Today we’d like to introduce you to DeVonte’ Jackson.
Hi DeVonte’, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Yes, I would love to! My story exemplifies how to respond when faced with unexpected adversity. I hope it inspires someone to set aside fear and walk in their purpose. As we all know, COVID-19 has detrimentally affected us in too many ways to name.
For me, it contributed to the temporary discontinuation of my only source of income during the early stages of 2020. I had never been faced with a situation as rare as this one; I had no idea what to do.
Whilst scrambling for answers, I experienced an epiphany that led me to my passion that guided me during this time of uncertainty. Since I was a little boy, I’ve always had a passion for food.
I often found myself watching the Food Network just as much as Nickelodeon. I enjoyed the masterful culinary displays of Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Rachel Ray, G. Garvin & so many more! They inspired me to get in the kitchen & create my very own culinary masterpieces.
Cooking has always brought me great joy! It was a time for me to escape from reality and enter my own world. I always felt like the kitchen was my very own studio, as the dishes I created felt like works of art, and I treated them as such! The entire cooking process is essentially just that, art! The finished product was one I was always excited to reveal, as I would love to photographically capture the dishes’ end product to share and tell whoever would care to listen.
I have always prided myself on cooking dishes that are crafted with love, possess incredible flavor, and are easy on the eye! 
Fast forward to 2020, the month of February to be exact, I had officially transitioned vegan! This means I no longer consumed meat, dairy, eggs, or any other product that comes from an animal. A journey that has been very liberating and allowed me to unlearn old harmful habits and learn new healthier ones all in the name of health! In my community, it is all too common to hear and witness the early death of others’ loved ones associated with poor eating habits.
I am vigilant of this repetitive theme and presented myself with a sobering ultimatum of getting my life together while I have the chance, or possibly meet the unfortunate fate of many others. I asked myself “Why wait until something happens to make a change?” The signs have been apparent for so many years, but are more apparent now than ever before, and I decided to make this lifestyle switch for the benefit of my future self.
Just a month later COVID-19 shook the entire world and left us all in a great state of fear and uncertainty. I knew at that time that it would change society as I knew it forever. I often found myself in deep thought, especially during times of uncertainty, and considering my sole source of income being suspended “until further notice”. I motivated myself to turn my passion into profit! I knew it would take different actions to receive different results!
I needed different results that allowed me to pivot from relying on anyone or anything other than myself for monetary income. Instead, I bet on myself and created Da Vegan Way, LLC just a few months later in July 2020! Da Vegan Way is a company that I created with the mind of guiding others on the same health journey similar to my own.
My childhood friend Derrick Mosley, who has an extensive background in Hospitality and Culinary Arts from college, joined operations just months after its inception. We always knew we wanted to collaborate with one another using food as a medium, but we never quite knew what it would be until I started Da Vegan Way!
Transitioning into this plant-based lifestyle has been one of the most challenging feats I have ever accomplished.
Conscious of this, I wanted to create versions of comfort food dishes people know and love but substituting plant-based ingredients to generate the smoothest transition possible. Hence the name Da VEGAN Way! My customers often express after trying our dishes that if they weren’t already informed that it was made with plants, they would have never been able to tell it wasn’t meat!
I am known as a rather reserved individual, I have never been one to put myself out there in this manner, out of the fear and judgment from others. I conquered that fear because I knew it would be worth it and boy was I right!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not in the slightest! This journey has been a very rocky one, but it has created so many learning opportunities that not only have taught me what it takes to become a successful business owner, but it has also shown me how to become the best version of myself! This entire process has forced me to dig deep from inside myself to uncover characteristics I was unaware I possessed.
Understanding this has propelled me to continue to learn more about myself and find ways to apply that to my craft, and my personal life as well. One takeaway that will remain is being openly receptive! My definition of being receptive is keeping an open mind, rarely saying the word “no”, willing to think about things from an alternate perspective. I believe if you’re not open to receiving, then you will lessen the chance to learn and grow!
With this being my first business and not having any knowledge on how to manage it or knowing anyone personally that has owned a business, made it very difficult from the start! Discovering how to list my business with the State of Missouri, obtaining an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service and Missouri State Business License, preparing tax documents, earning food safety certifications, the list goes on!
I can tell you that without a doubt Google and YouTube became my two best friends!
Some entrepreneurs try to romanticize this process and provide a false narrative of it being simple to be your own boss. It takes intense effort, commitment, resiliency and sacrifice! At times I felt lost, alone, and unmotivated to the extent that I wanted to give up, but I saw the bigger picture and knew that giving up was not an option for me!
The key is to be intentional, willing to learn, and putting one foot in front of the other and move forward! I know this is a famous cliché, but Rome in fact was not built in a day! Great ideas take time, patience, proper resources, and extreme will to come to fruition.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
From an occupational standpoint outside of my businesses, I currently assume the role of Career Specialist with Saint Louis Community College at Forest Park. At STLCC, I assist current students and alumni by guiding them into their desired career fields. This includes but is not limited to; career planning/exploration, resume development/critique, and mock interview sessions.
I do not take this role lightly! I attended STLCC 10 years ago and I see teenage “DJ” a little in each of my students! I am still in awe of how life has led me to this full-circle moment and brought me back to the intuition that has played a great role in molding me into what I am today. 2012-2014 was one of the most difficult periods of my life but through the darkness, I found the light.
Being a first-generation college student, I was very intimidated at the beginning and often felt lost with little sense of direction. I will be everything to my students that I needed when I was in their shoes. I believe that I can be very relatable to my students and not only teach them but motivate them to reach the best version of themselves! As you can see, helping others happens to be another passion of mine, especially when it comes to the youth!
My background consists of various youth advising roles. I’m cognizant of how imperative it is to be a great model for the younger generation, a duty I assume with great pride and responsibility. With all that, I’ve accomplished in my 27 years of life, I am very proud of holding my current position. It ranks at the very top with being the first member of my family to graduate with a college degree, along with establishing my businesses Da Vegan Way & Aligned Kings (Men’s Personal Product line).
What I truly believe makes me unique is my aura. I am often complimented on the therapeutic energy I carry. I am aware and very grateful that I acquired such a significant attribute. I utilize it not only for myself but for those around that may need it as well.
With a background in Psychology, I am very vigilant of human emotions, specifically my own, and how they come to play in many ways. When situations go awry, you can also count on me to be the coolest cucumber in the room. I pride myself on this because it exemplifies that I possess a level-headed approach in chaotic situations.
Consciously aware of the current state of this world, is a very valuable trait to possess.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned many things since this Covid-19 crisis started, but the most important lessons that I learned are discovering my worth and not accepting anything less from myself or others, learning how to bet on myself, and trusting the process.
Contact Info:
- Email: daveganwayllc@gmail.com
- Website: da-vegan-way.square.site
- Instagram: instagram.com/daveganwayllc
- Facebook: facebook.com/daveganway
- Twitter: twitter.com/daveganwayllc
