Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dale Cox, Owner of Beakers & Bricks, LLC., located in Asheboro, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Beakers & Bricks produces and publishes print and self-paced online food science and physics courses for the homeschool community and self-paced online food science courses designed to help improve cooking skills for Curious Cooks.
Tell us about yourself
I have worked as a professional food scientist (B.S., M.S. Food Science) for 23 years for companies like Kellogg's, General Mills, Kraft Foods, and Nabisco, developing and troubleshooting many recognizable brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, Cheez-Its, and Gorton's Seafood products. I love food science, which explains everything you see happening in the kitchen.
Some quick examples: why egg whites turn white, why beef turns gray, how cakes and bread rise, how fermented foods work, and why broccoli changes from bright green to olive green and turns soft and mushy if overcooked.
I have recognized how learning some basic food science principles can greatly improve the success rate and confidence in the kitchen and have created online courses that help do just that. I love it and enjoy the feedback I get from my customers. Food science is also a great career path that many young people have never heard of, much less considered. Through my homeschool courses, I have inspired many to pursue that path in college, which I find gratifying.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping students, whether young and looking for a path or older and trying to improve their daily lives, find success, happiness, and the courage to innovate in the kitchen.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
While I am a good scientist and make good courses, I am not a good marketer. I struggle to get the word out to find additional customers.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Bring lots of capital, fail quickly so you don't run out of that capital, and find mentors who can help you avoid common mistakes. I didn't do any of those, and it has sometimes been a struggle.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://edible-knowledge.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordalewcox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowledgeyoucaneat/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edibleknowldge
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-cox-edible-knowledge/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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