Being a Chef certainly has its challenges. Throughout my career, I …Being a Chef certainly has its challenges. Throughout my career, I have consistently encountered a shortage of staff, exceptionally long hours, and an elevated degree of stress brought on by high expectations. From a young age, I found that I thrived when challenged in this way. I enjoyed honing my skills and doing my part to ensure the team was successful. I familiarized myself with all aspects of the job so that I could step in whenever, and wherever, needed. Over time, this gave me a unique advantage, and I saw how my wealth of knowledge and self-discipline pushed my team to new heights. Moving up the ranks in various kitchens across the globe, I became more disciplined in my approach. My team and coworkers consistently referred to me as demanding, but fair. I found satisfaction sharing my methods with those who were willing to put forth the effort, and they were ultimately the ones who made me realize my leadership could extend outside of the kitchen. To them, it appeared, I had been a coach and mentor all along.

I was appointed Executive Chef of a team of sixty culinary professionals at twenty-nine years old. I was full of confidence and ready for the opportunity to make the team as successful as possible. I started building the skills of the leadership team first, so that they, too, could guide the others toward our common goal. I found that having these additional drivers by my side were crucial to the overall success of the team. Early in my career, I used to believe that nothing compared to the satisfaction of preparing a great meal for someone. Years later, I found that watching my mentees advance in their career and grow as leaders offered a different type of fulfillment. This sparked a desire in me to do something on a bigger platform; to reach more people by maximizing what they already have inside of them: Their untapped potential.

Back in May 2019, I found The John Maxwell Team. They are a group of certified coaches, trainers, speakers and professionals who offer everything from one on one coaching to group sessions and seminars. Targeting individuals, organizations and companies worldwide, they focus on both individual and collective growth with undeniable success. It was not long before I said to myself…That’s it, this is for me! John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, trainer, coach and author, whose philosophy is: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This resonated with me to the core and was what ultimately led me to enroll on the path to become a certified speaker, coach, teacher and trainer, too.

I was so excited about this new journey of self-discovery, but wondered how I would explain this seemingly new impulse to my wife, Kristin. I wanted her blessing to explore something that I had never really articulate as a life path. Several minutes into my semi-rehearsed speech, Kristin interrupted me, telling me there was no need to go on. “You should have done this years ago.” She said “ This is what you were MEANT to do!”

The content of the certification program is mind-blowing, eye opening and extremely resourceful. I was obsessed with the videos, teaching calls, lessons and the support from the Social Media community. I was energized by the online trainings with Paul Martinelli, Chris Robinson, Roddy Galbraith, Christian Simpson, Richard Mover and Mark Cole under the leadership of John C. Maxwell and felt so inspired by them. In March 2020, over 300 hours of study later, I am beyond grateful and happy to announce that I am a certified Coach, Speaker, Teacher and Trainer from The John Maxwell Team, part of the JMT DNA. Backed by a team of experts committed to the cause, I am ready to make a difference by establishing a community within organizations and inspiring the true leaders of tomorrow.