We were lucky to catch up with Lemwhir Valette recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lemwhir, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risk I have taken was during the pandemic, I was always 9-5 driven or some form of structure. When the pandemic hit most of my jobs closed down. Accounting slowed down a bit and I was dong event planning in times square and all that shut down immediately. I met two of my mentors around that time and both of them in their own respective way; were entrepreneurs. One of them Luis “Lou” Castillo is a body builder / personal trainer and the other Dlyan “Hawaii Mike” Salman is a Chef. The risk was giving the regular 9-5 scheme and become an entrepreneur. And now fast forward those are two of the few things that I am involved in now as an entrepreneur. I don’t believe I can ever look back to that form of structure. I believe in Opportunities now rather than thinking about work or money.

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 motto is to be a jack of all trades; and if we know how the saying ends then we get the idea. I do a lot but have been blessed and able to work smart to bridge the many industries that I am involved in.

My parents own an accounting firm “Orbita Latina of Port Chester” where I serve as an Accountant and also a Tax Preprarer during tax season. Through the company I have obtained certification such as a Real Estate License and Insurance License; although I have not exercise those it has given more common knowledge to better assist my clients. Two licenses which I do practice are I am Notary Public and also a Certified Public Translator. Since we help a lot of undocumented clients obtain tax IDs; we have also assisted more than 50+ clients through the process of also obtaining their citizenships; which require plenty of translations as well a Notarizing.

Another industry I am in that I mentioned is that my mentor Lou put me on to the fitness and health lifestyle and I took upon myself to get my Personal Trainer License and I have worked with various clients on 1 on 1s as well as Group Work Out Classes for all Ages. I have being able to bridge this and accounting by acquiring clients through networking. I am also a professional handball player which has allowed me to also bridge that in the word of fitness and athletic conditioning.

The third has been to be involved in the Cannabis Business which is on the rise in the state of New York. I am part of one of the biggest and oldest legacy operator companies called “Chef For Higher” in which I do all Operations from top to bottom. Chef for Higher is a company since 2015 conducting private infused dinners (THC) as well as our line of Products which we have under “Duty Free” from Gummies and Jellies ( Edibles ) and more as well as Olive Oil and Honey ( cooking essentials ) and more; all infused with cannabis (THC). Being so well versed in business through accounting has given me an edge to grow in the company and be able to bridge my accounting concepts with the company. “Chef For Higher” is also big on mental health and wellness which has been a great bridge to gap my background in fitness and health; by conducting hikes. outdoor activities, micro dosing, and wellness overall via cannabis (THC)

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A Lessons that I had to unlearn was unlearning the system. The system that is constructed for us to fail; or struggle in a frenzy state. I believe that in order to believe and do what you are passionate about and create you must let go of many things that you may have learned or consumed by while growing up. I speak to for myself of course when I say this because I’ve had to unlearn that I have to work for someone, that I have to have a set schedule every single day. As an entrepreneur I have learned to manage myself and control my own time. The new lesson now is that anything is possible and that is way more fulfilling to work hard for myself than break my back for someone else.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are certain resources that I use now but the resources are individuals. One lesson that I have learned is that everyone around me can be a potential resource; all I had to do which is what I learned is that how to create those resources or access it. So for me I wish I knew how to already work with the resources I already had.

Contact Info:

• Website: chefforhigher.com
• Instagram: lemsmeanswell
• Facebook: Lemwhir J Valette

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