This month, we're featuring Myles Powell, founder of 8 Myles! Read on to learn about his unique story of launching his mac 'n cheese.
Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit more about you. What is your passion behind your business?
My name is Myles and I'm the Founder and CEO of 8 Myles, producer of gourmet comfort food. I was born into a family of foodies and entrepreneurs. I've always had a love for food and a proclivity for hustle. I was raised in an environment where everyone worked really hard, but the best moments of family time were spent gathered around the dinner table for family meals. And the stars of the show was comfort food!
Did you always know you wanted to start a food business?/What did you do professionally?
Deep down, I always wanted to be an entrepreneur. While I was pursuing a career in engineering, my passion for food was nurtured by experimenting with new recipes inspired by the foods of my childhood. This experimentation led to me starting a food blog, which ultimately landed me on the Food Network on a competition series called America's Best Cook. That stint sealed the deal for me, as I then decided that food would play a bigger role in my life than just sustenance and a hobby.
Why did you start your business?
What convinced you to take the plunge?
One phrase. "Why not. Not Why". This is what I said to myself prior to accepting the invite to the Food Network show. And this has been my mantra since I started the business.
What do you like about food?
When the world tears you down, and you feel like nothing is going your way, a good meal can lift up your spirits. It's the one thing that brings us together as a people. It's more than just something we need to sustain our living as human beings. It also provides mental nourishment.
What drew you to the food industry?
The opportunity to tie in my passion for food and my desire to run a business
What's the biggest challenge you've faced to date?
The biggest challenge is navigating the period of growth the company is currently in, without having a formidable team behind it. With so many important decisions to be made, it becomes very challenging to not only make the correct choices, but to also balance everything. I like to say, imagine you're in a 10 story office building. And the phone is ringing on every floor. And you're responsible for answering every phone call. So you're constantly running up and down the stairs to answer every call, but you're extremely tired and can't focus on one particular call. Or plan building expansion. Or stay one step ahead of proper building maintenance. Without a team on every floor, this is the most challenging aspect of running a business.
Has anything surprised you about starting your food business?
The one big surprise is how important branding is to the success of a company.
What's been the most exciting part of starting your food business?
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