1st you are "assuming" i went and finished Culinary School...There are many ways to obtain the education to run the kitchen. As for expensive, i guess that depends on what you think expensive is....
As to why a person that is trained as a Chef cahnges careers, well I also owned a fitness center, still own a leasing company and a Day Spa as well as the Personal Chef business, I simply hire people to perform those jobs now......
As for a Chef in this business...I know of at least 1 other professionally culinary train person in this business that is also a member on this board and 2 other People that were in the culinary industry for more yrs then they care to think about...that are enjoying life as expediters....Running a kitchen as and Exc Chef is filled with the glamor that most think it is...it quickly becomes a PITA and it is hard day in and day out...
But the biggest thing you are mising is when i was hands on daily, I left the industry as a Personal Chef, not and Exc or Sous, I have way too much respect for those people then to imply that i was either of those...I was a lowerly Personal Chef, just as I am a "freight expediter" in a CV, not a Truck driver...
I also hols a certificate as a "Personal Trainer, well I think that might have expired, but that certainly didn't make me a degreed phyical education instructor. And i hold a certificate as a Nutritional Consultant, and that also doen't make me a degreed Nutrionist..but then if you ever seen me, you wouldn't want me to tell you how to eat or exercise.....but you would certainly understand that i know how to use bacon grease and lard when I cook.....
So as to why, well its hard for me to work for other, i don't take well to following orders and I get bored easy...i am not a good employee..so i started working for myself...I start a business, either make it profitable and let others run it, sell it or stay with it for a while....or i run it in to the ground and close it...you want a deal on a storage locker full of commerical fitness equipment? I can help you out!!!
Oh i have also been a Snap on tool salesperson, lol and too many other "jobs" where i worked for others..
PS: I am also retired, twice.....why i expedite....I like to drive, I like to see the country, and it keeps me out of my wfes hair for 3-4 weeks at a time...she enjoys that....I am what some here might call a "Vacation Expediter".....