Meet Lura Caillouet

We recently connected with Lura Caillouet and have shared our conversation below.

Lura, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I love this question because I think a lot people deal with imposter syndrome, but it isn’t widely talked about. I remember when I first Iaunched Opulent Olive and I felt this giant rush of excitement that quickly turned into a giant rush of “who do I think I am,” and it was almost debilitating. These feelings of “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t know what I’m doing,” and “no one will buy into this” were overwhelming to say the least.

When I sent my first grazing table invoice, I explicitly remember thinking “who do I think I am to be asking for this amount of money from someone,” followed by thinking they were going to cancel the order. They didn’t – they paid for it, and didn’t question anything. That was the moment I knew I could do this.

I’d like to think in every entrepreneur’s life there comes a moment where you have to decide you are good enough and you have to have the confidence to know your worth. You have to be willing to fight the fight within yourself and listen to the part that says “I can do this,” rather than the part that says, “I can’t.”

There will always be a level of self-doubt, naysayers, and challenges to overcome. Focusing on self-affirmations, support from my community, and positive intent continues to lift me up while drowning out the imposter syndrome.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Perhaps it’s the imposter syndrome sneaking in, but I’ve never felt like my story was one worth sharing, so this opportunity is so surreal, and I greatly appreciate the chance to tell it.

I started Opulent Olive two years ago at one of the lowest points in my life – I had recently lost my job, I was going through a major health scare, and my personal life was taking hits left and right. I had thought about starting a charcuterie board business since I got back from France in 2019, but it always seemed too farfetched and the barriers to entry felt too high. At some point, I made the decision in my head to go for it, and when I mentioned it to my inner circle I immediately thought “oh shoot, now I have to do it.”

Two years later, I’m practically in tears when I think about all of the incredible moments this business has afforded me. I’ve been able to share life’s moments (big and small) with so many amazing people. I thrive in creativity and humanity, and every time I make a board or a table, I’m reminded what an honor and privilege it is do something I love and something that fuels me.

Opulent Olive is about so much more than meat and cheese, it’s about bringing people together. A client once told me that her favorite part about Opulent Olive is watching people stand around a table or a board, try something new, and then tell others about what they just tried so they can try it too. Food brings a community together, and when the food provides an experience, it’s that much more memorable and special.

I am very excited to share that Opulent Olive is expanding, and we are now offering a mobile bar with beer and wine service. I’ve never been someone that stays stagnant, and running a business is no different. I want to grow and expand, both personally and professionally. When I looked at my business, I realized the thing I was missing was more human interaction on my part. When I make a board, I drop it off and go. When I make a grazing table, I get two hours of set up and then I leave. With a bar, I’ll be able to interact more with people and help make life’s moments even more special, all while fueling my passion for creativity and humanity.

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?

When I put my mind to something, I will find a way to make it happen. Owning and operating a business has taught me that persistence, accountability, and adaptability are key to success. First and foremost, if you’re not willing to put in the work, you won’t get the desired outcome. You will hit bumps in the road, have to climb mountains, and find ways to tread water, but if you don’t keep pushing through those hard times and you aren’t persistent in your dream, you won’t get to experience the joy and bliss when things go right.

Accountability is one of my core values. Whether it’s in my full-time job as an executive assistant, as a charcuterie artisan and business owner, or as a human, I believe taking accountability and knowing when to say “I dropped the ball” is one of the most important qualities that propels us toward success. We’re all human, and we’re not perfect. We will make mistakes, but owning up to them is the true judgement of character. In the same vein, learning from those mistakes and failing forward is what matters and what differentiates you in a society where it’s easy to place the blame elsewhere.

Sometimes, things won’t go to plan no matter how prepared you are. I’m a planner in every sense of the word, but you can’t possibly account for every single detail. Being adaptable to your plan, your customers, and your business model will be the ultimate gift as you maneuver the entrepreneurial landscape, and honestly, in life.

I think it’s important to celebrate the wins, but when you don’t win, take the time to reflect on why. Running and operating a business is hard work, and it’s important to understand what is working and what isn’t. Being persistent, holding yourself accountable, and allowing yourself to be flexible and adapt to changing situations will help drive success.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

This is such a great question, and I think the answer is both. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned what I love, what fills my cup, and what fuels me. Those things are pretty synonymous with the things that I’m good at, what I excel in, and what I would consider to be my strengths.

I think it’s important to expand your horizons and to learn about new things – you never know what you could end up loving. And as with anything, practice makes perfect. With that said, it’s okay to not be strong in something or to not enjoy doing something. If you know your brain is more creative and you hate anything analytical (like me), that’s okay. Contrary to societal pressures, we don’t have to do and be it all. We are whole exactly as we are.

Finding the things you love and are good at is just as important as finding a support system to help you in the other areas. I rely on people and support their strengths just like they do with me. To me, saying “I’m not the expert in this, and that’s okay” shows the strength and integrity of someone. I believe when you try to do it all, you can’t possibly do it all well. Specialization is a privilege, and it’s okay to outsource strengths and lean on people when you need help.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.opulentolivecharcuterie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opulent_olivecharcuterie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Opulent-Olive-Charcuterie/100084776615565/