Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kendrea Wilson, Owner of Kendra's Cook'n, located in Houston, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Kendra's Cok'n is nothing like the meal prep companies you may know of. We are a family-owned and operated company that still believes in the quality of small-batch meals. In the past, we focused on conscious health clientele, but since opening our brick-and-mortar, our customer base has completely changed. It has now switched to a younger hipster crowd in Midtown Houston, Texas.
Tell us about yourself
My son was seven years old. Diagnosed with a sickly cell at birth. The complications with that he was then diagnosed with asthma. I knew every three months, his body would shut down, and we would be in the hospital for at least a week. In 2013 He had a bad pain crisis which led to pneumonia. He was on morphine and given four blood transfusions while the doctors tried to stop the pain. He finally beat it; it was a long thirty-eight days! As I sat there and cried for my son, I had an aha moment! What if I change his diet to stay ahead of that three-month curve that caused the hospital visits?
In today's busy world, we are all running around going to and from work, picking up and dropping off the kids. Always on the go and in a rush. It has become so easy to just "pick up something to eat on the way." Our daily lives and responsibilities are making us sacrifice our sacred meal time, depriving us of nutritious meals along with social interaction and conversation with family and friends. I started this company with the goal of giving back that 'lost time' of sitting down and enjoying good food regardless of how little time we may have. Another important reason is simply health. Time and health go hand in hand. We must make better and healthier choices in our meals if we want to stay stronger and healthier and continue to live our best life yet. My promise is healthy, simple, clean food. What keeps me going? My family weve put so much hard work into this company, so seeing the faces and stories of how our food changed and continues changing lives makes it easy to love.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is not letting the many tasks weigh me down. I've never been the biggest organizer. I tell myself daily to complete three top important tasks and be happy with that.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Time! There seems never to be enough time. In the beginning, when I first opened, I realized I'd worked thirty-ten-fifteen hours straight and never took a day off. Didn't make any sense to me. I loved being self-employed at first due to always creating a work-life balance. This is still a struggle, but as we grow, I will lift the burden of overworking myself.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Act on it.
- Don't let others talk you out of it.
- Don't leave that other place of employment too soon. Thinking of leaving? Stay an additional six months.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kendrascookn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kendrascookn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendrascookn/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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