984: Cynthia Wong Founder of Life Raft Treats

Cynthia Wong is the Founder of Life Raft Treats. Cynthia knew she wanted to become a baker at a very young age. She went to culinary school in San Fransisco and then began working as a bread baker there. She then went off to culinary school in France and returned to the states and became a baker in various restaurants across the nation. She worked as a pastry chef in Atlanta for 12 years and moved to Charleston 8 years ago where she worked in her last restaurant. She burned out of the restaurant industry because she didn't appreciate how she was treated and what was unfairly expected of her. She then created Life Raft Treats in 2018 and it has beeb growing ever since. Life Raft Treats has done pop ups, food carts, food trucks, and now it's a full-on wholesaler.

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Favorite success quote/mantra:

• "It's all I got."

In this episode with Cynthia Wong we will discuss:

• Burning out of restaurants
• Starting small
• Chefs stealing credits from their cooks/bakers
• Inventing a unique product
• Being nominated for a James Beard
• Pop ups
• Food trucks
• Wholesale

Today's sponsor:

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Key clients include Loews Hotels, Novartis, Madison Square Garden, Yum, FB Society, Hakkasan, TAO Group, and the Dog Haus.

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • I have a gear that other people don't
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • I'm really impatient
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • What's your favorite stupid movie?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Supply chain and inflation
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Don't be a asshole and don't let anyone be an asshole to you
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Try our best to accommodate wacky ideas
7. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
   • Be as generous as you can possibly be
   • Don't be an asshole
   • Don't let anyone be an asshole to you

Contact:

Website: https://www.liferafttreats.com

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Cynthia Wong for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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