Interview by Generation Si! Looking for a Business Partner? What about Mom?
Looking for a Business Partner? What About Mom?
How One Woman Approached Partnering with a Parent
An interview with Giovanna Drpic about working my mother. Click image above for complete interview.
PREVIEW
HOW I VIEWED MOM GROWING UP
“My dad was the professional because he went to college and everything. And my mom – she was a seamstress. She worked from home.”
Giovanna Jaspid always thought of her mom as just doing her own thing, sewing and making clothes. That was until Jaspid decided to go into business with her mother, making custom decorative pillows.
START THE CONVERSATION
“In the beginning, I guess I asked her, how much work do you want to do? Like, are we partners? Or are you working for me?”
THE TIP JAR (tips provided courtesy of Giovanna Jaspid)
STARTING OUT:
“Find out what you need to start a small business… Do you need a license? Do you need to have a name? Legally, what is it that you need to start?"
STEEPED IN SKILLS (mid-career):
“How big do you want to go? A lot of people tell me, it’s more of a hobby.”
When that’s the case, Jaspid says you need to ask yourself, “Do you want to commit to this 100%?”
“If it’s just a hobby for you, something you want to do on the side, you don’t need to fill out all this paperwork.”
If you’re not sure, you need to ask yourself how much of a commitment you want to give.
STARTING OVER:
“Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen?”
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Jaspid's answer to that question? “I go back and work at the office."
“If you see an opportunity and it doesn’t work, it’s okay.”
I’LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN: “Asking for opinions from everyone… Just knowing who to listen to. So, if I had to do it all over, I would be [quieter], I think, about the things that I’m trying to build and not be sharing it with everyone all the time.”
“Ask someone who has done it or is working - or that is doing something similar to what you’re trying to do. Because they’re going to give you a real answer.”
BEST ADVICE FROM “LA CASA”/BEST “HOUSE” ADVICE: This advice comes from Jaspid’s mom:
“Metele la cabeza al asunto.”
LOOSE TRANSLATION: Put your head to the matter.
“In my family, it meant, you want to do this? Okay then. Work for it. Work for it… How are you going to make it happen?”