The Eating Chambers shares a Founder’s journey

What’s up, my Eaters!

Week after week, I share all things food with you, and I absolutely love it. But this week, I want to switch gears a bit.

Eaters, I am a chef, pitmaster, and content creator — three roles that demand a lot of energy, discipline, and sacrifice. Each requires organization, time, and commitment. I’m a work in progress, but over time, I’ve come to appreciate that this is what comes with being a CEO and, more specifically, a Founder. It’s the role that consumes most of my professional life and overshadows all the others.

This week, I want to share a few takeaways from my journey as a founder so far.

Recently, my father-in-law asked me to watch an interview between two businessmen. I was familiar with one of them, but not the other — though I did know of his company. By the end of their conversation, I felt not only inspired but convicted — reminded that entrepreneurship, much like life, is less about arriving and more about walking faithfully through the process.

Their conversation also left me encouraged. The founder’s journey can be lonely, so I was grateful that these men’s words allowed me to feel seen — even if just for a moment. I could draw several parallels between my own experiences and the ones they shared.

My hope in writing this article is that for anyone currently on the founder’s journey, or considering starting one, you’ll find encouragement here — or maybe a few lessons that can help shorten your learning curve.

10 Things to Know as a Founder

1. Founders often aren’t the best day-to-day managers.
Most of us who build something from scratch aren’t wired for maintenance; we’re wired for motion and vision. But that doesn’t excuse us from discipline. Managing our time, energy, and focus isn’t optional — it’s stewardship. Delegate as soon as you can.

2. Good health and preventative care are essential.
Our ability to lead our families, teams, and communities depends on how well we care for the vessel God has given us. We need to be healthy and fit to bring our visions to life.

3. Enjoy the present.
As founders, it’s easy to get so caught up chasing the next milestone that we forget to breathe and enjoy the moment. Celebrate the now.

4. Do whatever it takes.
Entrepreneurship can make you feel a little crazy sometimes — but that relentless drive, that willingness to risk, build, and believe, is what makes founders unique.

5. Know and value the customer experience.
It’s not enough to react to complaints; we must understand what our guests live and feel. Constantly put yourself in their shoes as a way to improve your service — especially after challenges arise.

6. Mentorship is priceless.
Surround yourself with people who have the experience you want and the wisdom you need. Find those who believe in you, not just in your business. That kind of belief becomes an incredible accelerator.

7. Team buy-in matters.
Foster a culture where your team members are also your biggest fans. When that happens, they’ll carry your vision forward as passionately as you would — and your customers will feel it.

8. Integrate AI thoughtfully.
Be willing to embrace innovation. AI is advancing quickly, and those who adopt it early are already seeing real benefits.

9. Be the brand.
Let people believe in you through transparency, hard work, service, and genuine connection. Educate, engage, and communicate consistently. Your community will grow your business when they see your authenticity.

10. Be impactful.
Leave a mark on the communities you serve, the teams you lead, and the families you love. That’s what true success looks like.

In the interview I watched, one of the men closed with a quote that stuck with me:

“If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”

That line hit me hard. There have been countless times during my founder’s journey when I’ve felt foolish — sometimes because of my own mistakes, but mostly because no one else believed.

I encourage you to take what I’ve shared and put it into action. Believe that your “foolish” is special and necessary, and never let anyone convince you otherwise. Not everyone’s going to see what you see.

In our own journey, my wife and I haven’t had many early cheerleaders. But I’ve learned that being misunderstood is often proof that you’re walking your own path — not someone else’s.

So here’s to staying positive, staying the course, and walking this founder’s road with faith, discipline, and joy — even when it looks foolish to the world.

I hope you all have a blessed week. Come see me or my team at the Peachtree City Farmers Market. And make sure to catch next week’s column — I’ll be introducing you to two new food and hospitality founders who are bringing an awesome new event to our community.