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Pause, Reflection, and Legacy in 2025 | Episode 112



As we close out 2025, I’m inviting you to pause with me. Before we dive into fresh goals and big plans for the new year, I want us to take a moment to reflect—not with pressure, not with perfection—but with intention.


Because what we’re building here isn’t just about bread. It’s about legacy.

Whether you’re elbows-deep in dough or sitting quietly for the first time in days, I’m so glad you’re here. This episode is a gentle nudge to step back, look at the bigger picture, and remember why this work matters.


What We’re Really Building

Sourdough microbakeries are changing how communities eat, shop, and gather.

We’re not just selling loaves. We’re asking people to:

  • Slow down their shopping habits

  • Choose food made with care by someone in their community

  • Feed their families something real


And that shift? It matters deeply. It creates a ripple effect that shapes food culture, one loaf at a time.


You’re teaching people to value nourishment, intention, and relationship. That’s legacy work—even if it doesn’t always feel like it in the day-to-day.


A Moment to Reflect

Before we step into 2026, I’m offering five questions for reflection. These are written in full on my website, and I encourage you to revisit them when you can sit with them.


For now, here’s a quick glimpse at the questions to guide your thoughts:

  1. What am I genuinely proud of this year?Not the flashy stuff—but the quiet consistency, the boundaries you held, the growth no one else saw.

  2. What took more from me than I expected?Was there a product, schedule, or sales channel that drained more than it gave?

  3. Where did I grow, even when it was uncomfortable?Think about the tough lessons. The ones that stretched you in ways numbers never could.

  4. What did this year teach me about what really matters?Strip away the trends and noise. What’s non-negotiable for you now?

  5. What’s one thing I want to carry forward—and one I’m ready to leave behind?It’s not about reinvention. It’s about intention. Just one step in each direction.


You Are Shaping a Food Culture That Matters

The impact of your work reaches far beyond your kitchen.

  • Your bread is on school lunch tables and holiday spreads.

  • It’s part of how families talk about food.

  • It teaches them to plan, to wait, to choose quality over convenience.

And whether you’re baking 6 loaves or 600, this work matters.


We’re part of something powerful—helping customers not only love sourdough but also connect to where their food comes from. They may show up for bread, but they stay for the eggs, the honey, the kale.


Sourdough is often the gateway.


A Different Kind of Vision for the Year Ahead

Let’s approach 2026 with fresh eyes. Before you write the goals and set the targets, ask:

  • What would it look like to build a bakery that supports your household—not just your customers?

  • How can you grow without sacrificing peace?

  • What if you were known in your community for consistency, care, and integrity?


This isn’t about scaling endlessly. It’s about growing with depth—depth of relationship, alignment, and sustainability.


An Invitation to Go Deeper

If you’re craving community, structure, and support in the new year, I’d love to invite you into the Bread Winner Inner Circle.


Enrollment is open from December 20 to January 13, and our first group call will be on January 20.


This is a six-month program designed for bakers who want to:

  • Build a profitable, sustainable business

  • Stop guessing and start making thoughtful decisions

  • Find encouragement and connection in a close-knit group


You don’t need all the answers. Just a willingness to show up and do the work.

If that sounds like what you need, there’s more information at the link in the show notes.


One Final Word

This work matters. You matter.


Thank you for the way you’ve shown up this year. Thank you for creating something meaningful in your kitchen and in your community. I hope this episode feels like a deep breath in a season that can feel rushed.


And I hope you’ll carry this reminder with you into the next year:You’re not just baking bread.You’re building a legacy.


Links to things you might like!






  • Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including the dough bins I mentioned, packaging, pans, and more in my Amazon Storefrom! www.carolinebower.com/amazon




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