Small Biz, Big Voices

Everyone I’ve met who is in business for themselves has a really personal reason for having started their company, to the point we’re willing to take on the risk and responsibility. You launched JKaiser Workspaces 6½ years ago. What fueled your desire to start your business? Why do you continue to have such a passion for design?

While aspects of your work are obviously aesthetic, you’re designing spaces for commercial uses that not only have to be functional for the business but for all of its employees. What is the impact, the ripple effect, of good design on a business?

Covid has changed the way a lot of us work. Since mid-March, I’ve moved my coaching practice entirely online. I know many business owners are beginning to think about whether to permanently add working from home part time as a possible benefit. With Millennials already very comfortable with digital life, and many of us beginning to see the flexibility of it, what do you think the future holds for brick and mortar spaces?

One of the things I frequently help clients with are strategies for streamlining their processes, so I’m always interested in learning how others achieve this. You’re managing very complex projects with a lot of moving parts, from contractors to inventory to change orders to your client relationships. What are your go-to ways for managing yourself and your details? Do you think that being a woman project manager in the construction business gives you a particular sensibility for the work?

Your client list is extensive and very wide-ranging. Your website lists 9 different industries that you serve including education, government, hospitality, and healthcare facilities. I also mentioned in the introduction that you were on Inc Magazine’s 5,000 Fastest-Growing Companies List last year. What do you attribute your growth to, and what advice can you offer other entrepreneurs about not just achieving but sustaining that kind of growth?

Sooner or later we will figure out how to contain Covid, but the things we are learning now from this experience have the potential for long-term transformation. What have you learned from having to adapt to our current circumstances that has taught you something that you want to take forward with you?

You can learn more about Jessica and JKaiser Workspaces by visiting their website at jkaiser.com.

A 2018 SBA survey reported that 99.4% of Arizona companies were classified as small businesses employing a total of 1 million people. Even with the impact of Covid, thankfully many small businesses are alive and well. What has always been a challenge for them is finding the time and resources to effectively juggle all of their obligations. What is the HR challenge that you see small business owners most frequently run into and what can they do to alleviate that burden?

Many small business owners are Type As — ourselves included — who often default into “Do it Yourself” mode. But as their business grows, and more employees join the payroll, managing all things HR can bring more than they bargained for. What are the indicators that it’s time to look at a different solution like HR Outsourcing, and what are the real implications for outsourcing HR?

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is beneficial socially and economically. There are countless studies about the increased performance of employees who feel accepted by their peers and who have a voice in decisions. Teams also make decisions with a better, broader perspective. Plus, businesses who state their inclusive values and actively practice them tend to have a loyal following of buyers. How do you view an HR Director’s role in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture in a company?

For small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, HR tends to fall under the purview of the lead accountant. Many of them do quite well with keeping their employers in compliance, and at the same time HR covers a lot of nuanced territory. What’s something you wish every organization better understood or implemented when it comes to their HR?

Regardless of whether a company conducts its business virtually or in person, all businesses are composed of people who are looking for opportunity and a sense of purpose. They also come with their own complexity and a need to be heard. What advice would you give someone thinking about a career in HR? What can they expect?

People who gravitate toward human resource work are often good mentors. I’ve learned a lot over the years from HR experts who have given me great insight into some very complex situations. Who has been an influence to you in your life or in your work?

How can small business owners compete with larger companies, not to mention other small business owners, who are all vying for talented workers?

Focus HR serves clients in 33 states, so chances are someone listening to this podcast has access to your expertise. What does Focus HR offer to business owners who are looking to either streamline their compliance or really up their strategic HR game?

Our interview is taking place during a very tumultuous time in history. I’ve noticed many of my small business clients feel exhausted or overwhelmed right now. Even the best compartmentalizers are having a difficult time, and they’re having to dig extra deep to be leaders when there’s so much to process just as human beings. What are you observing as a coach about this moment in time?

One of the things that helps me to summon the energy I need to overcome a difficult time is to remember a challenge that I’ve overcome. I ask myself to remember what I had to do, what I accomplished as a result, and especially to recall it as a moment -- that as difficult as it was it eventually passed. What’s something that you had to face that serves as that guiding reminder when you have a new challenge or difficulty?

One of the things that I am just beginning to learn from you is the process for Nonviolent Communication. This is a system that helps people peacefully and effectively resolve conflicts in personal, organizational, and political settings. Describe for us the basic tenets of NVC and an example of how to apply them.

As a fellow coach I think one thing we have in common is we’re willing to share ourselves to help others realize that they are not alone in their struggles. Leaders sometimes confuse being a role model with perfectionism. I know we both try to show that imperfection is not only natural but often more interesting. So my question for you is: What are you not very good at, and what have you learned from that?

One of the things that can be difficult as a coach is getting people to understand the benefit of something that’s intangible. We’re not selling something that people can look at or hold. What’s something people seem to misunderstand about your work?

Congratulations on being a Finalist for this year’s Spark Award! The Better Business Bureau is hosting a virtual ceremony this year, and I’m really excited that you’re being recognized for your good work. The application for the award is fairly extensive. Share with us something that really stood out for you as you developed your answers. What did you have to consciously realize about your work that maybe you had not celebrated before?

Just to set the stage for our conversation this afternoon, please share with us the BBB’s mission. What are the values that drive the BBB, and in what ways does it represent the interests of both consumers and businesses?

I mentioned in the intro that the BBB has been serving southern Arizona since 1952. I remember reading that it was a really big deal for the office to get a second phone line because it anticipated 2,000 calls in a year. Your team processes that many points of contact in a week. How has the BBB evolved to serve a 21st century audience, and what would you like people to understand about its impact?

I am curious about how you came to be our BBB’s CEO and President. What brought you to this role, and are there particular stories that continue to inspire your work?

I know that Covid-19 is not affecting everyone the same way, not as individuals or as businesses. Some are understandably struggling, others are coping well if not thriving. With such a wide variety of experience, plus so much uncertainty as things continue to unfold, how do you view the BBB’s role during this era of Covid-19?

A chunk of Southern Arizona’s economy is tied to service and tourism industries. What have your observations been re: the impact of Covid-19 on Southern Arizona’s business community? I know this question may involve a certain amount of conjecture because what’s known to us changes frequently right now. But, what is your opinion of what recovery looks like for our region?

The annual Ethics Awards are coming up soon, which is a great celebration of local businesses. I feel very honored to have won an Ethics Award last year and to be one of the judges for this year’s nominees. I’d like to end this part of our episode on a positive note, especially in recognition of all the business leaders out there who continue to service and inspire our community. Please share with us more about the BBB’s Ethics Award and how you’re celebrating this year’s nominees.

I touched briefly on the Chamber’s mission and origins in the introduction, but I’m curious about how it has evolved over time. What has been and what is currently of central importance to the Chamber, both as a social and business community?

I joined the Chamber last August because it’s such a friendly group. Many large networking groups feel like a business card swap, but the LGBT Chamber is very relationship oriented, which I appreciate. When I invite people to attend a breakfast and check it out, I’m invariably asked if you can join the Chamber if you’re straight. I think it’s important for people to know that the LGBT community welcomes allies. Can you elaborate on what it means to be an ally?

This may be a perspective of privilege, so please correct me if I’m wrong about this assumption. It appears that a lot of progress has been made with regard to the inclusion and rights of gays. But it also appears that there is much progress left to be made with respect to the inclusion and rights of transgender persons. Since this is a podcast about small business, I thought we could explore that through the lens of work. Describe for us what the transgender workforce is facing today.

My question to you is, for businesses that want to diversify their workforce, what could they do to set up their LGBT employees for success?

The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce cites that the LGBT community contributes over $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy. Can you give us some examples of how our local LGBT community affects Tucson’s economy?

I like to ask guests if there is something about their particular business or industry they wish people better understood. On behalf of the Chamber, is there anything that you wish the public better understood about the LGBT community? Is there currently any proposed legislation that you would like to discuss?

Consider visiting your local LGBT Chamber of Commerce. You also can learn more from the National Chapter at https://www.nglcc.org/.

Both of you chose non traditional paths in the health and wellness field, so I’d like to start by clarifying some terms. 

• a) Stephanie, I’ll start with you. What is the difference between allopathic and naturopathic medicine? 
• b) Sarah, your area of expertise is in the gut-brain connection. Describe for us what that means and how it relates to Somatic Experiencing. 
• c) For each of you, how have you experienced these methods fitting within our current healthcare system? Are they embraced, or are they regarded with suspicion?

Trying to make good health decisions reminds me of an episode of “The Good Place.” There’s a scene when they describe how hard it is to make good choices, like eating blueberries only to find out that the working conditions for blueberry farmers are terrible. I’ve met countless people who try to do something to advocate for their health only to find out unintended consequences. You eat more fish as a healthy protein, but your mercury levels go up. You try to be more plant based to be eco-friendly, but your iron levels drop. It’s kind of maddening. 

• a) Sarah, I’ll start with you. What advice can you give the average person who’s just trying to make good choices? 
• b) Stephanie, the global wellness market was estimated to reach $4.75 trillion at the close of 2019. With that much information and choice flooding the market, what have been the most common misperceptions you’ve encountered with your patients?

I have to ask the two of you about food allergies. I never had food allergies as a kid, but when I turned 40 I started having eczema, insomnia, and brain fog. I tested positive for gluten, egg, dairy, and almond allergies. I have countless peers with food allergies, and none of us had them as kids. People younger than ourselves also seem prone to them. 

• a) Stephanie, was this always an issue that simply went misdiagnosed, or is this a real phenomenon? 
• b) Sarah, the gut, brain, and nervous system are all connected. What are some of the ways in which disease and allergies disrupt that connection, and what can we do to help ourselves when that happens?

There’s a biometric company in California that is experimenting with temporary tattoos to help people make good health choices. The one I saw measures sun exposure, so you know when you’ve had enough to make Vitamin D, but after that point you need to seek out shade to protect your skin. It made me curious about other wellness trends that are on the horizon. What innovations have you each heard of?

I’d like to start by inviting you to share a bit about your career before you devoted yourself to art full time. You owned your own marketing company, and while that requires a great deal of creativity, it’s very different from being a painter. How did you wind up making that transition?

When you opened your gallery, you were not new to business but you were new to being a full-time artist. What do you wish you had known when you first started out?

One of the things that struck me when we first met is that you have a very strong yet quiet energy. So your art and your own image are all over Tucson, but you actually have this introverted streak. It makes me wonder what it feels like for you to be such a public figure. In what ways has it affected you? How did you get used to it?

I know many business owners wish they could just do what they do best and not have to deal with the day-to-day aspects of their company. You’re both an artist and an entrepreneur. Those are two very distinct hats. What’s the most challenging thing you’ve had to overcome as both an artist and a gallery owner?

All leaders have to tap into some kind of inspiration to keep moving their ideas and their company forward. What inspires you, and was there something in particular that sparked a great idea?

Check out my interview with these three amazing women chefs: Mary Steiger of Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro; Rebecca Wicker of dedicated gluten free bakery & coffee shop; and Sigret Thompson of The Tasteful Kitchen!

Food plays such a huge role in our sense memory. To this day, the smell of onion slowly cooking in butter on the stove instantly transports me next to my Mom in her kitchen. Are there particular food rituals or dishes from your childhood that inspired your love of cooking? 

What favorite recipe did you have to reinvent to suit how you eat now?

As a business coach, I find myself chanting “You can sell to anyone, but who you market to should be specific.” What your Ideal Client wants should be guiding your decisions. But, I think some business owners shy away from being specific because they think they’re missing out on revenue. Each of you started a restaurant very much on your own terms and with a specific niche market in mind. I’m curious how each of you came to your respective concepts and whether you had any doubts about how they would be received.

Women still only make up around 21% of all head chefs. So, women chefs are managing a typically male-dominated staff under fast-paced and competitive conditions. Sometimes people don’t always know how to interact with feminine energy in a leader. I know some women who feel like if they are calm and courteous, things don’t always get done. But if they act more aggressively, they either see results, experience resentment, or sometimes both. Have you ever struggled with feeling like you have to alter your personality to lead your kitchen?

What did each of you figure out about your personal leadership style?

Describe for us why Youth On Their Own, or YOTO, was started and what it does to help homeless teens graduate from high school.

Most of my guests are small business owners, but I also like to interview C-Suite professionals whose companies have a particular impact on Tucson. YOTO is definitely such an organization because we need to develop the next generation of an educated, healthy workforce. What is YOTO’s impact on our community, and how do you track that?

The teens who are served by YOTO are homeless through no fault of their own. Many of them have parents who suffer from drug addiction or other dependency that prohibits them from creating stability for these kids. Additionally, I believe the US in general has an 80% high school graduation rate and a 25% college graduation rate, often because of financial challenges. When you think of the odds students are already facing to get their education, YOTO kids are particularly at high risk for not finishing school. Describe for us what their life is like and what they have to overcome to secure a better future for themselves.

I’ve seen some of the student testimonials on your website. Is there a particular student success story that sticks out in your mind?

The oldest members of Gen Z are now 21, and I imagine out of necessity many YOTO students have already entered the workforce parttime. I often hear business owners talk about being short staffed but unable to find reliable entry level workers. What strengths do you feel Gen Z could bring to an organization willing to invest in younger workers? And what could those companies do to adapt to this new workforce?

I’m going to switch gears to discuss how you approach fundraising. I’m asking because one of the things that I’ve observed over the years is the discomfort some business owners feel around money, whether it’s determining their fee, collecting outstanding invoices, or just being afraid to hear “No, I won’t pay that much.” Money in general is just a source of anxiety, so I wanted to use this opportunity to pick the brain of someone who has to routinely ask for it. Have you had any fears around having to make “the ask,” and how do you conquer them?

I think many business owners and professionals have moments when they question why they continue to do what they do. Fundraising, especially with the success that you’ve had, is a fairly tireless effort. How did nonprofit work come to have such meaning for you? What keeps you going?

Learn more about Youth On Their Own at https://yoto.org/.

One of the reasons I enjoy doing this podcast is that I’m really fascinated by what other people do and what they’re passionate about. I’ve been eager to have you on the show because, of all the businesses I know, yours is probably the most unique. What compelled you to study plant medicine like Ayahausca? And did you have any concerns about bringing something some people feel is controversial out of the shadows?

I think most people struggle with the demands of the modern world and recognize the toll that it can take on our well being. I also think that many of us readily admit that being in nature makes us feel better, and there’s certainly a ton of evidence to back that up. And yet, there has been tremendous suspicion around plants as medicine. Why do you think this topic became so controversial?

Given the trends in states like Colorado and California, as well as numerous studies that are coming out about alternatives to pharmacological medicine, what is the data really bearing out? Depending on a person’s symptoms, are ancient plant medicines working as effectively as modern prescription meds?

One of the groups that you’d like to reach out to are veterans. The VA reports that there were more than 6,000 veteran suicides per year between 2008 and 2016, and that up to 30% of Vietnam veterans experience PTSD during their lifetime. How does plant medicine help to heal trauma in ways where maybe other treatments haven’t been successful?

Regardless of the profession, I think it’s safe to say that there are people who conduct themselves with integrity and there are those who do not. I imagine this is all the more of a challenge for a profession like yours, where you’re having to overcome the stigma that plant medicine is only practiced by crackpots. If people wanted to open themselves to the possibility of using plant medicine as part of their self care, what do they need to know? What do they look for?

So we’ve covered a lot of ways in which plant medicine has been made to seem outside the norm or controversial. Let’s look at something that seems to be popping up everywhere, and that’s CBD. Why do you think CBD oil in particular is so popular? Does it really have the effect that it’s advertising, or is it just one of those things in the Zeitgeist that feels anti-authoritarian and therefore appealing?

I’d like to end this part of our interview by inviting you to talk more about the concept of self-centered living. Not unlike the types of healing we’ve discussed today, the idea of being “self centered” brings up very specific connotations for people. What do you mean by self-centeredness and how does living that way positively impact ourselves and those around us?

Prior to entering the behavioral health field, you had a successful career in Human Resource Management with the Chrysler Corporation and Omnipoint Communications, which is T-Mobile. What did you learn from those experiences that helped to shape your leadership style?

The whole career path paradigm has radically changed. The majority of people are working for multiple employers and many, like you, are achieving success in multiple fields. Although this level and frequency of change is now common practice, the idea of taking the leap can still be scary. How did you make the move from labor relations to mental health? What reservations did you have to overcome to pursue your passion?

At last month’s Treatment Center Executive Retreat in New Orleans, you were invited to speak about breaking down organizational silos. I think anyone who has ever worked for a reasonably sized company knows what it feels like to have one department pit itself against another. What advice can you offer to business owners who are trying to shift their company culture from tribalism to cooperation?

Also along the lines of getting employees to think outside of their box, I found it very interesting that you had Sierra Tucson partner with DePaul University’s School of Hospitality Leadership. When I read that in a recent interview with you, I thought that was absolutely inspired. Describe for us your thought process behind that and what you were hoping to achieve.

For a variety of reasons, Sierra Tucson is a very high profile organization. It’s a world-renowned treatment center, it has famous clients, and the very nature of your work has life-altering consequences. I know a lot of business owners struggle in their relationship with various media, and I imagine it’s all the more tricky for a company like yours. When Sierra Tucson receives bad reviews or bad press, what is your approach to dealing with it? Do you think Sierra Tucson pays a public price for having to maintain individual confidentiality?

CEOs are often looking ahead at trends affecting their industry and the markets they serve. I’m interested to know what you see coming with respect to the criminalization of drug addiction. Change has been very slow to come on this issue, despite the economic inefficiency of incarceration and the inevitability of recidivism because people are leaving jail without the ability to make different choices. What changes do you see coming re: how we criminalize addiction? How do you see this affecting Sierra Tucson, if at all?

We still seem to have a cultural badge of honor for working long hours. Yet there is plenty of evidence to support shifting our focus to effectiveness rather than time. And of course there is all the data about the impact of stress and exhaustion on our physical and mental health. As a mental health professional, what’s one thing you’d like to see the American workforce embrace, and what could business leaders do to help make that possible?

Learn more about Sierra Tucson at https://www.sierratucson.com/.

Sahuarita used to be not much more than ranch property and a handful of residential homes that you drove past between Tucson and Green Valley. I think the population was less than 2,000. In 1994, it incorporated in anticipation of the Rancho Sahuarita project, and today it’s a thriving town of 30,000 people. Your company, which was founded by your father, built that. You literally grew up with this project. What sense did you have that this would become such a public family legacy?

I’ve met many second or even third generation business owners who felt that taking over the family business was an inevitability. Some of them have felt that was very natural, and some have felt that they missed an opportunity to forge their own path. You shared with me that when you were younger, you wanted to become a veterinarian. What conversations did your dad have with you about the family business? Did it feel like an inevitability that you’d work together, or did you feel that you had choices?

Several years ago, your dad was diagnosed with brain cancer and was given four months to live. I’m happy to report that he beat the odds and today he is doing well. But at the time of the diagnosis, you not only had to be there for your dad through a very difficult illness, but you also had to quickly step up your involvement in the company. When we chatted earlier, you talked about how this tested your values. Share with us how you felt tested and what you learned from that.

The Rancho Sahuarita Company has many key leaders who have been with you for 20 or more years. They knew you when were a child — I think you mentioned to me that your CFO actually tutored you in accounting. What kind of adjustments did all of you have to make when you became the COO? What core company values helped you all to make those adjustments?

You’ve described your dad as a very visionary person, whereas you have a real passion for organizations and the people working in them. What have you felt responsible for upholding with respect to your dad’s style or decision-making, and in what ways do you exercise your own vision and style?

Not unlike every other generation known to man, Millennials have been much maligned by their elders. Even as a GenXer, I am guilty of raising an incredulous and sympathetic eyebrow at the stories clients share with me about their younger employees. As an esteemed member of the GenY set, I am turning to you for a better understanding of what is now the largest living workforce. What is GenY looking for that we need to adapt to and in what ways does GenY maybe need to step it up a little?

Your company was a finalist last year for the Copper Cactus Award for Best Place to Work, and you’ve been nominated again this year. As a Millennial, how do you think you lead people differently? In what ways do you bring a perspective and skills that make your company relevant and ready for the future?

Learn more about the Rancho Sahuarita community at https://ranchosahuarita.com/.

How you came to own and operate Greentoes is really a love story. Your wife, Christina, created Greentoes, and it was her dream business. Tell us about how you came to be involved in running the company.

I’ve had many conversations over the years with women about what it’s like to work in various male-dominated industries. In your case, you’re a man who found himself in a female-dominated industry. What was it like for you to make that adjustment? What did you have to become comfortable with, and is there anything that still feels strange to you?

As I like to emphasize at the start of the show, I really want entrepreneurs to know that they are not alone in their struggles. You’ve shared with me the story of placing your first inventory order for nail polish, and I thought it was such a great example of how we never stop needing to just sit and figure it out. Can you share that story with us and how you overcome challenges in general?

I think every business owner is frustrated by a misconception about their business or industry. I think this is especially true for service businesses because what they offer is often intangible and therefore subjective. What is something about the salon industry or Greentoes in particular that you wish people understood better?

In 2015, the New York Times ran an article called “Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers.” They shared the stories and statistics of salon workers who were being poisoned over time by the chemicals they handled every day. Share with us your choice to be an eco-friendly day spa. What does that choice mean for your staff and your clients?

Last year Greentoes expanded to a second location. Your original spa is located on 6th Avenue, and your new location is at Roller Coaster and Oracle. A lot of business owners struggle with the decision of if or when to expand. How did you come to the decision to open a second location?

One of the challenges of any business, particularly one with multiple locations, is having a team who shares your vision and standards. How did you mentor and prepare your employees to take over the day-to-day while you focus on building the business?

If someone wanted to experience Greentoes, what do you offer and how can someone make an appointment?

I am always fascinated by businesses that are started in someone’s home, particularly when they involve transforming a well-established path, like teaching, into something entirely new, like manufacturing products from indigenous plants. Can you describe for us how you came to create Cheri’s Desert Harvest?

Your crews hand harvest 40 tons of fruit per season, which is all processed locally at your facility. You are also the only company to produce prickly pear seed oil in North and South America. Why was it important to you to keep the manufacturing here in Tucson, and how did you figure out the manufacturing process for something no one else is doing?

Becoming a good cook who is able to create original recipes is largely a matter of trial and error. I imagine that’s even more true when your primary ingredient is prickly pear cactus! What is your process for developing a new recipe? How do you first get the idea, and then how do you go about creating something that you can produce on a mass scale?

As someone who likes to cook, I’ve come up with some really weird experiments. Let’s just say that broiled kiwi is not the caramelized slice of deliciousness I thought it would be. I imagine you’ve had some strange concoctions yourself over the years. What’s a story of a recipe you were working on, and the result was not what you had in mind? And what has been the most important thing you’ve learned from those kinds of mistakes?

I think now more than ever, consumers are beginning to align their purchases with their values. Even in this era of political divide, I know both progressives and conservatives who see the need to reduce their eco-footprint. This seems particularly true for Millennials, who are environmentally conscientious and are also now the largest living generation of consumers. You practice a much-needed and highly innovative philosophy that you call Waste To Profit. Can you describe for us what this means and how you’ve incorporated this in your business?

My next question was inspired by one of our listeners, Liane, who is a cook and loves your products. In keeping with the theme of being eco-friendly, there are a lot of non-indigeneous plants that seem here to stay. They consume water and many people aren’t aware of their culinary potential, so they don’t get repurposed into anything. Do you work exclusively with indigenous plants, or would you consider using something like “ornamental oranges” in your jellies?

For those listening who are thinking of expanding their brand and reaching further into the retail market, I’m curious about how you took your business from your kitchen to the shelves of Whole Foods and upscale resort gift shops. In addition to incredible perseverance, how did you do it?

You serve on Tucson’s City of Gastronomy Board of Directors, which was responsible for obtaining Tucson’s UNESCO designation. What exactly is the UNESCO designation and why is it significant for Tucson?

Last year I read a book called “Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking” by food writer Anya von Bremzen. She was raised in the Soviet Union before her family immigrated to Philadelphia in 1974, so the book is an account of her childhood through the lens of Soviet history and its food. Her story reinforced for me how food, history, economics, and memory are so interwoven. What kind of role did food play in your life growing up? How do you think food was a reflection of your family?

What is it about the South, and New Orleans in particular, that inspired you and your partners to open The Parish?

I think that really good cooking is edible art, with the added bonus that it affects every one of our senses. Like any art form it’s innovative and, in its own way, food can be very radical. What are the challenges of being in an industry that attracts creative freedom and risk, yet as a business owner you still have to meet client expectations that can be quite traditional?

You’ve been in the restaurant industry for over 30 years. What has changed the most in the culinary world during that time?

The Parish is co-owned by three dynamic partners, you being one of them. Bryce and Travis couldn’t join us today — they have young families, and they had Daddy Duty. It’s great that you are all supportive of one another and that there’s an appreciation for everyone’s need for a personal life outside of an intense business. The million dollar question is: How have the three of you come to function as a collaborative team, and what advice can you give to those listening who are in partnerships and may be struggling with the dynamic?

What’s one misconception about the restaurant industry that you’d like people to better understand?

Chef Travis won Tucson’s 2017 Iron Chef competition, and shortly after that The Parish won an award at an international cocktail competition in Paris with a recipe that your bartending staff invented. The Parish has won various Best Of awards, including Best Place For Out of Town Guests. You have a very loyal following, myself included. What’s on the horizon for The Parish? What can Tucson look forward to?

I feel I would be remiss if I did not ask you: What’s your favorite go-to comfort food?

The name of your clinic is Tula Wellness. What does “Tula” mean, and what significance did that hold for you when you created your practice?

Many of us who own businesses didn’t necessarily come from that environment growing up. My parents had good corporate jobs, so for me it wasn’t like having my own business was the natural order of things. I had a whole other career for 10 years before I started my coaching practice. So I’m always interested in learning what was that thing that inspired someone to go into business for themselves. What was it for you?

I think that one reason people go into business for themselves is because in some way they are looking to express their values through their work. How have your values shown up in your work?

What I’ve noticed in working with specialists like doctors or attorneys is that your fields require extensive education and training for your profession. But that seems to make all of the nuances of owning a business all the more shocking -- they don’t teach you how to run a practice in med school. But I suppose none of us really feel 100% completely prepared to own a business. What has been the most surprising to you about owning your own practice?

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome, and how did you do it?

What do you love most about working for yourself?

Owning a business is a marathon, not a sprint, and sometimes that can start to take its toll on energy, patience, enthusiasm, or all of the above. For someone listening who is feeling frustrated in their business, what’s one piece of advice that you could offer them?

What is a misconception about the medical industry, or about being a doctor, that drives you crazy?

Tell us about the book that you’re just finishing and getting ready to publish.

What specific areas of medicine do you practice, and how can our listeners get in touch with you?