We were lucky to catch up with Jasmin Carter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jasmin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

My aunt tells a story of me at her wedding selling the table centerpieces to her guests. I must’ve been about 6 or 7 years old. It makes me laugh wondering why I would do that? What made me do that? How did I even know I could make money that way? It’s not like I was born into the “struggle” so to speak. My dad worked for NYPD and my mom for channel 11. I grew up going to games at the Garden, Christmas in the Square, summers at Great Adventure, box seats at Yankee, and wishing I could high-kick like the Rockettes of Radio City. Adults thought my “hustle” mentality was cute. But that should’ve been nurtured. Somewhere along the journey of grade school through college, the idea of making my own money, which I now know is a part of entrepreneurism, disappeared and I learned to desire a career working for someone else, helping them build their dream; to keep my head down and get the job done; to be a team-player; a minion. And I became really good at it. So good, in fact, that I really believed it was the life God wanted for me.
Then, I was laid-off from a job I loved and planned to retire from. For six months, there were lots of tears and prayers, and maybe even a bout of depression. Finally, I settled on a company that was willing to pay me $20K less than what I was previously making. You heard me right. It was a serious pay cut. I was told not to expect more than this from any company here because the cost of living is significantly lower in Southern VA, than in Northern VA. Life was good again. My credit score was up. Travel was happening. The higher-ups deemed me Rockstar status. Then, almost five years in, laid-off again. This time, there were no tears, no stress, no depression. I said, “Okay God, clearly this keeps happening for a reason? What would you have me do?”
Let’s fast forward to life as a business owner. Stress. Tears. Prayer. Jas of all Trades LLC turned 4 years old on March 12, 2023. Sometimes business is good, consistent, and fast-paced. Other times business is slow or at a complete standstill. It’s like being on a weighted seesaw with my emotions. When business is down, my anxiety is up there along with stress, sadness, and the scale. My immediate thought process is to begin searching for a “real” job. The time that I could be using to advocate for my business, I spend on Indeed updating my resume and submitting applications. It’s wild, and it makes me feel all over the place. However, all I can think of is the threatening letters of eviction from my landlord, the water, electricity and internet being cut off, my storage items being auctioned off, all the creditors calling at once, and the constant thoughts of failing at my main responsibility of being a parent. It’s been a rollercoaster of these ups and downs for the past 4 years, and all I have to do to “fix it” is just get a “real” job working for someone else, helping to maintain their dream. It’s a simple “fix” really. I know exactly what it’s like to have a regular job. Along with a steady paycheck and benefits comes discrimination, being overlooked, micro-aggressions, and disappointment. But I’ve been conditioned to accept all of these things as just part of the job. I can do it with my eyes closed. Here’s the dilemma. Returning to the workforce means turning my back on entrepreneurship. Yes, there are many people who do both. I’m not one of those people. I tend to put 100% of myself into the task at hand. Multi-tasking is not a strength for me. Returning to the workforce would be a slap in the face of God because through all the tears, anxiety, stress, self-loathing, and failures, He’s been there as a provider, reminding me that there are people who have it much worse. He’s a reminder to be grateful and that our gifts make room for us when we get out of our own way.
Do I think about life with a regular job? All the time! Am I happier as a business owner? Absolutely. It’s a badge of honor. I recognize it’s not for everyone. What keeps me motivated is knowing once I reach the light at the end of the tunnel, there’s a rainbow with a pot of gold waiting for me. Then, I can help other women through because there’s already a path mapped out with the first step being getting through the mental metamorphosis, and the last being accepting how deserving we are of the fruits of our labor.

Jasmin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Who is Chef Jas? In a nutshell, I’m just a girl from the Bronx with a dream, the drive to work towards it, the faith in its fruition, the patience to see it through, and the determination to hold on to it.

In 2018, I was laid off for the second time. While driving, the radio announced an open house at the Art Institute. After attending, I enrolled, and in 2021 graduated with my BA in Culinary Management.

Why culinary? Back in 2008 I started selling banana pudding. It was profitable enough to bring in a little spending money. So, when I was laid off in 2018 my thought process was to go to school to learn how to successfully open and run a banana pudding business. I never anticipated that spending so many hours learning and around other creatives would spark other ideas. But that’s all they were. Ideas. Until one day, I posted my daughter’s lunch on Facebook. Someone commented asking me to make their lunch. Soon, others chimed in, and before I knew it, I was meal-prepping. This was basically my introduction to the industry. In a span of four years, I went from meal-prepping for clients with special diets to providing personal chef services at private gatherings, to curating recipes for aspiring entrepreneurs, to catering large events such as weddings, wellness retreats, corporate lunches and parties, and facilitating cooking classes.

When you contract Jas of all Trades LLC for your event, you’re not just getting a caterer. You’ve made a new friend. With that friendship comes all the knowledge, experience and connections I can offer to help make your event a success. My motto is “i just wanna feed you.” Spoiler alert – it’s not only about the food.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

It sounds cliche, but the golden rule is key. “Treat people how you want to be treated.” It’s so important for individuals to feel valued. As leaders, we should spend time with our team members, ask questions, watch and learn. Over time, we get a better understanding of each person’s strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, as well as what motivates them. With this information on hand, it becomes easier to show them appreciation in a way that they can receive it and feel validated, seen and valued. Another key to maintaining high morale is to not assign tasks that you would never perform yourself, to others.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Word of mouth honestly has been the best source of new clients. I’ve tried vending, but without a food truck it’s difficult to vend hot food. Sure, vending and networking helps to get my name out there. However, when is the last time you heard someone say, “Remember that cookie vendor? Maybe we should have her cater the food for our wedding.” Although I do make a mean cookie, it’s not what I want to be known for. So, I get clients from networking at events I’m already catering. And I maintain my current clients by giving them referral discounts. Not only have I gained a new client, but a new friend as well. Everyone wins.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JasofallTradesLLC.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chef_jas_va
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefJasVA
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/chef-jas-carter-842734189
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChefJasVA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jasofalltradesllc8826/

Image Credits
Photo of students in summer snack cooking class courtesy of Ebony’s Mindful Moves Coaching & Counseling LLC