We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda van der Gulik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The inception of my business, Clever Dough, was a journey sparked by dual passions that evolved over time. Initially, my focus was on empowering parents to nurture financially savvy kids and teens. As a young mom with a background in tutoring, I discovered the profound impact of storytelling and personal experience in teaching. This led me to develop a comprehensive course in financial literacy, combining foundational trainings, activities, workshops, and engaging stories and cartoons. My work in this field gained recognition, with features on platforms like Radio Disney, Costco Connections, and various parenting summits worldwide. Parallel to this, I was also fueling a creative passion for cake decorating. When I was a child, I watched my other decorate cakes as a home business. I found joy in baking and decorating cakes for friends and family but had seen how much work it was to decorate a cake and how little my mother earned from it. Because of my love of creating passive recurring income, I knew there was a way to do the work once and continue getting paid for it repeatedly by capturing these cake baking and decorating moments in eBooks and video tutorials on YouTube. These experiences blossomed into eBooks that I sold and videos on my YouTube channel where I earned ad revenue, inspiring other cake decorators with my fun and imaginative ideas.
The cornerstone of both ventures was the concept of creating once and earning passively and recurrently. Whether through sales of my products, royalties from my books on Amazon, ad revenue from YouTube, or affiliate commissions, the goal was consistent income generation with minimal ongoing effort.
Clever Dough emerged as a fitting name, encompassing both aspects of my business – teaching children to be ‘clever’ with money (‘dough’) and guiding cake decorators in their craft with fondant ‘dough’.
However, in 2016, my life took a dramatic turn. I was struck by a severe case of double lung pneumonia, leading to a medically induced coma, ARDS, and a lengthy battle for recovery. This period of intense struggle not only tested my physical and emotional resilience but also highlighted the power of the business model I had built. Despite being incapacitated, my businesses continued to generate income. This realization became a turning point, reinforcing my commitment to helping others achieve similar security through online business.
The experience reshaped Clever Dough, reinforcing its mission. Now, in addition to Clever Dough Kids and Clever Dough Cakes, the focus expanded to guiding entrepreneurs to transform their passions into a source of passive, recurring income. This new direction wasn’t just a business choice; it was a response to life’s unpredictability and a testament to the resilience and potential of the human spirit. My journey is a living example that with determination, creativity, and strategic planning, one can overcome challenges and build a legacy.

 

What should our readers know about your business?
Absolutely, let me share a bit about my business, Clever Dough. It’s a unique place where I help folks like you create something really special – an evergreen system. Now, when I say ‘evergreen’, I mean setting up a system just once, and then it keeps bringing in revenue, month after month, all on its own. It’s like planting a tree that keeps bearing fruit, without you having to plant new seeds every time. What sets Clever Dough apart is this focus on making things last. I’m all about showing you how to build a foundation that keeps working for you, long after you’ve set it up. It’s not just about short-term wins; it’s about creating a long-lasting impact. I’m really proud of how this approach helps people. It’s like giving you a recipe that keeps on cooking up success, even when you’re not in the kitchen.
I’ve walked this path myself, and I won’t lie, it had its rough spots. When I got seriously ill, my business didn’t just stop. It kept going, thanks to the evergreen systems I had put in place. That experience was a big eye-opener for me. It taught me resilience and the power of having a system that works even when you can’t.
The journey taught me something vital – simplicity is key. You don’t need a complicated plan to succeed. What you need is a straightforward, easy-to-follow path. Think of it like building with blocks. Each piece is simple, but when you put them all together, you get something amazing.
I want everyone to know that Clever Dough isn’t just a business; it’s a helping hand. It’s about building something that lasts, something that keeps giving back to you. I’m here to guide you through creating a system that works tirelessly, so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, over and over again. That’s the heart of Clever Dough – helping you build your evergreen success story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
On the day they arrived, I would take them for a nice long walk down our back lane to see the deer, coyote, turkey, and black bear prints in the mud at the edge of the farmer’s field. After that we would enjoy sitting out in the sun with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea and some homemade cookies. Later in the evening we would have a BBQ and hangout by a bonfire, roasting marshmallows. The next day, I would take them into town to enjoy our beautiful downtown, strolling in and out of the quaint shops and maybe stopping at one for lunch. After that I would take them to some of our local walking trails and up to the lookout to see the whole area.
The next day, we would head up to the beach for a nice picnic by the water and just enjoy the sun and read or play some games, like frisbee.
The next day I would take them to see some of the local tourist spots, like our museums, with a dinner at one of the family diners.
The last day we would just relax at our place and enjoy our last moments together before they head off again.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Robert Kiyosaki fueled my passion for building passive recurring income for a secure and wealthy future.

Website: https://cleverdough.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleverdoughlady

Youtube: https://youtube.com/amandavandergulik

Other: Blog: https://blog.amandavandergulik.com/

Image Credits
not applicable. They are all my own photos.

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