Charnell Diamond shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Charnell, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Many recent moments make me feel proud, such as the growth of my business Dluxe Vegan, & the many obstacles that I’ve overcome throughout the years.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Charnell Diamond, better known as Chef Cee. I am the founder and CEO of Dluxe Vegan. What makes my restaurant unique is my ability to create almost any dish or dessert into a vegan masterpiece. I show my customers that you can still eat clean and eat good at the same time, all while bettering their health.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A recent moment that really shaped how I see the world is the passing of my great aunt. Besides losing one of my dogs back in 2016, her passing was the closest death that I’ve experienced. I often hear people speak about their grief of losing a loved one, but I never experienced losing someone close to me to understand how they felt until her passing. Before her passing, I was wild, broken, egotistical, and didn’t really care much about life. Now, I’ve awakened to understand that life is short and that we should display more love to each other and less hate. You never know when your expiration day is coming.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly, I think about giving up every other day. I have alot on my plate and alot of people to take care of, including my customers. Being new to my awakening, I’m still coming into my new self while parting ways with my old self. However, every day when those thoughts of giving up hit me, I think of what I’ve been through, how far I’ve come, and my purpose. Everything I went through was for me to walk in my purpose and help others who have been through or are going through the same.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie that my industry tells itself is that running a business is simple. If it were simple, everyone interested in this industry would be in this industry. It is not an easy task to wake up everyday, cater to your customers, cater to your business, and cater to yourself. You have to be prepared to lose at all times. As a new restaurateur, I’ve witnessed many people lose their businesses or go out of business. However, I’m one to push through, regardless of what others consider failure, because my past obstacles and mistakes have built me Ford Tough.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I would continue to stop caring what people think of and say about me. One thing I learned early on is that when people envy you or want to be you, they will do or say anything it takes to defame you and get others not to admire you because “too many people admire you” when they feel it should be them in your spot and not you. My main focus is me, because I’m who has and gets to live and love my life everyday, not others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dluxevegan.com/?fbclid=PAdGRleAMb2CtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpxg3GJuu69vEFMn-nnf-uWcg5W0lMjNKD4WRidxTFFwpWQ44RyTz1-kprlQa_aem_hnlAbvHNC4QcUXS4dg_CZA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dluxevegan/
Image Credits
Charnell Diamond
