Sometimes You Have to Choose One Thing

I stopped taking charcuterie orders at the peak of that business, and I’ve never really talked about why.

It’s been a little over a year since I fulfilled my last charcuterie order. You may have noticed I haven’t shared much about charcuterie lately. For a long time, I went back and forth on whether I should say anything at all. But a year later, it feels like the right time.

What many people don’t know is that I started my charcuterie business and Ignite at the exact same time. Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I had big ideas, a lot of drive, and a belief that I could do it all.

At first, I could.

But it didn’t take long to realize that a digital service based business is far more profitable and far less time consuming than a food artistry business. Even after working with a consulting group through the Mississippi State MBA program and exploring every possible option, the conclusion stayed the same. Charcuterie required a lot of money, a lot of labor, and came with significantly lower margins.

For a long time, I thought I would always do both. But as both businesses grew quickly, reality set in. I was working on Ignite from 9 to 5 and then fulfilling charcuterie orders at night and on weekends. Seven days a week. Very little rest.

Very little margin to recharge.

And that matters.

I reached a point where I couldn’t show up as my best self during the workday because I was constantly exhausted. Mentally, physically, and creatively. I believe deeply in doing good work, and I knew I couldn’t continue giving Ignite the leadership, energy, and clarity it deserved if I never gave myself time to reset.

Sometimes the money is simply not worth the cost to your mental health.

Food based businesses are hard. Permits, licenses, insurance, storage, and food safety requirements are all necessary, all expensive, and all heavy for a small business owner taking orders when it makes sense.

At the end of the day, I am one person. Ignite grew into a business with full time employees who rely on my focus and leadership. Splitting my attention became unfair to that team, especially when one business clearly made more sense financially and structurally.

Could I have hired? Yes. Could I have scaled it differently or sold it? Maybe. But training, overhead, space, and the reality that I never wanted to remove my personal brand from the work made the decision clear. It was not just a logistical choice, it was an alignment one.

I had to pick one.

And I picked Ignite.

I can say honestly that I am so glad I did. Since making that decision, Ignite has increased revenue by over 50 percent. That growth is because of many things, especially my incredible team, but I know one major reason is focus. I was finally able to go all in on one thing and show up fully present every day.

I see so many entrepreneurs trying to do too much at once, and it often hurts the thing that actually works best for them. I didn’t want that. If I’m doing something, I am all in, and I couldn’t be all in with both.

Saying no has always been hard for me. Turning down opportunities and walking away from income was uncomfortable at first. But choosing what made sense financially, mentally, and fundamentally changed everything. I am genuinely happy with the choice I made, and I would make it again.

Charcuterie was a huge and meaningful part of my life. I worked with Southwest, Megan Moroney, Mississippi State, and so many incredible businesses and clients. I am deeply proud of what I built and grateful for every opportunity. None of it is taken for granted.

This isn’t a closed door, but it also isn’t something I’m pursuing right now. It’s simply a goodbye for this season.

If you are looking for a sign to focus on one thing, to protect your mental health, and to go all in on what truly makes sense for you, this is it.

Thank you for supporting me through every season.