Monday, September 17, 2012

I'm Still Here

With so much free time on my hands, I decided that maybe I should Blog again.  As many of you know, my rising breakfast business fizzled before it begun.  I learned very quickly that you must have two things: (1) capital to carry your business for a minimum of 6 months and (2) financial nets – people who are able to catch you if you fall.  Seriously.  I keep reading about all of the things you need to get a successful restaurant business off the ground, and I truly believe that if you can cook, and passion and these two things, you can be successful.  If you have the capital you can pay someone to do that other stuff… business plan, market research, blah… blah.  B O R I N G.  There are people who do this for a living – let ‘em.
People were coming, eating - enjoying the love on a plate. I even had a few faithful followers.  They loved the food and word was spreading.  The thing is, I was renting “month-to-month” from property owners who didn’t believe in me, or who were not in a position to carry me for a few months until I could really get rolling. (BTW, I don’t think business has ever been the same!)
I put in time, the sweat, long hours and every cent I had.  My husband and family supported me as much as they could, but in the end, it was really all on me.  So, after a few nights of hiding in the bathroom to shed a few tears and finally folded, vowing to return to the 9-5 workforce where it was safe.
I am currently working on assignment at Morgan Stanley in San Francisco; every day looking for that perfect opportunity for permanent employment.  For me, this means working in an environment where I am challenged and able to use my natural creative abilities to produce satisfying product.  I’m thinking that a role as Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant would be supreme.
Ideally, I would be supporting a powerful executive or socialite whose daily schedule is quite demanding.  I would orchestrate his/her life in such a way that they could be free to do what they do, and I would have the autonomy to handle the mundane matters of the day, from the floral arrangement in the office to scheduling meetings and handling travel particulars.  I would find a way to do the professional administrative things while weaving in a bit of creativity here and there.  Humm.. maybe even overseeing a meal or two for a small dinner party at his/her home or planning a cocktail party!  That would be fun.
I have a few more classes to complete before I have my culinary degree, and I plan to see that through.  I am also looking into floral design classes, which I believe will be an added edge.  Not ever giving up the dream, but now that I have had a chance to step away from it for a moment, I am learning that there are so many other ways to have my Chicken and Sweet Potato Waffles, and eat ‘em too!