I am a baker–have been since I was a little girl (that’s me with my Easy-Bake Oven and mixer).

My birthday is tomorrow–Oct. 28–and it’s safe to say that I’ve been around the block a bit and
know my chocolate cakes. THIS is the best…(unless you’re the flourless cake type, which I’m not.)

So, as a birthday gift to YOU, I’m sharing my recipe. My daughter will be making this for me later
today. (Though I may have to step in with the peanut butter frosting. It can be tricky.) I am
including a marshmallow-like frosting, too, for those of you who can’t do peanut butter. Enjoy!

Lizabeth’s
Signature Chocolate Cake Recipe

1-1/2 sticks butter

1-1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs (at room temperature)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

¾ cup European Style Cocoa

1/8 -1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (secret ingredient)

1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda

½ tsp salt

1-1/3 cups water

1/4-1/2 cup of mini semi-sweet chocolate pieces (or shavings)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8- or 9-inch round baking pans. In large mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with water—beginning with dry ingredients and ending with dry ingredients. Pour in the chocolate chips/shaving and pour batter into pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes for 8-inch rounds, 30 to 35 for 9-inch rounds. Be sure that wooden or metal tester comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn over onto baking racks. Cool completely. 8-10 servings.

Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting (mmm-mmm gooooood!)

1 cup of milk

3 tablespoons flour

½ cup creamy peanut butter

½ cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

In small saucepan, gradually stir milk into flour. (Be sure you pour small amounts of milk in or the flour will coagulate.) Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until very thick. Transfer to small bowl; place plastic wrap directly on surface. Cool to room temperature. Add peanut butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat on high until mixture becomes fluffy and sugar is completely dissolved. About 3 cups frosting.

7-Minute Frosting (marshmallow-y)

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 egg whites
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

All of us are bombarded with “buy this!” messages, and as
business owners, I think we can sometimes drown in the
self-doubt these messages activate. “I should be doing that?!
I didn’t know that!” Furthermore, “inspired entrepreneurs”
—those wanting to change the world—can easily drown in
the constant quest to do it “right” because they feel a bit out
of sorts in the business arena, and so grab at countless promises,
praying they’ll be a life-line.

In other words, there’s a lot of fear that passes through the
hearts of coaches, wellness practitioners, authors and
speakers when it comes to business. And fear, as we know,
is entirely corrosive. It eats the healthy parts of us and all
too often kills our businesses all together.

Today, I’d like to make a suggestion: Get your heart on
straight. Take your head, in fact, and set it aside for a while
as you re-acquaint yourself with the meaning of your life.
Your mission. Your mission. You. You have one. One that
is independent of your business. Ask yourself, “What am I
here for? What am I very clear I am not here for? What is my
highest purpose on this earth?”

And put it on paper.

And ask yourself, “Am I living this?”

If you’re not, it is absolutely time to get your heart on straight.

Then, step your thoughts back into your business. What is its
highest purpose on earth? What is it to accomplish that will
move humanity forward? At the very pinnacle of its success,
what will it have achieved…that is important to our evolution?

Be called by something bigger than yourself and the marketing
messages you receive constantly will fall into two categories:
those that do not match your personal and business missions,
and those that do. This will be clear to you and you will be
far better equipped to say no to the wrong ones and yes to the
right. The fear and self-doubt these messages can invoke will also
fade as purpose–far greater than your little self and your little
business (not to be condescending, but just factual)–fills your
heart and transcends the minutiae of daily marketing messages.

Something must both anchor and emancipate you as you move
through the busy-ness of your business. Otherwise, you will be
swallowed up by the latest fads, trends and concepts—in the hope
that one will be your savior.

Your “savior” is connecting back to what you are here for. And
then ensuring that every action you take aligns with that–including
the business you offer and the way you offer it.

So, get back to the basics and get your heart on straight. Putting your
personal mission and your business mission into words—and then
sharing it with others—will ground you when you get unfocused,
and free you when you get tangled in fear and self-doubt. You are
here for a reason. When you do business from that realization,
nothing will stop you, and you will pull to you the right and perfect
guidance.

This is the first “Strategic Inquiry” we address in my upcoming 12
Sentences Business Creation & Articulation Course. More on that
soon.