Pursuing Your Passion In Life With Special Guest Ken L. Polk

Shift and Pivot Podcast

The Importance of Pursuing your Passion with Ken L Polk

Are you pursuing your passion in life?

Meet Ken L Polk. One of the people who pursue their passions with all they are. Ken is a husband, father, a preacher, teacher, chef, a caterer, counselor, and culinary chef.

Ken grew up in Chicago. From childhood, he was always involved in the kitchen. He would grill meat with his father and help his mother in the kitchen. His passion for the kitchen was undeniable, but he felt like it wasn't his place; little did he know that he would become a culinary chef and touch many lives.

When Ken joined a culinary school, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to swim with the big fish. After school, he focused his efforts on working for big restaurants. The most amazing thing about Ken is he never got intimidated by anything.

Ken has worked for restaurants, a bank, and the Chicago Public Schools and is currently collaborating with chefs and consulting with restaurants. In this episode, Ken shares how he has transitioned to different roles in his career all while Pursuing His Passion in Life.

Listen and learn.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[04:39] Getting to know Ken L Polk

[06:42] Ken as a city boy

[10:16] The difference between a cook and a chef

[11:43] How Ken got into culinary school despite not wanting to be a chef before

[13:31] Ken's culinary experience

[21:10] Ken's experience after culinary school

[25:44] What was it like for Ken to work in Michael Jordan's restaurant?

[28:31] What made Ken so ambitious when he was

[30:04] How Ken got to work at the Chicago Public Schools

[37:25] What inspired Ken to teach children culinary lessons?

[38:33] What made Ken leave teaching after 14 years?

[43:24] How Ken got into consulting for businesses

[46:18] Ken's collaboration with other chefs

[53:17] Why didn't Ken quit when the light bulb at CPS went off?

[55:28] Ken's current projects

[59:20] How to try out new food

[01:01:15] Top of the dome

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

"Anyone in an element doing anything is a wonderful thing to watch."

"Everything gets stored in your brain in the combinations in which you had it."

"Cooking is feeling and technical at the same time. It is subjective and objective."

"If you can reach one, you've done your job."

"If I'm going to win, we all have to win. It's not it's not competition. It's an expedition for me."

"Brand recognition makes all brands stronger."

"Brand collaboration builds brands."

"Everybody great is great because they are serving somebody something."

"Intimidation is what keeps people from learning."

Connect with Ken L Polk:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chichefken

Website: https://chefkenlpolk.com/

Be on the lookout for Ken's podcast, The Black Skillet.