Texas Restaurant Association Pro-Start Invitational
Each and EVERY one of us has the ABILITY to DETERMINE the definition of success!
-Chef KDJ
Recipe for Personal and Professional Success
Here are my 8 simple ingredients for the Recipe for Success. The amounts for each will change (based on the individual) but the ingredients are solid!
PASSION: Do you love what you do and are you excited about doing it?
MOTIVATION: Are you inspired and/or have a strong reason to do it?
PREPARATION: Have you educated yourself on much of what you need to know?
BALANCE: Are all things right and equal in your professional and personal life?
LUCK: Can come in many forms (genetic, social, timing, taste). All are arbitrary and beneficial is by definition lucky!
CHARACTER: Moral compass or quality of a person. What do you do when no one is watching?
DISCIPLINE: Helps keep you focused on reaching your goals, prevents laziness and procrastination. Allows you to overcome all obstacles.
BELIEF: You must believe in yourself! You must have the confidence to do it!
Learn More From Chef KDJ
Excellent autobiography! Good read!
I enjoyed this book of Chef Keith very much! He narrates his experiences of becoming one from his younger years to the present. He goes through some challenging times. (which I’m sure were life lessons) but also some times of great achievement he attains through hard work, discipline and one I truly admired of “keeping the faith” through it all. If you want an honest depiction of the life of a chef, then this is a must read. Highly recommend!
Dr. Emily Knight
President, Texas Restaurant Association
When asked about his favorite recipe, Executive Chef Keith Denard Jones used to say, “Lobster enchilada with jalapeño marmalade.” However, having experienced where-there’s-smoke-there’s-fire antagonists and out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire challenges, Chef KDJ has a new dish. His recipe of success consists of passion, preparation, and persistence. Blended with integrity, garnished with love, and served with charisma, he brings soul to the recipe of life.
Whether you’re a home chef, professional chef, or food lover, in this book, you will discover:
Strategies to balance personal and professional goals
Life lessons to stay focused, intentional, and inspired
Tips to manage the hectic and ever-evolving world of food
How to recognize and receive opportunities
Chef KDJ’s favorite recipes from around the world
A Huge Thank You to Our Event Sponsors!
“I'd like to give a heartfelt and sincere THANK YOU to Dr. Emily Knight, Joe Monastero, Hayley Savage, Dave Hester, Susan Petty and the entire team at TRA for all you've done to make my time here, and this ProStart Event 2022, such a huge and overwhelming success. Your commitment and dedication to the recovery of our industry and everyone affiliated with it during these extraordinary times is a necessary and needed gift that keeps on giving. I'm humbled and honored to be in the company of such unsung SUPERSTARS, BRAVO to you all!!!”
-Chef Keith
