Prior to these events, I considered myself a very positive person, and when “life happened” so abruptly I pushed myself like many others to keep going, but this time with different thoughts in the back of my mind, I knew I could and should do something more meaningful with my time where I could possibly help or impact others, but I had no idea what else I could possibly do. I’ve worked over 24 years on International Business so I didn’t know how to incorporate that to my midlife age.

Then the universe confirmed that the change of paths was in the cards for me. The company I was working for several years was acquired by a Private Equity firm and many employees including myself were left without a job in July 2022.

Before I was without a job, I knew that that was coming, and I was thinking and wishing that a good business idea will come to me, all I knew was that I didn’t want to work for anyone else ever again, and I didn't think I had any talent, my oldest sister is a writer and my younger sister is a pastry chef, and I had nothing on me, all I knew was that I was good with people and that I light up when I’m around others.

Then one day I wanted to send a care package to my cousin and I wasn’t able to find something that she didn’t have to prepare or make something out of it. I just wanted something she could open and enjoy… it was then when a concept of Red Apron Charcuterie was born in my mind.

Right away I started ordering different boxes in Amazon to experiment, and literally 2 weeks after this is when I was let go from my job. I do strongly believe that everything happens for a reason, and this was once again it’s a proof of that!

Being self employed and driving everything on my own is tough. The only easy part for me was to figure out the name of my business: my last name is Rojas, which translates from Spanish to Red, in a way I feel like I’m honoring my father.

Once I created my logo and got my first business cards, everything become official. I have been working since then on every little detail on my own and it has been incredibly hard, but I love every part of it.

I truly put in my heart on every charcuterie box I’m making and that’s when creativity flows (by the way I didn’t event know what creativity was). In a way I feel like I’m bringing a piece of aesthetics and quality of life that I think are the correct ones, I only use product I truly love myself because I want to always be able to give my honest opinion on all the products.

Like my husband likes to say “I’m building my business box by box”, he is the biggest blessing in my life who despite of me driving him crazy at times, still supports my ideas and pushes me to be better each day.

I want to think I’m going in the right direction, customers keep coming for more boxes, to me that’s the affirmation I need to keep going, one day at a time, and try not to worry about tomorrow because I’ve learned that whatever is meant to be it will be, and all I can do is keep trying to do what I do well which is: bring joy to whomever wants to try one of my boxes.

Ana