Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Justin Robinson, Owner of The Chef JRob Experience, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Chef JRob Experience, LLC. is a company where anyone from any walk of life can experience a life-changing meal. Whether it is a private dinner for two, a catered event, or even a wedding, the dishes curated for each event are made with a passion and love for food that is translated into every bite the customer takes. I created this brand solely from the ground up, and I am constantly exploring different cuisines, traveling the world, and testing new recipes to give everyone who books Chef JRob an experience of their lifetime.
Tell us about yourself
I began cooking in my dorm during my freshman year of undergrad, and slowly but surely, I began to perfect my craft. It wasn't until I moved to Atlanta for graduate school that I realized how much of a gift I had in the kitchen and how it could impact others' lives and health. Through my studies in Public Health, I realized I could mend both an educational tool and my culinary endeavors into a career, performing cooking demonstrations on healthy eating to public crowds and local schools, meal prepping for multiple clients to help them achieve their fitness goals or simply just changing lives one taste bud at a time.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I pride myself on giving a complete stranger an experience they will never forget. Being a self-taught chef and accomplishing the things I have so far, I just strive to inspire others that they can achieve any goal they desire in whatever they are passionate about. Everyone is equipped to make a difference in this world, they just have to find the self-motivation to make it. The smiles and reactions on peoples' faces after they take their first bite is priceless. I believe that is what allows me to stand out amongst others. I also love that I can just take chances. I recently made it to the top 80 of season 10 of MasterChef out of 20,000 nationwide auditions. I just really want to keep excelling in my career, hoping to inspire others.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I always used to think I could accomplish everything by myself. I found myself prepping, cooking, setting up, cleaning, breaking down, and returning everything to its rightful place by myself for large catered bookings, and it was very tiresome. 7am to 4am work days in such cases, and I just figured, "You gotta do what you gotta do." But overcoming this was the best self-relief yet... once I realized, "It's okay to ask for help!" Now I have a dedicated team assisting me with all my major bookings.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Pray.
- Set goals.
- Don't take excuses from anyone.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://chefjrob.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.robinson.1800
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef.jrob/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-robinson-97182971/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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