We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Porter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
I’m Chef Lynn a local Kansas City private chef, and caterer, but also known as “the risk taker”. I’ve been taking risk for most of my life with just about anything that I felt was risky. The unknown is scary to most but influential to me, if you never take a risk, you never know what the outcome will be. I should know because six years ago I took a risk and started my business and still did not get my business up and running legitimately up until four years ago. Taking risk is about doing things that other people would never think to do. In the food business everything is risky you have your customers that may or may not be able to afford the services, then you have your employees who may or may not show up for work and if they do show up for work they may or may not do the work correctly, you have your food source that may or may not be a good food source, so there’s a risk all the way around when dealing with any business. I think that if I would’ve never taken the risk my business would not be at the stage that it is right now, so many people try to discourage me, so many people try not to support me, so many people try to talk down about my business and about my risk that I was taking for my business, but it never deterred me. It’s really more people out here not wanting you to take a risk than it is of people who want you to take a risk, due to them, thinking that you just might win if you do take this risk, and guess what? I’m winning! Don’t get me wrong I have a very strong and blessed support system my husband
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m from Kansas City Missouri born and raised my grandmother and my mother are from Shelby county Memphis Tennessee, which is where most of my cooking style came from, with a little bit of added, an extra creative addition that I brought to the soul food cuisine that I was raised on preparing. My business is located in Midtown Jackson County. I was also a caregiver for my mother up until her passing in February 2023, while still sustaining my business and growing my business, and taking all the risk with my business. My mother and my grandmother also were risk takers, more than likely where I got it from. Most of my cuisines are deep, southern, rooted with a twist so I always stand out from other chefs and other caterers that I see promoting and that’s another risk you take standing out from the crowd. At one point my entrées were getting so much attention. The Uber eats delivery called to do my delivery service for my business. I have been wanting to get a food truck for five years and have been looking for food truck for five years and in the process of doing that I was applying for business loans and was constantly denied but I kept going, I kept striving, I kept pushing, and two months After my mother passed in February 2023 I was able to purchase my food truck without a grant without a loan just off of being a risk taker staying dedicated, staying committed to my craft. Don’t listen to the people who are not risk takers just keep taking your risk!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Early on I mentioned being my mother’s caregiver. My mother lived in my home up until her passing, (February 13, 2023) I was her full time caregiver for 3 years while growing and maintaining my catering business. There were a couple occasions when while I was serving customers my mother had a stroke ( 4 strokes in total) which I had to call care and have her transported to the hospital while still serving and making sure my clients were taken care of. I sometimes cry when I think back on how hard that was for me in those moments but here I am still killing it for my mother I know she’s proud.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding my business started with me taking money from my personal account and starting to purchase equipment, food products, etc. fortunately my business now pays for itself. Please note you will need at least 3-5 years before you start to see any revenue generated from a startup business nothing happens over night. Stay focused and don’t give up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: MsLynndwnwitgod4life
- Facebook: Lynn Porter or @LynnsSoulFoodDelights
- Other: Google: Lynn’s Soul Food Delights
Image Credits
Thank you always to Mr. Jackie Terry