Are you afraid of being judged for the way you live your life?

I’ve got good news for you: The “what’s your plan’s?” or “get it together’s” wear off eventually. They get old. You stop hearing them…and when that day finally comes, you’ll officially be able to begin your life. YOUR life. The one you kinda sorta knew you wanted to have but got too bogged down by the opinions of others to actually pursue. So you let it sit to percolate in the back of your mind. Every once in a while thoughts resurface again only to be drowned by your doubts.

Listen, I’m not here to give you the hoorah speech that’s ultimately going to get you off your ass and stop making excuses. If i’ve learned anything on my journey, it’s that I don’t have that power, nor wizardry of “word craft” to convince someone to do something or believe in something I believe in. Life has us all on our own journeys, being experienced only through the eyes of the individual. We all get served lessons from life differently, at different times, and we conceptualize our learned experiences differently. I think wether this venture you’ve been dreaming up works out in the end or not, living with the failure and taking the lessons along the way is far more valuable than living with the regret of not knowing….

BUT I DIGRESS

I’m actually here to talk to the people that finally did build up the courage to make a pivot in their life and change direction. First of all, Congratulations. The leap you took is terrifying. Being a company that is still a very small start-up, and i hate to tell you this, but it’s STILL terrifying at times. There are absolutely moments of self doubt, doubts of self worth, and complete lapses in confidence. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely and it’s not just a “career path”. Being an entrepreneur is also a lifestyle choice. But life is all about balance and with the lack of security being an entrepreneur brings also comes an immense amount of freedom. That freedom is a gift, of course, but it’s also a responsibility. So, you’re a little shell shocked after the first few months. I GET IT! Let me tell ya, I was too. Stumble through this at the beginning. Allow yourself the grace of failing and making mistakes. Write down all the things you're experiencing and learn from them. Be Transparent when you fail and admit it. When you admit it to yourself, its freeing and when you admit it to a customer, although the initial ROI might not look good, that moment will make a lasting impression on them and they’ll be more willing to accept the mistake, forgive, and proceed to give you their business.

Just Don’t Stop.

No matter what you’re going through with your business, in your personal life, navigating COVID - it’s important to have a steady hand on your back nudging you to keep pushing forward, even when you’re too tired. Preserve. Keep climbing that mountain and developing your self awareness along the way. Identify the things that help motivate and drive you forward and let yourself take it in. After all, you didn’t chose this path for the destination, you chose it because you love the process. Keep Grinding. Keep Hustling. You’re building muscles that you’ll one day be able to proudly flex…..after your winding journey down perseverance street.

Never Give Up! Failure and rejections are only the first steps to succeeding. [Everyday] ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.” -Jimmy Valvano

Keep spreading love, good people!

Best,

Chef Jake

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