We recently connected with Rob Gooljar and have shared our conversation below.
Rob, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I come from a long line of hard workers. A pair of my great-grandparents were brought to Trinidad as indentured laborers. While all of my ancestors worked harder than you imagined, my paternal grandmother inspires the work ethic I have. She cut sugar cane for over 40 years, a task plagued by overseers, abuse, unethical work conditions, and no modern conveniences. My dad told me that however much cane a man could cut, she could cut double. She’d walk for over 5 miles to go to work, barefoot, work in a field all day, and then walk that same 5 miles back home, many times with my dad in tow. She worked to no end, and my dad and his siblings were the only ones in school with shoes on. She came to America after I was born in the ’90s to be with my dad and our family. She worked two full time jobs here, one in the morning at a state asylum, and one at night at Walmart. I will always remember her coming home from work in the middle of the night and she would sit down and roll her whole head in rollers for the next day before going to bed. My grandma is the hardest worker I know. Even in her old age, she still tries to help me whenever she sees me doing things. A work ethic so strong inspired me that even when I feel its tough, even through starting work at 15, through now a lengthy resume of over 16 jobs, through 4 degrees, through the ownership of 4 businesses, and even through burnout, depression, and anxiety, I am able to overcome knowing that I’ll always make it through.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a Trinidadian-American entrepreneur. While I hold several degrees and own a business related to them, I am now primarily back in my roots and passion as an artist. Two of my other businesses, one (IRIS blossom) in both North Carolina and South Florida, the other (island IRIS) in Turks and Caicos Islands, are directly related to my newest medium: botanicals. I design jaw-dropping and inspiring florals for every day, installations, and special events. I also design events from top to bottom in an awe-inspiring series of islands in the Caribbean. I love being a part of those special moments between people. whether its a couple, friends, family, or planners and clients. IRIS doesn’t do average. What we showcase is the beauty, fragility, and temporal components of what’s natural to us. We pride ourselves on excellent service, providing constant wow, and being as extra as possible while doing it. My brands evoke my personality: high quality, colorful, and inspiring. We recently expanded from North Carolina to South Florida for both retail and events, and will soon be launching a national subscription program with shipping throughout the United States. I’ll be traveling to Indianapolis to do a large-scale installation at a museum in March. We also have a slew of content coming soon via our social platforms, and a new and exciting series set to launch next month called Hey, Flower Friend! Stay tuned 🙂
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?
My impactful qualities, skills, and knowledge would be my work ethic and all it has allowed me to learn, staying true to my creativity, and developing a keen sense of charisma. I think the best advice I have for people on their own journey is to stay true to yourself; the authentic version of you is what people want to see the most, and trust me in that you will find those people who want to see it. Be unapologetically you, and live life to be happy while doing it.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I have really been working on “juggling” all of the hats I wear and the tasks I need to get done. This has been difficult over the last few years, but I think I am finally getting somewhere with it and figuring out what works for me. I have been diligent in prioritizing and keeping track of what needs to be done by breaking projects into small tasks, having timelines, and really incorporating SMART goals into my every day life, something I learned through therapy.
Contact Info:
- Website: irisblossomclt.com
- Instagram: @irisblossomclt @islandiristci @rmgj
Image Credits
Rob Gooljar
