As a single mom about to start my own business, I didn’t wake up one day and decide I wanted to be the head of a very successful company. But my passion for bread making and a family recipe for homemade yeast rolls turned it into just that.

Each step from my kitchen table to the boardroom at Sister Schubert’s helped to prepare me for that next step to success. I put careful thought into how each decision I made would affect my business, my family and me.

Here is what I learned along the way:

1: Find the courage to follow your dreams.

Many times, our greatest achievements happen when we feel we’re at the lowest point. I always had a passion for baking and cooking, but never took the initial step to make it more than a hobby. I finally decided I wasn’t going to waste another minute. Once I had a plan and a support system, the possibilities were bountiful.

2: Make quality time for your family while juggling a successful business.

I often say the next step is the hardest one! When I was starting out, I involved my family as much as I could. Many of my trusted friends and family members (even the littlest ones) were employees. Their enthusiasm and energy kept me motivated and ultimately led to my company’s success. As business got bigger and better, I made sure to always set aside time for family. Once you get too caught up in meetings and negotiations it’s too late to get back the missed memories.

3: Overcome obstacles and learn from your mistakes.

Starting a business takes time and dedication. We all make mistakes. Business blunders are bumps in the entrepreneur’s path to success, but what happens when your business gets in the way of dinnertime or the championship soccer game? I have learned to trust more and let go of the reins. I trust my staff to make good business decisions on my behalf, which frees up my time to spend with my husband and children.

4: Stay true to your family and your values.

I have learned that those who you love (and those who love you) are your toughest critics and your biggest fans. Listen to them.

Bio: Patricia Barnes (pictured above with her daughter and grandchildren) is the founder and vice president, product development and manufacturing, for Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls, a subsidiary of Lancaster Colony’s T. Marzetti Co. specialty foods division. She founded Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls as a home-based business using her grandmother’s heirloom roll recipe. She is the author of Sister Schubert’s Secret Bread Recipes and the recently released Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters, which combines recipes wit the story of her success. Barnes resides in Andalusia, Alabama, with husband George. The couple has five children ranging from tweenage to adulthood and six grandchildren. For more information, visit sisterschuberts.com.