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

Monique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I have taken was starting my business. I knew that things would be different. The biggest lesson of all has been the importance of investment and sacrifice. I left my 9-5 job because business had picked up more than I could handle on a few days alone. That needing the extra sense of security nearly made me settle in a place that had pretty much pushed me out during such an unprecedented moment. My passion for wanting better for my family and myself made it easier. My faith made it easier. I became persistent. I wanted more. I saw my own potential. I saw my future. That was enough for me to keep going. If you quit too prematurely, you’ll never know how far you can get. I’m glad that I’ve made the decision to take such a huge risk to pursue my dream. So much greatness has come of it.

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 background and context?

My story is a testament of faith and how I have been tried by the fire and still walking in faith believing that what is destined to take place WILL take place and my passion and creativity will meet and continue to open doors. I left my norm of working a 9-5 to pursuing my dream as a caterer and restaurant owner.

I call my self the full-time “All-Purpose” caterer (literally) that will cater to and for you with or without the need of an event. I’m located in Easley, SC and currently serve the upstate and surrounding areas [will travel] by way of catering, private dining and specialty orders (platters, dishes/pans, select homestyle desserts, etc). I offer catering styles of sorts, private Dining (on or off site), “hosted” quaint event-meeting space for up to 20 guests (w/ another space for up to 100 guests-announcement soon), and a variety of other unique offerings. I also offer cooking demonstrations-classes of sorts for various groups; youth included. I have a unique excitement for preparing meals that others get to enjoy. Cooking has always been an outlet for me as I find it to be one of my many passions. I have a line of hand crafted non-alcoholic beverages (17 plus), seasonings (6) and butter sauces (3); as well as a line of “Mo’ Courage” (21 & up), available with special bookings and in which I am certified to serve and insured as your mixologist or Bar-vendor/Cash-Bar (beverage catering, so to speak). Many of my products are also available for shipping and “ShopPay” installments (meals too 😉). Speaking of which… this Summer, I will be min pickup/takeout on select days during special hours to provide you with a taste of Mo’ regardless of the fact that you can personally preorder “anytime.” With me, “All-Purpose” means just that!

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

Absolutely. My resilience comes from remembering where I came from and knowing where I could go. It that’s simple for me. I grew up in poverty so my goal is to break that generational curse. I’m not my past and it does not define my future. I was also a single parent of two who has struggled on various sorts of welfare just to make ends meet. I knew then that it was not a position that I wanted to be long-term; and it wasn’t. After dealing with various types of abuse from different relationships and made to believe that in life, I “had” to settle, I refused to maturer that way. So my grit and grind is a result of where I’ve been. The times that I’ve lost everything and had to work hard to get it all back…it’s a reminder. So whenever I go through certain things now, I try my hardest to find the lesson in it so that history doesn’t have to repeat itself. Although it may be uncomfortable. Although it may hurt a little bit, I know that if I’ve overcome once, I can overcome again! So it’s safe to say that struggle has become my strength and built every bit of resilience that I exercise daily.

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

I had to unlearn that your passion/dream is NOT the next person’s passion/dream. It doesn’t matter who the are to you or how much they support you. NO ONE will understand EXACTLY how you feel, view or hustle to get to where you need to be no matter how hard they try or say that they do. The backstory is simple, many different instances came out of the lack of support when it’s truly needed; or when you may be talked down from the mountaintop to the sidewalk simply because they didn’t understand your point of view regarding what’s best for YOU and YOUR VISION!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moflavorz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mo.flavorz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moflavorz/