Growing up, I wanted to be a Pediatrician. When I attended college, I changed my major several times as there were different jobs I became interested in. I wanted to be an Elementary School Teacher, a Doctor (again), an Accountant, a Marriage and Family Therapist and a School Counselor. As a grownup, I’m happy with my career, but still curious about what goes into other people’s careers.
I was introduced to Kronos, the leader in workforce management solutions. With tens of thousands of customers worldwide, Kronos helps their clients manage time and attendance records, worker’s schedules, absence records, HR and payroll, hiring, and labor analytics solutions and services.
Kronos has published the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series – a site devoted to sharing the personal stories of people who do the many important and too-often unrecognized jobs upon which we all rely. From their very first days, Kronos solutions have always focused on the work that people do. That’s why they’re proud to celebrate these special individuals who reflect the character, the commitment, and the passion of today’s workforce.
You can subscribe to the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series for free and watch every month as a new episode is aired featuring a different worker. In the video series, ordinary people in the workforce are featured and they tell their stories.
I found some really inspirational episodes that gave me a better look at these different jobs. One episode that really resonated with me was Episode 15, which is about Mike Perez – a Sous Chef at Hearty Boy Catering in Chicago. Mike is in the business of making parties perfect. Whether he’s cooking for a party of 30 or 1,000, he pours his heart and soul into every meal he creates. As a sous chef, Mike is second to the chef, and preps all of the food to get ready for an event. He cuts, preps slices and dices – Mike can do it all! He chefs the off-premise catering and occasionally works the line at the restaurant.
Cooking turned Mike’s life around. He made some bad choices that landed him in prison, but he found work in the kitchen, which was a sort of therapy while he was in jail. After his release in May 2006, he decided he wanted to continue cooking. He was hired out of the Silver Fork program that Hearty Boys owners, Dan and Steve helped develop for at-risk individuals looking for new careers. Out of 330 applicants, he was one of only 20 chosen for this program. Dan, co-founder of Hearty Boys, encouraged Mike to also pursue his own produce business, so on top of working for Hearty Boys, he also has 15 restaurants as customers for his fresh produce. Mike attributes his success to his boss at Hearty Boys Catering, saying, “He took a chance on me when nobody would, when I didn’t think I had a chance.” The most satisfaction Mike gets out of his job is making events perfect and memorable. It brings a smile to his face to bring a smile to others’ faces with his food. He is upbeat, energetic, and passionate about cooking/food. Today, in the kitchen, Mike has purpose — passion — and he’s proud to say he’s found his place. So if you are like Mike who loves to cook, learn more about the rewarding food careers at Stanislaus Food Production Jobs In Modesto.
Be sure to head on over to the “1 in one hundred million” Web Series and check it out for yourself!
Did you have any idea what it was like to be a Sous Chef? What episode did you like the most? What job would you like to learn more about?
I would love to see all of the different jobs out there. And a sous chef sounds like such a fun job. I love to cook!
That sounds like a fun job – especially for someone who likes to cook.
This looks like a great way to see what other jobs do! This is something that would totally interest me to find more things that interest me.
It’s awesome to hear that Mike found his true passion in cooking. Stories like these are so inspiring.
What an interesting sneak peak into his job. I didn’t know much about sous chefs before this.
Good luck to Mike. Maybe in a few years I can change careers.
Such an inspiring story! I think stories like this show us it is never too late to do what you really want in life.
Kronos sounds like a great workforce management solutions. It is wonderful to know more about other careers. Thanks for sharing.
I have never heard of this series before!
What a great way to show kids what each job is like before they “decide” on the first one they see.
I would love to be a sous chef…only because I love food and time in my kitchen!
Way to go on turning yor life around Mike! Very inspiring article. Thanks for sharing.
His story is very inspiring. Truly, it is never too late to find out and do what we really want in life.
Truly inspiring! It only shows that there’s no such thing as “too late”. There is always an opportunity for 2nd chances and new beginnings.
This is a great way to experience and to find out if being a chef is a career to explored. His story was inspirational and shows us it never too late to follow ones passion.
Good for you Mike – you are an inspiration and yes, you’ve found your place!
My husband is my sous chef! LOL But I love this guy and his reinvention. It gives the rest of us hope! Make your dreams reality!
It’s a wonderful but hectic job!
I’m so glad there are programs available to give individuals that made a bad choice a second chance!
Very inspirational
Very inspirational. It’s never too late to find out what we want in life.
This is so inspirational! I really enjoyed Mike’s story and am very happy that he was able to turn his life around and have a successful career he loves! Thank you for sharing
Congrats to Mike! That is excellent that he has created a career for himself. I watch Chopped all the time and there have been a few people on there that said they were having a rough life and when they discovered cooking, it changed their life for the better.
This is quite an inspiration. I hope others who are struggling to find their true calling can learn from this
Growing up I wanted to be a a TV anchor and a teacher. When I went to college, I took business degree because it was the in demand thing lol.
Aw what a lovely story it just goes to show that no matter what you have been through you can still turn your life around!
What an inspiration Mike is! It just goes to show it’s never too late to make your dreams come true!
I love reading stories like this that inspire people to reach for their dreams! We must always get over those “bumps in the road” and move forward. Always move forward.
I always wanted to be a chef, but I don’t think food and I are in a good cooking relationship. Lol. I admire people like Mike and everyone else who has followed their dreams. That’s really inspiring!
Wow that’s amazing, to think he was able to finally find what he loved to do with a service like this.
When I was little and would help my mom in the kitchen she would always call me her little sous chef and I would giggle, this makes me think of her! 🙂
that is so great that cooking helped turn Mike’s life around. i always enjoy getting a peek into other jobs
That is something I wrote about on my blog recently – reinventing ourselves and Mike most certainly and successfully did that! Thanks for sharing his story.
What a insoiring story and i think this kind of job was so fun.
What a great web series. I’m always interested in others jobs. Especially how they got their and their story. Mike’s story is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
What a insoiring story. I enjoy reading this so much
This is a great story! My fiancé is a sous chef as well!
This was so interesting! I love to cook (actually bake) and it was really cool to see a glimpse in restaurant kitchens.
The story is so motivating. It rightly says that its never too late to follow your heart.
Very inspiring story! Sounds like he has an awesome job.
I haven’t seen any of these episodes. I’d love to shadow a few of them.
What a great series! And no, I didn’t know what a sous chef was or did, although I’ve heard the title before. Thanks for sharing an interesting post!
What a great site. Sous chef sounds like a fun job thanks for sharing.