This adventure with my vintage sourdough starter — is it real? Is it simply something to keep my mind occupied? 

These were questions which plagued me as I made the investment of time and a little money to get started selling dehydrated packages of the Fox Park Strain Sourdough. 

Inspiration to dehydrate and sell starters from my vintage sourdough came at a tough time in my life. After a long illness, my husband of 63 years passed away. I had been an intense, willing caregiver during these times. The adventure had beginning value for my mind. I didn’t want to become adrift or to wither. 

Where to direct my energies and intentions?

There was no doubt that some extra funds could be useful. Beyond money, the stimulation of a plan would help me navigate the days ahead.

At my age, my children are solicitous, helpful, and caring. They each have their own lives, families and business goals to meet. I didn’t want to become another task making demands upon them. My lifelong desire has always been to be helpful to them instead of having them be the helpers. (Being a receiver and a ‘helped’ person is a lesson for another day.)

Zero Expectations

I observed other people selling their sourdough on venues such as Etsy. My inspiration directed me to begin there. I could consider expanding to other venues in the future. This all still seemed like a ‘busy work’ dream. I looked at the other sellers. My children assured me that my sourdough had a story. We knew almost to the exact day when it began. Certainly we were confident of the year and season. This all began in the summer of 1971. 

Expectations have Roots

In other times, I have used eBay to offer my craft and collectible items. When the listings closed with selling, I found it difficult to keep a cheerful, determined mindset. No sales sort of hurt my feelings! My head asks, “What’s wrong with you? Wrong with your idea? Wrong with your plans?”  That DOUBT has favorite words: WRONG, FAIL, STUPID, and more. 

This time, I had an answer. “I don’t care what you say, DOUBT. The DOING means more to me than sales. It will keep me busy — off the streets and out of the bars! It will keep me from being an emotional burden to my family and friends. When I tell them I’m doing fine, this project is my truth. 

Another plus for the sourdough adventure lies in my tech interests. I am not justified to write blog posts, design a website, set up graphics and photos. These things are all on my list of ‘fun’ things to do. I love being in the embrace of software. 

The model began to take shape. I invested in some small equipment to work with. I tested the dehydrated product. Another love is anything office supplies. That made the shipping supplies a real treat. I was content to be ‘working’ on the sourdough project. Maybe something would sell, maybe it wouldn’t.

Everything Changes

I ‘came out’ on social media, announcing the newly setup shop on Etsy. My connections there were so sweetly supportive. I worked surrounded by a nice glow. 

Then, from that announcement, there came TWO orders! Granted they were from friends who had seen my post and decided to support me. DOUBT tried to tell me that these were charity sales. Another person said, “Maybe they truly want a dehydrated piece of a vintage sourdough. They are friends. There’s a really good chance they’ve tasted that sourdough through bread or flapjacks at your kitchen table.”  Take that, DOUBT, and leave. 

That Small Moment’s Impact

Because those two little sales had me floating!  I felt as rich as Elon Musk! I was on my way! The emotional boost that came with this validation was real. I had been inspired before. Investing in some small equipment and supplies had made sense. Spending on my ‘gamble’ had been easy. The essential investment was small and wouldn’t ruin my budget. These items make my process work efficiently and businesslike. 

All of that is only under the file of “makes sense.” The emotional boost given to me by the fresh orders for my starter stimulated more photos, videos, and blog posts. There are more recipe trials and failures to learn from. Identifying places to share my interests rose to the top of my plan. These sales; such little things and yet of very very BIG. 

The emotional boost and validation made the lights come on. I went into other forums for additions to my listings and plans. There I was further encouraged by finding more sourdough fans in the group. I went in expecting to be an outlier. Instead, my own community is coming to the surface. I’m going from pushing myself, through family believers to encouraging connections. Expansion from ONE BELIEVER to more!

Business Axioms

Every business starts with one believer. No matter how many believers are on board at the beginning, there will be ‘sacrifice.’ The business must be fed. There is necessary investment and maintenance to help that business thrive and grow. 

When the nurturing system is in place, it is time to act. Taking action matters more than waiting for perfection. I understood Seth Godin’s advice to ‘ship’ in his book Linchpin. The great sourdough adventure reached a point where it was time to take action and ‘ship’ the program. I didn’t have perfection. I built the listing on Etsy without a full load of photos, videos or the story. These things were added in their good time. Meanwhile, the listing was there where people and search engines could begin to see it. 

Business owners can be encouraged to keep going. Most of that encouragement will come from the owner in the beginning. In business one must keep going or make decisions to go in different directions. Sometimes you have to fold an idea. Sometimes you can fold part of it.

I have several things I want to be doing. Most of them would be acceptable and could be profitable. All of them are legal. Several are equal to others. I have to choose a place to begin. I’ve chosen to concentrate on the sourdough. I enjoy the way sourdough has developed a community of testers, bakers, wreckers and families. Sourdough conversation appeals to more of my friends and family. Their eyes glaze over when I start talking about other shiny new things that are singing to me.

Go Ahead and Choose

Choose one of your shiny things and get going. Keep going, build, reach out, get it out in front of the world. Trust that you have a good plan until research proves differently. Then, KEEP GOING…choose a different shiny thing if you must. Just don’t quit. It is wrong to stifle your shiny ideas and dreams. Our society has been built on pursuing ideas and building businesses. It was developed by and for people who were determined to KEEP GOING. 

I’m thriving through a difficult time in my life. I’m not a young person. My days get shorter than they used to be. But, I have hope, plans and lights in my eyes. All of this from a simple yeasty mess that has been part of my life for over 50 years. It’s almost family. I used to celebrate the sourdough through the cooking. I still cook, but I also spread the sourdough’s yeasts to others. 

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