Women are said to be better at multitasking than men. However, this myth isn’t backed by science and often results in unfair expectations placed on women (who are then pressured into doing more work, draining more of their cognitive resources and energy). Cristina Curp is a bestselling author, admired chef, a successful entrepreneur, a military spouse, and a mother whose inspirational journey can teach us essential lessons about juggling multiple tasks effectively.
How is Cristina excelling at multiple pursuits, and what can we learn from her? The multitalented influencer explains that she gives her hundred percent in whatever she does. Her dedication is evident from her success, but it also demonstrates the importance of understanding the value of resources to achieve your goals effectively. Having your priorities straight and leaning on your community are key, she says.
Being a military spouse means moving around a lot, and needing to find a new community every few years. However if it weren’t for the support of neighbors, her husband, and her colleagues she would not have been able to build a business and write two cookbooks. So whenever Cristina is doing something, she makes sure she can give it her utmost focus.This means asking for what she needs from others and knowing what her limits are.
When she met her husband, she was an executive chef at Green Gables Cafe in Coral Gables, FL. Moving to San Diego following her marriage, Cristina started working on a biodiesel organic food truck and quickly became the head chef. She also started a pop-up restaurant in San Diego called Blue Plate. Although her endeavors revealed her remarkable potential, they didn’t last long because Cristina got pregnant.
She learned the value of good parenting from her parents, who Cristina greatly credits for her success. Dedicating herself to being a good mother and doing her best to ensure her son can thrive as a person and have the future he deserves has been an important priority. Although it’s inevitable to ask if the decision kept her from progressing in her career, her accolades have proven that being a good mother does not mean you can’t be good at everything else you love.
Working moms often burn the candle at both ends, and while Cristina’s work ethic leans toward the workaholic, she also understands the importance of boundaries to stay healthy. Knowing to ask for help is important for success, and she says her husband is the best partner and an amazing Dad who supports her in all her endeavors.
Cristins was living out of the Navy Lodge on Pearl Harbor when her health hit rock bottom. It’s also when she decided to change her life, and began thinking about food as medicine. Cristina’s remarkable journey from being a child of immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur making the world a better place to live motivates others to never to lose hope- no matter how difficult it might get.
After living with a painful and chronic skin condition, Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), since she was 13 years old, Cristina put it in remission at 32. As a functional nutrition therapy practitioner, her goal is to help others do the same. The Castaway Kitchen is a growing online community offering delicious recipes and information for people who suffer from Hidradenitis suppurativa and other chronic illnesses. Her cookbooks have been bestsellers, and her recipes have made people feel better.
Excelling in the multiple fields she has chosen, Cristina offers valuable insight on prioritizing your tasks and pursuing one at a time methodically instead of half-baked attempts that result in mediocrity at best and frustration at worst. She’s transformed her life through patience, discipline, love, and by being dedicated to whatever she does- because more quantity should never mean lousy quality.
