Our 6th annual Shine & Dine event in Chicago is next week on August 11. We sat down with Christine Cikowski, Shine & Dine's chef chair and chef/partner, Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Supper Club to pick her brain. We wanted to learn more about the start of her businesses, mentorship, and any advice she has for our Step Up girls (and blog readers) on starting a business.
Step Up: When you decided to start your own business (Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club), what was that moment like?
Christine: Sunday Dinner Club in 2005. Honey Butter Fried Chicken in 2011. For SDC, it was exhilarating and exciting. For HBFC, it was terrifying and exciting.
SU: When you were building your business, did you have a mentor to seek advice and guidance?
Christine: SO MANY. I can't even count. Similar to raising a child, it takes a village to build a business. Chicago's culinary community is strong, and I had plenty of solid sources for advice and guidance.
SU: You're creating a positive influence in the Chicago community. Have you become a mentor to someone during this time?
Step Up Chicago Managing Director,
Cassandra Gado (L) and
Christine Cikowski (R)
at Shine & Dine 2015.
Christine: Gosh, I don't know. Maybe? If I have, I am not aware of it in an official capacity. I'm lucky to be in a position to give back to others now, and I try to help people when I can. I think I'm somewhat of a mentor to my employees, and I'd like to believe I am a positive influence in their lives.
SU: Did you always feel entrepreneurial or did it develop over time?
Christine: Over time for sure, it has taken me a long time to grow into my role. There are still days when I think, "Someday they are all going figure out that I'm just making it up as I go along."
SU: What are you most proud of in starting Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club?
Christine: The community that we've built that includes everyone; the benefits and nurturing work environment we provide to our hardworking employees.
SU: Are there certain skills required in starting a business?
Christine: You must be able to fail, get up, fail again, and get up again. You must be willing to change and adapt. You must get really good at being wrong. HBFC chef de cuisine Cam gifted me that nugget of wisdom. Trust me - being wrong is something that is going to happen a lot and I've found it's best to do it with grace, humility, and humor. There is something to learn from every mistake.
SU: What advice can you give to Step Up teens that may have an interest in starting their own business after they graduate college?
Christine: I'll pass on two pieces of advice that are valuable to me.
- From artist Austin Kleon: All advice is autobiographical. It's my favorite and the most crucial piece of knowledge I've accumulated over the years. Remember that anything anyone tells you about business (and life) is based on their own experience. Your business and life are your own. At times, it can be helpful to have guidance and advice; at times, it can hinder. But ultimately -- the decisions you make are about you and what you want.
- From me: Unplan your plan. Having less expectations leads to less disappointment. Sometimes, you gotta let go of the way you think things should be or should have turned out and go along for the ride on the unknown journey.
