Erin Wade, once a highly paid lawyer in San Francisco, chose to give up her corporate job. She found herself miserable despite the success. She craved something that brought her joy. Today, Erin is a millionaire after she quit her legal career and became the owner of a popular mac and cheese restaurant.
Lawyer Quits Legal Career To Follow Her Passion For Mac And Cheese
Erin was once living what many would call a dream. She worked for a respected law firm, wore smart suits, and represented some of the biggest companies in America. On the surface, everything looked perfect. Yet, deep down, Erin was unhappy. She realised that she didn’t love her work. She did not feel inspired or excited to start her day.
In an interview with Fortune Magazine, Erin opened up about her feelings. She admitted that she envied people who spoke about loving their jobs. She longed to find that same connection with her work. Erin wanted her job to have meaning and to bring her joy. She wanted the people around her to feel fulfilled as well. This desire led her to make a big decision.
Erin decided to quit her job as a corporate lawyer. She set out to find something that would bring her happiness. And that something turned out to be mac and cheese. Erin had always loved cooking, especially comfort foods. She thought that maybe her calling was in creating and sharing good food with people. This led to the idea of Homeroom, a restaurant dedicated to mac and cheese.
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The Opening Of Homeroom
In 2011, Erin opened Homeroom in Oakland, California. She didn’t know at the time how successful it would become. She just knew she loved the idea of feeding people her favourite dish. Erin’s passion paid off. She became a leading expert on mac and cheese, having cooked over 10,000 dishes. She shared that she grated more than a metric ton of cheese and whisked so much cream sauce that she injured her wrist.
Homeroom’s mac and cheese became a hit. It was featured on popular platforms like The Wall Street Journal and the Cooking Channel. The restaurant’s performance put it in the top 1% of restaurants nationwide. Erin was surprised by the success. In her initial business plan, she estimated her income to be far lower than what she earned as a lawyer. Yet, in the first year itself, she earned more than what she had made in her corporate job.
After running Homeroom for a decade, Erin sold the business in 2020 to a venture-backed restaurant company. By then, her success had made her a mac-and-cheese millionaire. Erin’s journey is a testament to following one’s passion. She began Homeroom out of her love for food and her desire to connect with others through cooking. Over time, she also discovered a love for running a business. Erin learnt how to make her restaurant profitable while ensuring that it was a happy place for everyone involved.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Representative Image), the_erinwade/Instagram
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