Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Chacon, owner of Chacónne Patisserie, located in Phoenix, AZ, USA. He has been announced as a James Beard Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Outstanding Pastry Chef.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are an artisan producer of viennoiserie and pastries of the highest quality. Our customers tend to be those who love pastry and have experienced excellence in pastry around the States and the world. They have high expectations, and we deliver on those consistently and reliably.

Tell us about yourself

I have always wanted to start my own business, but it really took off when I recognized that I needed a solid business partner to help me move the business forward in areas where I felt less confident (administration duties). What motivates me most is supporting my team. As a new business owner, I consistently work harder knowing that I have people I employ who depend on me and my own upward growth both to stay gainfully employed and also to stay interested and invested in continuing to join me in my goals of growth.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been being nominated as a semi-finalist for the James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef 2022 after starting in late November 2021.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing is being willing to subvert your own needs - be that reduced time with family and friends, or omission of travel that also builds my skill set, or just saying goodbye to normal human rhythms of sleep time, meal times, and exercise.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Find a partner that you trust with your life who has a complementary set of skills to your own and then divide and conquer through the tasks with daily communication.
  2. Change your mindset from worrying about the things you ‘have’ to do to celebrating the things you ‘get’ to do when you feel exhausted. Helps to refocus one’s energy into positive vibes!
  3. Find something that you can scale up for your business, like creating a shelf-stable item to have another source of revenue to depend on should your main avenues be closed due to unforeseen circumstances…like a pandemic.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Stay tenacious, like a dog with a bone! A slow, consistent build will happen if you stay focused, compartmentalize your various responsibilities, do not run around crazy with inefficiency, and say no to things you can’t commit to doing great.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.chaconnepatisserie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markchaconne/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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