We were lucky to catch up with Tristyn Marrero recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tristyn, 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?
My work ethic comes straight from my roots. My entire family has a strong work ethic and the person to lead in that would be my Dad. Growing up, it seemed like we had it all. I never felt like I missed out on anything, and my parents were the reason for that. They always worked, they always provided. My dad was a pastor, he owned estate, car washes, a restaurant. Through all my dad’s jobs, my mom always worked as well. If our family had any financial setback, I would not know; I never knew. They never complained and they never let their children be burdened by it. I’m indescribably grateful for them and the hard work they instilled in all 4 of their children. Even now, I’m learning all kinds of things about financial responsibility from my siblings. My sisters have always given sound advice. My brother specifically, has held my hand through several steps of becoming the small business owner I am today. I go to my mom all of the time for wisdom and I trust in God to guide me. I still have so much to learn and build and I could not have gotten here alone.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Arborist and I do some landscaping work as well such as weeding, mulching, and planting. I absolutely love trees. I love to hike and I love to be in nature. My grandma loved botany and arboriculture as well. If I’d had the opportunity to meet her then I know we’d have a lot to talk about. It brings me so much joy to take care of living things, my children especially. My boys play a big part in why I started this business. I’m a single mom and I needed to provide for them on my own pretty quickly and what better way to do that then with something I love? It’s pretty wonderful. “For Them” tree services stands for my sons. As I head farther into my career, it starts to stand for so much more. For the plants, the clients, for God. It’s a very special logo to me and it represents why I do what I do.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three areas of knowledge that have impacted me and that I would pass on to future business owners are the importance of being personable, honest, and willing to accept help and advice from those who have more experience to share.
I’ve learned that making full eye contact, listening without interruption, showing genuine interest by asking questions, communicating clearly, and mostly, kindness, are all wonderful ways of being personable.
With honesty, it’s simple. Don’t pretend to know more than you do, don’t hide any mistakes, and always keep the client in the know. Being honest professionally and sometimes even personally, will gain you so much appreciation and respect.
Lastly, accepting help and advice. This is a major challenge for many people, and an area where I strongly encourage self-growth. Being stubborn or trying to do everything on your own—especially when so many knowledgeable resources are available—only slows progress and can cause you to miss valuable opportunities to learn. As I mentioned earlier, my family has helped me immensely throughout this journey. My community has shown up for me, and my friends have shown up for me as well. I’ve learned some things the hard way, and I’ve realized how important it is to accept the hands and minds that are willing to help.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
One of my biggest challenges is that my work is seasonal, which requires learning how to navigate the off-season through careful budgeting, saving, and planning for the future, as well as finding current ways to generate income until business becomes lucrative again. While some small businesses operate year-round, I encourage seasonal business owners to develop a strong financial plan and to do their research. Don’t limit yourself to one path—explore other opportunities and see where different roads may lead.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17xQ6aW5Ud/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://nextdoor.com/page/for-them-tree-services-knoxville-tn?share_platform=10&utm_campaign=1769709658160&share_action_id=73b54e0c-37eb-4311-923c-ddff15956fcfhttps://share.google/VQiT2JAJDbF9CBAKD
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
