Looking back - Guenet Gittens Roberts

Guenet was a guest that I had in mind since re-launching the Caribbean Business Digest. She mentioned in the interview of being a connector which is evident from the various roles she plays.

I can relate to Guenet in her venture with the Caribbean American Passport. While I am now doing the Caribbean Business Digest in an internet radio format, I had started out as a print magazine, then moved to an online format when I re-launched. So I understand some of the challenges that she might face but more importantly I understand where she is looking to take this venture.

Having a multimedia platform would serve her well as I think there is a mix within her audience of older and younger generations. Each will consume content differently and having different platforms will help account for that. I found interesting her opinions about print content and how it still plays a role. I hope to explore that a bit more in a future interview on the show.

For right now though, I think she is on the verge of something fabulous and I hope to stay apprised of her progress and support this endeavour at every opportunity.

Thoughts on recent shows

I typically do a post that reviews each show but time constraints didn't allow for it.

Looking back however, I am very pleased with the sequence of the last few episodes. The mixture of interviews is indicative of what I envision for the Caribbean Business Digest. Stephen Dawkins' interview provided a link between the Caribbean and its Diaspora, the Small Business Saturday interview was not a Caribbean specific topic but affected businesses at large; the Tasha Chen and Elaine Bell interviews showcased the passion and drive of entrepreneurs within the Diaspora, and the Guenet Gittens Roberts offered up a connector within the Caribbean community.

Each interview offered a different challenge notably the Dawkins interview. While most guests would be mostly free to talk about their ventures, Dawkins had to be a little more careful as he works for a larger corporate entity and had to be careful about what he discloses.

The Tasha Chen interview was all about passion and my job was to try and convey that. In large part I think I did that. This was a interview that I could really relate to being a parent and I had to be careful I didn't get carried away but allow Tasha's voice to be heard.

Elaine Bell reminded me of the brief discussion I had with Tony McClean; both were in the beginning stages of their respective ventures. In both cases, after talking with them I came away with more respect and admiration for what they are doing. And in both cases, they both offered so much that you can learn from. One key phrase I came away with was from Bell who said she works from a place of creativity and not a place of competition. 

 

These little nuggets can trigger a slight shift in philosophy that gives an edge in running and surviving in business.

Update on Tony McClean

It has been a while since I updated this blog but this seems fitting to resume posting here. I ran into Tony McClean today at a local barber shop. Remember I interviewed him as he was looking to open his restaurant, The Classic Jamaican Jerk Stop. (Listen here http://www.blogtalkradio.com/caribbeanbusinessdigestradio/2013/07/15/dr-susan-lycett-davis-along-with-new-restaurant-owner)

The conversation went something like:

McClean (walks in and recognizes me): Hey mon, what's going on?

Me: I'm good how are you?

McClean: I'm good mon. I open on Friday mon!

Me: This coming Friday?

McClean: Yeah mon. We gonna 'ave goat, pork, chicken. Every'ting man, even ackee and saltfish.

Barber stops what he is doing and looks up: Ackee and saltfish?? Dat is breakfas' food mon!

McClean: What?? This is America mon. Eat that with some boil dumpling and banana mon! What you know?

Me (trying not to laugh) I am looking forward to it! What time will you open?

McClean: From 'bout 7. But no food serving until 10 or 11.

Me: Alright then. See you on Friday right?

McClean (picks up whatever he came for and prepares to leave) Yeah mon. Ah looking fuh yuh now y'know!

And with that he saunters out with the same swagger he came in with.

I truly am looking forward to the opening day and here is to no more delays!