Every year, I like to hit the reset button on Jae Sweets. Planning isn’t just about making lists or setting goals — it’s about creating a system that actually works for me, my life, and the kind of cakes and classes I want to create. After the past few years of moving, rebranding, and trying to do everything myself, I’ve learned that planning realistically can make all the difference.
This yes I created an annual map broken down by quarter— basically a giant poster board in my workspace where I map out everything I want to accomplish over the next year month by month. This includes big goals, events, classes, and special projects. Seeing it all visually helps me stay focused and know exactly what I need to tackle each month. For a business like Jae Sweets, balancing custom orders, classes, and events, it'll keep me on track.
My daily check in lives in my Happy Planner. I planned out all my content for the quarter — social media posts, emails, blog posts, and promotions — so I can batch-create. and stay consistent. My hope is that I can batch create content so that when life picks up unexpectedly, i'm not thrown off from my plans. It makes me happy that I can look at a week and immediately see what’s coming, which helps me avoid last-minute stress. I promise I don't need any more of that on my plate!
Big projects need a roadmap too. Whether it’s prepping for a class, designing new toppers, or getting ready for a pop-up event, I break each project down into steps with timelines and milestones. For example, with my Galentine’s Cake & Sip class, I map out everything from prep work to teaching materials to setup. This way, nothing gets forgotten, and I can focus on curating the experience, stress-free.
Now — my cake space. I'm almost done a full inventory refresh, checking tools, toppers, ingredients, and supplies. Everything gets organized so I know what’s on hand and what I need to restock. A clean, well-organized workspace isn’t just nicer to look at — it makes my work faster, smoother, and less stressful, which is key when you’re juggling orders, classes, and content.
I'm also refreshing my digital vision board across all my devices — desktop, ipad, and both of my phones. It’s where I keep business and personal goals, affirmations, new year shifts, travel desire and personal life impactful reminders. Having this digital vision board to reference consciously and unconsciously, it keeps my goals on the forefront daily. When my roadmap, content calendar, project plans, inventory, and vision board are all aligned, I can really step into my work with clarity and confidence. I feel real accomplished when i get this stuff all updated! This year we are unloading the clip! My plans are going to make it out the group chat, pinky promise.
The goal isn’t to do more for the sake of doing more. It’s to create a system that supports my life and my business. By planning intentionally, I can show up consistently and take on opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.
This process sets me up for a strong start to the year and helps me stay grounded while I grow. If you’re a small business owner, especially in a creative space like baking or cake decorating, I promise — taking the time to plan like this is worth it.
Here’s to a year of intentional planning, smooth workflows, and creating boldly.
Just to put it out there, message me if you want any tips !
— Christine, Jae Sweets