Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Tran. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Lisa , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from the people I keep around me. My parents inspire me the most, my siblings, my friends, my partner. It’s honestly a beautiful thing to be surrounded by people who understand discipline, sacrifice, long days of work to build a foundation. My parents are from Vietnam and came to America to create a new life, one that put my siblings and I in a better position to win. If they could buy homes, build businesses, etc. despite their hardships, then I really have no excuse. I feel really lucky to have them. My circle not only inspires me, they uplift me, they ignite a fire in me. When I think I can’t, I look at all of these people who remind me everyday that I definitely can. That’s enough to keep me going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Matcha Mami is a pop up concept specializing in ceremonial matcha beverages. It is very fun and exciting because it’s like art, but in drink form. Every pop up has a different menu depending on theme, season, or just something we felt like putting out at that moment. We try to keep the crowd favorites at every event but you might not try the same thing twice, I like the exclusivity. Having a different rotation keeps things spicy and adventurous! I always work on new recipes and do little taste tests at home with my team before rolling out. To prep one matcha requires a lot of love and patience, so creating a menu is another ball game on it’s own, but we love it. We try to do one or two events a month, you can follow us on Instagram @matchamamiorl to see our schedule line up!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
At the very top of my list is building a team. I am just one girl who really loves matcha, it would be impossible to execute every pop up all by myself. It’s hard to ask for help, it’s difficult to trust others with your vision. Finding your people is vital! People who you can trust, who can help build your business up, who understand hard work for the bigger picture, and people whose feedback you truly value. My partner, Gavin and my sister Stacy, are my team. These are the people I trust with my vision, they are always behind me at every event. It’s like that quote “two brains are better than one”. I feel like I have three brains because I have them.
The other two are simple, be yourself and have fun. Starting a business can be stressful, but at the end of the day it’s yours. You have the opportunity to make it anything you want to be. From big things like marketing, to small things like what color napkins you want to use (mine are pink, duh)! Let it be true to you! The more fun you have, the less it feels like a job. We love to yap over a cup of matcha and connect with people, it’s a vibe! The job will still get done even if there’s some fun involved. Trust me.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I have to give credit to where it’s due and say my partner! If it wasn’t for him I probably would have never started Matcha Mami. I was just obsessed with matcha and making drinks in my kitchen to enjoy and share. I didn’t think I’d be selling it! He was the one who really gave me the hard push in actually launching the concept. Luckily for me, he’s equipped with a lot of business building knowledge so I feel like in a way, he was a cheat code for me. I feel good knowing I have someone who can navigate and walk me through the areas that I am not familiar with as a first time business owner. Shout out to Matcha Papi Gavin.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
@loquellano.media
@wicked_blades1
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
