Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Markita Adair-Crudup. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Markita, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
It’s still under construction (lol) but I have come so far from where I once was. I’m fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family who see me in a way that, sometimes, it’s hard for me to comprehend. So, I decided that I want to be the person that they know I can be. Everyday I recite affirmations. Whenever negative thoughts try to creep in now, instead of entertaining them, I replace them with positive and motivating speech. I look myself and the mirror and let Kita know that she is awesome and amazing and capable and enough.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a private chef. About 90 percent of what I do is based in other people’s homes. We do private parties and small events in the clients home or venue. If it’s in-home the meal is cooked right in their kitchen. They are served and waited on. We take care of clean-up and anything else that’s needed. The full restaurant experience except there’s no wait time and you can listen to whatever music you want. It’s exciting because I have gotten to celebrate with people on some really important and special occasions. One of my favorites of this year has been a small wedding at the home of the grooms parents. A total of 8 people were there. It was such a joyous evening and honestly I was honored to have been a part of it. Aside from what I do, I’m also working on my very first cookbook. I recently finished all of the writing parts and soon we’ll be doing the photography and marketing. I’m super excited about it! It’s kind of a tribute to my late grandmother who was a truly remarkable woman in and out of the kitchen.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A willingness to learn and keep learning. Although I have been working as a chef professionally for nearly 16 years, I always want to know more. I read cookbooks and food editorials. I practice and write down ideas. I have so many notebooks it’s crazy. But I always want to learn about different techniques or new gadgets and food from other cultures. Never stop learning! Another skill is being able to adapt to changes quickly. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of your control. You’ve got to be able to not freak out but come up with a Plan B. Lastly, I would say listening. It’s so underrated lol. Listen to what your client wants and needs. It’s not about me. Listen to comprehend, not respond. Ask questions when needed.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
There are times that I feel a bit overwhelmed, like most people. These moments are when I have to take a step back and breathe. When I have a lot of work obligations on top on family schedules it can be easy to get flustered. What helps me is shifting my perspective from “I HAVE to do a, b, c” to “I GET to do a, b, c”. I used to pray for a full inbox and calls and new clients and have a family that was happy and loving. I have both! I can’t help but to be grateful. So the first step I take in managing stress is to step away for a couple hours or a day and relax. Step two is to practice gratitude for the beautiful chaos because it’s only temporary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fromkitaskitchen.com
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100077911981785
