Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Lujetic, Owner of Sarah’s Personal Chef Service, located in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a personal chef, food photographer, and influencer.
Tell us about yourself
Since forever (growing up, lol), I loved cooking. Cooking, meshing the most unique of flavors, just creating that moment, taste, smell, and memories are made. What keeps me going every day? Seasonal food! Lol, I love cooking for all seasons and keeping it interesting and fresh. Expanding my knowledge across different avenues, kinda reinventing myself but staying in the food arena. I believe food is art, so naturally, photography interests me.
Social media is a tool, but recently I've made moves and am now partnering with companies as an ambassador recipe developer influencer.
I'm a social person; I love doing more than one thing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Looking back at the past 12 years, going into Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, and seeing people I've cooked for or someone saying to me, "Hi! You cooked for my friend, and I was at the party; it was amazing." I guess just knowing that I've been a part of making memories for families, friends, celebrations, weddings, graduations…
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Motivation! Yes, days I have scheduled to work for someone or staging and photographing, it the organization piece and the time to check emails,
Just motivation for the things that others go to a job, and there are 10 different people working different pieces of the puzzle. I'm a one-woman show for the most part.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Take some business classes; self-teaching business is hard!
- Know that as an entrepreneur, you don't have to do just one thing to diversify your income.
- Try to understand that it's a long road, so be kind to yourself along the way. There will be wins, some big wins, but there will be losses, and it's hard not to blame yourself and think you just are good enough. Remember you are; you are just not perfect. It's something you work at every day as an entrepreneur.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Passion. Make sure you have passion for what you're about to begin. The road is long and hard, but you meet so many people along the way and learn so many lessons about others, your business, and yourself. Step back and reflect and have those moments to celebrate the small things. Otherwise, it feels as tho you're working harder and not achieving the Big thing you set out to do. It's a process. Keep people around you that believe in you and genuinely want to see you succeed by supporting you, and that's hard because sometimes family and close friends are not those people. There is freedom too. Oh, and it's fun! You started this for a reason. So remember that.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sarahpersonalchef.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefsarahlu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefsarahlu/
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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