Madeline Cates
Nomad Traveling Cocktail Bar
Glendora, CA USA
"You’ll want to give up, especially as an entrepreneur, but it takes time to build a brand. Stay true. Stay strong."
Career Roadmap
Madeline's work combines: Food, Entrepreneurship, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
As an entrepreneur, there are times when everything's great and times when you think you're going to fail. Regardless of the industry you're in as an entrepreneur, you're always going to have the good days and you're always going to have the doubts. That's the roller coaster of entrepreneurship.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business
Undergraduate
Bachelor's Degree
Accounting
Undergraduate
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I've worked in the restaurant and food and beverage industry for over 12 years, which laid the foundation for my skills and passion.
2.
I initially thought I was in hospitality because of life circumstances—but I realized I wasn’t stuck. I actually loved it, so I decided to pursue a master’s degree in hospitality to open more doors.
3.
While pursuing my master’s, I took a semester off and ended up not going back to school—I couldn’t stop thinking about starting a mobile bartending business and wanted to focus my attention on that.
4.
After balancing a full-time job, the master's program, and my startup, Nomad Cocktail Co., I eventually left the job I hated to focus on my business full-time.
5.
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged my business, but I used the downtime to rewrite contracts, adjust pricing, and prepare for a strong comeback.
6.
Starting with a camper renovation and help from a photographer for a styled shoot, I created a brand and began booking events.
7.
Building a strong team, I now manage the business behind the scenes, allowing me more flexibility and time with my family.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Am I doing this right? Maybe I shouldn't be doing this. Am I going to fail and have to go back to working a normal job?
How I responded:
As an entrepreneur, there are times when everything's great and times when you think you're going to fail. Regardless of the industry you're in as an entrepreneur, you're always going to have the good days and you're always going to have the doubts. That's the roller coaster of entrepreneurship.