Meet Jessica Ragland

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Ragland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I always knew since I was little, I wanted to be something big when I grew up. My family always encouraged me to shoot for the stars and always shoot for the extra 10 miles. I was always entrepreneurially driven in some way or another. I always thought of unique ways to make money and create solutions. I come form a family of artists. We all paint. I thought for sure this is what my career was going to be. I majored in art all throughout high school and even created a portfolio to present when I applied for Savannah College of Art and Design. But things soon changed. Halfway through high school, the pressure of art projects due every week on top of the intense criticism from certain teachers slowly started to take a toll on me. I became burnt out and uninterested. I soon realized I did not enjoy painting as a job. I only enjoyed it as a leisurely hobby. This is when I soon realized I had to make a change sooner than later. I always loved food. Eating food and also creating food. I used to help my mom in the kitchen as a little girl, making muffins or cracking eggs. As I became a teenager, my mom would let me come work at a sandwich shop she used to work at. I loved it. I quickly caught on to every task I was given and this type of work was easy and enjoyable. In my first year of high school, I enjoyed watching Emeril Lagasse in television. I started asking my parents once a week if I could create a recipe for dinner. I enjoyed cooking form y parents and impressing them with a nice dinner. In sophomore year, I found my first real job at Sbarro Pizza. I loved this job! I quickly moved up from being a cashier to being an assistant manager by the end of Highschool. I was offered another job at a clothing store as a sales assistant. It payed more, so I took it and worked both jobs. The clothing job did not last long. I hated it. I quit and stayed at Sbarro that payed less, but I was happier. This is when the light bulb went off in my head. My purpose is cooking. I knew right then and there, I wanted pursue my career as a chef. I have not turned back since and I am living my wildest dreams doing what I love to do. Creating happiness though my food and connections with others.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Hi Everyone. I am Chef Jess. I am creative and passionate personal chef who thrives to create delicious meals for all dietary needs. I have been in business for 12 years now and I couldn’t be happier with the direction it is going. I provide personalized meal delivery plans, cook for small onsite catered events, travel for retreats nationally and internationally and provide in home cooking classes. My special skill is how I relate with people and understand their needs. I am an empath, so I can read the room and give people what they need through my food. It’s a pretty amazing ability to provide such a special niche’! I have just launched a new website with anew logo! This year, I plan on creating a monthly blog and cooking videos to share with the world on you tube!

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?

Quality: my ability to adapt to any situation with ease and patience
Skill: My artistic approach to life
Area of knowledge: ability to work with all dietary needs.

My advice for folks early in their journey: Gravitate towards things you love and get rid of things that cause stress or resistance in your life. It is beneficial to listen to family and friends, but do not let them hold you back from the one thing that drives you most. Do not be afraid to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. Growth happens at your most uncomfortable moments, so force yourself to do things that scare you. It will pay off.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was encouraging me to try out for auditions to get into Savannah Arts Academy for Highschool. I wanted to go to a different high school because all of my friends were going there, but my parents knew I had more potential to go further. I was not thrilled about the decision, but I am glad they pushed me to do it. I was accepted into the school and it turned out to be a pathway of success for me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Krys Fakir; Taylor Ragland

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