Meet Kayla Pruitt | Entrepreneurial Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Pruitt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve never really thought about just starting a business. It’s always been more I naturally have been able to see opportunity for business and then took my skill sets and nurtured a business to grow. I think any thought process I had was to trust my entrepreneurial spirit, have a strong work ethic, and believe in myself; business would follow.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m naturally a creative soul. It’s a part of me my mother noticed instantly at a young age and made a point to put me around business professionals and entrepreneurs that allowed me to foster that spirit. From my first “business” hoarding Halloween candy to sell for a $1 in the lunch cafeteria to starting my first real business at 16; I’ve known I would be an entrepreneur in life.

I’ve been a professional face paint artist, content creator, brick and mortar owner, and small business advocate. I’m probably know the most for being the “Fork Lady”. Girl with the fork tattoo.

In 2020 the world stopped and so did business for alot of entertainers like myself who were professional face paint artists, magicians, balloonist, ect. It was a lesson in bussiness ownership that you learn what guts you’re really made of when you can’t provide services or an income for yourself anymore. What do you do?

I pivoted and found opportunity that I could hustle with. That’s where Keep Your Fork was born. The fork comes into play because 2020 wasn’t just a tough year but, it was hard. I had just been diagnosed with a cervical cancer battle and with surgeries/ access being limited with the state of things; I ended up having a hysterectomy in the midst of it all. To get myself through mentally, I read a story about a fork.

A girl who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and planning her funeral arrangements, tells her pastor to bury her with a fork in her hand. And says when they ask why to tell them her memories of when her grandmother would tell her about fancy luncheons and dinners she’d go to. How her favorite part after the main course was served and they’d clear the plates to start bringing out the extravagant desserts; someone would lean over and say “Keep Your Fork”. Because they knew the best part was on it’s way out. See, it was her simple reminder to leave behind that you must simply Keep Your Fork in life because the best is yet to come and there is much more awaiting us after this main course of life.

That story made me make it through and just as I was making it through the tragedy of loosing a livlihood, I had faith another business would come my way. So with a giant fork tattooed on my arm before my surgery, I began Keep Your Fork Meal Prep Services that same year.

I ammased overnight it felt a 5K page and group following. Grew our services and staff from single preps to family meals, brick and mortar locations, and even large event catering. I applied my creativity to the experience and plating process we provided and let my story be what I grew my business on.

Signing a lease on a commercial space or taking the big leaps to grow were never easy. Even harder, I would say is having enough faith and belief in yourself that you can do it; is probably the hardest challenge in business. But if you stay true to what you believe in, work hard, and don’t stop pivoting or growing; your business will thrive with you leading it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’ve lived all over DFW and currently reside in Burleson TX just outside of Fort Worth. In the same spirit of my love being an entrepreneur, I’m always the friend that is going to take you to a small business for a good time. Usually up early and visiting a local farmer’s market, we personally love the Burleson Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and the Crowley Market on Main every Sunday. Then into downtown or a square for lunch at a local small business with scratch made fresh kitchen. For the evening, in Burleson there is a plaza area that always has local live music playing and bands. So a drink and chair to listen and enjoy the company is generally a perfect day for me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and customers. I always took the risk to put myself out there and they always took the time to see me and support.

Website: https://Linktr.ee/KaylaPruitt

Image Credits
Kimberly Lang Photography