Jeni Pim, Company Owner, Jen's Kitchen
Jeni Pim teaches at the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. She is a Social Media and Marketing Consultant who helps to make it easier for people through her own start-up experiences. Jeni is always baking, growing and teaching! Passionate about her own business and in helping others achieve theirs, be it through food or their own individual paths.
What is your favourite social media platform?
Instagram, has good metrics and data, it is current.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I have many interests and teaching in Ballymaloe helps me to nurture young enthusiastic future business owners in an environment that encourages entrepreneurism, while also being able to focus on the many facets of big business, marketing and social media.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
Food is my passion. We all have to eat. It brings people together in an equitable way. This knocks down preconceptions. Even if the client is not there primarily for chef training, the focus on shared experiences brings out the best in my clients.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Never measure your progress using someone else's ruler.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I think the hospitality industry is always moving forward. The last 18 months have been challenging for those working in it, making everyone re-examine how they want to get their product to market. It's been a very tough road but client expectations have changed and those who want it must adapt. I love the way food has changed over the last 10 years and some things have stayed exactly the same, it’s that ebb and flow that keeps it fresh.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Having owned a very successful business with my husband, who was very forward-thinking, I have realised that determination and hard work paves a starting road. I am proud that I had the ambition to re-train as a Chef trainer. I have managed to combine it with my love of social media and marketing.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Dinner!
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I am a people person, I can get the quietest person to converse. Eye contact and a smile are your greatest tools.
What do you wish you had known when you started?
That if you can't do something, hire the best person you can to do it for you. That you cannot do everything yourself in your business.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Darina Allen, for her passion for food and her fight for the little producers. They say you should never meet your heroes but maybe work with them! James Clear, who is amazing for business owners who want to build good habits. Stephen Kelly at TechNation matched my passion for creativity every time we met!
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Family. Having recently lost my husband and soulmate to Covid, the family has been reinforced as being everything to me. (Also my horses!)
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you been managing it?
It has been a call to action. Causing me to examine new ways to teach, and integrate technology as an aide.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have mentored several business owners in the hospitality sector in Ireland, the UK and the US.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Find your niche. Find your passion in your niche. Be it the softest sheets, or the best brown bread. Find something for YOU to talk about, and for them to talk about you.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Finance can be a factor, but I think the root of this can be a lack of planning. In simple terms, how many cups of coffee do you need to sell to pay the rent?
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
t's not about how far you fall, it's how you get back up that matters.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I think social media is both the worst tool and the best tool for business owners. The best as it gives them a marketing tool like no other, the worst, as it needs lots of time and understanding. I think the Cliff Group of Hotels are getting it right, also The Shelbourne Hotel (Dublin, Ireland). Also a young Irish brand Gym & Coffee. Delonghi Ireland has made barista coffee look achievable for every kitchen. I think TikTok has a way to go but will be bigger in 2022.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success, for me, is achieved when you try your best in all aspects of everything you do, this may not lead to big results. If you’ve done your best, you should feel proud of your accomplishments. Success is believing you can, helped by setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based) which can set you on the road to achieving your dreams.