We caught up with the brilliant and insightful William Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
William, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I was going to write some sad story about my resilience but in in all honesty, I am resilient because I am afraid of being my father and mother.
Growing up in the Boston Housing Projects, our poverty was shielded by my mother who while on welfare worked a sh*tty little job just so we could have a nice meal once a week. My dad who wasn’t with my mother was a functioning homeless man that drove a leased taxi by day and slept in it at night. He shielded me from that truth with nice sneakers and spending money, but as I got older I saw him for what he was, a man struggling to make it from day to day.
Fear or that has kept me pushing through loan denials, bankruptcy, pandemic, inflation and employee theft to name a few obstacles in the past 12 years.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
The Blaxican is a fusion food food truck and catering company. We blend Mexican and SoulFood cuisine to form MexSoul Food.
I believe that food is like music, they allow us an opportunity to experience and culture thus uniting us as humans.
Historically Mexico was the first country in the western hemisphere to abolish slavery. Today there are 2.5 millions Afro-Mexicans in Mexico. My food is a representation of that untold story.
I only hope my ancestors are please with what I have done.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My creative, marketing, and process development gifts have been my strengths over the past 12 years.. I say gifts and not skills because I have a natural ability in these areas. However the financial management, people management, and crisis management skills that I have had to learn have been the most needed and the most challenging.
I would advise anyone who is starting a business,Instead of focusing on what you do good, shift your attention to your areas of weakness.
.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
They say it takes a village to raise a child and a new business is like a child that has birth out of your vision.
My then girlfriend, was my first taste tester, when I lost my kitchen space she became my commercial real estate agent and helped me find my first restaurant. Then my finance (same person) pointed out that my management style was doing more harm then help and my first 1 year-long employee was achieved. These days my wife (still same person) has helped me see that my little baby business is all grown up and that I need to ease back and enjoy all the hard work I have done and let the baby go.
Maria, is my one person village, I advise you to find you someone or some people that will tell you that you stink to your face and love you when you need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: blaxicanfood.com
- Instagram: Blaxicanfood
- Facebook: Braxicanfoodtruck
- Twitter: Blaxicanfood
- Yelp: The Blaxican Food Truck and Catering
Image Credits
All Photos provided by Will Turner
