We were lucky to catch up with Chef Rico recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Chef , thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes, currently being a private chef and Kira full-time I am able to earn 11. I was able to purchase my first home so we can fill one of my first vehicles through the field and take care of my family. I started this journey while I was working in the call-center for Verizon. cooking has always been a passion of mine. I started out cooking for women I dated at the time. I enjoyed it thoroughly as they did as well then I started cooking for people at the Call Center, Mill prep bring home bring leftovers to work, and everybody kept pushing me to take more serious, as it started as a hobby . I believe entrepreneurship was my only way out because I completely hate it working for somebody else. I remember the day I had a big moment in my walk of my career. I was on a phone call with a customer at the car center at this point I was pretty burnt out at Verizon on the final written notice for attendance at the time I didn’t have a vehicle, I was kinda having a rough time and while I was on a call, former Carolina Panther quarterback and future Hall of Famer Cam Newton sent me a DM on Instagram after you saw my work and he said what’s up brother I have to have food. I literally completed my car with the customer Took sick time that I didn’t have which put me on a escalated corrective action at work to take the opportunity to be able to cook for somebody and on a high-level one of my coworkers let me borrow their car so I was able to complete the task that was timing After Verizon time Chef, I’m completely self trial and error and YouTube university that I’ve been the top private chefs in my city . Probably one of the biggest moments that I can remember, there was a few pinnacles in my career .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Social media was a big impact to my success. I went viral many times and one thing I’ve also learned is that when you go viral have a product to sell a customer that’s one thing I’ve learned. Of sacrifice being an entrepreneur and a private chef takes a lot of discipline. Sometimes you can’t hang out with your friends you can’t go to the club and party you miss time with your family and children. You miss holidays with your family, children and friends because majority of the time people want you to cook for them on their holiday for their memories and times, and that’s what we give up as private chefs, and It’s a gift and a curse . I’ve always been self-aware of my value and there’s always gonna be obstacles where others do not see that price points are challenging at times, but finding the right market is important in this field and you have the right size your client but I love what I do. I’ve been able to travel over the US doing what I do creating memories for other people has always been something that I enjoy. That’s the part of the job that’s priceless. Quality is always been very important to me. I’m not a person that likes to rush or force anything when it comes to my craft I take my time because I love what I do and it shows the results. To provide meal preps, catering for event, special occasions, corporate or personal date nights, weddings, anniversaries, and I even do pop-ups from City to City and All. Always been nice to feed the last fortunate in my city as well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

And I feel I love the process of creation. It’s almost therapeutic even when I’m in a rough space going in the kitchen and being able to cook, remote me from that world even if just for a moment, I’m able to detach from any stress or problems when I’m in the zone, I’m doing what I love and then it’s a cherry on top to, be able to provide that and monetize that and share those gifts with others the joy and excitement that others get for something that I created. It’s a wonderful feeling.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is strong. There’s a lot of changes that have happened with social media and marketing and paying for ads but outside of that one thing I could tell you and vulnerability are the most important to build an audience and a family through social media who wanted to support what you do, FaceTime with your audience honesty authenticity with your audience there’s times I disappeared because I wasn’t there emotionally and now I understand that I shouldn’t do that especially when building find a way to disappear being a creative sometimes you find yourself uninspired that’s when you have to push through your audience is what is going to help your business or your Goals or dreams, thrive, posting content, and creating consistently learning how to repurpose content and working smarter not harder to social media learning to delegate and collaborate is also important it gives you power and peace .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: GRANDEURCUISINE
• Facebook: GRANDEURCUISINEClt
• Twitter: GRANDEURCUISINE
• Yelp: GRANDEURCUISINE

Image Credits
Grandeur Cuisine Brandon Riddick Z of Midnite Collective