Meet Quiessence Giles

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Quiessence Giles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Quiessence, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Growing up, I had to overcome a lot of adversity. I’ve always been a “strong” individual being able to push through and deal with tough circumstances. However, it wasn’t until I loss my husband in car accident that I really had to dig deep and see how “strong” I actually was.

Quick back story, before the Covid-19 pandemic, I was a Behavioral Therapist for children. When we were mandated into quarantine and I could no longer hold in person sessions, I started to get bored. As always, I started cooking more and more. One day my late husband came to me for what seemed like the 2,436th time (LOL) saying that he really thought I should take cooking seriously and start a catering business. It’s ironic that after the countless times he talked to me about catering, it was this last time, that I listened and agreed to follow through. I decided to quit my job and step out on faith. He and I spent the next 7 months focusing on Pot of Essence.

It was on October 16, 2020 driving home from getting catering supplies that my husband tragically died in a single car collision. This life changing event would show me just how resilient I am. For the first four months after the accident, I cried nonstop, I didn’t sleep, I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. I laid in my bed staring at the walls as they were constantly closing in on me. It was like my life left my body. In grief, we often feel like sadness is the only emotion you should feel. It was easier for me to be sad than to do all the work that needed to be done to cope and move forward. Not to mention, the thought of me moving forward made me feel like I was leaving the love I shared with my husband behind. It was a constant battle of too many highs and too many lows to count.

Then, one day I decided that I was still in fact alive and that I wanted to live! I wanted to live for my husband, my two sons, and most importantly myself! I realized that resilience in this situation didn’t mean “moving on” but yet me learning how to live with my loss while embracing the possibility of hope and joy again. I started strengthening my relationship with God, I started using the tools my Therapist gave me, I took vacations to clear my mind, spent a lot of time loving on my sons, and delegating tasks that were overwhelming for me. I was able to finish my Master’s Program in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Ball State University with a 3.8GPA. I decided that I would focus back on Pot of Essence and seeing where the business is today; I couldn’t be more proud of that decision.

Being resilient means having the ability to adapt, recover, and grow stronger in the face of adversity. I had to understand what it was not. It is not perfection, as there will be set backs. It is not avoidance, as you cannot tackle an issue if you choose to avoid it. A key point about grief is you can’t ignore it. All it does is just wait for you to finish whatever else you’re doing to come to the surface. I allowed myself to feel every emotion imaginable so that I could deal with them and heal from them. I now understand that resilience is not always immediate. It will take time to build. Take it one day at a time, and if that’s too fast, slow down even more.

My resilience has not eliminated the pain of my grief, it has provided me with the strength and perspective I’ve needed to move forward, honor my loss, and rebuild my life over time.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the Executive Chef and Sole Owner of Pot of Essence Food Truck and Catering located in the city of Philadelphia.

Having both a food truck and catering company allows me to showcase my talents across various platforms and reach such a broad customer base. The food truck operates on a pop up schedule at various locations throughout the city. I also participate in several festivals throughout the year such as The Penn Relays, Roots Picnic, countless Night Markets and more. Catering takes priority, specializing in weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, private dinner parties and more. I am the preferred cater for several businesses, schools, and organizations in the city including but not limited to Mastery Charter Lenfest, Boys Latin High School, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated (BDZ Chapter),and Resources for Human Development Incorporated.

Recently, I’ve been blessed with obtaining contracts with some of the cities largest hospitals, providing lunch services within their cafeterias under my own umbrella once a month for one week at a time.

My brand has been featured on Fox 29 News (twice), NBC Universal News, local podcast and radio broadcasts.

Considering how multifaceted my business is, my weeks and sometimes my events in a giving day do not look the same. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the business. It keeps the business exciting for myself and my team. It also keeps me from becoming stagnant. I’m always searching for the next best thing, another way to expand the business, ways to reach more customers, different cuisines to cook, and ways to share my gift and story with the world.

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?

If I were to reflect on key qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that most helped shaped my journey I’d highlight these three:

1. Technical skills and Attention to detail. Considering that I am a self taught chef, I realized that I would need to make some changes to how I was taught to cook if I was going to advance in my career. Cooking in the comfort of my own home for family and friends was not the same as food service on a food truck or catering for 200+ people. I zoned in on various cooking techniques such as knife skills, braising, marinating, blanching, mise en place, etc. as these skills directly influence the flavor, texture and overall quality of the food. My attention to detail became a top priority as I had to be sure that my dishes were consistent every time, small details in presentation were key, and precision in things like measuring ingredients were more important than they had ever been to me before.

2. Adaptability and Problem Solving.
Kitchens, food truck services, catering events, etc. can be unpredictable. When I first started, I felt like anything that could happen, did happen. I saw very early on that my ability to adapt under pressure would be pivotal in my career and it has been. If you ask me, I can solve any problem that occurs whether it be equipment failure while operating the food truck, staff callouts, inventory mishaps, or double bookings. My ability to think on my feet, stay calm, and adjust to the changing circumstances is invaluable.

3. Customer Service Skills
Food trucks and catering companies are plentiful in the city of Philadelphia. In such a competitive market, exceptional customer service can set you apart. A positive experience creates loyal customers that will return and recommend you to others. I’ve always had a very bubbly and welcoming personality. I enjoy interaction with people. I’m grateful that something I’m naturally good at and enjoy has helped my business grow. In food service, food is normally the top priority, however I feel that food and customer service go hand and hand.

For those starting out, my advice would be to start! Don’t keep waiting on the “right time”, it rarely exists. Focus on the fundamentals skills but don’t be afraid to take risks. Each challenge you face is an opportunity to improve. Stay curious, always remain humble and you must be committed. Never stop wanting to learn more. Never be too proud to ask for help.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle I have been facing since October 2020 and am still currently facing is finding the balance between being a widowed mother and a business owner. Trying to navigate the complexities of grief, parenting, and entrepreneurship simultaneously has been the most difficult task in my life thus far. It takes a lot of emotion strength, time management, and resilience. Though I felt various emotions in the beginning, guilt was the most prominent. I felt guilty that I was living out the dream my husband helped me see without him. I felt guilty that I wasn’t giving my sons the amount of time I normally would. I felt guilty that I wasn’t as focused on the business as I knew I needed to be. The desire to excel in all these areas of life lead to me feeling so overwhelmed, overworked, and burnt out. But, I finally think I’ve figured it out. As the business grows, I’m sure I will have to figure out new ways to keep the balance however I have the basics covered. I understand that I must be proactive in managing both my emotions and my time. Though I think I’m superwomen, I’m not and I’ve finally accepted that. I recognize that everything will not be perfect and that is okay. I logically prioritize what’s important, delegate tasks and lean into my support system instead of trying to do everything alone. I set specific days for just myself as self-care is so important, time for just my sons, and times to zone in and focus on the business. Lastly and most importantly, I pray A LOT! I don’t need anyone else to criticize me for I am already my toughest critic and can be too hard on myself. I’ve learned to be more kind to myself. It’s not everyday that someone experiences all that I have and continues to push through harder than before. I make sure to be kind to myself during this challenging time, acknowledging my accomplishments and being willing to continue to adapt as life continuously changes for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Potofessence.com
• Instagram: Potofessencecatering
• Facebook: Pot of Essence