Minutes: 35:09
Dima: Ready.
David: Let’s do this.
Dima: This is going to be one take. We’re not going to mess up. We’re not going to stop.
David: Alright.
Dima: You already started. It’s going to be natural. It’s one take. Alright, guys. So we decided to take the leap of faith and do our first podcast as you would call it. David here has been very inspirational with his speech the other night that he gave for, what was it David?
David: It was for a real estate and financial services.
Dima: Real estate and financial services. We’re going to see where this conversation takes us. And we’re going, just tell you a little bit about us first, and then we’re going to ask each other questions…
David: Sure.
Dima: …or maybe have a beer. Maybe not. We’ll see.
David: Let’s do it.
Dima: Let’s do it.
David: Yeah.
Dima: So go ahead, David. Do you want to tell us about you?
David: Well, how about this, why don’t we start with you Dima.
Dima: Alright.
David: Alright. So tell us a little bit about yourself.
Dima: Alright. So, I was born in a small town, so yeah, so I am 36 years old and I was born in Romania. I came here in1990. My parents fled communism, so, big win for us. I got to like use toilet paper without standing in line. So that was fantastic. Yeah. And I grew up in Southern California for most of my life and base…
David: What part in Southern California?
Dima: …The Valley.
David: Okay. So you’re a Valley boy
Dima: Valley boy at heart, for sure. Yeah.
David: Alright. Yeah.
Dima: Yeah. Went to Reseda Magnet high school. Went to CSUN, UCLA, all those schools. Everyone’s probably heard of Marty. Studied finance, got out of it 2008ish, right when the market tanked. So, couldn’t find a job. Decided to do something else completely. So, I started doing business development and I was actually doing business development already for my dad for his business and thinking of trying to scheme and plan and take over the world with whatever I could do, and decided to open up my own business.
David: Okay.
Dima: Yeah. So, I own multiple businesses.
David: What type of business was the first one?
Dima: The very first one was actually a marketing company. So, I did web development brand development, business development, all types of developments, it what they would call dead. Yeah. So, my main thing that I’m doing right now is I own a quick service restaurant called the Juice Parlor out in North Hollywood. I own a web development company called Hatthaway & Briggs, and we primarily focus on celebrity trainers, celebrities, personal branding like that for them. We work on developing basically not only their websites, but business ideas or businesses that they have from A to Z.
David: Okay.
Dima: I’m also in the process of developing my own supplement company.
David: Okay wow
Dima: Yeah. It’s already developed in essence.
David: Do you have a name for that already?
Dima: Yeah, it’s called wild warrior.
David: Okay. I like that.
Dima: Trademark is not pending because it is acquired.
David: Okay Alright.
Dima: Yeah, so we…
David: It’s very catchy by the way.
Dima: …Thank you. And basically we, I’m going to finalize the product and we’re coming out hopefully within the next couple months. And it’s a supplement powder. You throw in the hot water, smoothies, whatever you want to do it with. It’s basically a designed it as a substitute to coffee, right! Because…
David: So, this is not a protein shake.
Dima: .. It’s not a protein. No, it’s literally a coffee substitute in essence. So, when I was designing it, taking all the ideas and the concepts and the ingredients and all the foods that I’ve already worked with at the shop, at the Juice Parlor decided to do my own supplement and develop something where I can in essence, win myself off of coffee. Because I was up to a pot or two a day of coffee.
David: Wow.
Dima: Yeah. So, and it’s got a lot of ton of amazing ingredients saying anywhere from Maka to turmeric to ginseng. There’s, I believe last I counted. I think we’ve been adding about 16 or 17 ingredients in there. I’ll get you guys a full list.
David: Well, let’s say before I I’m actually interested in the Juice parlor Can you tell us a little bit more about that?
Dima: So, it’s a Juicery. We started way back in the day….
David: What is the name?
Dima: …The Juice Parlor.
David: Oh it is called the juice parlor.
Dima: Yes. The juice parlor, P-A-R-L-O-R
David: Alright. Got it.
Dima: You can find the juiceparlor.com.
David: And where’s that located?
David: It’s in North Hollywood. Its 5658 going to Boulevard in North Hollywood.
David: Okay.
Dima: California 91601.
David: Alright.
Dima: You can check it out online and we’re on Yelp.
David: Okay.
Dima: All the delivery apps, Doordash, Grubhub, UberEats Postmates. Basically what we do is we make fresh made to order organic juices, smoothies, Asahi bowls.
David: Okay.
Dima: We basically, that’s all we do really. Just those three main things. We also have like avocado toasts and things like that. But when we first opened it up my partner at the time and I, the concept was to provide something to the community that may not be in that area. For example, so to be very blunt, especially in the times that we’re now. The way that we thought about it was we don’t want to put another Juicery in a white neighborhood.
David: Okay.
David: Right? I mean, it sounds weird, but like literally…
David: Right.
Dima: …six, seven, five, six years ago, we were thinking of that.
David: Right.
Dima: And our whole goal was to bring affordable, fresh made to order organic juices to other communities.
David: So, is there a specific demographic that you actually target in that area?
Dima: No, there’s no specific demographic, but the area in general, the demographics…
David: Is very diverse?
Dima: …it is a lot more diverse…
David: Got it.
Dima: …Yeah. I mean, there’s North Hollywood is like an artsy community…
David: Right.
Dima: …There’s actors, singers…
David: Sure.
Dima: …dancers, musicians. I mean just our area along. There’s a ton of like music studios, recording artists. I mean, we have artists coming in like every day.
David: Wow.
Dima: Different like people in…
David: Influencers?
Dima: ..people that you look on Instagram or you’ll see on TV and then you meet them in person. And you’re like, wow. There’s just like and all..
David: Just like everybody else?
Dima: …normal person like everyone else you know So yeah,
David: This was started how long ago?
Dima: The concept was six years ago. 2014. Took us about a year to build out 2015. Yeah. And now it’s basically design, obviously develop the business in a way where it’s fully sustainable. I have an amazing staff. We have about 10 or 11 employees now.
David: So, let me ask you a question because, especially, well, in the last 10 years, it’s the economy has been doing very well, right? Despise, the market crash in 2008, 2009, 10. But around 2011, 2012, things started to pick up a little bit. So we’ve been on the run for about eight years as far as the economy. So, did you find it difficult when you were beginning to establish this business as far as requiring lease, the capital. Can you tell us a little bit more about that process? How did you go from concept to the…
Dima: That’s a great question.
David: ..to reality?
Dima: So, basically when I, before I did that, I was in sales.
David: Okay.
Dima: I was in over the phone sales. I did really well made the guy that I was working with probably about $2 to $4 million a year in sales. Like literally like insane amount,
David: What type of industry was this?
Dima: It was like we were selling business opportunities. So we were giving people the opportunity to purchase into a business that could develop themselves.
David: Is it like a franchise?
Dima: Kind of like a franchise, except not as like the requirements legally for a franchise versus a business opportunity.
David: Got it.
Dima: It’s not as strict, right!
David: Got it.
Dima: But yeah. We just, we were doing really well. And one day I just, I realized it was, I was not working for the right person honestly. And I wasn’t happy and I was making great money, but it just wasn’t something that I wanted to do. And I’ve, I used to bartend when I was younger. So, I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant.
David: Okay.
Dima: So, at the time I was like, I want to do something else, quit my job. Like literally like next day. And I was like, what am I going to do? So, and I was already doing like business development in regards to like marketing. And before that, like I was doing it for a while. So, I was like, should I get back into marketing? Should I do it myself still? What do I really want to do? And I had a bunch of money saved up. So, I’m like you know what, let me just invest in myself.
David: So, you worked in sales for…
Dima: Probably about like two and a half to three years.
David: …Okay and then those years that you were making money, you saved, you saved, you saved.
Dima: Yeah.
David: And then when the concept came about…
Dima: Correct. Yeah.
David: …you were able to put some of your own capital, skin in the game, right?
Dima: I invested probably a hundred to $120,000…
David: Wow.
Dima: … into it. Yeah.
David: Okay.
Dima: Because when we built it out, it was like, imagine just a square rectangle…
David: Right.
Dima: …like white wall. Not even I have, we didn’t, there was like nothing up. Literally, no outlets, no lights, no, it was just a blank space. So, we had to completely demo everything, went through all the permitting process, A to Z, figuring out what we needed. And we hired an architect, I did the design development with them. I worked on the branding and everything with them as well, even though, it’s like, it’s funny because even though I did branding and do branding for other people.
David: Yeah.
Dima: It’s always nice to work with other people, so you can get a different perspective.
David: Sure.
Dima: I don’t like the concept of like group think. I want to be able to get different ideas from different people. I’m not one to be like, Oh my ego. I don’t care. Like if someone knows something better than me, I’m more than happy to learn.
David: And listen, I want to trouble you real quick. I have. So there’s a quote. Ego is not your amigo. And I got that from a mentor there. A shout out to Carlos Bruner on that one.
Dima: There you go.
David: Yeah. go ahead
Dima: That’s absolutely right. And basically, so we designed developed, I mean, literally, like we were coming up with our, these are our own recipes that we made up. We had a friend’s family over testing our recipes, the whole process took like two or three months. But the process of building out, it took about a year, year and a half because we were like fresh at it, super green had no idea what we’re doing.
David: So you had one partner in this?
Dima: Yeah.
Dima: Okay. Was he more of a
Dima: No. So I was married at the time. We’re still partners right now, but we were not together.
David: Got it. Okay. So, was there so the reason why I asked is because, a lot of business owners, a lot of entrepreneurs go into business with partners and, there’s a high percentage of partnerships that end up going sour.
Dima: Yeah.
David: So, my question would be, how do you vet, and I know this was your partner at the time, as far as in the relationship, correct?
Dima: Yeah. Well, we were married.
David: You’re married, okay.
Dima: Yeah. exactly So…
David: Now, as far as, and this might be a different perspective, but what would you suggest to someone who’s going into business and maybe has one or two different partners? How do you vet, how do you know what’s the right partnership? Because obviously when you’re building a business, you’re thinking long-term. You’re not thinking maybe, one year, two years, and three years. You’re thinking long-term. So, how would you vet now, next time? And I know last time was married. You were in the marriage, in a relationship, sorry. if you were to go into partnership now with someone different, how would you vet that person?
Dima: Yeah. So, basically like the way that I would think of it now is, if you heard of Tony Hsieh
David: Yeah. Zappos, right?.
Dima: Yeah. He develops Zappos. One of the things that we did at the time is, obviously we did a lot of research, Tony Hsieh with Marcus Lemone, Lemonis, Lemone, I can’t ever pronounce his name properly, the profit.
David: Right.
Dima: And a bunch of other people that we actually studied on, how to, not just how to do business, but how to have the mindset of business, right? So for example, in Tony Hsieh book, I believe it’s called the selling happiness or something of the sort, I can’t remember,
David: I haven’t read it yet.
Dima: Delivering happiness. That was it. Delivering happiness. So basically, he goes through the concept of, and the idea of this is how he developed Zappos and the mentality behind it. Right. And if you look on their website, Zappos has an incredible, crazy, beautiful mission, values, community…
David: Culture.
Dima: …culture. Exactly. So, we decided to adopt that. And even today, like we’re still partners. It was amicable the split. So, but even today we have our values, our 10 values on the wall. Like every employee, when they’re trained, goes through learning, like our values of, not only how we want them to interact with customers, but really how we want them to interact with themselves, the type of mentality we want them to have the joy and the happiness to bring to not only the work environment, but the customers. So…
David: So, would you say that it’s important that the partners have the same?
Dima: …Exactly. So, that’s what I was getting at. So it’s not having the same values as you but it’s important that you have partners that do have values.
David: Okay.
Dima: Right? Because anyone can throw money at you.
David: Right.
Dima: Anyone could be like, here’s some money, let’s make money, right? But ultimately, you can also bring in the money.
David: Sure.
Dima: You can find the money. You don’t need to take someone else’s money and de-value your mission…
David: Values.
Dima: …. or your values. you want to focus on what you find and what you adhere to in your mission, your values. And you want to find people that are aligned with that. At least that’s the way that I do it.
David: No, absolutely.
Dima: So, really that’s a big part of it. And if someone is not, if someone’s whole mentality for me is, let’s just make money. I’m not into it. Because money, you can make money, right?
David: I agree. 100%.
Dima: You can make money anywhere.
David: Money is easy to come by
Dima: Money’s easy to come by, right? I mean, there’s people literally, with account on the side of the sidewalk making 40 bucks an hour nowadays, minimum wage is going up, everything’s going up. You can make money. Even if you just work a nine to five.
David: Especially now, like, you want to sell masks and make money?
Dima: There you go. Yeah but it’s, it’s a matter of like why are you selling those masks?
David: Right.
Dima: What are you doing to…
David: Sure.
Dima: …give back to expand not only yourself but to help people in your community. And that’s one thing that like, with the shop, with the marketing business, with wild warrior. One of my missions has always been, how can I give back, right? So one way that, what the shop that we tended to get back a lot in that sense was, this sounds weird but we didn’t charge as much. So, I would do my research…
David: This is at the Juice parlor?
Dima: … at the juice parlor. So, I would do my research. And if you go down the street and juice X juice shop X, whatever. If they’re selling, if they were selling it $13, we would be like 12 dollars or $11.
David: So, now that brings up the next question, which is, so how do you manage your margins as far as profits? If you’re competing with your competition is based off of price. In other words you’re cutting the price in order to obviously, to get market share. How does that reflect on the profit margin?
Dima: Yeah. So I’ve known, for me when I was studying to get into, obviously the…
David: But let me ask you a question real quick. Does that hurt the product or service that you providing…
Dima: No.
David:
…in other words…
Dima: No.
David: ..the quality of it?
Dima: No, it’s the opposite because the mentality that I instilled into our employees, our team, and I’ve had my team right now, that the way it’s built, probably for, we’ve developed a solid team for over two to three years now. And we’ve had an, almost like the restaurant industry, you have a high turnover rate?
David: Right.
Dima: I mean, I’ve kept almost all my people. I can remember every single person in the past five years that we’ve actually hired.
David: Right.
Dima: So, the mentality with us is provide them an amazing product. And everything we do is fresh made to order organic. So, it’s fresh ingredients. So, when you’re getting a smoothie, you’re not getting, 60% ice and10% water.
David: Right.
Dima: A banana here and there it’s literally our basis are coconut milk, coconut water, almond milk. We don’t do anything related to milk. And we don’t have any sort of dairy product in the shop. In essence you could say we’re like vegan. That’s the only thing that’s not vegan that we have is honey.
David: Okay.
Dima: We, have it to obviously cater the people that are not vegan, but that’s because all of our ingredients, we don’t have added sugar to them. Right! So, we don’t do any products with sugar in the shop. Meaning that when you’re getting a smoothie and it tastes sweet, it tastes sweet because we’ve ripen the bananas for like a couple of days..
David: Wow.
Dima: It tastes sweet because we’ve added dates or we’ve added a little bit of honey or in general, the ingredients that we’ve added tend to add natural sweetness to it. Because I mean, you can get a banana to be, to make it just as sweet as throwing in three, four spoons of sugar into something
David: And so, now, how do you maintain you talked about keeping the value for you and your partner, how do you make sure that your employees also follow that same mindset?
Dima: It’s a matter of getting the, basically it’s a matter of getting your mindset and your values aligned with your employees, right? So, obviously going in and making sure everyone’s happy and making sure that your manager is aligned with your values. And I have an amazing manager, assistant manager leads and making sure that basically when something happens, whether it’s someone’s drink was messed up and really that’s the funny thing is that’s really the majority of what can go wrong.
David: Right.
Dima: A drink messed up. Someone’s not happy with it. You just remake it. You get them aligned to like understanding that the customer is important, The product is important.
David: Absolutely.
Dima: That quality is important. So, if they’re making a great drink, you’re not going to have an unhappy customer.
David: Right.
Dima: If you’re not going to have an unhappy customer, you’re going to have an easy work environment. You know what I mean? And it’s a cycle that’s just going to keep on building on itself. But to go back to where you’re discussing is in regards to the profit margins. One of the big things that I did right from the start is understanding that, food does costing.
David: True. And the cost of it is going up as well.
Dima: The cost is going up, obviously there’s a lot of people don’t know, but every delivery you’re paying fuel charge as well. I always joke around with the delivery drivers. I’m like, wait where are you leaving the fuel and leave the fuel charge on there. But so what I did, for example, one of the things to really streamline that process is one, I develop relationships really closely with two suppliers, right? So, instead of having like 10 suppliers, like, get this item here, get this out of here. I was like, no, I’m going to have to two to three suppliers. I’m going to work with them. And I’m building relationship.
David: Good relationships. Yeah.
Dima: Building relationships is key. Right now I, and I do this probably at least once every two weeks, once every four weeks I’ll call them up and I’ll see what can we lower the price on today, right! And if ever something’s missing off the delivery, I’ll call up a couple of them, or the owners, literally the owners, they will bring it over to the shop themselves.
David: Wow. So, are these also, the suppliers are also a small mom and pop?
Dima: No, they’re not. That’s the funny thing. They have like 30, 40 employees. But it’s a matter of when you’re building the relationship and they’re happy to hear when you call, even if it’s like the bring down the price, it makes a big difference.
David: Sure.
Dima: And it makes a difference enough where it’s like, if you’re talking about a 5% decrease in your food costs, you know, every a hundred thousand dollars in food costs, you’re saving $5,000.
David: Right.
Dima: Right?
David: It makes a difference.
Dima: Exactly If you’re doing a million dollars in food sales a year. I mean, you’re talking like that’s some, that’s a ton of money you could be saving just on building relationships.
David: No, absolutely. 100%. I relate to that. In real estate, as far as when we purchase properties and we fix them and we sell them that 5%, if the, if the cost of construction is 50,000, that 5%, $2,500, that could go towards something else that would bring more value to the property that was selling for a higher price. So, absolutely. I agree with that. Absolutely. So okay. So, now you’ve got the juice parlor.
Dima: Juice parlor.
David: Okay. And talk to me about wild warrior.
Dima: Yeah. So the concept….
David: Where did that come from?
Dima: … The concept really stemmed from wanting to do something once again. The whole, for the juice parlor, our motto, we have a motto like, we have a slogan, right. It’s better to feel good.
David: It’s better to feel good.
Dima: Right! And what that means is, to us it’s , yes, you can look good but if you’re eating crappy shit and you’re not taking care of your body, you’re going to feel horrible….
David: Absolutely.
Dima: And I’d rather feel good than have a six pack and my insides are torn up. You know what I mean? But at the same time that comes with if you’re eating better to feel good, you’re going to start looking good too. I mean, it goes hand in hand, but it really derived from that as well. And the idea was I wanted to develop something that was natural, that was made from the earth that I knew exactly what ingredients were in it, so I can take it and consume it myself. I basically designed, this product is, what if I’m going to be, can I give this to my kids? Or can I give this to my dad or my mom, or my family? If I don’t know the ingredients in it, why would I give it to the people I love?
David: To consumers.
Dima: Yeah.
David: So you first, if I can do it, if I can drink this then…
Dima: Exactly. I mean, have you ever had a pre-workout?
David: Do you know what I’m very sensitive to caffeine. So…
Dima: And that’s the crazy thing. You look at pre-workouts and they have like three, 400 milligrams of caffeine.
David: Exactly.
Dima: And on top of that, all the other ingredients that you get in there, you go into the gym. I used to do pre-workouts all the time. You’re tingling all over you get that weird feeling and yeah. It feels good, but then, how sustainable is that?
David: Yeah, I know. I’m sensitive to caffeine. So, when I go to work out, I’m not taking a pre-workout, I’m not doing it. I’m not doing it because I’m jittery. And instead of getting a good work out I almost feel like my heart is going to come out. So…
Dima: It’s scary feeling.
David: …So, it’s very scary. Absolutely. So…
Dima: Especially the old beginner, right?
David: …So let me ask you a question. What do you think is the biggest challenge? As far as you have multiple businesses, what has been one of your biggest challenges as far as getting any of these businesses started?
Dima: The biggest challenge to getting businesses started, I mean…
David: I think it’d be something basic just with maybe the name and maybe the concept, maybe the branding, maybe the capital. What has been, what do you think for you has been the biggest challenge starting the business?
Dima: …I think for me now, the way that I think about business is it’s not focused on one thing, right? So, I don’t think to myself. You sell homes, right?
David: Right.
Dima: So I don’t think to myself, okay, how am I going to sell that home?
David: Right.
Dima: I think to myself, okay, how can I build a community and sell these homes at once? So, I think of business as like an all around. I don’t think of just the wheel, I think, of the whole car, how can I make this car, this machine work to just keep building upon it, right? So, the name, the focus, the mission, everything, I take that aligned.
David: But what has it been the biggest challenge?
Dima: The biggest challenge? I mean, because starting businesses now honestly is really easy. Anyone could start a business, especially in the digital age now.
David: Absolutely. I agree.
Dima: The biggest challenge I would say is really finding something that you are passionate about, sticking to it, doing it, and taking action towards it every single day. If you’re not passionate about something, when I was younger, I had no idea what I want to do.
David: Right.
Dima: Okay, I want to do this. I want to own this. I want it, I want to be, I want, my whole mentality was, I want to retire when I was by the time of 24. Well, that didn’t happen. But that’s beside the point. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I love working and I love helping people and giving back.
David: Sure. I could definitely feel that from you and I could tell. But that’s abstract.
Dima: It is.
David: So, let me ask you now, what has been the challenge? The biggest challenge to actually start a business and I don’t mean to obstruct you. That was great by the way. Has it been again coming up with the name, maybe, has it been raising capital? Has it been finding the perfect location? has it been raising or saving the right amount of money? So, and the reason for it is because, so when we get into a lot of these gurus that are out there, right. And they always give a lot of abstract advice, follow your passion. Well, okay. So now I found my passion, how do I get started? And the reality is that’s the biggest challenge. I think for a lot of entrepreneurs that are like, okay, I have an idea. I have a product, I have a service, but maybe my challenges, should I open up a S Corp or a C Corp? Should I do an LLC? should I do a sole proprietor, a DBA? And just understanding all those, things that I just talked about. Some people…
Dima: It’s so funny. Yeah.
David: …some people could be, again For me sometimes creating a new corporation or a new business, I get stuck and just coming up with a name. So…
Dima: Yeah. It’s funny because, it’s not, the way that I think of it is I don’t take things personally and I don’t take things in a way where I see it as challenging or as a problem, it’s always a challenge, right? Like that concept that you just said right there of like figuring out what you want to do. Right. It’s like that search for knowledge. Right. I remember when I was younger, once you start pulling on a thread, if you keep following that thread, you’re going to go far and you’re going to feel it. So literally, I mean, Google is one of the most amazing tools that I’ve learned to use in a way where I can’t even explain. And as long as you’re willing to find out more and more knowledge, just ask a question Like literally just ask what should I open an LLC or an SCorp?
David: Right.
Dima: And then delve deeper, if I have a clothing store, what should I open, an LLC or a C Corp? Literally just asking questions and just keeps digging deeper. And the challenge I would say was when it comes to that is not digging deeper. If you stop where you think you just have, Oh, I have this information on great. Let me just stop here. That’s where people get mixed up. For me, it’s like, okay, I know this, but Hey, I see this person over here. And he’s amazing at what he. How can I get mentored by him? How can I develop my aspect of the business better on this side?
David: There we go.
Dima: Because it’s always that thirst for knowledge.
David: Knowledge. Right.
Dima: You have to just keep going forward.
David: That’s a good that’s a good response. How do you find a mentor? How do you, let’s say, what do you look for in the mentor as far as hey, I like this guy. I like what he’s about. And I want to learn more from him what are the qualities that you look for in a mentor? And so a lot of people that might be listening to this who are getting, wanting to start, right. And they’re like, hey, I don’t know whether like, going back to that same example of LLC, S Corp, C Corp. There’s a lot of people that advice on one thing and then someone on another thing. So, it just confuses everybody. So how do you find someone that says, hey, listen, I mean, I’m going to listen to this guy. Right! I’m going to work with him and I’m just going to be coachable. Right! And so I trust him. [Crosstalk 00:29:03] What are the qualities. Right.
Dima: You got to get rid of your ego. I mean no matter what, you’re never going to be the smartest person in the room There’s always going to be someone that knows more than you, right? In whatever field they’re in.
David: I agree.
Dima: So, just be open to that. And be open to learning and to access [Crosstalk 00:29:20]
David: So, what are some of the qualities that you look for?
Dima: Well, one thing is when I look for a mentor or someone to learn from, I look for that as well, like lack of ego personally. Because just like you’re willing to learn from someone they, to, you’re willing to impart that knowledge for you. So, it’s really important to find someone that you’re on the same wavelength with not necessarily the same income level, that’s not the point or the knowledge level, just someone you, and it’s, it goes back down to how much are you giving of yourself? For example, for me, if I know what I know in this aspect of my life, right. If I can give as much as I can from there, someone else is going to be willing to teach me whatever they can.
David: Right.
Dima: My last mentor that I had I mean, it started off as we were friends. We just talked, we just built a relationship and we were like, Hey, can you teach me this? Great. I would love to teach you that. Hey, can I do this for you? And promote this side of your business and we just, it just like we helped each other because I mean, ultimately it’s like a matter of it really is about how much can you give of yourself?
David: You’re talking about bringing value.
Dima: You have to bring value I mean yeah. With everything you do. Like once again, it goes back to if I’m going to sell juices just to make money, what the fuck am I selling juice for?
David: So, let me ask you a question As far as the value, because I come across a lot of young entrepreneurs or wantrepreneurs, people that want to get into business and they’re not willing to put in the time. In some cases when you talk about bringing value, sometimes that will require you maybe, helping that mentor free, right? And sometimes that can be what, three months, six months, maybe up to a year and be some, two years. So I’ve what I’ve noticed is a lot of people, 30 days, 60 days in, they get nothing in return, they quit or they stop, or they say, Hey I don’t want to work with that.
Dima: That’s the problem with our society nowadays, that instant gratification.
David: Instant gratification.
Dima: You need to get this, like, Hey, I’m giving, it’s a transactional society, right? I’m giving you this. So, when am I going to get what I want, what I deserve, right. But I mean, look at charities, right? If you’re going to give back, if you’re going to donate, or if you don’t do per volunteer or go on strike for a cause or whatever it may be, you have to do it selflessly.
David: Sure.
Dima: I mean, those relationships that I’ve worked with, that I’ve learned little things here and there that I’ve literally given of myself as much as I can, and with not expecting anything in return. But down the road, those relationships, those people have referred me to other people that have just built my business like a hundred times faster than I could’ve ever done it by myself. So it’s like, it’s a cycle you need to give as much as you can of yourself without an expectation. And you’re going to, God will give it back to you.
David: Yeah. So give without expectation, not expecting anything.
Dima: That’s really the key. I mean the more, I mean, you don’t go and give someone on the street money and expect, what are you going to work, what are you going to do for me right now.
David: Right.
Dima: You don’t go and volunteer at a kitchen and you’re not, are you going to come over and do this for me in my house now? It’s not about that. It’s about giving of yourself and giving it selflessly, right?
David: Right.
Dima: And not expecting anything in return because really the more you foster a relationship, the more it’s going to grow.
David: True.
Dima: (With going back to my relationships with my suppliers, right. I built those relationships over five years. I mean, I have direct numbers to everyone in that company. And if there’s ever anything I need at any point, whether they’re closed or open, and I’m a mom and pop shops. It’s not like I have like 50 stores. I can text them. I can call them and they’re willing to come and bring it and handle it on their days off because I built that relationship with them.
David: Yeah. No. That makes sense. So, let me wrap this up real quick. What are three principles that Dima lives by? Whether it be business or personal, just in general, what are three principles that…
Dima: That’s tough. I have a little like saying that I tell myself. It’s like a little contract that I have with myself. And it’s really simple and anyone can do it pick three values, exactly like that you adhere or you want to feel inside and to be whether you are or not. Right! If you’re not confident, but you want to be confident. Literally the contract is, I am a loving, powerful and honest leader. That’s my contract. Everyone is going to have a different contract.
David: Is that affirmations?
Dima: It’s in essence an affirmation, but it’s a reminder and an agreement with yourself to be with myself to be a powerful person, to be a leader, to be honest, to be loving. Just to give as much as I can to myself. So It’s not a matter of what are my principles? What are your principles? What are those values? What do you value? Once you’re aligned with that, and once you determine that for yourself, your whole world is going to start expanding and attracting more of that.
David: Okay. Alright Well, that’s that was great. I appreciate you taking the time to open up and share your story. Definitely phenomenal story.
Dima: I appreciate that.
David: You’re a great person. I’ve known you for what is it about a year now?
Dima: Yeah. About a year actually.
David: So, I’m still getting to know you even more. So I think this was great. I appreciate it.
Dima: Awesome.
David: And yeah, I look forward to the next step in your career.
Dima: Perfect I love you brother. Thank you.
David: Appreciate it. Thank you.