We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jorge Abarca. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jorge below.

Alright, Jorge thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. 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?

I feel extremely blessed to be able to be a business owner doing what I love the most! I am happier now than I have ever been in my career. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to accept a job offer for an Executive Chef position at a trendy restaurant. At the time the business was not doing great so I had to really consider going back into a professional kitchen. I knew I could do the job but I also knew that this meant having to go all in: long hours, long work weeks, more stress, more worries. I also knew that my family needed me. There was a lot to think about: Should I leave this venture as a business owner behind? It’s not where I needed it to be and getting back into full time work meant the pay was enough to take care of my family’s needs but I would have to sacrifice time away from them…Time that I knew I could never get back. After careful and very thoughtful consideration I decided to decline the offer. These are the times when we really have to put everything into perspective. Yes it would’ve been the easy choice to accept the job offer. The job would have given me the ability to take care of my family’s needs in a different way. Yet, in doing so I would have missed out on so many other things, things that in the grand scheme of things are way more important than financial stability. I am happy to say that I made the right choice. The business is growing, more than I could have imagined it would just a few months ago. Now, not only do I get to do what I love the most, I can take care of my family without sacrificing time away from them. The entire family has a share in growing our Family Business and these are memories that will last a lifetime.

Jorge, 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?

We are Dinner Bell Services! We offer personal Chef services, catering and meal prep options for families and individuals. I am a self taught Chef with over 15 years of experience in professional kitchens. I grew up in Mexico, where the cornerstone of my love for food was cemented by my Grandmother. I have been really fortunate to work along some of the most influential chefs in Houston that have helped me perfect my craft. We specialize in healthy options without having to sacrifice flavors. Whole30, Paleo, and Keto are the disciplines we base our menus around. Wether you are a busy professional or a busy parent, we can help you with your culinary needs. With a personalized approach to every client, we help you make healthy decisions for your dietary needs without having to sacrifice flavor. I am most proud of the connections and friendships I have made along the way. I don’t see clients, I see friends that I have helped make informed decisions in their eating habits to better themselves.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Consistency is key to a successful business; Whatever you offer as a service should always have the same quality all the way around. If you do your utmost to offer the best every time, then everything should fall in place. By being consistent in my work, I have built a following of customers mostly by word of mouth. Offer the best of you to everyone and those people in turn will return the favor by making sure others know about you and the services you offer.

Any advice for managing a team?

Be a mentor and a coach, not a “boss”. Lead by example, be direct but be humble and do it all with the respect anyone deserves. Treat everyone with dignity. Always remember that your team is there to help you succeed. Celebrate success together and when things don’t go as you planned support each other. Teach when needed, correct and redirect when granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: jiaba81.wixsite.com/dinnerbellservices
• Instagram: Dinner Bell Services