Sophie Baldwin

It's All About Me!!!

When you are so successful you only need to use one name, clearly you are doing something right.

Sophie, the woman behind Sophie's Café, a Christchurch institution for the past 15 years, has also spawned numerous spin-offs, all equally successful in their own right. She is now keen to give something back to the industry she has been dedicated to since the tender age of 10. From kitchen hand to dishwasher, waitress, chief cook, to face and front person of the iconic Hamburger Heaven in Auckland and Sophie's Café and it's alternative versions across Christchurch.

With the brutally honest tag line “I won't bullshit you” this is a sharp-shooting, straight-talking businesswoman who has been there, done that.

Some could argue there is a lot of ego going on here but Sophie is first to admit that she is all about ME and ego is a powerful tool.

Sophie offers motivation, staff training, marketing, industry knowledge and works through a system to ascertain the ‘where’s, ‘how’s and ‘why’s of making your business work.

In a world where corporate-created characters are the way to the hearts of the masses, this woman is refreshingly real and honest in a ‘what you see is what you get’ way. Yes, Sophie is a real person and yes, those photos are real.

Food that is not bothered by trends or low fat, no taste, health freak fads, is what she does best, and dancing to her own drummer is the way to make a living out of something you love.

I sat down with Sophie and discussed the future of her mentoring program and what she hopes to achieve.

Sophie's main motivation comes from witnessing so many businesses going through hard times, and an innate knowledge of the simple things they could do to save themselves from heartache as much as financial strain, the realization of so many vital parts to making a business work, and how they must all interlock in order to succeed.

In a broad overview, Sophie has for many years dispensed helpful knowledge to people. This takes that kindness to a professional level without losing any of her trademark FUN!

Passion and laughter make a great combination, but when this is teamed up with the powerful knowledge of understanding all aspects of what you do, you are armed with the keys to success.

Interpersonal communication, working with different personality types, setting guidelines and expectations, these are part of the big picture. Then there are the reality checks of overheads, taxes and possibly the hardest thing to get people to grasp, SACRIFICE. Even if it's all about YOU, there is now the additional baggage of a very demanding working life.

Sophie makes her own story relevant to people seeking mentoring by sharing what she has learned along the way, and whatever type of business you are in, her techniques can be applied.

From marketing to sourcing resources, proof of tangible results through written action plans, with ‘a do unto others as you would have done to you' philosophy, and the desire to meet your customers wants and needs, Sophie can help you whether you are already in operation or are working through the motions of starting up.

A plan to succeed and the right tools to do it are all that stands to hold back a dream, accept what you are great at and find help where you need it.

The future holds many challenges but the Sophie model seems to be 'do it well and keep it real'. I want in on the book and a bit part in the movie of all this, and if it’s true Oprah is standing down look out WORLD, the new Queen of Daytime TV could be our very own Sophie.

Make your own luck, check out the website

Tucker XL

PRESTO 101 MAGAZINE, July 2010