Who is this woman slicing lemons and placing them in a fancy water pitcher as she prepares for a dinner party with friends? I laughed out loud at the thought as I set the table, adjusted the lighting, and placed fresh flowers on the island next to the serving area. Since when did I become a chef who likes to entertain?

I’ve been working for as long as I can remember. I started at sixteen selling Pendleton suits in a small boutique near our home, and later learned bookkeeping at a concrete compan...