Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to SJ Garrett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi SJ, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
Generosity is huge a cornerstone of my personality and remains a priority when approaching most areas of my life. I think the biggest thing about generosity is being generous with your knowledge and resources, sharing what you can when you can. This idea stems from that feeling of being on the “outside” of groups or organizations that I wanted to be a part of and not being allowed in because I didn’t know enough or have the right language or experience. This really bleeds into coffee shops when we think of spaces that have felt pretentious or above the regular/daily consumer. I had felt that way many times before I joined the coffee industry and I remember that being the first real barrier to entry. Now, in coffee, I try to make as much accessible to folks as I possibly can. Talking about what we are serving, how we prepare it, where it came from, etc. Making every moment a possibility to give something to someone else is what makes a space feel shared and community oriented. I want every interaction to feel like someone is pulling up a seat to the family table, I want guests to feel like I’m preparing something especially for them. Truly, the core of my generosity comes from wanting to share my passions and interests with others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have been managing Buenas Coffee since March of 2021 and have built the role into something much bigger than it ever imagined itself to be! I’ve grown our social media presence, diversified and specified our brand, created countless seasonal drinks, began roasting, and built up a diverse events program. My pride and joy at Buenas has been the implementation of our recurring Artist Highlight event. I grew up drawing and went to college for Illustration with the dream of working in an animation studio but towards the end of my senior year I realized I wanted to work with and for artists instead. In 2022, I decided that I would bring my passion for the arts into the world of coffee. I personally installed a tension wire gallery wall into our cinder block wall with not an ounce of experience with power tools or installations. In 2022, I held our very first Artist Highlight with the hope that I could lower the barrier to entry into a gallery space for budding artists. I knew how exhausting and disappointing it felt to apply for galleries or jobs, only to be continuously rejected. The Artist Highlight was created to allow artists from all backgrounds and experience levels to see their work in a public place, to make their first sale and to inspire themselves to feel like a true artist professional. I always feel giddy when I get to share my knowledge of that world and usher new artists into that realm. Buenas has always been a space for everyone and including artists of all backgrounds felt like something that really aligned with our values and mission to enhance community. We hold our events just about monthly and are always looking for new talent!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A phrase that was taught to me recently was “humble, hungry and people smart”, but it was something I had been doing for a long time before hearing it. Allowing myself to be humbled by experiences, school or career endeavors left me open to learning and soaking up information. Assuming that I have something to learn from everyone has always allowed me to grow and find mentorship. Being hungry for my goals and for my purpose has always driven me to obtain those things in whatever space I’m in. And being people smart has been engrained in me since I was a kid. Having empathy and a desire to understand others is at the core of who I am. My biggest advice to folks in the early stages of their journey is to dig really deep to find what excites you and brings you joy. Then seek out people who are excited and passionate about sharing that information. Always always walk into any room ready to learn.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
We are currently on the lookout for resident entertainers, creatives and talents who want to partner with Buenas to bring reoccurring shows to the space! We have had monthly jazz events this past summer and had such an absolute blast doing so. This year, we want someone who is invested in building out a program that they collaborate with us in planning and marketing. We are ideally looking for a musician type who can circle in different talent for 3-set/lineup nights or open mic nights. They can reach out via our email – hola@buenas.coffee
Contact Info:
- Website: https://buenas.coffee
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenas.coffee/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-jo-garrett/
