We were lucky to catch up with Chef Sherri Mitchell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chef Sherri, so happy to have you on the platform with us today and excited to chat about your lessons and insights. Our ability to make good decisions can massively impact our lives, careers and relationships and so it would be very helpful to hear about how you built your decision-making skills.
The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to tune into my gut. I have a strong belief in the vagus nerve connection and do my best to really pay attention to the feelings I get when thinking about scenarios or observing situations. I’ve also made a concerted effort to develop friendships and business relationships with people I respect. All of that being said, when I have an idea, I like to “sit with it” and play it out in my mind. I look at all the angles I can think of and, if it feels right to me, I’ll either pursue it or run it past others that would have prudent insight to the situation.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Chef Sherri Sauces were created to take the stress out of cooking without sacrificing your health. Our line of sauces consists of six mouth-watering flavors — Bourbon BBQ, Zesty Orange Ginger, Herbed Cranberry Fig, Piquant Peanut, Smoky Brisket, and Honey Roasted Garlic — that make putting together a tasty dish almost effortless. Whether you don’t like to cook, don’t have time to cook, don’t know how to cook, or just simply don’t want to cook, we’ve got you covered. You provide the base, we provide the flavor. Every sauce is gluten-free, made from mostly organic and non-GMO ingredients, are vegan/beegan, and are low in sugar and salt. Just as importantly, they’re all absolutely delicious.
I want to show the country that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming in order to be enjoyable. If our sauces can take the stress out of preparing a delicious meal, that’s one fewer obstacle standing in the way of a healthy choice. Provide recipes and guidance… there goes another obstacle. Make it available in local stores… there goes another obstacle. Every time an obstacle falls, the potential for thousands of people to improve their food choices (and, consequently, their health) increases. And, just as importantly, I’ll do this while minimizing the impact to the earth — all materials used are recycled, recyclable, and/or compostable.
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?
This is a great question. I’d say that creativity, intelligence, and perseverance have been three of the most important skills in this journey. When you enter a field that is a combination of art and science (which cooking is), you need to be able to approach and analyze it from many different standpoints. In the case of my sauces, it was not only if they were delicious, but if they were also nutritionally on point with what was acceptable to me; if they were chemically balanced for longevity and shelf-stability; if they were the right viscosity for multiple uses; if they were visually appealing; if they were financially feasible; and many other things. Taking a look at those issues required all three of those qualities (along with many others). Creativity has also been helpful with design work and marketing; being able to visualize how I wanted my products to come across as well as the “story” I wanted to tell with my marketing and branding meant that I needed to have a cohesive and intentional presence. Intelligence has been needed all throughout this journey as I’ve had to figure out thousands of bits and pieces around starting and running a business. For me, it hasn’t been about “book” intelligence so much as inductive and deductive reasoning. There is a tremendous amount of trial and error as a small-business owner, and if you don’t have the stomach to analyze issues in-depth and take leaps of faith, knowing you may fail (in big and small ways), you won’t make it. That’s where perseverance comes in. Of course, it’s also been essential to understand when I was out of my depth as well and acknowledging when it was time to bring in help (such as hiring a bookkeeper).
If you know you’re lacking essential skills that will be needed in your business, my best advice is to contact your local SBDC (small business development center) and Energize Colorado; both of those organizations have amazing volunteers who are there to help educate and guide you. I’d also suggest getting involved in networking groups with like businesses/business owners. There’s power in numbers!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love partnering with people and businesses to send out gifts of appreciation on their behalf. Corporate gifting is a great way to show your appreciation of clients and has been shown to increase customer retention. I send them all throughout the year (ie: when realtors close on a house) as well as the big push during the holiday season. I also send a lot of gifts for birthday presents, anniversaries, new baby/new home, and general congratulations. When you send Chef Sherri Sauces, you’re sending a present that not only tastes great but will also make their lives easier. Who wouldn’t want that??! If you’re interested in partnering with me, please reach out to discuss bulk discount pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chefsherrisauces.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefsherrisauces
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefsherrisauces
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrimitchell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefsherri
