Success Story
Serving Up Success
Meet Kila Kinsey Hayes, a woman who’s all about chasing dreams and cooking up success. Besides her job at a local high school, she boasts some delectable culinary skills. Working alongside a Chief Executive for several years, she was trained on how to set up a catering job, cut fruit and arrange it for a beautiful fruit display. Eventually, he would send her out on solo jobs and people would ask her who she worked for, and she would give them the name of his business. Now, Kila’s entrepreneurial spirit and culinary talents have led her to pursue her own passion in the catering world, showcasing the power of an Outsourcing Wins for business growth.
What made you want to become an entrepreneur?
As I began to gain confidence and realized this was something I could do on my own, I could have my own small catering business. My friend, the Chef, was very encouraging and even proud of me when my little business took off. I am big on giving credit where credit is due, and he definitely gave me the tools I needed to branch out and start Kila’s Catering. I also have a wonderful friend, Trina Williams, who is my amazing cook and loves working beside me. This little business wouldn’t be what it is if she weren’t a part of it. I always say, “Trina makes it taste good and I make it look pretty.” We work well together. We know our roles and what our strengths and weaknesses are, and we pick up where the other leaves off. God blessed me with her friendship.
What would you say has been your biggest success and your biggest challenge?
Our biggest success, I believe, is when you walk away from a job and your clients say not only was the food delicious, but you made us feel like we didn’t have to worry about anything when it came to feeding our guests, and everything looked amazing. That is what we love to hear. We want to take away some of the stress and burden from the day and leave them with satisfied bellies. That is success in my book.
Our biggest challenge is probably just time, or rather not enough time. We are educators. Catering is a hobby or side hustle, some would say. So we squeeze in trips to Sam’s and doing our food prepping in between our “real” jobs. Trina and I work so well together though, and we also have talented friends who step up and give us extra hands when we need it.
What are your top 3 pieces of advice you’d give anyone that wants to start their own business?
Pray about it, and then follow your dreams, and listen to your heart. If you believe you can do something, GO FOR IT!! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and gain knowledge from those who have been working in the same field. The right people will want to see you succeed, so add those people to your circle. Listen to the needs and wants of your clients. Always, ALWAYS be kind.
In a nutshell, Kila proves that with guts, grits, good people by your side, along with the “Whatever It Takes” mindset, you can make your dreams come true. Follow Kila’s dream-chasing advice and tap into the power of “Outsource Wins” every step of the way.
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Dawn Corbett is a driven, self-motivated, elementary educator, and a molder of young minds. She has taught in public education for twenty plus years. Creating original content is something that she is passionate about and gets excited about. She knows the value of confidentiality, cooperation, and being a team player. Working as an editor and blog writer has given her a valuable opportunities to develop her own intellect and a different perspective on how to respectfully communicate with others in different styles.