Kristin Middleton didn’t let age, depression, or detours hold her back. After a rich career in wine and a life-changing health scare, she launched BougieGougies.com — a Seattle bakery reviving the French cheese puff.
This conversation dives deep into courage, reinvention, and the kind of clarity that only comes with time. Kristin's story reminds us: it’s never too late to dream again.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro + Kristin’s Early Dream of Entrepreneurship
0:03 – First Brush with Baking & the Magic of Gougères
0:08 – Career Detour: Banking, Wine, and Depression
0:16 – Hitting Reset in Her 60s + Canyon Ranch Turning Point
0:21 – COVID, Recovery, and the Idea That Wouldn’t Let Go
0:26 – Testing Bougie Gougies at Parties (Market Validation)
0:30 – Reading Candace Nelson’s Book: The Deciding Moment
0:33 – Launching Bougie Gougies in her 60's
0:36 – Mental Health, Energy, and Morning Structure
0:41 – The Role of Consultants and Business Support
0:45 – Goop Feature + Holiday Spike + Co-Manufacturing Plans
0:48 – Why Starting Late Can Be a Strength, Not a Weakness
Here is the list of a few books, Podcasts, Business Consultant, and Digital Marketing Consultant Kristin touched on:
Books
-Sweet Success by Candace Nelson https://amzn.to/3EWLF4Z
-The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma https://amzn.to/4k63b5w
-On Brand by Aliza Licht https://amzn.to/43iQNto
-Small Graces: The Quiet Gifts of Everyday Life by Kent Nerburn https://amzn.to/43mkz0k
-Dare to Lead by Brene Brown https://amzn.to/3ETdsmW
Podcasts
-Powerful Ladies (Host: Kara Duffy)
-Robin Sharma (for daily inspiration)
-A Touch More (Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird)
Business Consultant: Kara Duffy (Kara Duffy.com)
Digital Marketing Consultant
-Marissa Stahl
-Cherry-Creative.com
Public Relations with Food & Beverage Specialty
-Delaney Vetter (Delaneyvettercommunications.com)
📬 Follow the journey on Substack (www.unlostcause.com) #UnLostCause #EncoreEntrepreneur #ReinventionAfter40 #Gougères #BougieGougies
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