The Dough that Makes a Difference - Jodi Jefferson's Baking Impact - The Connection with Jay Miralles

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Intro Voice (00:11):
Connecting the dots , Connecting his guests to the
world, Creating more connections.
Welcome to the Connection.
Meet your host.
Author, coach, Air Forceveteran Jay Miralles

Jay Miralles (00:30):
I'm so excited for you to join us today.
I am with my guest, jodiJefferson, and she is the
entrepreneur of Busy Bee BakingCompany.
But beyond that, we're friendsand I just want to say this is
your second time on the show, isthat right?
It is, it is.
Don't be shy.
Don't be shy.
You can kiss the microphone,it's clean.
Jodi is an Air Force veteranand she's got 21 years of

(00:54):
service, faithful service to ourcountry, and Jodi take us after
that.
So, after you left the service,what did you do and why did you
do it?

Jodi Jefferson (01:05):
Yes, so when I retired, it was right during the
right.
When COVID kicked off is when Iretired.
So my transition was a littlebit different than what most
people experience.
I did an internship with alocal chef and because people
weren't gathering, we couldn'tdo most of his catering events,

(01:26):
and so we would just meet, wewould talk about his business
different things like that and Ilearned a lot from him.
And in the meantime I juststarted baking again a lot and
posting things on Facebook.
I had a pretty good clientelewhen we lived in Maryland and
then when I got stationed hereat Offit, our children were

(01:48):
really little, my husband wasover in Korea, I was flying all
the time and I just didn't havetime, and so when COVID kicked
off and we were stuck in thehouse for days on upon days and
everything was shut down, it wasa perfect time to just pick up
that baking again, and withsocial media it just really took
off.

Which is crazy.
So when did you know that youcould bake?
When was the first day you werelike man?
I think I can do this, or wasit like that?

My mom and grandma always baked a lot.
So I was I was always thechubby kid, because my mom
always had sweets around thehouse.
My dad had his own constructioncompany and she packed his
lunch faithfully for 40 yearsand there was always a sweet
treat in his lunchbox, and so wealso got to enjoy those things
as well.
My grandma, she was reallyshort, and so she had a counter

(02:39):
in her house that was shorterthan normal so that she could
roll out her bread dough, and soI remember as a kid being able
to stand at that counter as akid, and so you know, it was a
normal height then for me too.
So, yeah, so so many memoriesof my mom and my grandma.
And so, yeah, I remember buyingmy first set of springform pans

(03:03):
when I lived in the dorms inSouth Carolina and baking a
carrot cake in the military.

You're in the military.

Yep for some friends, and then just I just
always kind of baked after that.

You've you've baked or chefed for some very
important people.
Can you kind of share a list ofthe people you've baked for?

Yeah.
So when I was a flightattendant in the Air Force, I
served many of our nation'sleaders, from congressmen,
senators, secretaries of defense, secretaries of state all the
way up to the first ladies andthe presidents, to include Mrs
Laura Bush, President Bush, MrsObama and President Obama.

That's crazy.
I mean, who even says that?
Right, you know, even on thelist of resumes, you know,
people are always name droppingand and that's a great story to
tell, it's, it's great to passdown to your children.
And I don't think you even haveto ever say I've done this for
these famous people or for thesepowerful people, because it
comes out in your work.
I think your work speaks foritself and, and you know, I, I,

(04:06):
when you and I speak off youknow the podcast, we're just,
we're friends, and I'm tellingthe world that, without telling
the world that you're one of thebest, most passionate people,
who I don't want to justminimize and call you a baker,
right, I want to tell everyonethat you pour your heart into

(04:27):
something and it's therapeuticfor you.
Absolutely Right, it's eitherthat or, you know, get crazy.
But I think more so.
I think there's a lot of chefsand a lot of bakers and a lot of
people who want to do what theydo, and most people think of
monetization first.
Right, how do I make money atthis?
Was that ever a thing for youwhen you started baking?

No, I mean once I retired.
I'm blessed to have thatretirement income at 40 years
old, some disability income frombeing broken from my time in
the service.

Yes, and, and yes.

So I started it more as something to keep me
busy, because I mean, in themilitary it was just go, go, go,
go go all the time.
And so I found that it was veryhard to just slow down and
enjoy retirement, yeah, and sothat's why I kind of just
started dilly-dallying I guess Iwould call it in the kitchen
and then now it became thisfull-time job where I'm

(05:25):
constantly telling people no,because I just don't have the
bandwidth.

I've been to your kitchen and I know the
dilly-dallying is notdilly-dallying, it is full-blown
operation.
It is like standby coming outthe oven.
Here we go.
I'm like, oh my gosh there is alot of stuff and and I get it
right, but I think what's coolis, and what I want people to
connect on this episode, is yourphilanthropic heart.

(05:49):
I want people to know that it'snot your philosophy, I think
it's just at your heart right,and we got to witness that for
the very first time.
You know, with our nonprofit,and you raised almost 20 plus or
not almost over $20,000individually with your business
as well, with Busy B BaconCompany.

(06:10):
But I don't think peoplerealize that.
I want them to know this.
She is using her talent and herown money.
She didn't just conjure theflour out of the air, she didn't
just make the sugar appear.
You spent your own money, yourown time, your own equipment,
your own hours, 24 hours, andwe're going to talk about that

(06:31):
process.
But, jodi, I think I thinkpeople can give to nonprofits or
the community in three waysTime, talent, treasure.
You just happened to do allthree and I think that's pretty
incredible.
So, with that being said, thisis going to propel you for this
year and you're getting readyfor it.
Now.
I want you to talk about whoyou're raising money for and why

(06:56):
you're raising money for them,and I want to get out.
I want to reveal a couplethings you know that you're
doing, but I want them to hearthe why, the connection to
philanthropy.

Yeah, so our church has a motto that we live,
we exist to live and love likeJesus.
Yes, and so a lot of things Ido.
I think back to that and I'mjust blessed.
I'm blessed with a talent.
Yes, for sure, and so I justfeel like that, even though it's
baking, you know, it'ssomething that, what do?

you mean, even though it's baking it's
incredible.

You know I'm serving people, yes, and a long
time ago, when I was at one ofthe academies for the military,
we had to do a paper on a veryimportant person and I chose
Truett Cathy, who was thefounder of Chick-fil-A.
He was a huge philanthropist,yes, and I learned so much about

(07:53):
him and you know how much hepoured back into the community.

Yes.

And so that his story really resonated with me.
And I had some otherexperiences in the military
where it was just giving back,you know, as much as we could
and it just fills your cup.

I mean it?

makes you just feel so good.
And if I was a millionaire, Iwould just be giving out money.
I can't watch these YouTuberswhere they're like just giving
out money and they're likethat's so cool.
I want to do that, mom, and I'mlike, well, it's not really
realistic for a 12 year old, butto have that thought, to want
to do that, you know, isexciting, it is, and so, yeah, I

(08:35):
am just blessed Connecting thedots connecting his guests to.

Okay, we're back.

So I'm just excited that we can do that.

So here's what I'll ask you Do you think you
just said something a fewminutes ago or a few seconds ago
that said you know, I see theseYouTubers giving away millions
and are giving away moneybecause they're millionaires
right Okay, they're millionaires, they're giving away money,
that's good.
I'm not saying you're not amillionaire.
I'm saying that you are at alevel in life that you are still

(09:09):
giving, and you're not onYouTube and you're not on social
media just saying look at mehow we're giving away iPhone 15.
You know what I'm saying.
You're giving and you'reprobably giving till it really
hurts or is very meaningful foryou.

Well, like last year, when I wrote that check to
my mom, mark you know, as I'mwriting this $12,000 check, I'm
thinking I could take my familyto Disney.
Yes, but we're not yes.
You know, and my whole familywas involved in that.
I mean they saw how hard weworked, they helped they built
boxes.
They, you know, everybody inour family is involved.

(09:46):
My dad makes deliveries outwest.
My mom is in the kitchen likeelbows deep in the in the whole
mess.

I know.

And my kids see how hard we work and I just hope
that you know in the long run.
A quick one week in Disney yeah, they would have memories from
that.
But this is building theirlegacy.

Yeah, they're lives, but, jodi, I want to.
I want a very pointed messageout to people listening right
now.
I, you, I don't like to evenuse the word hate.
I do not Agree with people whoask for discounts or they ask
you to cheapen your product tofit their Budget.

(10:30):
Listen, we all have to beconscious, right?
But you know what?
Don't ask me.
Don't ask me to to cheapen myproduct.
And you're wearing LouisVuitton shoes.
Okay, do you know what I'msaying?
Don't, don't talk to me aboutlike.
Well, we can only do this likeor we're a nonprofit or we're
not.
This or our company's just new.

(10:52):
Listen, what you're asking JodiJefferson to do is to take food
off her kitchen table.
When you say, listen, can weget to those for the one?
No, you're taking resourcesfrom somebody.
I think it's not just about you, this is about everybody.
So, jodi, tell us now aboutyour product.
Now that I got off my rant, Ifelt good to say that, though I

(11:15):
you know what I I'm not gonnaapologize for that statement.
People should not ask of you.
They should learn of you andwhat you're actually doing for
the community.
Then they would go oh, I don'tthink she can do the parents
guild fundraiser for free.

Yeah, and I feel like it's easy for schools and
smaller groups that are tryingto raise money for very
important causes, and I get that, but it's easy for them to Ask
a small business, even thoughmost small business businesses
are the one struggling a hundredthe bigger businesses have
processes in place and theypeople don't get an immediate

(11:57):
yes or no.
They have to fill out a formand then there's a waiting
period and they don't want to dothat.
They want to walk into a place,make it, send an email, make a
phone call and they want Instantgratification.

Yes.

Yes or no and keep on moving to the next.

I think that's important.
I want to stay on that, becauseyou said small business right,
and I sent this to a friend ofmine and I want the world to
hear this too.
Man, I'm full of rants today,but it's gonna help you and help
me too.
So here's what I'm wrestlingwith.
Right, we always talk about,you know, small businesses and

(12:33):
you're the backbone and thingsof the net nature, but oh, my
gosh, oh, you can do big thingswith small teams, but it's hard
to do small things with bigteams.
Yeah right, replace the wordteams with corporations or
businesses.
Right, you're scrappy and agile, you can do what you want when

(12:53):
you want.
You can.
You can turn on a dime.
But as soon as you startgetting that Big box business,
are they really in your bestinterest?
No, they have Shareholders andthings, and good for them.
I don't chastise that.
But what I want to reinforce is, when they're looking at busy
be baking companies, that theylook and look beyond the price.

(13:13):
I want them to see the valueand the things that you bring to
the table.
So, alright again, who are weraising money for?
And and tell me how you tell mehow this tradition started for
you.

Yeah, so when I worked on Air Force one, we
would hold a Thanksgiving bakesale every year, and the funds
that we raised would always goto Offset the cost of our
Christmas party.
We always had an extravagantChristmas party and about Four
years into doing it, I thoughtwhy am I doing this?

(13:47):
Like it was a ton of work.
Yeah, there was one year wherewe had a surprise trip to the
war zone the day a few the weekbefore Thanksgiving and I had
all these orders that I stillneeded to fulfill, and so I
remember landing back inMaryland after a 36-hour trip to

(14:08):
the war zone and having to stayin the kitchen and Continue to
bake for 12, 14, 16 hours, whichwas something I chose to do.
And, yeah, I probably couldhave said, hey, we're just gonna
have to cancel this, we're donein the war zone because nobody
cares about your war zone exceptyou, right, right.
But we did it.
We, I baked, and you know allthe orders were done in time and

(14:32):
we raised the money.
Well then, the fourth or fifthyear to doing it, I thought, why
are, why aren't we giving,making Better use of these funds
?
And so a bunch of us flightattendants got together and I
said how cool would it be toTake the money that we raise and
we go visit the woundedwarriors in Walter Reed?

(14:54):
yes and so we've raised severalthousand dollars that year and
we got in contact with someonefrom Walter Reed and we went in
and I mean we blessed so manyVeteran service members that
were missing limbs.
I mean we and it was they weresick or injured.

That's why they're in Walter Reed.

Yes, absolutely like arms blown off.

Yes, yes.

Yeah.

I mean people remember one gentleman.

He, I think both of his legs got blown off in
one arm and so we just all wentin and we purchased several
iPads.
We purchased magazines, giftcards, just things that we
thought would lift their spirits.
Books, yeah, and it was just so.
They were so grateful.
We didn't know any of them, butwhen we walked out of there

(15:44):
that day, I mean we were all intears and we are our cup was
full you know your energy change.

When you're talking about that, I mean, I
mean that's the ultimate to beable to and, in turn, you, you
feel blessed to be able to dothat right, and I think you know
, when you write a thank-youcard for someone who did a
random act of kindness for you,that that's powerful.
I think what you did was notonly powerful, but the message

(16:11):
was strong to the people youdidn't even know, and it all
came from baking.
Yeah right, think about that.
Right, where do we get themoney?
Well, jodi whipped it up, Iguess, but, um, you know that's,
that's pretty cool.
So it carried on yeah.

So then when I got stationed here, took a few
years off again, life was justcrazy.
My mom my mom has terminalcancer and so she was sick, kids
were little, david was gone.
And then one year the churchthat we attend they were needing
some funds to purchase avehicle for their youth Parent

(16:45):
life ministry.
Yeah, and so I said to my mom,I said I feel like we can, we
can make an impact.
How are we gonna do it?
And so I said let's do thisThanksgiving bake sale again.

Hold on right there.
You know, like in regularconversation, like what is it
that we can do for you?
Well, we're trying to raisemoney for a vehicle, right?
Do you know how many people shyaway at you?
Know, oh, oh, you want adonation for this.
Oh, you want it.
Oh, you want a shirt donationto sponsor your, your football
team.
You want that, you want.
If someone said to me we'retrying to raise money for a car,

(17:20):
right, most people think what,oh, I could, I could never.
Oh, well, I might buy you adoor handle, I'll buy gas money.
What did you think when youwere taking on that project?
Did you even know how much theyneeded to raise?

Um, I mean, I figured it was probably 10 to
15,000, really I had no idea.
But we're on our fifth year,yeah, so five years ago.

Four years, yeah.
So you had no idea what it eventook.
You were just like mom.

Yeah, like any little bit we can contribute
will help the cause, right yeah?

how much did you end up raising?

so that first year we raised, I think it was
like 2,500.

Okay, so yeah.

We we partner with Thrive it financial every
year.
We have investments throughthem and they have a Action team
project that you can do, wherethey'll give you a jumpstart of
$250.
So that's cool that buys us$250 of flour, sugar, and butter
every year.

That's awesome.

And then everything else comes out of our
pocket.

That you know To start small and humble.
First of all, $2,500 is notsmall.
Who do you know that's likeyeah, I'll take a check for
2,500.
And let's be honest, the blood,sweat and tears that went into
all that, the time, the prep,the exact Precision that that
took right, it's not like, well,we're just gonna put this

(18:40):
together tonight at nine o'clocktonight.
It's gonna take you hours oftime and a volunteer of our army
of volunteers.
So you got that.
Tell us about other fundraisers, just from a high level that
you've done.

Yes.
So then the following year wepartnered with the Ronald
McDonald house because we hadsome friends.
Their son has Down syndrome andthey live out in Lexington and
they often make visits to Omahaand stay Not the Ronald McDonald
house, the rainbow houserainbow house.

Yes, I'm sorry.
No, you're okay.

And so they often stay at the rainbow house.
And so they had told us aboutthe facility and how great it is
and the amenities, and so wethought, oh my gosh, if there's
families with children thatcan't spend the holidays in
their own home Because theirchild has an illness or fighting
cancer, what have you?

Yeah.

Let's bless them .
Yes like, how, like put myselfin their shoes.
Oh my gosh, where's the bestplace to be during the holidays?
In your own home, true, withyour own Christmas tree.
Mm-hmm all the memories right,yeah, and so that year we raised
$6,000.

Just and and again , just from your supporters and
people following you and peoplewanting to do what you do.
How did you, how do you thinkyou went from 2,500 6,000?
Was it just?
Was it easy?
Was it more work?
Was it?
What was the?
What was the change from 2,500?

to 6,000.
I feel like that's kind of whenmy business was taking off more
on Facebook, yes, so we wereable to again leverage that
social media platform and reallyadvertise, and we always stress
that 100% of the sales is givendirectly to that charity.
We keep none of it.
We write a check when it's allover.

And you spend money for that.

Yes, it costs us money.

Yeah, that's what and I think people need to.
People don't realize this right, that when a small business
like yourself creates goods orservices, those have to be
conjured from somewhere orSpoken for or purchased.
You've got to get, you got tobuy the flower.
Nobody's bringing you flower,right?
You've got to buy the sugar youhave by all that stuff.

(20:48):
And I think what's even moreremarkable is I think people are
forgetting Not a hundredpercent of the proceeds, it's
more like a hundred thirtypercent of the proceeds, because
your own money, right, see, andthat's what I want people to
think about is to challengethemselves, to think what is it
that I can do To make an impact?

(21:08):
And for you it's I'm able tobuy, I'm able to have the talent
and I'm able to have thetreasure to be able to do all
that.
Some people can't write a check, that's okay.

That is okay.

That is.
It is because money is not theonly thing, it's time, yeah, so.
So what was your next one afterthat?

So then after that, Um mustaches for kids huge
in Omaha.
Yes, we had a crazy team ofguys in our squadron every year.
Yeah, they won sexiestworkplace.
Yeah, they would just grow somegnarly mustaches during.
Covid, it was even Crazierbecause they could cover their

(21:48):
mustaches while at work.
So they kind of.

So they didn't have to, they got away with it.

Yeah, they didn't.
They could kind of Skirt theregs a little bit by growing
these crazy mustaches and so,yeah, so, partnered with Nick
Phillips and his team, from thefirst act and that year, with
some matches that this, someflash matches that they did, we,
we raised over 10,000.

(22:13):
And then, at their stash bashwhen they released how much
total they raised for thechildren's Charities, in Omaha
was over a million.
That's crazy.
So, nick was like without your$10,000 donation because they
used, they leveraged that$10,000 donation.
When they do these flashmatches.

(22:35):
Yes and so they were able toraise a bunch more money.
I think it was like 70,000during that flash.

How cool is that to be a catalyst, and you know.
So you were still in themilitary doing COVID.

No, I had just you just got out.

Yeah, but you still had all the connections.
Yep, okay, got it, got it.
So then, I Think it was afterthat that we met.

Yes, we met that following May.

May, that's right, you know all the dates.
It was at our friend, leslie'swedding and there was a door,
couple doors, deck, you know,like the tables, yeah, or
whatever it was decorated withyour or Sharkhood read is it was
an explosion of goodness.
I, you know, I, I've been at alot of weddings and I've been a
lot of Celebrations and I lookat tables, you know, because I

(23:21):
love food, right, I, I just Ilove to cook, I love to do
things that nature.
But I really looked at it andwe had a four or five minute
conversation, that was it.
And then you raised how muchfor us, total 20 from bake sale,
we raised 12,000.
Yeah, but from total all up andeverything over 20.

(23:42):
Yeah, yeah, 24.
Yeah, 24.
Who's counting right?
I mean, that is no small featand I know that you Always are
searching and vetting, and I betpeople are coming up to you
like, jodi, do one for us, orhow did you choose who you have
today and will you please let usknow who you chose?

Yeah.
So I Didn't know this lady orher cause until I saw her on a
Facebook post and she had beenon the Kelly Clarkson show.
Her name is Sasha, yes, and sheis quite the leader here in
Omaha and she is the founder ofthe of project intentional.
Yes and what they do is theyempower, which we like that word

(24:28):
.

Yes.

Caregivers.
It's kind of started withsingle mothers, but then they
found that just care care giversall around, whether the
grandparent, whether it be themale in the situation or the or
the female.
So they empower those folkswith resources, toiletries,
hygiene items, socks and thentoys for the little ones.

(24:53):
And so December 10th of thisyear they will be holding their
annual winter WonderlandEmporium yes this year they're
held holding it at Baxter arenabecause they're expecting 1500
Families so they, those are thefamilies when they come through
is the one they're.

They're helping, they're empowering them.
Yes okay.

So last year they helped over 600 Is she
received $25,000 from the KellyClarkson show.
That's awesome.
I think she received another25,000 from a local bank, sure,
and then whatever we raise wewill give to her, and and
there's plenty of otherbusinesses and and folks that
are helping her put this on.

(25:33):
But it's quite the task and Iam Slated to volunteer on that
day because I just want to be apart of it.
I mean, it just sounds like soAmazing and life-changing.
Yeah, and so they are releasingthe tickets kind of they're not
releasing them all at once,because what they found in the

(25:53):
past is that if you're a shiftworker and they release all 1500
tickets, you might miss outbecause you're a working yes,
and so they're kind ofstaggering that.
Yeah, they're staggering thatthis year so that everyone has a
chance, because last year all600 tickets were gone in one day
.

I want to talk about something real quick in
perspective, because I thinkeveryone listens and they hear
what they want to hear.
But have you ever run out ofKleenex?
Like, just you know you're inthe car and you're like, oh my
gosh, I run out of Kleenex.
Yeah, doesn't that suck yeahyou're like oh my god, I don't
have Kleenex.
I just left the house.
I'm between the house and toour rent and store.
Oh my gosh, kleenex is anecessity right that you and I

(26:35):
have the ability to purchase.
Okay, that's a Kleenex.
What about a toothbrush?

Yeah, there's tons of products.
She has hope lockers yes,around town.
Yes, several locations needmore downtown, but what the hope
lockers are filled with and itis an honor system.
You take what you need, yeah,and if you are able, you leave
you leave what you can.

I think that's important, so people can go to
the hope lockers if they and putstuff in the hope locker as
well.

Yes, absolutely, that's great there is some near
132nd center pop up commons Ibelieve has a hope locker.
They're just orange, not realtall, but their metal lockers
and they'll say hope locker.

I'll make sure to put that on the links here,
because I have seen that theyjust have a few to start with,
correct?
Yeah so.
So here's what's crazy not onlyare you donating your time,
talent and your treasure, you'relearning about them and you're
walking alongside with them.
What's something that you wantpeople to?
Because you're getting ready todo your baking sale?

(27:38):
Right, yeah, tell people theamount of work that that takes,
or at least give walk themthrough, so then I can help make
the ask here.

Yeah, so we start, I will do the shopping.
We've kind of got it down to awell oiled machine so we offer
the same five items each year,just because we know exactly.
We've had some hiccups,obviously, as the five years
we've gone through, and so we'vemade a lot of notes.
We have a little bake salenotebook and we take a lot of

(28:08):
notes each year.
But it makes purchasingPlanning just so much easier.
It makes it we're just so muchmore organized by keeping that
same menu.
People had it years past, loveit, and they want it again the
following year so thanks, giveit.
Yeah, yeah it becomes like atradition for their family to

(28:31):
have the bread pudding with thecompre lean sauce.

Absolutely, and we're going to be able to put
this though on our on ourwebsite.
So we need people now, rightnow, to start placing their
orders.
Is that correct?

oh yes, we stop taking orders on the 17th.
So you have about two and ahalf weeks I'm yet to place
orders, and then we'll cut thoseorders off on the 17th because
we will need to start shoppingthat weekend and then we start
preparing Usually that Sunday inorder to be ready for pick up
on Wednesday.

Here's.
Here's what's crazy.
I don't think people.
People are all yes, she's gonnabake a couple of no, yeah, this
ain't your girl, girl, scouts.
Sidewalk sale, bake sale thisis no hating on the girl scouts,
but anyway.
We love brownie.
Okay, good, what she meant tosay the magnitude, the magnitude

(29:24):
, but.
But, jodi, you're going tostart straight up at dark 30 and
we're talking two days possibly, right, if not three.

Yeah, we'll bake all day.
We may start Saturday, but forsure Sunday, monday, tuesday,
because we have to haveeverything packaged and ready,
that's crazy because pick up isall day Wednesday and we start.
People start picking up theirorders on the way to work.
Yeah, some people don't workthe day before Thanksgiving, so
they're off and we will be busy.
It's like a revolving door allday Wednesday all the way till

(29:57):
about nine o'clock.

I've witnessed it because we were there that one
day for last year.
I mean, we're just part of it,right, and we're talking four
days of your life minimum justto be at the helm of the
creation part, right?
Yeah, just mixing theingredients, putting watching
the ovens, and this is not likeyou go.
Oh gosh, sorry, I burnt thisbatch.

no, oh yeah, I mean we have it down to the hour
like okay, we have 47 breadpuddings we have to make.
We can bake four at a time andthey take an hour and 15 minutes
each.
I need you know, whatever thatcalculation is 19 and a quarter
hours or whatever.
So, yeah, so the ovens runabout 23 hours a day.

Yeah, because you got to turn them off for one
hour.

Let them cool off, I turn them off.

Is that superstitious?

now almost Kind of yeah well, and it gives me an
hour to take a nap on the couch.

Which is so.
Let's talk about that in this23 hours.
You're not like well, I'm goingto go ahead and take a normal
nights of sleep like everyoneelse.
No, you can't do that.

No, I send my mom downstairs and she'll get
some good rest, because againshe's older, she has cancer.

Understood.

I'm just grateful to be able to spend
that time with her and that shestill helps Absolutely.

I thought you trick her into volunteer.
You're volunteering her, no,and your mom is sweet.
Here's what's really cool, isyou know?
Yes, I think I took a couplevideos while you were doing it,
but I wish this is my, this ismy challenge for you.
I wish that you would get alaptop, just like I have here

(31:30):
now, a camera, and just streamthe 24 hours that you're doing
this.
Just let it sit on top of thefridge.
I'm serious, just let it sitthere and if people want to, you
don't have to even payattention to.
I dare you.
I dare you to just do it,because I think people need to
learn, as you do this, themagnitude of what you're doing.
I'm not trying to make you outto be some saint, but this is

(31:53):
not just writing a check,because writing a check would
probably be easier.
Not, not in all cases, right,not in all cases.
What I'm saying it's it's thetime that you're putting in that
makes it so special.
So what do we need people to do?
Let's, let's, let's talk abouta couple of things that you made
, and then I want to make anannouncement, not really an

(32:14):
announcement, but I want to hearit here first, because, yeah,
we'll talk about that.
So why don't you talk aboutwhat we need to call to action
for people, for projectintentional?
Because I want you to take thisby storm.
I want people to reach downdeep and I will help you market
okay, but what do we want themto do?

Yeah, so if you want to go on our Facebook busy
be baking company dot com, youcan order from.
You can send us a messagethrough there and we can take
that down for you.
You can call us Facebook is thebest place to send us a message
through there so that we havethat documented.
Will take your order down Again.
All pickups will be done allday on November 22nd it's a

(32:56):
Wednesday the day before andwe'll be at the house all day.
We live in Papillion, very nearWarner Park.

Yeah, it's right off.
Three seven is super simple andI post about the big sale every
Thursday.

We call it thankful Thursday.
I'm usually a little blurbabout what I'm thankful for,
asking you what you might bethankful for, just to put that
thought in your mind.
We are in the month of Novembernow, and not just that we
should be thankful in the monthof November.

But it's a good reminder.

Yeah, absolutely .

It is the season where most of us get to
celebrate the things we love themost, but we need to be mindful
of people who aren't able toenjoy like you know, like we are
.
And here's the thing.
The word help is such I want togive people.
I empower them and give themdignity, right, because that's
that's what it is at the end ofthe day.
Right, and you're doing alittle good.

(33:45):
You're doing good for yourself.
Send the elevator back down,bring somebody up, bring
somebody up with you, so we willmake sure I want all of my
friends to participate.
Listen, you still need a pie?
Yeah, could you go to?
Oh, yeah, tell him what we'reserving.

Oh yeah, yeah, you better tell him that's
important.
Yes, menu we have.
We're gonna have pumpkin pie.
We have a southern bourbonpecan pie which is everyone's
favorite yes we have the breadpudding with pecan praline sauce
which we love.
To warm it up, put some vanillaice cream and some fresh
raspberries yes we have thepumpkin whoopie pies, which are

(34:22):
Jay's favorite you already knowlike and I'm okay, keep going.
Yes, we have Carrot cakecupcakes, and so those five
items are what we sell each year.
Like I said, they're some ofour favorites.
It's a well oiled machinemaking them in mass quantities.
I'm talking mass quantitieslike hundreds, boom.

Yeah, we just become best friends.
Yep, yes, yes, sister and stepbrother, but from different
masters.
But anyway, I'm saying toeveryone is you need to spend
your money somewhere?
Yep, spend it with you and, inturn, get something of value.

(35:05):
Right, this is not like, thisis not poisonous.
Giving folks.
You're getting somethingquality that she's already
bought the ingredients for, puther talent into it and is Gonna
bring joy to other people, Ipromise you.
I have had the pumpkin, I'vehad your whoopie pies out of

(35:28):
cycle because I'm usually keto,right, and I know, and I'm keto,
sorry, I can't eat that.
No, it's, I'm not like that.
Okay, I'm, I'm a real person.
I have to have desserts andtreats, you know, every now and
then.
But again, which can wetransition now?
Because I'm excited, I can'twait yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Let me comment on that like you said you can
get your 699 ginormous pie.
That was probably made by alady that hates her job.
I don't know, she probablyreally loves her yes or you can
get your Thanksgiving pies maybecost a little bit more, but
made with absolute love yes allfor a good cause 100% and you're

(36:10):
supporting a small business.

I love how you're telling it real, because here's
what happens.
Well, you know I can get itfrom so and so cheaper you can.
You don't even know what you'remissing until you have this,
and when you have it, you'llfind out exactly what you've
been missing.
It is home, it is not processed, it is great ingredients, it is

(36:31):
well-crafted.
I promise you you'll be back toorder more, which is it's your
customers.
A lot of them become yourcustomers when they start
supporting you and you know thecauses that you're doing, and
then they just become clientsfor life.
But I think it's a goodproponent for your business.
Instead of you just advertising, is you're making an impact?

(36:52):
Oh, by the way, someonediscovered your whoopee pies.

Right and personalizing the experience.
Yes, I love customer service.
When I was a flight attendant,everything we did it was about
the best customer service, andso I want my customers to
remember their experience.
I don't want it to just be atransaction.

I know that I want it to be an experience.
Sometimes, when we talk aboutpricing, models and business,
you're like, yeah, okay, fine,but it's got to be this.
And you know, I told you oneday why don't you just melt a
chocolate, kiss and put it in amuffin cup and serve it?
And you're like, no, that ain'tright.
Okay, which leads us to theexciting and the conclusion,

(37:32):
almost, of this amazing.
Amazing.
I'm just excited.
Okay, jodi and I have beenfriends for a while now and I've
kind of shared with her.
You know what my lifestyle islike.
I'm a ketogenic lifestyle andthat doesn't favor sugar or
sweets or carbs, or and again,I'm not the keto police.

(37:55):
Okay, I'm someone that iswatching my health and I think
you know I can buy stuff at thestore, I can buy stuff from a
box, I can order stuff online, Ican do protein powders and
shakes and all the things, butthat's processed, processed,

(38:18):
right.
So I'm going to reveal this nowand we're going to talk about
it.
I'm going to eat it while youdescribe it, okay, so tell
everyone what you decided to dothe other day.

So I'm actually doing keto right now because
there's a keto.
It's hard.
There is a group of us doing 75hard right now and my diet,
honestly, before starting 75hard, was very poor.
I get it.
I worked all the time.

(38:51):
I wouldn't usually eat anythinguntil noon, one o'clock, when I
started to get lightheaded.
It wasn't fasting, it was justnot eating.

Right, you just weren't like, you just weren't
taking care of your feedingcycle.
Yeah, and it's not about diet,it's about your lifestyle of how
you fed yourself.
Right, right, and sometimes,you ate what your kids ate.

Yeah, and when I ate it was usually quick.
You know I didn't eat a lot offast food, but it just wasn't
good choices.
Oh my God, it smells so good.
So yeah, so started doing ketoand I was like man, I really
would like to have a littlesomething sweet with you know, a
cup of coffee at night.

Yes, at night.

Like I'm a grandma Decaf, of course.

Okay, I don't drink regular coffee at 9 pm.
Oh, but go ahead.

And so I bought this boxed brownie mix because
it said keto.
I really didn't know what I wasdoing when I first started keto
, like I would message Jay allthe time.

Like yes.
What is this?

Yeah, am I doing this right?
Right, like you were panicking.

I was because I'm like, if I'm going to spend the
time doing this, I want to makesure I'm doing it right.
And I'm not trying tocompliment you, but you look
amazing by the way.
You know, you already know LikeI mean.
You feel different.
I know you look different,energy you 100%, and you're not
sluggish, you're not like eh.
So I'm not trying to overcompliment, but this led into

(40:15):
the next part of the journey, soyou went to the store the other
day.

Yeah, and I was like I should do some keto
baking.
It can't be that hard, right?

Because?
Because, because you told Beckyon her birthday, oh, I was
going to do a cake.
Oh yeah, Becky's birthday justpassed, I should have done a
cake.

And I was like man, I should have made you a
keto cake.
And she was like you bake keto.
And I was like well, no, but Ifeel like I should dabble in it,
so this is literally the otherday.

I can't even make this up.
This is like fresh Okay.

Yeah.

Okay, so you went to the store two days ago.

Yeah, two days ago.
And you were like you're goingto do this this week.
I was like, yeah, it's actuallykind of a slow week.
I'm getting prepared for thebig thing in a couple of weeks.

Yes, and you're talking too slow.
I'm just going to bite this.
Keep going, okay.

And so, yeah, so I made a few things Jay's
favorite.
Yes, so I'm going to putregular pumpkin whoopie pie into
the keto.
Oh my gosh, and it's soft, ohit's soft.

Oh, I thought it was going to be like almond
flour, hard, right, like okay,let's, just.
Can I save this for last?
I'm going to save that for last.
Holy smoke.
It's so soft that my mouth justsalivated.
Yeah, it's so soft.
My mouth just was like I swear,I'm not kidding Like it's okay,
okay, okay, let's talk aboutthis.
Okay, so that's coconut pecansdark chocolate, okay, and then

(41:32):
I'm going to put it on a shortbread crust.
Okay, and what are theingredients on here?
Like what talk to me, whatingredients went into this?
Just, I don't need measurements, yeah.

Coconut flour.
It's got your normal bakingagents.

Okay, baking powder, baking soda, butter yes.

Some cream and that one vanilla.

Anything processed .

No.

No, it's all okay, keep talking.

The monk fruit sweetener Sorry.

Be quiet, everyone , for real, hold on.
There's no cooling effect.
So when you eat, keto madethings.
There's a cooling effect fromsugar, alcohol.
So you used monk fruit in this,right, yeah, mostly, but the

(42:29):
butter lingers for a little bit,I feel, which is good.
I mean, that's what I want mymouth coated with.
Is butter, not the coolingeffect?
Hold on, I just you keeptalking.
You're going to hear me breathe.
Why don't you keep talking?
Okay, so next we've got thechocolate fudge brownie.
I'm not there yet, oh well,take your time.

Okay, tell me about the chocolate fudge
brownie, yeah, so again, I'mgoing to go with the chocolate
fudge brownie.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.
So tell me about the chocolatefudge brownie.
Yeah, so again oh my God, it'ssoft too.

It's got the almond flour, the coconut flour,
unsweetened cocoa.

And it has a ridge .
It has a ridge like a realfudge brownie like an edge.

It's not all flat.

No, hold on.
Sorry, this is all for me.
Anyway.
You're not going to eat this,right, yeah, no, and then
Becky's not even tasting this.
Is it on my face?
No, okay, I think it is.
Anyway, let's try it.
Okay, hold on.
When my teeth just went ontothat, the mouth feel is amazing.

(43:29):
Hold on.

It's not dry.

No, it is, and I can say it is moist, it is, it's
not spongy, it's like a thickhold on oh my God.
Jodi, I'm so rude right now,but I don't even care.

(43:56):
I'm not saying this because ofyour hair.
I like it.
What was the first thing that Iwas having again?

Yeah, so that's the pecan coconut dark chocolate
.

The reason I'm smacking is because I'm looking
for an aftertaste.
There is none.
Or a cooling effect.
There is none, proportionately,the butter in this one as well,
I think that's where and that'swhat makes it really expensive,
because you've got to use realbutter right.
Did you use salted or unsaltedbutter?

I always use salted.

Okay, so then I just omit Salt.

Most recipes call for salt.
Yeah, so then I just omit that.
Oh my God.

I feel so bad like the only one eating.
Okay, Because Charlie, who'soffset right now?
She just had some earlier andshe had a whoopee pie, right.
Okay.
So that's the one was.
Okay.
Tell me what this one is.

That's the almond cookie.

Oh yes.

So that's the almond cream cheese cookie.
Okay.

I was going to.
I was going to be like, can wename it the almond press, the
Filipino style cookie?
I don't know.
Just okay, I want to try.
So one more time.
This is the almond with creamcheese.
Yes, stop it, just stop with it.
Okay, all right, it smellsamazing.
Sorry, I just I don't want todevour it and just be like oh,
the experience.

(45:13):
I wish I wasn't doing this oncamera so I could honestly enjoy
it.
But I think this is okay.
Here we go, oh, okay, shut Holdon Gosh Jodi.
Why does it taste granular?

(45:35):
Like you know, like there'sreal sugar in here.

That's probably the almond flour that you're
tasting.

I know, but it feels like a little bit.

It's not as smooth, as like regular flour.

Good, I feel like I'm I'm chewing on sugar, which
makes me scared, like, come on,there's gotta be sugar.
Okay, that's what I'm saying,cause you know most baked goods.
When you chew into it, you feelthe sugar and you're like, oh,
that's what I feel.

The almond flour has a little bit it's.
It's more coarse, I guess youcould say, than than regular
flour.
It's not as fine, so it has alittle bit more of a gritty.

This right here I'm trying to taste.
Is there vanilla in here?

too.
Vanilla and almond.

Okay, that's, that's what I do taste, oh my
gosh.
But when people bite into this,so part of enjoying a dessert,
okay, First of all, I don't wantpeople to be like beating me up
here.
These are treats.
These are not something I wouldbe having just like every day,
just a.

(46:39):
I don't eat dessert every day,neither did I desert every day.
These are treats for occasionsor things to to, to spoil
yourself with like listen, ohJay, that's not keto.
Neither is a pizza hut pizzathat you shoved in your mouth
two weeks ago.
So stop lecturing me, right?
So sorry, but anyway, about themouth feel.

(46:59):
So when I bite into it, I feelI've eaten most of this one.
The outside starts crisp, youknow, like it's really well put
together, and then the inside isreally like that.
One almost feels like a, like apowdery donut.

Oh yeah.

You know what I mean.
That's what's crazy to me.
All right, all right.
Here is my favorite.
Here's my favorite.
Look like I'm telling you justtouching this will be pie.

It's soft.
Yes, for those of you, it'smoist from the pumpkin?

Yes, yeah Is.
Oh, there's real pumpkin inhere, oh yeah.

She's like oh yeah, Would you think I flavored
it with pumpkin Extract.
Come on, Jake.

Let's go, let's go .
These are fighting words, don'tbe all.
Don't be bullying me on my show.
Here we go, okay, oh, you hearthat.

That's got maple cream cheese filling.

Stop it.

Is it better than the original?

Is that maple extract, then, or maple syrup?
How is?

what is that?
That's maple extract Extract.

Oh my God, which makes it even better.

Okay, look at that question is it better than
the original?

hold on.
Let me just, let me just enjoyit.
No, sorry folks, if you hearthis, chomp it.
I know it's not very polite,but I'm just get no cooling
effect.
The cream, the cream is very um, it's rich.

(48:45):
Do you know what I'm saying?
Like this would satisfy it.
Okay.
Big steak, big, maybe whateverbig steak after I this.
This would be.
Honestly, this is good enoughfor a week, and what I think I
need people to realize is mm-hmm.

(49:06):
What I need people to realizeis is it's an experience, and I
think all desserts are anexperience, right, or whatever
you want to call them.
This is not something to bedevoured in three bites.
Wait, I could, I could stretchthis out over 18 bites, like
it's that good?
Sorry, keep talking as you were.

(49:31):
No, I'm serious when I say this, though.
You are extremely talented andI think that's the most dessert
I've ever had in one sitting.
And and remember, this is keto.
It's or I should say there,this is not the keto lifestyle,
this is just a addition to theketo lifestyle.

(49:51):
Right, if you have to havesomething, this is it.
This is incredible.
Thank, this is the first timeanyone's ever tasted your key.

All right, your first one.
I.

Taste the real pumpkin.
Yeah, see, here's.
What's crazy is I've eaten halfthese desserts and I don't feel
any bloat.
Do you know what I mean?
Like, oh yeah, that's actuallya lot to consume in a 10 minute
period and I would never do that.
I'm doing that for todaybecause I really want to know,
and I hope there's enough forBecky, but I Will have pictures

(50:26):
of all this as well.
I want you to keep doing this,because there is a space of
people in the tribe that arelooking for alternatives.
People have told I would loveto enjoy her stuff, but I'm
diabetic.
I would love to enjoy her stuff, but I'm you know this, or I'm

(50:46):
this and I'm.
There's a lot of, but I thinkwhen you have this responsibly,
especially this, I Mean there'snothing processed here.
This is almond flour, butter,cream cheese Extract, like
almond extract, vanilla extract,coconut that's coconut, correct
?
Yes, yes, I mean, and that ischocolate stevia.

(51:10):
I believe the cons likewhipping cream.

Yeah, it's all.

Eggs yeah.
I mean, see, I can put theseingredients together in a bowl
too, and it wouldn't come offthe same, jodi.

But yeah, I wanted to kind of dabble in it
because I was Now that I'mtrying this keto on this keto
journey.
I Was looking in the store andI'm like, oh my gosh, this stuff
is a outrageous yes, the allprocess hundred percent process
and really doesn't satisfy thewant of like a dessert.

So this is authentic.
It's um.
Sorry, I know I'm putting itdown first.
I gotta put it down.
I Want you to actually Thinkabout doing this.
I mean, this is your minilaunch, but I want people to

(52:12):
think when they think Busybeebaking company.
I want them to know that you'relegit.
You're the real deal.
I don't care if it's an almondcookie that is keto or a
full-blown whoopie pie made withyour original recipe.
I Think you can serve manyaudiences and I think you're
gonna open yourself up to a newaudience, and I think this is

(52:33):
gonna make an impact one in yourbusiness, too is in our
community.
Excuse me, I just so good it's,it's in my teeth.
I want to say, though, just likeyou're baking, just like, just
like your talent and yourservice to our country I mean I
Want you to know like yourenergy is is incredible.

(52:57):
Your, your giving heart isincredible.
The way I Don't think anyonehas run across from you to run
across you in my circle and saysI Don't like her.
You know what I mean likeyou're just so even keeled,
you're quiet.
You don't like the frontspotlight, you're quiet.

(53:19):
You just you're all aboutaction, and this is something
that the community needs to getbehind this, especially in this
next upcoming Thanksgiving, andand you have made an impact in
in your prior years Just withthis business, as well as your
service to our community.

(53:40):
Is there anything that you wantpeople to know that we haven't
discussed today, like anythingthat you want to just share your
heart with and say, hey, IThink this or this is what I
mean Is there?
I know it's a hard question,but what do you want people to
think of?
How about this?
Let's make it easy.
What do you want them to thinkabout when they purchase, when

(54:03):
they spend money with you?

So, yeah, I just would want people to know that
again, I want it to be anexperience, not just a business
transaction, from the very firsttime, very Conscious about if
someone sends me a message andI'm not in the right space.
If I'm at a kid's practice orI'm Out outside of the house, I

(54:28):
usually don't respond tomessages, because I don't want
to forget that I need to respondback to them or that I need to
take down their order, and so Ijust have this practice where,
if I see a message come through,for that's business, I don't
respond to it until I get home.
Yes but, I am very timely in myresponse because I know People

(54:49):
appreciate that you know theydon't want to wait 24 48 hours.
But you're a mom too, I am anda wife and we've.
We've talked about that balance, yeah, and Prioritizing that
time, but when you're a businessowner, it's, it's not a nine to
five.

Can they call a big box store at 1040 at night
and talk about their ordertomorrow?

They can't know if, if that's the time where I
have a chance that plenty of mycustomers get Responses at 5 am
and I'm like I hope they areawake or their phones on vibrate
, yes, but that's the quiet timewhere the kids are still asleep
, the coffee is brewing and Ican respond to messages really
quickly and my calendar's rightthere.
So, yeah, I pride myself on onagain that experience and and I

(55:35):
usually if it's a new customer,I will Almost 99% of the time
follow up with a message of Iwant to know like did you love
the cake?
If not, give me the feedback,because yes that's the only way
I can get better.
I'm a complete custom baker, sothere are times where the cake
that I'm baking you it might bea Completely new, not a new

(55:57):
recipe.

Because it's custom.

Yes, because I may be taking a few different
things and putting them togetherto make that custom cake for
you, and so I want to know frommy clients I kind of feel like
I'm like the state motto ofNebraska Busy B is it's not for
everyone.

Oh my gosh, that is true, because if you were all
things to all people, you'd benothing to no one.
Oh, did I just make it up?
You know I did.
No, it's true, though it's.

I don't.
I don't want all the customersin Omaha.
It's impossible and be.
Everyone has different flavorpalette and I get that yes but
for the customers who love myproduct.
I want to be the very best forthose customers, because they
are loyal to me.
Therefore, I want to give themmy best.
And going back on one of theother things you said time,
talent, treasure, it's.

(56:49):
It's the season of giving.
It's the season where usuallypeople are in a good mood.
Yeah, it's a high stress season.
People are usually in a muchbetter mood.
Yeah, they're more willing togive.
So, like Jay said, you don'thave to make a difference by
writing a ten thousand dollarcheck.
Find a hope locker and put onething of deodorant in it.

(57:09):
Oh my gosh, that makes a bignext time you're at Costco, pick
up a ten pack of socks and dropit off to one of the donation
centers for project intentional.
Yes it can be something small.
You may find it trivial, butthere's those ten people that
receive those socks.
It is anything but trivial thiswinter.
So yeah, those are small thingsthat you can do if you don't

(57:32):
have the monetary means.
Find something to volunteer for.
Take an hour or two.
Again, it will fill your cup.

Well, with that being said, I want to say thank
you for tuning in, thank you forbeing on the show again, and if
you love busy be baking company, it's because you have good
taste, boom.

Intro Voice (58:05):
Connecting the dots , connecting his guests to the
world, creating more connections.
Welcome to the connection.
Meet your host.
Author, coach, air Forceveteran Jay Morales.

All Episodes

The Dough that Makes a Difference - Jodi Jefferson's Baking Impact

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Dough that Makes a Difference - Jodi Jefferson's Baking Impact