Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Guelila Fornetti . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Guelila , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

In the month of July, which is generally our busiest season, we decided to take a huge project and be part of an event in the Washington DC area. Due to the fact that I was personally out of the country, my small team, including friends and family helped me gear up for the event.

While I was still out of the country, I received a phone call about an accident involving my truck, which was only 2 hours away from Washington DC.
I had all sorts of emotions running through my head, but my number one concern was about the safety of the people involved. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured but the truck was totaled.
Regardless of the huge setback, my employee was able to make it work and we were able to setup for the event within 2 days.

We all decided to have a positive outlook and focus on making the event a success. However, so many things went wrong that week, from a dysfunctional fridge, to getting rained out almost the entire week. Our tent was the only one with a puddle, causing a fire hazard with the electric wires being submerged under water. We had to move our tent and heavy equipments 4 different times!
After a totaled truck, tired staff, a sore employee from the accident, me being jet lagged, and a temporary employee quitting halfway through, I felt maybe it was time for pack up and call it a loss; but my team and my spirit deep down inside, wouldn’t allow me to be a quitter.

The last 2 days of the festival were much better, busier and most of all, we got GREAT feedback on our food. Although it was not a financially successful week, my soul was fulfilled again because my ultimate passion for starting this business was to show people that vegan food can be tasty and fulfilling, and we did just that!

Upon returning to our home base in Atlanta, I got a phone call that my trailer (the kitchen/food truck) had caught on fire. At this point, I learned to not stress about the setbacks and simply learn to problem solve. As long as people aren’t hurt, equipments can be replaced. Learning to use your resources, and how to be an efficient problem solver is a big part of owning a business.

Choosing to focus on the positive and the ultimate passion behind the start of the business is what is keeping me going! Don’t be afraid to ask for help, if you’re able to, assign small tasks to others’ so you don’t have to do it all. Meditate and focus on the positive, because nothing in life is perfect or easy. Behind every successsful business, there are many stories of “setbacks” like this. A setback won’t be a setback, as long as you push forward.

Side note: Although hiring a solid team has been a huge issue across the board, the small team I have makes it all happen, and for that I’m grateful!

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?

My name is Vegan Chef Gueli aka Chef Gully. Growing up in Ethiopia, I would always find myself in the kitchen, taking in the aromas and watching in awe as the women prepared meals. Cooking has always been my passion, but I didn’t realize that I could turn my passion into a career until my son was born with severe food allergies. That’s when I decided to quit my 9-5 and become a stay-at-home mom. When I went out with friends, plant-based options in non-vegan restaurants were very limited. I would find myself not being able to eat because the menus contained foods that were either cooked in butter, soy, or oil tainted with animal by-products. Since I have always enjoyed cooking, I would constantly have friends and family over for an all-vegan dinner parties. Eventually, my friends encouraged me to turn my passion into a career, and here I am!

After about 6 years of being a personal chef, I opened a vegan food truck in 2019 called Vegetopia.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My first response (the second part) I think answers this question. About the event in Washington DC.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Being a personal chef and starting a food truck company. (As stated in the previous answer)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.veganchefgueli.com
• Instagram: @veganchefgueli
• Facebook: Vegetopiacart
• Twitter: Vegetopiacart
• Youtube: Vegan Chef Gueli
• Other: @vegetopiacart (IG for food truck)

Image Credits
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