shine. I get a lot of joy out of simply providing them with the best tools and resources to excel at their job.

 

Have you ever had a time when your work and your abilities did not align? What was that like?

I got my degree in graphic design and after I graduated and did a few freelance gigs and applied for a couple of jobs and realized very quickly how much I did not want to do this with my life. 

I was so discouraged after spending thousands of dollars and years of my life planning for this. I felt defeated and ashamed and super lost with what I wanted to do. I took a year off after college and just worked at a coffee shop waiting for God to give me a sign, it was really hard, especially because I felt pressure from my parents to apply my degree to something and I just had this strong feeling that God wanted to do something big with my life but to have no clue of where to begin. 

Now I am super thankful I have basic knowledge in Adobe and it allowed me to save a ton of money in those early years of starting my business because I had the tools and knowledge to design my own logo, website, apparel, and menus. So even though it’s not exactly what I had intended I use my degree for I still find it super useful even now.

 

What would you say to some who is in that season of life currently?

Don’t have tunnel vision. Don’t get so fixated on one goal or one way of doing things that you fail to see the bigger picture or an alternative route. God works best in our weaknesses and often our missteps lead us on a path greater than we could have ever imagined. 

I also think that when we feel like we aren’t in our “calling” that we think we aren’t doing God’s work and I want to affirm that God’s work can be done anywhere anytime, in every season of life there is something to be learned so keeping an open mind even if we aren’t where we want to be. Taking time to be still and listen for God’s direction is also super important. We tend to force our own desires or wallow in our disappointments when things don’t go our way, all the while God is patiently waiting for us to come to Him and ask for direction. And when we hear from God or feel him tugging us in a new direction do not fear the unknown! Don’t be afraid to leap, don’t focus on all that could go wrong or all you’d be giving up, if it’s His will, He will provide for you, step out in faith!

 

What is your hope for people as they are working through this week's activities?

My hope for people is that they can discover something new and inspiring about what they do at work. Looking at their job from a different perspective to see how God might be using them even in the mundane. Then holding tight to that truth if it’s a season of doing work that they might not enjoy. Or perhaps it helps them fall deeper in love with what they already feel called to do. I also pray that they address the work/life balance in their lives because rest and sabbath don’t usually get prioritized which makes work seem that much more challenging sometimes. That is something I have really been trying to be more intentional about and it is truly transformational and incredibly life-giving for me.

 

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