Advice From Year-End Winner: Finding Community & Maintaining Work-life Balance

	We’d like to reintroduce you to Nikita Seal with ZZ’z Ice Cream Puffs, our 2023 Year-End Amber Grant winner.

What advice would you give to a new business owner in the food truck industry?

Entering this food truck industry can be daunting, but I’ve learned that kindness and camaraderie within the food truck community make all the difference. To succeed, prioritize customer service – treat every customer like family. Focus on a smaller, curated menu for quality control and efficiency.

Additionally, build strong relationships with fellow food truck owners, vendors, and suppliers. Stay adaptable, define your niche, and maintain organized operations. Engage with your community through social media and events, and don’t forget self-care.

At ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs, we’re passionate about spreading joy through our treats. Remember, kindness, quality, and community are key to success in this industry.

Where do you struggle most to manage your work-life balance in the food truck industry, and how have you overcome it?

In the food truck industry, weekends are prime business hours, which often conflicts with family time. As a mom, I struggled to balance work and parenting, especially during the early days. With my food truck booked on weekends, it was challenging to spend quality time with my kids.

However, entering our fourth year, I’ve established a loyal, trustworthy, and reliable team. This has allowed me to step away and prioritize family time. Previously, I made sure to be spontaneous with my kids, maximizing our time together whenever possible.

To overcome the guilt of missing weekends, I communicated openly with my children, explaining that ‘mommy’s busy’ phase was temporary. I promised them that soon I’d have more time to devote to them, and now that’s becoming a reality.

Key strategies that helped me achieve better work-life balance include:

– Building a dependable team
– Setting clear boundaries
– Prioritizing quality over quantity time with my kids
– Open communication with my family
– Self-care and flexibility

It’s not perfect, but with time, intention, and support, I’ve found a more sustainable balance between growing ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs and nurturing my family.