We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Candace G. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Candace, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
I continue to persist despite the haters, nay-sayers, and etc. by not even giving them any of my time or energy. In life there will always be people who are not “for you”, but there will always be many people who are “for you”. Not everyone will like you or what you do and that is ok because there is always a lane for you with people who are rooting for you to succeed, to flourish, and to win.
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 the Owner/Chef of Candace’s Kitchen where I provide services such as, catering, custom meal prep, business luncheons, corporate events, private dinner and brunch experiences to a wide range of clientele. I am based in Phoenix, Arizona currently, but travel as well to out of state clients who wish to utilize my services. The most exciting part about what I do, is connecting and meeting new clients who put their trust in me to execute the vision of what they have for a menu for their special occasion and/or event and bring it to life by creating an experience through food that will satisfy their tastebuds.
Currently I am continuing to build my brand daily, as well as starting to network more at local events in the Phoenix area. An upcoming event that I will be apart of next month is “The Best In The West Food Festival” where I will be one of a few judges that will judge different food categories to see who is the best at what they do when it comes to soul food, desserts, and etc. I am looking forward to that event because it will allow me to do something new, but still be within the realm of food. Aside from networking events and continuing to build my brand, I am working on launching virtual as well as in person cooking lessons and creating more in depth custom meal prep menus that will cater to clients that want to focus on weight loss, weight gain, as well as professional athletes that will align with their meal plans that have been created by their nutritionists.
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?
I believe the three skills that were most impactful in my journey are knowing how to properly and professionally communicate with clients, demonstrate and provide excellent customer service, and how to keep cool under pressure.
My advice for anyone who is just starting on their journey with building their brand/owning their business is to make providing excellent customer service a top priority because that is what will truly put you into a league of your own. Many people will have the same type of business that you do and even provide the same services, but what will make clients become repeat clients and refer you to other potential clients is not just about what type of service that you provide to them, but the service that you provide to them. When it comes to communicating with clients properly and professionally the best way to develop and/or improve that skill is to ask for assistance in areas that you maybe lacking. If there is someone that you know or know of that always showcases excellent communication skills, reach out to them and ask if they would be open to mentoring you in that area or other areas that you may need development in. When it comes to keeping cool under pressure that is something that will come naturally. Everyday won’t be perfect nor go easy, but if you give each day 110% and give your all in what you do, it will help you to keep your cool when things don’t go as smooth as you had hoped for.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I first take a deep breath, tell myself that “I got this”, and pray. After that I begin making a list of all the things that I have to accomplish and prioritize them with the larger tasks being first and the smaller ones come after.
Also, the best advice that I could give is to always remember to take time for yourself and RESET. When you have goals that you want to accomplish it is very easy to put all your focus on the goals to the point where you forget to take care of yourself. Schedule self care days, days to where you will not take any clients or do any work, and plan a vacation even if it is for a couple of days. A change of scenery always helps me to reset and forget about work for just a little while and once I get back to it I feel so refreshed to the point where I am ready to get back to business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.candaceskitchen.com
- Instagram: @candace_jade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Candaceskitchenaz
