Recipe For Success
Cheesecake maven gives destitute women a second chance.
By all accounts, Twainland Cheesecake Co. is no ordinary eatery.
Consider the owner,?2-year-old Lynn Carr, who went from
homelessness to entrepreneurial success. Even her
employees break the mold--most are high school dropouts
and welfare moms. But perhaps what sets her business apart most is
an enduring commitment to the impoverished women of her Hannibal,
Missouri, community.
"Cheesecake is just a product; what we're really in is
the people-growing business," says Carr, who employs 10 women
and has helped three others learn and move on to other jobs.
They bake--sometimes as many as 200 cheesecakes per week, in any
one of the 116 varieties Carr has perfected. And it's obvious
there's more to Twainland than just desserts; think more along
the lines of persistent encouragement. In the back kitchen,
TV monitors blare inspirational messages from such
motivational speakers as Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar. And
as part of an employment agreement, two of her workers dedicate
part of each day to studying for their GEDs--and get paid for
it, too.
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Carr's goal is a targeted one: to help as many women as
possible leave welfare behind. "The welfare system is just
like a child and [his or her] security blanket," she says.
"You take that blanket away, and there's going to be a lot
of anxiety." Although it's no piece of cake, Carr teaches
her employees to cope with their fears and learn financial
independence--all the while building a successful business.
Next on Carr's agenda? Several things: to be the number-one
cheesecake company in the nation, employ at least 50 destitute
women, offer on-site day care, and establish a learning center.
Looks like she could just take the cake.
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