Meet Kevin Bernard

We recently connected with Kevin Bernard and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kevin with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My mother and grandparents were my greatest teachers when it comes to work ethic. My mother continually told me to always put forth my best effort in everything I undertake and never let anyone tell me I am not good enough. My grandparents were the ones who taught me valuable life experiences. They would explain to me that sometimes it’s not the most intelligent person who will succeed, it’s the one who never gives up. I believed them so strongly in this advice that it has been instrumental in my pursuit of a doctoral degree. Furthermore, I learned from other people’s mistakes, which guided me onto the righteous path instead of the wrong one. Work ethic is built on lessons, experiences, and choices, which will enable me to have the strength to make a positive impact on people and the world.

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?

I am of Jamaican descent and grew up in a middle-class family where education was highly valued. As the first in my household to attend college, I not only acquired academic knowledge but also formed lasting bonds with fellow scholars. During my college tenure, I discovered that food has the power to unite people, and my cooking skills often bring people together. Initially, I never envisioned owning a food products company and restaurant, as my career goal was to work for a Fortune 100 company, which I eventually did. However, I felt unfulfilled. I now realize that pursuing someone else’s dream can lead to the demise of one’s own aspirations. Consequently, I resigned from my six-figure position and established South of the Caribbean Islands Foods. I have since dedicated myself to entrepreneurship, never again desiring to work for anyone else. Notably, South of the Caribbean Islands Foods specializes in producing organic and vegan-friendly sauces, seasonings, and batter, offering healthier alternatives to products found in local grocery stores.

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?

I firmly believe that any pursuit requires self-education and a willingness to take calculated risks, unafraid of potential failure. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain a resilient mindset, tuning out negativity from external sources, including family members, as your aspirations are uniquely yours and not everyone shares the same level of ambition. Thus, it is crucial to maintain unwavering self-confidence, trusting in your abilities. Finally, avoid rapid growth and instead adopt a step-by-step approach, allowing yourself to progressively reach your full potential. Remember, a tree begins as a seed before maturing into a fully grown tree.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

It has many books that have contributed to my development, but two that had a profound impact were The Art of War and First, Break All The Rules. As I mentioned earlier, education was highly valued in my household, but these books were particularly influential because they teach how to navigate interpersonal relationships in the real world and acknowledge that life is not always fair. You must view everyone, regardless of their relationship to you, as competitors, because we are all driven by different motivations and are, in essence, participants in a shared pursuit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southcaribbeancuisine.com
• Instagram: @southcaribbeancuisine.
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