The Outsider’s Perspective: Working Inside a Family Business

Episode 301: What’s it really like to work in a family-owned business? In this episode, Lori chats with Mimi Pacheco, Marketing and Communications at Jet Fresh Flowers, about the unique joys and challenges of being part of companies built on family legacies.

From the trust, flexibility, and sense of belonging that come with working in a close-knit environment, to the blurred boundaries, communication hurdles, and work-life balance struggles—it’s all on the table. Lori and Mimi share their personal experiences, lessons learned, and advice for anyone navigating the rewarding (and sometimes complicated) world of family businesses.

Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

When you write it an email or you write it down and practice it to yourself, you're gonna come out with a purpose, a why that they're not gonna be able to say no.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Welcome to the business and pleasure of flowers.

SPEAKER_02 0:17

We're your hosts, Vonda LaFever and Lori Wilson, and we believe the business and fun are a perfect combination. Kind of like us, Vonda.

SPEAKER_03 0:29

Hello, podcast listeners out there. This is Lori, and I am semi-solo today, meaning my partner Vonda is not here, and so I'm trying to wing it, but I do have a special guest today, and I'm really excited. My friend Mimi Pacheco from JetFresh is here. Hello, Mimi. How are you? Hi, clickers. So I'm giggling because when we were texting back forth, I was like, hey, I have a favor. Do you want to be on my podcast? On our podcast, blah, blah, blah. And your answer was, me.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Well, first of all, that's my job on my podcast. I know. Is to reach out to people. So I'm like, wait a second, what would you want to talk to me about, Laurie?

SPEAKER_03 1:18

And I was like, yes, you. I wouldn't be texting you if I didn't. Well, we talk every once in a while, but we were talking to SAF and we were both talking about how much we we were in a big love fest conversation about our bosses and how lucky we are, blah, blah, blah, working for family businesses. And then we were like, we should talk about this sometime on a podcast. And then we got interrupted because we had to go do whatever. And so I was thinking about it again. I was like, we really do need to talk about that. Yeah. And so I reached back out and I think you forgot about that conversation.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Yeah. I think that we were discussing about family businesses, but we were talking about how there's so many pros and yet there are cons about oh yeah. 100%. 100%. Right.

SPEAKER_03 2:04

Okay, so tell us, Mimi. First of all, how did you get in the business? And then what is your I hate titles, but like what is your job? What is your role now?

SPEAKER_01 2:16

Right. So I got in the business, like the good old monster ads. Oh, nice! But also my sister was working in the industry. And when I was looking out of college, I studied graphic design and communications and marketing. And I did a couple of weird jobs. I wasn't in love with it, but I really wanted to be somewhere where there wasn't a lot of traffic. And I live close to the airport and I looked at different industries, and a lot of them are seafood, flowers. So I started applying to different jobs in the industry. When I told my sister that I was applying for a flower food company, my sister's like, Oh, that's a good job. Like we use floralife at our business. Oh, wow. Okay. That is a very well-known brand. And I ended up interviewing it, it took me like a month, almost two months, to get the job, just because my boss vetting you pretty hard. And really, they did run like a family business back then. So it was owned by a Dutch family. It was a little corporate because they did have to run everything through the Dutch headquarters. So it took me a while, but I ended up joining and it was like a family. So I loved it. Now the back end is that my father is a business owner, my grandfather was a business owner. So for me, family businesses, I always felt like that's where I wanted to be. I had already done the corporate thing in a couple of jobs, and I just didn't feel like it fit my personality. I wanted to be a big fish in a little pond.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

And fast forward, Chrysler became a bigger, bigger, bigger lake, ocean, you name it. Right. Right. And I I still uh loved everything about it, but I had kept going to all the trade shows and having interactions with Mike and the black family. And in fact, they would help me set up my booth before they would set up their booth. You know how it is.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

Yeah. They help us too to this day.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

I see Ellie and I struggle. When I told Mike that I was looking at doing something different, he said, Well, why don't you come and work here? I said, But what would I do? And like I really wanted to learn more about the flower side. I felt like I had been in the industry for so long, but I knew nothing about flowers. Like I knew how to handle them. I knew every flower, but I just didn't know the back end of the why things were done the way they're done. And I'm a big learner. Like I love to hands-on learn. And I thought, wow, what a better place than JetFresh because they are grower, wholesaler, importer, distributor. Every single hat, Mike wears it. Yeah. And I already been talking to Mike. Mike was giving me advice on marketing. And I was like, this is like work for my mentor. This I can't let this opportunity go by. And I did give up a lot of vacation days. And well, I mean, we're kind of leaning into some of the cons, right? Right. Right. And I kind of jumped in head first, like in love, because just like everything, you fall for, and we talked about this, we fall for the boss. Like that's the right. We fall for the family. You fall for that family. And I am an empath. I am a person who wants to see a family legacy continue. So I just was like, oh, if I could take part in that. And I had already been watching Ryan and Ashley, Ryan's wife had my role before. They had done a great job with building a brand. I'm like, how easy is it to jump into a marketing position for a brand that's already recognized? Right. That already has the reputation I want. Like, I can only make this or help make this better. So exactly what I did. And I joined the marketing team. So there's me, Ryan, and Joel here in Miami, and we have Emmy and Diana in the farm. And we are just like, we call ourselves, well, we were the Fantastic Four, and now we are the Teen Titans Go again, way too young. I'm like, I'm not a Teen Titan. But the idea is that I kind of am the communications website, advertising, you name it. So yeah, my role is it's all-encompassing. I'm just part of the marketing team. Do a lot of customer relations as well.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

Yeah, I was gonna say, to me, you're so much more from the outside view. I think from a customer's point of view, at least the customers that I know that use, they don't look at you as, oh, she's part of the marketing team.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Like that's not. And I think that's again one of the beautiful things about family businesses, family run businesses, is that like uh it doesn't matter what I do. I the title doesn't matter. Mike has never asked me to sweep the floor, but I have swept a floor. Right. And it's just because we're taught that this is our house. So let's take care of it.

SPEAKER_03 7:18

Right. Right. And to me, that's one of the pros that I want to talk about for me and for you. One of the things that we I think gravitated to for family-owned companies, Flower Click being one, JetFresh being one, was that concept. Like, I don't like titles, but I love to try new roles. Like, yes, I want to do marketing, but oh no, I also want to help out in operations. Well, that doesn't work very well because I have ADD. So I need to switch over here to market. Like, I want to do and so being in a company, and maybe not always family owned, but the family-owned company I'm in with a boss that I know loves me and trusts me, both bosses, Ellie and Vonda both, right, that afford me that luxury makes me want to hang in there. And so I think of employees of flower shops. So think of most florists, flower shops are family-owned businesses. Right. Not all. Not all, but a lot of them are co-owned, you know, a lot of family in there. A lot of those employees don't have the same mentality that you and I do.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

Well, one, I think that we're blessed to or at least you have a little bit more distance, right? So we're not in Mike's face all the time. Right. Right. And you're not in bandas, right? Right. That if we were in tight quarters, I think I was just telling you that we did a couple of visits recently, Dolly and I, and we went to visit some customers. And I love seeing the dynamic. It's all about what you make of it, right? Because you are in tight quarters with your boss, who could be your aunt or your grandma. Right. Right. I did see beautiful things like people being able to bring their children to work and flexibility of working with your family. It can be important. But then again, I don't know if I would be able to do that. My father had a business, he got sick and had a heart condition. My sister took over for a while, and that didn't last. My father came back and sales were up, shrink was down, it was a produce company. So really my sister was kicking ass. Yeah. And my dad just didn't want to change. For him, it was a little too much. And I think it was his ego, which is really big, and then it's not that a bad ego.

SPEAKER_03 9:57

No, it's pride. It's hard, especially when it's a parent child.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

Yeah. And so I think I take that situation with me, especially that one, because I remember seeing my father and feeling very vulnerable for him. Like I felt like I understand he's been doing this for 40 years. I can't imagine me doing anything for 40 years, and then somebody coming and saying, Well, I just did it better. Right, right, right.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

So do you find yourself because in that role, I'm hearing because of the empath you are, and in the role you're in now dealing with a quite large family. Like I only have two family members. I've got Ellie and Bonda to deal with. If you've got a whole bunch of brothers and Mike and Susan, Mike's wife, do you find yourself as the non-family member somewhat as a mediator sometimes?

SPEAKER_01 10:57

Uh, I could talk about a couple of times that I've felt that way. Yeah. But the crazy thing about it is that I am a relatively new extended family member here. The majority of the Jet Freshers have been with Mike and Susan for 15 years, 10 years. So a lot of times, I mean, they introduce each other. Casey introduces Edwin as his uncle. Edwin's Dominican. He's not a black family member. Like, you know, Celine has been with Mike for so long. Everybody has had such, I mean, they've watched each other grow. And even at this point, like the other day, we we just our new building is near a canal, and Casey gifted my boys fishing rods because they come after school and they come and fish. And so it's really, really hard not to like take sides, let's say, because I see them all for who they are. I mean, like you said, it's a big family, and they're all so different. Like we have the creative type, we have the the very A type, you see them all, and you're like, wow, this is for sure not nurture. This is nature. These characters are born like that. Yeah. But yeah, I have found myself mediating between or just silently learning, learning Lori to stay silent. To stay silent, which is hard of us. Then figure it out because that's the best way. Right. I mean, I will give my opinion and I'm trying to ask and I'm trying to be as biased as possible. But it's also really good to see how they separate it. And then they're like, see you at barbecue on Sunday, see you at barbecue on Sunday. Right. That's it. Right. This is such an established business that they've they've been doing it for so long, so they know exactly how to turn it on and off. Right. I would never be able to work with my brothers and sisters.

SPEAKER_03 12:49

No, nor would I. Oh, I know that for a fact. There's no way.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

I just love them like oh, certain ways. You can't get business done unless you realize that this is a business. Right.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

Right. And they have the ability to be able to separate those things. I want to talk about like team dynamics and communication, how they do that. So in JetFresh, because there is so much family and extended family, let's be honest. So, how is the communication? Is it just direct when it's decision-making time? Do they bring everybody in and everybody has a say and stuff?

SPEAKER_01 13:25

Like, how does that I think it's super important that family businesses again run with like not a corporate, but just they understand that it's a business. So there's a leadership team here that they do meet once a month. Managerial roles, really important. So for instance, Mike is my boss. Of course, Mike is everybody's boss. Right. Ryan is my direct. So I deal with Ryan. And we kind of go with that route. And I think it's important to have that separation. And I'm really cognizant of the fact that names and the way you address people. So I try really hard not to say, oh, your brother told me so.

SPEAKER_03 14:04

I do the same thing. I try not to refer to Vonda as your mom. Like it's so hard.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

Extremely hard. Extremely hard. Even for them, you laugh and you hear my dad told me. It's like I know. I know. But now you forget. Yeah. And but I think that that helps keep it professional. Like it. Right. Like, okay, the general manager told me to do this. That's why I'm doing it. Not your brother or your father. Unless it's mommy. I always say, mommy told me so.

SPEAKER_03 14:41

I know. I hear you say that. That's different because she's not like in the day to day to day to day to day.

SPEAKER_01 14:48

When she's in the office, that's a problem I think Ryan has with me because I just gravitate to her. Like she's a woman and you're excited. And I'm like, hi mommy. Right.

SPEAKER_03 14:59

You're just excited that there's a woman there. Yeah. Now I remember, I don't know, it was a while back. I was having a conversation with Ellie, and I can't remember what we were even talking about, but I felt convicted about that because I kept saying, Well, your mom, your mom, and I was, and she never said anything about it. But I was like, I need to stop doing that. I need to, and she was like, Okay, you know, yeah, maybe that would be better. But I still, and I'm like, oh, sorry, Ellie, I did it again. She's like, okay. Not even think it bothers them. No, but it bothers me because bothers me having that.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Because I want them to know that in the end, I constantly will see this as a business. Like it's not I'm coming here to play where we are definitely a more relaxed, constantly have people going, Oh, I love coming there and seeing the vibes. 100%. But in the end, the goal is to continue the legacy that's here, which is providing the non-stop service. I know. Well, I think if you kind of understand that, and for a flower shop, I I always think of my buddy Sheldon. I always think of Sheldon and the amount of respect that he has for Michelle. Yes, and the amount of respect that she has for him is admirable. And I think that that's one of the secrets. Like, just make sure. Yes. Family business is family business. Like anything that that's supposed to be talked about at the dinner table or at the barbecue can be talked about at the barbecue. But right now, from nine to five, or sorry, flower hours from eight to seven. Right.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

It's it's pure business, you know? Yeah. So here would be a question though. The non-family members. So we talked about how family members communicate among family members and bring to the leadership team and or, you know, have those those non-family member employees. What are your suggestions with how do they communicate? You know, let's say they want to bring an idea or something to that team. I think back to Next Gen a couple of years ago, the questions I was getting there. I don't know if you remember that. Two different people, one of them was a manager. She's like, I try to bring ideas to my boss all the time. It was owned by two, like a husband-wife team. She's like, they never want to listen. Like, what am I doing wrong? Right.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

And I think it goes to like respecting the positions. I never just go straight to Mike. I have a lot of conversations one-on-one with Mike about your stuff, but I keep Ryan in the loop all the time. Yes. And I think the clearer the communication, the easier. The beautiful thing about working for family businesses is that if you let them know that they can trust you, that you have the same common goal, then they're gonna want to listen to your ideas. So it's about creating that trust that you have that same goal, in my opinion. So I have a lot of ideas. I bring them to Ryan. If I feel that Ryan's not listening, then I think it's because it's not a good idea for the company. Yeah. I agree. Because I agree. Right. That doesn't stop me from having conversations with Mike because Mike has a completely open door policy. And even with Casey, Casey's great at marketing. So whenever I come up to him and I just make sure that I let him know I've discussed this with my boss, I think we should move this way. What do you think? So that way I can go back to Ryan and say Casey agrees or Casey doesn't agree. But it's all about the trusting process and about having that common goal.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

I would agree with everything you're saying, assuming the family you are working for, the leaders are open, right? And care and all of the things. Now, you and I both know there are situations that they are closed off. And let's go back, I don't not throwing your dad under the bus, but let's go back to someone like him that are like, no, we're not gonna do it this way. I'm not gonna do your new idea, even though blah, blah. So there are those scenarios, right? Those are the hard ones. When you keep bringing something to the table, bringing something, an idea, and if you have it well thought out with a whole plan, not just like me, sometimes I'll throw an idea out there. It's not well thought out. It's just a brainstorm, high up, high level. It doesn't follow through. And Vonda might go, you know, finish it, or you know, then bring it back, or something like that. But we're at that level where, yeah, that's a good idea. I need, or Ellie is actually the one that will go, you need to think through this, this, this, this, this, this, this, like 10 more steps, then bring it to me, then we'll talk. If you've done all that and you keep doing those things and they just shut it down, shut it down, shut it down, then maybe it's time to look elsewhere.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

I was gonna say, you're not gonna change them, then. And then also to that point, that business is not gonna succeed. No, they're not right. If you're not ready for change and you have to face things without that fear, right, and listen, like Mike tells me all the time, I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. Right. I don't want to be the person that has the all say. And I think that that's why I like family dynamics. When I had previous employers where I didn't feel that, that's when you start losing your sense of purpose. So if you don't have a sense of person purpose or trust in a at a job, it's okay to move on. It is 100% okay to move on. And maybe they need a different person as well. Maybe that company will work with the right person. Yes. Yeah. It's okay to say things don't work out and keep looking.

SPEAKER_03 21:09

It's okay to not have a good fit there.

SPEAKER_01 21:11

I told you before, it's bad because I can't lie. But Joelle makes fun of me because I you I clearly get very nervous when I start to lie or try to like get out of it. Right.

SPEAKER_03 21:21

You are a horrible liar.

SPEAKER_01 21:24

But I think it's really good when you're honest from the get-go. Like, hey, this is not working out. You don't listen to me. And I would suggest having that in email. Trying your your ideas. Like you said, don't go uh with your coffee. Hey, Ryan, I have a great idea. We should build a playground, you know. Right. Build a playground, Mimi. What is your can you give me back and say I am very guilty of this? Yeah. I can't tell you how many times they're like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, go back. What do you tell you? What are you talking about? And why are you talking about this? But once I've gotten those ideas and I feel like really, really like this is gonna make the business better, or this is gonna make this product better. Right. Have the self-confidence to write it in email. When you write it in email or you write it down and practice it to yourself, you're gonna come out with a purpose, a why that they're not gonna be able to say no. They're gonna think, oh wow, that's a really that's a right way of thinking of it.

SPEAKER_03 22:30

Right. Or by the time you finish it and practice it, you're gonna go, this is that is not gonna work. This is so dumb. No way is this gonna work. Why do you need a playground, baby? Yeah, exactly. We don't need another playground. What was I thinking? Was I hi? What the hell? Yeah. So it's it's really, really genius. We at Flower Click, we do that. I think it's PPP, you know, the the product. What is it? Your idea, the plan and the payoff. Exactly. And you know, you have to be able to answer those three things. And if you can't, it gets thrown in the trash.

SPEAKER_01 23:12

And I think that's also super important that I've seen done well here. I have been in places where it hasn't been done right, where we just do things to do things. Like you just post post or you just whatever it may be. No, there has to be a reason. Obviously, there has to be a return. Right. Why are we going to invest in why am I gonna spend all that time and money and flights? And the return, for instance, doesn't always have to be a financial return, but it has to be a return in something. For in I don't know about you guys, but do you ever get the question like, what do you guys get out of the podcast? Like it's a purpose. And I know I ask myself that all the time. I ask myself when people cancel their guests, and I'm like, oh no. But we get that question a lot, and what we do get is education and we get trust, and we get that relationship too. Think of the guests you get to meet, exactly. And so I think a lot of people need to readdress their purpose of why they do things, our why, what's your why?

SPEAKER_03 24:18

Vonda asks that all the time. What's your why? Exactly. And and when you can't answer that, it's time to cut it out of your life, yeah, and not feel guilt. Regarding the podcast, we're coming up on our 300th, which is crazy. 300.

SPEAKER_01 24:41

It's even crazier because you guys don't do weekly. That's we do once a week. You do? Oh, we drop it every Tuesday.

SPEAKER_03 24:49

That's yeah. Do you do it every week? We do it every week too, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But one thing I can tell you that we get out of hours that is my favorite thing is when uh random strangers reach out, either email or at events and tell me uh I listened to your podcast and this is what I learned. Right. And I'm like, Yeah, wow, you're that one person, like you know, or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 25:27

It's just but I anyway, that has nothing to do with it. I've seen your interaction with both Ellie and Vonda, and is it easy for you to turn things off, like your friendship? Because first of all, you guys look fan like family, literally like family together. Yeah, yeah. People think I'm Ellie's aunt. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

I know. That was a very first impression as well. Yeah, no, and I will cry if we talk about it because you know she's getting ready to get married. No, it's not easy for me to turn off. They are just like you feel like you are part of the black family. When Vonda edits this, she will start laughing because they know this. I have no boundaries with me either. That's why I'm asking, I've seen such a problem. I have zero boundaries with Ellie and Vonda. I have nothing. And my husband's like, You have got to start separating yourself at some point. You have to retire.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

I was like, No, I can't. I can't leave. I feel it too, and that's why I asked because he now that there's stuff going on, and like I know you, you're going to be able to take up stuff so that Ellie doesn't have to worry and you know, just people into consideration. I just love them so much.

SPEAKER_03 26:46

I keep my heart, I just oh, and I think about when we were doing this, I was thinking of questions to ask you. And when you and I were talking, you and I, I think might be in a weird group of people.

SPEAKER_01 27:08

The family companies we work for, we are so protective of. I mean, it sounds like almost like an obsession. Yeah, maybe in an unhealthy way. Exactly. So then there's our biggest con, would it be work-life balance? Right. A hundred percent. Yeah, a hundred percent. Or because uh there's no balancing. But if I know that Ryan had already booked a trip and Mike is needing this, I I do. I'll pop in on a Saturday when it's not my time to come in. Ryan's like, don't do that, don't for bad behavior. And I go, it's not bad behavior. We need this. Like I'm just checking because I care about the company that you're just like and it has bitten me in the ass. I have had burnout, I've had like my blood pressure go up or right events, and I'm like, oh no, no, no, I don't care if I'm sick. I'm gonna go push through. So that's definitely a con, I think, because I there's things that I mean, my kids know more about some of these people than their own family. Yeah, same. Because I'll go home and I'll be like, oh, you know that Susan ordered this today. Right, right, right, right. It's like, okay, yeah, well, yeah, they become idols and they can fall like idols, which is something that has not happened to me, but that's where you get people with that resentment. And I think that that's where we talked a lot about protecting right people.

SPEAKER_03 28:39

Protect your health, protect your mental health, make sure you do have healthy balance.

SPEAKER_01 28:45

Uh-huh. And it's it's also okay to protect your family, your work family in that sense. Like nobody's gonna talk bad about Mike around me. Right.

SPEAKER_03 28:53

It's not that's my expectation. I mean, what's not gonna happen on my watch, and it's and it it doesn't happen on our watch. And so that's okay. And it's our choice, right? This is how you and I choose to be. But here's what I want to say. Here's here would be my advice to anyone, even an employee working at a flower shop if they're listening and they're going to work just to go to work and get that paycheck or whatever. I feel like you're missing out. Like I I have never worked in a job to just work in a job. I have always loved every job I've had. I it's probably just my personality, though. I always just kind of go all in. Right. That's just kind of who I am. Even teaching school, as weird as that is, teaching middle school, I loved it. I hated dealing with parents, but I loved my students. Right. But I think just showing up and not wanting to get involved, I think you're missing out on number one, relationships, but learning leadership, learning communication, just I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

I think a common misconception about family-owned companies is that there's no way to grow because there's family, right? And I think that that's the opposite. I think you can learn so much. And I think that once you find a sense of belonging in that company, there's no matter if it's a family-owned company or a corporate company, you're gonna grow. Whether you're gonna ladder or you're gonna grow and be able to open up your own company. You have to see it. You have to see it as well. And I think when we are talking about all the florists, because every time I visit, and this is exactly why I got into this business with Mike. I wanted to learn more about the wholesale side, about the actual florist. I see the people that walk in here every day with their business, and I see what they go through. I see that they're worried about 101 different things. The last thing they need to worry about, or the last thing you want to be, is be in a place where you don't want to be there. Yes, 100%. Rather than running these floral businesses, whether you're a studio or you're a full-on shop or you're four or five shops, there is a lot of work to do. Yeah. So much work to do. So much. And having people who feel like they can belong, who feel that they can talk to people about how to improve the business, yeah, and give that sense of belonging a purpose. Yeah, you're golden. You're gonna grow. You're gonna go, you're gonna open up the next shop. There's so much there. So I would say listen to yourself and be yourself. Like it's okay to be yourself and not belong and go get another job. It's okay, right.

SPEAKER_03 32:05

But I I agree with you because at Flower Click, I've had I, we have had quite a few members that have nurtured amazing employees, trained them up, and equipped them with knowledge. They have gone on, moved out of their delivery area, started their own business, and the old owner is so happy for them because they helped them start their business. I mean, it's a healthy separation, and they are still friends, and they became flower click members too.

SPEAKER_01 32:46

So it's like it's a win talent, like to see that though. Yeah, he is because not to say much about Mike, but Mike has that talent. He sees people, Olga, who is our designer and in our cash and carry, one amazing salesperson. She was on the bouquet line, and Mike said, No way. You know, I went recently to Coons in Jacksonville. I was speaking to this beautiful young girl. She just saw me standing at the counter because I wanted to buy these beautiful fairies.

SPEAKER_03 33:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:17

Because there's no way you're walking into that shop and wanting to buy like everything. I was like, so I was speaking to her, and immediately Marty was like, Yeah, she came in. We didn't have a position. She started with the bucket prepping, and I immediately put her in sales. I can guarantee that that young lady is going to be running another location in a couple of years. I think that people who have to work, like everyone's like, Oh, doesn't it suck working during the holidays and you work so much? Yeah, to me, it's a little bit of a maybe it's like I'm being held captive, but at the same time, it gives me a purpose. Aside from my family, which I throw myself and dedicate to my two boys and my family, but aside from that, it feels really good to have something outside where I can rock star, right, and just just go for it. Like help make this legacy continue because Mike's three, the boys are four, fourth generation. And if I can give just a little bit to make sure that these little girls and boys are coming in and playing in around and you know, yeah going flower, flower, that it's theirs next. Yeah, I will give that. Yeah. Because it's a beautiful thing to see.

SPEAKER_03 34:37

Yeah. Okay, I have a question for you, and it's not one I sent you because my husband asked me this this weekend. Do you have any besides your family, besides your job, do you have any hobbies?

SPEAKER_01 34:56

I cross word puzzle. That's about that's research. I color. I also I can watch a mean Netflix. Let me tell you. Okay, I'm with you. Okay, no, I don't feel as bad. He called me out. He was like, and I did. Yeah, I used to paint and I did garden a lot, but the weather's just, yeah. It's getting hotter and hotter. I'm getting older and older. So now I'm doing things like word searches at night. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:24

No, he was like, you need hobbies. All you do is work, or you're still my kids. Well, here was my answer. Right now, my hobby, any extracurricular is my dad. Yeah. I mean, I go visit my dad. That and he was like, That's not a hobby.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

Uh it's a hobby, but I think it fills your cup in a different way.

SPEAKER_03 35:47

Right. I'm like, it's my my duty, it is what I want to do on my free time.

SPEAKER_01 35:52

But anyway, he was getting on to me because I I agree with him, but I can't fight you because on the same.

SPEAKER_03 35:59

No, because I was like, I just need to not feel alone. Because he was like, Your work is your hobby, and that is not okay.

SPEAKER_01 36:06

But I also had been the opposite, where I was part of four book clubs, and you know, doing so much to try to fill that up. And I was like, I don't need it as much. Right.

SPEAKER_03 36:19

And that's that is such a good point because I used to have all that, and I'm actually this fulfills me more, and uh, I don't know if that's healthy or not.

SPEAKER_01 36:36

I don't know, probably not, but we're probably two codependents talking to probably. But I will say, Lori, the good thing about what we do, and I know that you get this because you have relationships with the clickers, is you learn so much. We're people people.

SPEAKER_03 36:57

That's it, yeah, and we're learners. We love to learn something new. I'm learning new things every day.

SPEAKER_01 37:03

I get challenged by my clients and like my colleagues. Like it's funny enough, you said about spending time with your dad is your hobby. My coworker saw me down and I said, You know, at the time when you realize your parents are getting older, and I'm also dealing with teenagers, so it's like I'm starting to face this trauma not trauma, because I do have a little bit of trauma about my parents. Yeah. Um, and he goes, Then don't make it. Go right after work every single day. You're blessed to have them around the corner. Don't let a day go by. Yeah. It's funny because now, even if it's five minutes and it's good, so like whether it's a phone call or really giving them just unconditional real attention. Yes. That that is it is my hobby now.

SPEAKER_03 37:49

And it's I'm telling you, it's a game changer. And that's what yesterday I looked at my calendar. I was like, I have 30 minutes. I'm gonna go check on my dad because he's 10 minutes away. And of course he was napping, but I went and I refilled his medication. I just did a couple little things. I went and I wiggled his feet and said, Daddy, you alive? And he goes, What? What? Oh, hi. Anyway, you know, talk to him 10 minutes and I was back home. Nobody missed me. It was all good. Isn't that crazy?

SPEAKER_01 38:19

That yeah, we just like, oh, the world we do live in this like idea of oh my gosh, times survived.

SPEAKER_03 38:27

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

Fabric said everything works out.

SPEAKER_03 38:30

Not one flower shop had to close down.

SPEAKER_01 38:32

No.

SPEAKER_03 38:36

Can you believe it? They all survived because and I checked his mail. I got everything done. I was very excited. But anyway, I always say there's two types of people there's the ladder climbers and the ladder holders in the world. Cammy, who works here at Flower Click, too, we are ladder holders. I've never wanted to own my own business, but boy, I love to be a ladder holder. I love to help other people climb to that top and let me work for you. Let me help you. And I think people can think of that and go, which one am I? And and it's okay to be that different people. We need both. You have to have both. I need Vonda to be a ladder climber and Ellie. Like I need that because I need to hold that ladder so they can climb up and do the hard stuff.

SPEAKER_01 39:32

And who knows, Laurie? Maybe at there will be a time where you have to climb that ladder for them. Because your duty, right? And absolutely. And it's okay. Because I think that that's we take turns. You take turns in your beautiful phases and cycles are just like the moon. Yes. But that's it, it's it's important to to do things. And I think my one piece of advice to those who are working for family businesses, they do notice. Do things with your heart, do things with your heart and with intention, and they will notice. And I'm not saying that you're gonna get a bonus every time, right? Or that a girl, but I think that if you really want to grow, take the opportunity to listen and to do things with intention. And I don't want to sound cheesy, but don't be afraid to say it's not working out. That's one thing. Because somebody out there really, really wants to grow with you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:31

Love that.

SPEAKER_03 40:32

Yeah. That's so true. Don't be ashamed if it's not a fit.

unknown 40:36

No.

SPEAKER_01 40:37

Nope. And that doesn't mean you don't have to leave the flower world in general. A lot of people, I think, make that mistake of it didn't work out, so I need to start brand, brand, brand new. No, take your skills and figure out. Like if you do have something, you have this knowledge, like all these florists with the knowledge of the names of the flowers and the varieties and all of that, don't let that go to waste. Yeah. Yeah. Keep keep honing people who like it. I know it's not easy for everybody, but you know what? I have been hearing a lot of people who leave that then they're like, I actually miss it, you know?

SPEAKER_03 41:13

Oh, yes. I think if it's in your blood, you'll come back. Oh, yeah. There's a spot. There's always a spot for you. So anyway, thanks for coming.

SPEAKER_01 41:22

Thank you. Have fun. Yes, of course. Anytime I'm with you, I just wish we didn't have two Dr. Peppers. That's what we had. I had a diet Dr. Pepper yesterday. That's our hobby.

SPEAKER_03 41:36

You know what? My golly, it is our hobby. Dr. Pepper drinking and crossword puzzling. Look, I have, look what I have right here. That's exactly what I do. See, we are the same person.

SPEAKER_01 41:52

Meme, I think, I think we are kindred sisters, cosmically connected. We are a hundred percent. Okay. Have a great one. Thank you for inviting me, Lori.

SPEAKER_03 42:06

Thank you so much for listening to our podcast.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

We hope you enjoyed spending time with us because we enjoy spending time with you. If you did, make sure you hit that subscribe button or add the Business and Pleasure of Flowers to your Google morning routine or your flash briefing on Alexa. We look forward to seeing you next week.

SPEAKER_00 42:28

So please come back and join us a bit of knowledge changing your mindset to take you to new levels in your life and business.