Ms. Lezlie Walton shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lezlie, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Hey there!! Thank you so much. Without a doubt it’s ENERGY! I feel energy is more important because, I am a very intelligent woman that was raised by intelligent men and women whom all have the highest levels of integrity you’ve ever seen! Just ask anyone about a Walton or a Calloway and they’ll tell you the same. This makes me very proud.
If you already carry the intelligence and integrity trait then you must bring the energy to keep these traits intact. Without energy nothing can be accomplished. Without energy the world would be a very dark and gloomy place and if you don’t increase your own energy your life will be just as dark and gloomy.
I am very honored to say this is a compliment that I receive in abundance. Everywhere I go all I hear is “You have great energy, please share your energy with me, give me some of what you’re taking, or your energy is contagious! This makes me feel elated and purposeful as well as healthy mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Being able to raise another human’s energy effortlessly is a gift from God that I treasure.
Also, hitting the gym every day is a huge component of the physical energy in my life and with a business like being the cookie lady, you’re going to need it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello my Loves! My name is Lezlie Walton, born and raised in Belleville Michigan in the Detroit metro area. I am blessed to have a career making people happy by providing them with homemade delicious, rustic, classic cookies that will take you back to being a kid in granny’s kitchen.
My cookie business is Touch of Love Cookies LLC. This is my one and only baby, and I love her so much!
I would say what sets us apart and what makes these cookies so special is that it is a cookie…. just a classic ridiculously delicious old school cookie. Yes, I’ve just came out with cheesecake cookies monthly and some cookies are fancier than others and I have some other things coming out soon but my main mission and the majority of what I sell is the classic cookie. If you want a delicious Americas favorite, chocolate chip cookie than you need a Touch of love cookie in your life…… an oatmeal raisin cookie, snickerdoodle, peanut butter? Then I’m your girl and Touch of Love cookies is your new favorite cookie spot! It’s also different because I stay true to my recipe. I have been working on this cookie dough since I was 14 years old and I tried to offer gluten free, sugar free and things along those lines, but it made me so sad to make those cookies because I feel it’s disrespectful to the cookie, LOL!! I believe a cookie should have all the flavor, salt, flour, REAL butter, sugar fat and all the things that makes it feel and taste so good. It’s not to be unhealthy, it’s just that, I think eating real food and showing discipline on how you eat them is the way to go. It’s a treat and I for one would love to enjoy it with all its goodness in moderation, which is why I tell my cookie monsters to “Eat responsibly.” I just can’t abandon my recipe to make something that can be found at any other local bakery or store because if it’s not my recipe than it is just another cookie. I can appreciate the fact that some people need these types of foods in their diets, and I will gladly refer them to another wonderful baker that is passionate in making those dietary adjustments for them. I used to feel guilty about this, however, I do not carry those feelings anymore because you will learn in life and business that you cannot be all things for all people and when you stick to your own special craft and run your business the way you want to, its truly freeing.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Wow! Great question!
Exhausting myself when I know I need a time out.
I have learned so much about myself over the years. Some good stuff, some not so great. I love personal development and the human psyche. Being an entrepreneur is an exhausting job, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, however, once you get in the self-employed/entrepreneur side of things you may want to change somethings about yourself. My days are wild, crazy, impromptu, heavily scheduled and disciplined at the same time. I see and speak to hundreds of people on a weekly basis, social media for personal and business can be exhausting, taking care of elderly family and always being available for anyone at any time is a badge I wear proudly. Being the person with all that energy that I spoke of earlier is a huge responsibility as well as a gift. I do multiple vendor shows, farmer markets, weekend events, online work, working from home, working from commercial kitchen, being there for family and friends, strangers, potential customers, existing customers…. etc. etc….
These are all blessing that I truly love and appreciate, and I don’t want anyone to think otherwise. As I’ve done some soul searching, I always wondered why I felt like I needed to pull away at times, it felt weird and mean. Turns out it’s not mean at all.
I simply go off the grid in my personal life with no calls, texts, social gatherings, I break from personal social media, notifications and more. This is something that literally slows up time in the best way. It gives me space to move without any conversation about it, I’m able to schedule my workdays with no regard of what anyone else needs or wants, it’s 30 days off from being on and available, it’s 30 days of quiet, praying, extra-long hot bubble baths, harder workouts. self-improvement, tackling projects, cleaning and thinning out items in your home, I even did 24 hours of complete silence on one shut-down. It’s a time for giving yourself back all the love you give out. It’s not about taking love from the ones you love and who love you, it’s simply about giving yourself a little extra love, alone, quiet and worry free of letting anyone down. Yes, it’s ghosting but this ghosting comes with a heads up that I’m ok, I love you, I’ll see you in 30 days. It’s honestly been one of the best feelings I have ever experienced.
This has relieved me from feeling stressed and burned out and allows me to go and burn as much energy as I like because I know I have a 30-day downtime coming up and when I come back, I can be the best of myself for my loved ones. You have to adjust with life so it may not always be every quarter due to obligations, but the moral of the story is to find a way and a designated time to care for yourself with no permission or guilt. Thank me later.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I think we all experience those types of feelings.
But No. We don’t give up, we pivot. I have hard days when I’m in tears, tired and sad. I have days when I can hardly wait to get up and do my craft! Feelings change to fast to rely on them. When things get tough, I choose to way my options, see what’s in front of me, ask myself where these feelings are coming from, take a day off and think. Yes, there will be times to change your career for the betterment of yourself but even then, I don’t consider that giving up, I call this changing up, I call this being bold and strong enough to do something different no matter what anyone thinks or says. I say have a million different careers and jobs and dreams but always roll one over into the next and it makes you feel so much stronger.
It’s not giving up its living the life you feel like living at this moment.
I may not have a cookie business forever or even next year. I plan on it, but plans change in this world so when the world moves, I move too. If it ever feels too heavy or unnecessary to do what I’m doing, I may switch it up…. But never giving up.
When you make a decision about your own life that others may see as giving up, I see it as courageous to not stay stuck.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. What you see is what you get with Lezlie.
I believe in making a great impression on the first, second and third time you meet me. However when I say “impression,” I simply mean being my true authentic self because I know I rock and I’m a great person that truly loves for no reason just the same as some hate for no reason, so If I don’t make a great impression on you that just means we are not in alignment and I am ok with that but I will not put on any fake persona to please anyone. Professional, kind and respectful of any environment that I’m in, yes, of course…. but within those guidelines you will get Lezlie and just Lezlie because that’s all I know how to be. I love people and I’m around them all day long. It would be very hard for me to change up and be different for everyone I’m around and I don’t think anyone should. God made us the way we are supposed to be and I’ve learned to let all my geeky, weirdo, little cray cray self be just as goofy, loving, sensitive, silly, nerdy, fast paced, and unfiltered for all to see, and those whom I annoy are not for me and I would like to have that kind of information immediately. I am a very corny joke, see the bright side, glass half full type of lady and believe it or not that can actually irritate some people’s entire soul, LOL and I love it!!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I actually have started to learn about the stock market at this ripe age of 48! I have always been intrigued by the stock market but never really thought it was something lil old me could do. That was a false belief. I love all the ins and outs, fast pace, heart beating, mad one day, happy the next crazy emotions you get from the stock market. Even though I’d go with safer stocks, just learning how to invest for yourself at your own pace and watch compound interest do its job is amazing to me. I’ve been blessed with great teachers and mentors to teach the knowledge I need, and I look forward to seeing what happens in 7, 10, 20+ years from now.
Image Credits
1st pic-Inspire Marketplace is one of the stores Touch of Love cookies are in located in Briarwood mall in Ann Arbor Mi, Twelve Oaks mall in Novi Mi, and Partridge creek mall in Clinton township and by the time you read this interview, if you’re in the Grand Rapid Michigan area COME ON OUT AND VISIT OUR BRAND NEW LOCATION LOCATED IN RIVERSIDE MALL!!!! SEE YA THERE!
2nd pic-Laya Walton is my niece and one of my cookie clerks that works the cookie table at events.
3rd pic- Tera Williams is my lead cookie clerk and works the cookie table at events.
4th pic- Lezlie Walton/Owner working the cookie table at a market.
5th pic- logo
6th pic- Twisted Willow, a store Touch of Love Cookies are in located in Belleville Mi.
7th pic- Stocking a box of cookies going to the stores.
8th pic- Mi unique arts store, a store Touch of Love cookies are in located in the Kennsington Valley Outlet mall located in Howell Mi.
