That pit in your stomach when you’re about to try something new? Every successful food business owner knows it well. But here’s the truth: cold feet never cooked a great meal. Failure tastes better than regret.
The Real Cost of Playing It Safe: Premeditated regret
Look around your city. The busiest spots are different from the ones serving the same old stuff. They’re run by people who dared to be different. Maybe it’s that taco joint that combined unexpected flavors or the bakery that took a chance on sourdough when everyone else stuck to white bread. Regret is often felt by those who never dared to innovate.
Smart Moves, Real Growth
Taking risks doesn’t mean betting the farm. It means listening when three customers ask for vegan options. It means staying open an hour later because the neighborhood’s changing. Small moves, made with confidence, build something real. Avoiding regret means taking calculated risks.
The School of Hard Knocks
Bad pop-ups teach more than good ones. Empty tables tell you something’s off. A dish that bombs shows what your customers actually want – not what you think they want. But you’ve got to be in the game to learn the rules. You have to take risks, or regret will follow.
Start Where You Are
Got a booth at the farmers market? That’s your test kitchen. Catering small events? That’s market research. Every plate served, and every customer chat shapes what comes next. You can’t plan your way to perfection – you’ve got to cook your way there. Regret comes from holding back and not testing your ideas.
Just Start
The food world needs new voices, different tastes, and fresh ideas. Sure, plan smart, but don’t let planning become hiding. Your food matters, your vision matters, and someone out there is hungry for exactly what you make. Just do it. You won’t regret taking the risk.
Crafted Kitchen is an incubator-style shared-use kitchen in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. We provide small food businesses with the tools, access and support they need to make their side hustle a success story.
Looking to rent commercial kitchen space? We do that! Let’s talk.
Hungry for more? We’ve got tons of helpful resources, blog posts and podcasts on our website. Check it out!
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