Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Gress.
Hi Meredith, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My time in corporate America can be summarized in one word, theatrical. After graduating from Kansas State University my decade long career involved seven companies. Those companies and the roles within them involved: sexual harassment, receiving threats via social media, religious manipulation, being spied on, my body being scrutinized to my face, being gaslighted, breaking up a violent fight while everyone else just watched, being groomed, scrubbing in for surgery, accidently taking part in fraud, being stabbed in the back countless times, being lied to, being told “I make more money when my patients are sick”, being depressed, being encouraged to get divorce, battling an eating disorder, facing physical violence, firing people, hiring people, accidently joining a corporate cult, being threatened with lawsuits, oh and warding off prostitutes. I was challenged in ways I could have never imagined. However, there is purpose from my pain, and I am grateful for all of it. God has a plan, and I trust it. Honestly, every twist and turn was a hidden blessing – otherwise I’d probably still be caught in the revolving door of the med device grind. I used to start my days just counting down to when I could get home, pour a glass of wine, and binge some show – but now, I wake up feeling hopeful! I feel alive! I am no longer on autopilot, and I no longer think of myself as victim. The most poetic part is that in the Bible the number 7 represents completion, and the number 8 stands for new beginnings. This marks the eighth company I’ve worked for in the real world – only this time, it’s mine! Cheers to my new beginning with Soiree Your Way KC!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was ready to quit my job. I reflected upon my passions, my God given strengths, and what would be fulfilling work to me. During this season, I came to the realization that what had been driving me was my deep need to have a successful career which stemmed from me trying to prove people wrong. Growing up I was labeled as dumb, I was told I would have an ordinary life, I was told to marry rich because I was too stupid to thrive in a career and when I got to college to focus on my MRS degree. It made for great fuel, but it embedded imposter syndrome into the fabric of my professional life. I have always assumed I would climb the corporate ladder and prove them all wrong. That money equaled success and that equaled intelligence. However, while I was building up my own ego and climbing that corporate ladder, what it all boiled down to was that I became prideful. I found the perfect label to hide behind which was a Medical Device Sales Representative and later a National Account Manager. If I could stand up to the smartest minds in the medical field that would be the pinnacle of proving my intellect.
So here I was, ten years post-graduation, just landed my biggest deal with a national private equity group, had the personal cell phone numbers of an ophthalmologist for NASA, a few personal numbers of the Chief Medical Officers to some of the largest eyecare private equity groups in the USA, getting job offers for $200k base and all the while felling nauseous at the thought of going back into that world. I do not say this to be boastful, I say this because I was getting closer to my goals and yet felt dread.
When I graduated from Kansas State University the school threatened everyone that if we decorated our graduation caps they wouldn’t let us go through the graduation ceremony. So naturally I decorated my cap to challenge them. I applied in big white letters one of my favorite quotes from a song by AWOLNATION called Kill Your Heros and it read “NEVER LET FEAR DECIDE YOUR FATE.” Guess what? They still let me walk. I share that story because a decade later I did not apply that quote or have that same fire when I needed to the most. I was too fearful to leave my miserable, prideful, and complacent bubble. I was too fearful to go against the grain.
My church was holding a week of prayer every morning at 6:00am right around this time. I remember walking outside and sitting on the concrete in the parking lot, looking at the woods and seeing the sunrise peak through. I felt this overwhelming emotion. I felt God saying to me “do it!” The realization hit me that I was going to start my own company. I cried countless tears as fear of failure and the hurtful words I grew up on repeat gripped me, I got up from the concrete and I got in my car. As I started her up a random song came on my shuffle called All You Need to Know by Gryffin & Slander.
The lyrics sang
“Simple as can be
I got your hands in mine
And you don’t have to listen carefully
I’ll tell you a thousand times
Anything you feel, put it all on me
All of your thoughts, I want everything
And when you get sad, like you do sometimes
Put it all on me
Put it all on me
I’ll lift you when you’re feeling low
I’ll hold you when the night gets cold
You’ll never have to be alone
And that’s all you need to know
No love lost, we’ve got you and I
No clouds, we shoot ’em out the sky
You’ll never have to be alone
And that’s all you need to know
And that’s all you need to know
And that’s all you need to know
Simple as can be
I’m gonna be around
And you know we got everything we need
Look at this thing we found
Anything you feel, put it all on me
Your fears and your thoughts, give me all of it
And when you get sad, like you do sometimes
Put it all on me
Put it all on me”
I may sound wacky to those who are not believers, but in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace that God was saying I will be with you. You have to choose faith over letting fear continue to grip you.
I filed an LLC soon after and I started my own company. It began as a High Tea Cafe, I had found a location for rent and was looking over contracts. But by the grace of God, I found the old tenant and asked him how we liked the café space. He had minimal positives and a whole lot of negatives that would have inevitably ruined my business plan His honesty and wisdom lead me to say no to the property and I was back to the drawing board. I thought to seek the advice of my resourceful neighbor who owns some highly successful restaurants. He recommended that I build up my name by starting with a mobile catering company. I took his advice and ran with it. I began looking at catering vehicles, and let me tell you what, they were outrageously priced! But during my search I stumbled upon pre-owned city buses, trolleys, ice cream trucks, and school buses. From there my idea evolved to a mobile High Tea Cafe on a trolley. I thought this time; I am for sure sticking with this. As I tried to work through coordination of making a half kitchen and half café on a moving trolley, I also came to the realization that I can’t bake (yes, I know it seems a little late for that realization). My plan for High Tea was always to utilize talented moms who chose to stay at home and raise her children. I could help support their dreams, while helping them make some extra income. Due to the scale of my new venture mixed with the logistics, my original plan was not substantial overall.
But that is where everything fell into place! Voila! I would simply create space for people to congregate without location limitations! The client could select what food we would cater, and the client could use the space for whatever occasion they needed it for. I found the perfect trolley, I accidentally called the wrong broker. This woman may have saved my entire business! She shared how trolleys were the highest maintenance vehicle on the market, they commonly broke down and they would be an extremely expensive fix. She is the one who recommended I go with a school bus instead due to the modest maintenance nature. This same woman looked at the listing before I bought my bus and worked with me to make sure it was a good purchase. It is really remarkable how this woman living on the east coast had nothing to gain, and yet said she wanted to see another woman succeed. I love when the beauty of humanity shines through in the most random places!
I parallel my journey to the parable of The Man on the Roof During a Flood.
A man lives in a town where a massive flood is coming. As the water starts to rise, local authorities warn everyone to evacuate. But the man says: “I have faith. God will save me.”
As the waters rise and reach his porch, a neighbor drives by in a truck and says:
“Get in! The water is rising!”
The man replies: “No thanks. I have faith. God will save me.”
The water keeps rising. The man retreats to the second floor of his house. A rescue team in a boat comes by and shouts: “Get in the boat!”
The man again says: “No thanks. I have faith. God will save me.”
Eventually, he’s forced onto the roof as the floodwaters continue to rise. A helicopter flies by and lowers a rope. The rescue team yells: “Grab the rope! We’ll pull you up!”
But the man still refuses: “No thanks. I have faith. God will save me.”
Soon after, the man drowns.
When he gets to heaven, he angrily asks God: “I had faith in You! Why didn’t You save me?”
God replies: “I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What more were you expecting?”
That parable kept crossing my mind.
My flood warning was the final straw and choosing to leave my job.
My truck driver was the previous owner of the café I wanted to lease.
My boat was my neighbor who changed everything for me.
My helicopter was the kind woman on the east coast.
Let’s pray that my story doesn’t end in the business drowning 😉.
When my husband and I flew to Denver to pick up the bus, the first thing I noticed is that the bus had the number 8 on the front. It was a sign from God that this bus was my new beginning! I named her Bebe after my grandmother on my mom’s side.
It didn’t take long for me to panic about my choice as my husband drove the bus back to KC. I was sitting on a hot, completely gutted school bus on a toasty September day, sitting in a broken camper chair while yellow insultation swirled around me. I am sure I looked like that GIF of the dog drinking coffee with fire around him saying “everything is fine.” It really was a hysterical sight to see.
I started telling more people about my business after the purchase. I was met with furious objections, crazy looks and people giving me a sympathetic eye. My insecurities were bubbling up. I had countless nights of panic. The vision I once saw so clearly was being dimmed by the doubters. I would pray Psalm 119:105 for God to be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, for endurance, for patience, and for thick skin. I continued to thank Him for my pain because I knew there was a purpose, and that this pressure was a privilege.
I had to take it one day at a time or else the thought of the future was too overwhelming. I gathered more of my confidence back and the people around me would say “you are clearly not changing your mind, so how can we help.” It truly took a village to get Bebe completed and I cannot be more grateful for the community of my friends and family to offer their help willingly! The real MVP was my husband, Ryan! He is a Financial Planner at Creative Planning, he would be at the office from 8:00am – 5:00pm, afterwards he would go directly to work on Bebe. He did this for 6 months without complaint! I am beyond blessed for this amazing man and I love him more than the day I married him back on May the Fourth be with You in 2019. A side note, on our wedding day we had two pictures for people to sign as our guest book, one said “I will keep you safe” and the other said “I will keep you wild.” I think I have been doing my best to hold up my end, I am definitely keeping things wild haha. After Ryan wrapped up construction, I go to take over and design! It was a blast!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since nothing like this exists, to my knowledge. I am excited that the sky is the limit, or should I say the road is the limit! Ordinary is over. It has been remarkable to see what events people are booking me for. I have been booked for a surprise baby shower in an office parking lot, a VIP lounge for a music festival, a book themed party in a scenic park, a 40th birthday party in someone’s yard, an alumni tailgate at Arrowhead to a groom suite for a wedding. I love that I can bring something to the people of Kansas City that they did not even know they wanted or needed!
The mobile micro venue offers comfortable lounge seating, AC/Heat, private restroom, a bar with ice provided, speaker system, a variety of card & board games, ambient lighting, SYW conversation cards, and complimentary sparkling or still water. Plus, you can customize your event with our menu of Add to the Fun accoutrements! For example, a client can add our outdoor setup (table / chairs, sun canopy, yard games for adults and kids), drink service (coffee, tea, sodas), adult drink service (we provide the mixers, garnishes, and bartending), food catering, planned activities (wine & canvas, permanent jewelry, whiskey tasting, mobile massage therapist, etc.), group games, and theme décor. The best part is we manage all the clean up, so a client can truly show up with everything overseen and get to enjoy their event in my unique space.
The excuses of the past no longer apply because I am rewriting the rules. I take the struggle out of the soiree and allow people’s precious time to be time well spent!
Studies show that 70% of people prefer to stay home. That is why people are opting to have groceries delivered, furniture delivered, even coffee delivered, so why not have your venue delivered too? There is a reason my neon sign on the bar says, “normal gets you nowhere.”
The empire’s in motion – literally. This is just the first stop!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Professional Podcasts: Diary of a CEO, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, The Ed Mylett Show, Under the Skin with Russell Brand, Take Control of Your Health with Dr. Mercola, and Modern Wisdom with Chris Williamson.
Personal Entertainment Podcasts: Correct Opinions with Trey Kennedy & Jake Triplett, The Journal, Modern Love, and Search Engine.
Books: The Bible, Love Does by Bob Goff, Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima, and a whole bookshelf of books from my book club that are fluffy and fun entertainment, a nice little escape from reality which is very needed.
Blogs: Have never followed any… perhaps the only ones I have looked at are the ones with cooking and baking recipes. I am attempting to learn some domesticated skills in the kitchen! My poor husband has had some rough food served to him; I literally had brownies disintegrate when you cut into them haha.
Apps: Calm (when you need to give your overthinking brain a break), Noonlight (I encourage all my ladies to download this), and Amazon (has been my best friend when starting a business)! I definitely thought I was going to get kicked off the Amazon app based on how many returns I made during the design process. Shout out to those delivery drivers!
Other resources: Not sure if this applies…. but… going to the movie theaters! Nothing helps me unwind and relax more than a large popcorn with extra butter and an unhealthy amount of salt with a good movie on the big screen.
Pricing:
- $100 per hour for the mobile micro venue (Bebe)
- $150 total for our outdoor setup
- $50 per hour for drink service or adult drink service
- Food catering: Tier 1 at $5 per person, Tier 2 at $12 per person and Tier 3 at $19 per person
- $125 total for theme decor
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soireeyourwaykc.com
- Instagram: @soireeyourwaykc
- Facebook: /soireeyourwaykc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithgress
- Youtube: @SoireeYourWayKC
