“You’ll never regret your decision to leave and start your own company,” she said.
“I know,” I said. “It’s something I feel I need to try and do. Risky, though.”
“You can always get a job. Why not try?”
I was making the rounds at the previous VC firm where I worked, telling people why I just quit. I still remember a particular conversation with Sophie LaMontagne.
Years later, I heard about a decision Sophie herself made. She quit to start a bakery with her sister (Sophie is the one on the right in the photo above, and her sister, Katherine, is on the left). The two love to bake and had for a long time dreamed of starting together a bakery. They decided to quit their jobs. The pair pooled together their savings, took out a loan, and proceeded to wake up at 4 a.m. to make cupcakes.
Flash forward. Georgetown Cupcake now comprises six stores around the country, including one on Newbury St. in Back Bay Boston. They’ve got a great menu and you can order the products online. Also, the sisters are the subjects of the reality TV show on TLC, called “D.C. Cupcakes.” They just published a cookbook.
They and their products have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, TV Guide, the NBC Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live! With Kelly, ABC Nightline, Access Hollywood, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, People, InStyle, Town & Country, US Weekly, Redbook, Real Simple, and Cosmopolitan.
The last time I chatted with Sophie, she sounded so excited. I’m so happy for her. Success could not have happened to a nicer person.
I mention this because I this weekend was telling my daughters about Sophie, and how the desires placed in your heart are there for a reason. “Follow them,” I told them. “They’ll lead you to what you’re meant to do.” Sophie loves to bake. She used that affinity to build a business that really fits her passion.
I’ve written recently about the paucity of women entrepreneurs. I want my children to have role models and not to fear failure.
I was glad to tell them about Sophie and Katherine.
My wife and I took our young son to the Georgetown location a couple of years ago when we were in DC. When we got there, there was a line around the block, so we decided to get dinner first.
When we went back, my son ran up to open the door to go in, but it was locked. Disaster! They had already closed and were cleaning up inside. He was upset, but didn’t make a fuss.
As he walked away from the door, a woman came out from inside and gave him a cupcake, free. Maybe that was your friend. That experience certainly made an impression on us…and the cupcake was fantastic.