Chris Wolstenholme was good at what he did.
Hospitality was his world for over 20 years—working across continents, running restaurants, managing people, hitting bonuses. The kind of job where you know your role, know your worth, and know that paycheck is going to land every two weeks. It’s steady. It’s safe. And for Chris, it was comfortable.
But then came 2020.
Post-pandemic, Chris found himself back on the floor—literally. The customers were masked, the staff was spread thin, and for the first time in a long while, Chris was earning minimum wage as a GM: $7.50 an hour. He still had all the responsibilities, but none of the recognition or compensation.
And then came the moment.
A man ran out of the restaurant after vomiting Count Chocula cereal all over the bathroom. Chris was the one who grabbed the mop. Cleaning that up, he had one thought:
“I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.”
He had the idea already. He had the savings. He had a supportive wife. What he didn’t have was a reason to keep waiting.
So he quit.
Not that day—he gave four weeks’ notice, like a professional. But inside, the tie was cut. And there was no going back.
Why Comfort Is So Dangerous
Chris didn’t leave a bad job. In fact, he was thriving in it. He was successful by any traditional definition—managing restaurants in Australia, London, the U.S., and more. But something shifted in the quiet hours of COVID and clean-ups.
He realized comfort had become a trap.
He wasn’t building anything of his own. He wasn’t growing. He wasn’t free.
“If I wanted to help others the way I truly dreamed—to hand my mom a million-dollar check and tell her she can stop working—I had to build something bigger than myself. And a restaurant wasn’t it.”
This wasn’t a midlife crisis. It was a wake-up call.
So he cut the tie.
Just Start (Even If You’re Not Ready)
Chris didn’t wait for a green light. He didn’t overthink. He didn’t read a thousand books or hire a coach.
He just started.
He grabbed Sharpies and printer paper and started drawing can designs. He filed the LLC. He researched what it would take to get a beverage to market. And every day, he did one thing to move the business forward.
“That’s what I tell people now. Just start. Do one thing every day. That’s how you build something that matters.”
He didn’t give himself an out. But he did give himself a fallback: If it fails, I can go back to restaurants. The point was, he had to try.
Redefining What Success Looks Like
Chris’s vision wasn’t about becoming a millionaire. It wasn’t even about building a brand.
It was about control. About being able to help someone you love without checking your bank balance. About reclaiming time. About showing his kids that it’s possible to build something from nothing, even if it’s scary. Even if you fail.
He traded vacation dinners for lake weekends with family. He scaled back luxuries and reprioritized what mattered. And he learned that success isn’t something you arrive at—it’s something you shape.
“You’re going to make sacrifices. It might mean less eating out, fewer supplements, cheaper trips. But it’s not about giving things up. It’s about reallocating. That’s the real power.”
The Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster
It hasn’t all been easy.
There are highs—like when a bar owner calls instead of being chased. And there are lows—days when nothing moves forward, when the bills feel heavier than the dream. But Chris stuck with it.
And that’s what he wants anyone listening to know:
Don’t quit.
“It’s not pretty every day. But if you stick it out long enough, something will shift. Someone will notice. You’ll get a call, an order, a ‘yes.’ And that’s when you realize—it’s working.”
Chris misses parts of his old life—especially leading a team. But he’s starting to build that again. On his terms. For his mission. And that makes all the difference.
What Every American Needs to Hear
Chris is Australian, but he’s built his business here in the U.S.—and he has a unique perspective on the country he now calls home.
“When Americans travel, they’re just ‘American.’ No North, South, White, Black, Straight, Gay. Just American. If more people saw that here at home, I think this country would get along a lot better.”
It’s a simple truth. But it speaks to how Chris thinks: less division, more unity. Less waiting, more doing.
He’s not trying to save the world.
He’s just trying to make something that didn’t exist before.
And that, in itself, is enough.
Shameless Plug
Chris Wolstenholme is the Founder and CEO of Mate Beverage—the world’s first vodka protein water.
Yes, really. It’s real alcohol, with real protein. No carbonation. No bloat. Just 8g of clean pea protein, 4.5% vodka, and a smooth drinking experience that doesn’t wreck your gut or your goals.
Flavors include:
- Watermelon
- Pineapple
- Peach
- Lime & Mint
Mate is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and made without high-fructose corn syrup. Available in single-flavor 4-packs or variety 8-packs.
This isn’t just a drink. It’s proof you can create something totally new—even in the most competitive markets—if you’re willing to cut the tie and bet on yourself.
🧃 Learn more and order at: www.drinkmatebeverage.com
📱 Follow the journey:
- Instagram: @matebeverage
- Facebook: Mate Vodka Protein Water
- LinkedIn: Mate! Beverage
🤝 Connect with Chris directly:
- LinkedIn
- Email: chris@thethirstyaustralian.com
🎙️ Want more real founder stories like this one?
Follow host Thomas Helfrich at Cut The Tie Apple Podcast, Cut The Tie Spotify, or connect on LinkedIn.
Cut the tie. Take the risk. Build the thing.