We were lucky to catch up with Devotis Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Devotis , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
When I think of resilience, I think yes, I have it I proudly say that in a very humble way, because not everybody knows how and when to spring back when I think of resilience,, I think about all the times that I had to with stand I think of the pot boiling the water is running over. Can you stand the heat, when I think resilience, I think about leaving corporate America and starting your own business all your life actually being use to having a steady paycheck and now you’re about to embark on a vision that gives you no money upfront you take all the risk and give a lot of your life. Yet you withstand and keep showing up. When I think of resilience, I think about the world owes you nothing yet it has so much to offer so keep fighting get out let’s go let’s go let’s go let’s get it let’s do it let’s see it to the end regardless of how many times we have to get up, because we are definitely going to be knocked out or down. In order to keep going and be resilient about it. You have to have an attitude about it. You have to have a attitude that I don’t care, What happens when it happens how it happens, infighting the good fight til the end, God‘s gonna be there and I’m willing to walk with him I’m willing to run I’m willing to endure what has to be and do it to move forward to win and be placed in my rightful space. I’m willing to take a look at my part I’m going to take responsibility for my part. I am willing to understand what I need to do to get up off the ground and move forward, not just to survive, but to succeed to win. When I think of resilience, I think oh my God, the days or months that I couldnt pay the rent or the utilities at the cafe. Dipping into more of our personal monies to survive. when I think of resilience, I think of making the wrong move to the left and it’s the wrong move and now you have to be patience until it’s resolved. I think us having to make choices to leave one business that you’ve created, and the toughest decision is how to create the next business how to leave that and go to the next business to the next level up having to watch hitting a brick wall and having to reevaluate where do you go from here, having the patience to stand still and withstand. Resilience, I think about when you lose family members to the street you lose family members to death, and you withStand and endure pain, until it all works itself out you stand you fight you help. . When I think of resilience, I think of all the things that I had to risk ,car repossession, teen pregnancy, unemployment under paid . Totally taken advantage of. Yeah I’m still here I’m still standing and still fighting and I’m still moving forward. When I think of resilience I think of reviewing the past bad or good yet not to wallow in that space or time , not to stay there not to linger there not to live there. But to understand what happened. Move on, Lets go! Embrace our flaws and celebrate our accomplishments.
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?
My name is Devotis Lee affectionally called Mrs.D, I am the proud owner of D cafe and Catering and the author of No Regrets.Good+Bad =Great! My business is in Atlanta in the Westview Area, We have a space that can be rented for events and free parking, yes free parking. We provide Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch , we have a patio/and a full bar, we Cater too! I planted my business in the area in 2013 when it was not totally gentrified. there was not a lot of foot traffic, but we loved the neighborhood. .. we are community oriented. We actually moved in the space that we are in now in 2016 because people in the neighborhood purchased the block it made sense to move and renovate both sides because we are community.. the block is growing. We are excited about the growth and what’s coming. I have always put people and profit in the same sentence. Therefore, we look for the growth so that we can employ people near the neighborhood.. our space is community. It’s a nice place for us to meet at the bar to meet your neighbors to meet friends to say cheers. We have always elevated small businesses that needed a place to start and branch out on their own. We will be announcing culinary programs for disadvantaged juveniles that enjoy cooking. We are excited about our block., we are at 1550 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30310. We are a comfort, food restaurant with food for the soul. Come see us.! All are welcomed!
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?
My three qualities are puttingb People and Profit in the same dentence
Identify the situation in creating a solution, being creative
Building great relationships
One skill that I have that I love is listening to what others say.
Being up for the challenge to learn on all levels. Involving yourself in all the classes that are available for you to become more knowledgeable and skillful.. my advice to anyone is to take advantage of classes, seminars programs, coaching from organizations, like Invest Atlanta, The Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Small Business Administration, this city offers everything for small businesses to start. Remember as you’re creating your business put people and profit in the same sentence., I will make a difference in this world we can change things as we think about others too. Making profit is a must and allowing people to succeed. The other thing that I want to say is, don’t beat yourself learn to embrace your flaws and celebrate your accomplishments, because two people never do it the same way.. we all have our own journey, and we have to take a piece from everybody’s playbook to succeed.
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?
Right now, my number one challenge is really, revamping and restructing my business forward after the pandemic in the middle of Atlantas growing competetion..and understanding my place in this world, while maning sure that I can leave this world in a better place than I found it to make a difference to create something that is meaningful that helps, so at this time I am looking to partner with organizations that are helping children in culinary fields, that needs the curriculum to complete their program. I have completed a curriculum and I’m now searching for the right collaboration, relationship that will have the biggest impact on the lives of disadvantaged juveniles.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Dcafeandcatering
- Facebook: DevotisLee
- Linkedin: DevotisLee
