The Importance of Pursuing your Passion with Ken L Polk

Are you pursuing your passion in life? 

Meet Ken L Polk. One of the people who pursue their passions with all they are. Ken is a husband, father, a preacher, teacher, chef, a caterer, counselor, and culinary chef.

Ken grew up in Chicago. From childhood, he was always involved in the kitchen. He would grill meat with his father and help his mother in the kitchen. His passion for the kitchen was undeniable, but he felt like it wasn't his place; little did he know that he would become a culinary chef and touch many lives.

When Ken joined a culinary school, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to swim with the big fish. After school, he focused his efforts on working for big restaurants. The most amazing thing about Ken is he never got intimidated by anything. 

Ken has worked for restaurants, a bank, and the Chicago Public Schools and is currently collaborating with chefs and consulting with restaurants. In this episode, Ken shares how he has transitioned to different roles in his career all while Pursuing His Passion in Life. 

Listen and learn.

Key Talking Points of the Episode: 

[04:39] Getting to know Ken L Polk

[06:42] Ken as a city boy

[10:16] The difference between a cook and a chef

[11:43] How Ken got into culinary school despite not wanting to be a chef before 

[13:31] Ken's culinary experience

[21:10] Ken's experience after culinary school

[25:44] What was it like for Ken to work in Michael Jordan's restaurant?

[28:31] What made Ken so ambitious when he was 

[30:04] How Ken got to work at the Chicago Public Schools

[37:25] What inspired Ken to teach children culinary lessons?

[38:33] What made Ken leave teaching after 14 years?

[43:24] How Ken got into consulting for businesses

[46:18] Ken's collaboration with other chefs

[53:17] Why didn't Ken quit when the light bulb at CPS went off?

[55:28] Ken's current projects

[59:20] How to try out new food

[01:01:15] Top of the dome

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

"Anyone in an element doing anything is a wonderful thing to watch."

"Everything gets stored in your brain in the combinations in which you had it."

"Cooking is feeling and technical at the same time. It is subjective and objective."

"If you can reach one, you've done your job."

"If I'm going to win, we all have to win. It's not it's not competition. It's an expedition for me."

"Brand recognition makes all brands stronger."

"Brand collaboration builds brands."

"Everybody great is great because they are serving somebody something."

"Intimidation is what keeps people from learning."                       

Connect with Ken L Polk:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chichefken 

Website: https://chefkenlpolk.com/        

Be on the lookout for Ken's podcast, The Black Skillet. 

Free To Be Me with special guest  Candace Meredith

Today’s episode is exceptional. We are speaking to a guest whose career journey sounds like a story from a novel or a movie on Netflix or Hulu. Please allow us the opportunity to introduce you to Candace Meredith - a true POLYMATH. In this episode, you will learn how Candace carved out a way in this life so that she could be "Free To Be Me."  

Candace’s life story challenges us to think about how can we become "Free To Be Me"  in ourselves and the power of our dreams. She grew up knowing she was different from others. She did not try to act normal. Instead, Candace embraced her uniqueness. At age 21, she discovered the power of manifestation and the law of attraction.

Candace graduated from Howard University with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. She got a job working in a law firm that made her realize she wasn’t ready to spend the rest of her working life in that environment. Candace transitioned into the music industry, where they were managing artists. She worked there for some time and later felt there was more. She went to a barber school in Manhattan and became a renowned barber. Currently, she is a chef.

In this episode, Candace will share her journey and how she transitioned to different careers. If you are looking for motivation and inspiration, this episode is for you. Listen in!

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[04:11] Candace’s youth and growing up

[07:05] How Candace’s dad army career impacted her

[09:33] The power of being different

[15:24] How Candace became so mature mentally at 21

[17:10] Candace’s tribe in Howard University

[20:07] Candace’s journey from legal paralegal to makeup artist

[27:45] Working in a male-dominated world

[30:24] Candace’s manifestation process

[31:48] Candace’s experience at Universal

[36:38] What did Candace learn from working in the music industry?

[40:33] Candace going to a barber school

[47:15] Candace’s most memorable 

[53:36] The importance of showing up

[55:01] Candace’s career as a chef

[01:00:11] Candace’s golden nugget

[01:00:46] Top of the dome questions

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

“Those of us who believe in a higher being, the spirituality, it tells you, when it’s for you, it’s for you. sometimes, when it’s for you, it’ll take you from A to Z without any explanation.”

“Thoughts travel faster than sound, faster than the spoken word. That’s why we must be careful of what we’re thinking.”

“When the floodgates open, just be ready.”

“As a black woman, one of my professors still insists on always rising to the occasion, no matter what.”

“All these gifts and abilities which have been bestowed upon me are here to bring light and love to whomever I can.”

“Follow your heart. That keeps you going, you know, outside of breathing.”

Connect with Candace Meredith:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theveganouslife/ 

Finding Your Sweet Spot with Patrick Sutton

Have you found your sweet spot yet? 

 Patrick Sutton has found his sweet spot and he joins us on the show to share his journey to finding his sweet spot. From a tender age, Patrick knew the screens were meant for him. He even made it to the movie ‘A Time to Kill.’ It was such a moment for him, but he never realized what it meant until some years later. 

Patrick deviated from the creative industry and got into the corporate world. He dreamed of retiring as a vice president of the firm he was working for. Most of us do not change our lives until changing becomes the least comfortable option. Patrick’s stay in the corporate space always made him feel something was amiss, but he didn’t want to quit the space before becoming the VP. In 2019, Covid came, and Patrick was among the people laid off. It gave him an opportunity for a fresh start. 

In this episode, Patrick shares his journey to finding his sweet spot, going back to the creative space and how he put together a whole film without going to a film school. 

Listen to hear more.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[03:36] Who is Patrick Sutton?

[04:27] Patrick’s journey to finding his sweet spot

[10:18] How Patrick got into ‘A Time to Kill’ movie

[22:14] How Patrick transitioned into the creative space from corporate America

[26:40] How Patrick made his movie

[34:18] Patrick’s fear

[39:41] Patrick in tech

[42:42] How Patrick dealt with his layoff during Covid

[47:20] Patrick’s projects

[54:03] Top of the dome segment

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

“When we hit those successes at work or in our lives, it should make us feel good.”

“When you are confident of who you are and what you bring to the table, no one can take that away from you.”

“If you’ve been fired or something, don’t let that one moment stop you from doing what you need to do or being the best, you can be.”

“When you can’t bring your whole self to work, it’s not them that’s missing out. You miss out because you deserve to be 100% happy.”

“Friendships are seasons, and people come in for a season. Some stay longer. Some don’t. When they end the season, be okay with it. Don’t harness it too much. And accept it for what it was, appreciate the good and the bad. And keep it moving.”

“You are the creator of your script. When you are at that stage in life, remember, it’s all about you.”

Connect with Patrick Sutton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-sutton-/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_speaks/