We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JoWanda Dziesinski. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JoWanda below.
JoWanda, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
That’s easy: others have been so generous with me. I have often been the recipient of time, resources and good advice that are the steps up that we all need in our journeys, and generosity is a natural currency in an economy of kindness. I say economy, because you really are not giving without anything in return, It is an absolute guarantee that you will get a return, much more so than a monetary transaction. It just may come from a different direction or in a different form, and in its own timing It is easy to understand if you believe in such things. Besides, it actually is more blessed to give than to receive-if you are really helping someone, it is already immediately rewarding. As it relates to my pedicab business, sometimes it could come in the form of taking an elderly passenger right to the door of their car, donating my services to a charity, or explaining to a fellow business some course of action that could be beneficial to them. These are small things, but again, being generous is really in self-interest, because you will be shown generosity in turn. In a way, it is a form of long-term thinking, as opposed to just short-term gain. If you press someone in the moment, you might get what you are looking for, but if you are generous, you have just created a much more open-ended path. Sometimes, it can seem shocking to encounter a lack of generosity, or make you doubt the principle, but overall it always proves itself to pay the best dividends, and be easier on the heart.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Currently in our world, there is a lot of concern for the environment, and encouraging alternatives to fossil-fuel. Individuals, as well as cities, are all looking for ways to incorporate and grow the use of eco-friendly transportation. I am proud to have a business which contributes to these important goals. My pedicab fleet can be used by locals and visitors to the Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey to get from point A to B while feeling good about the impact of their choice on our beautiful beachside area. It is also a unique entertainment option for special occasions and corporate groups. In addition, pedicabs offer street-level advertising, either with traditional vinyl wraps, or digital screens. Pedicabs are eye-catching as they go by, and identify a brand with a fun vibe that is also part of a beneficial earth-friendly message.
Pedal power!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Pedicabs are bicycles, but you are essentially working with people. If you can offer a transportation service, put people at ease, and give them valuable insights about the area, they will appreciate the experience so much more than a car-for-hire. The skill of entertaining people, therefore, really ranks at the top! The second would be the physical athleticism and willingness to work outside. I am a daily cyclist and ride my own bicycle around if I am not on a pedicab. So this skill was easily transferable to pedicabs and enjoyable for me.
Finally, adaptability. Pedicabs are very niche, and every job is usually a wild adventure into something completely different. Approaching each situation with an open mind and a good work ethic and building each experience that the customer needs, is a skill set that is a must with pedicabs. It does circle back to number one on the list, working with people. In addition to that, when people choose pedicabs, they are choosing something for its uniqueness, and for that reason there is not usually a blueprint. Every situation is a custom job, and there are challenges as well as interesting stories that come out of each of them!
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Small business is a total workout! The strengths are there for a core resiliency, but it is an absolute must to get those weaker muscles going. Perhaps in big companies, you can find your specialty and stick with that, but in a small business there really isn’t anyone else, and you are just going to have to do it yourself. Sometimes it’s tempting to think, someone tricked me into this! I thought all I needed to do was pedal down the street, and now I have to learn how to create a webpage. Now I have to order bicycle parts. Now I have to figure out accounting! Your mind is working, in our industry your body is working too, and then you always have to overcome your own personal challenges. Organization. Priorities. Articulating your goals. What attitude will you take when you hit a roadblock? Challenges are always cropping up and sometimes they seem to be completely unrelated to your original strengths that got you into this when you thought, “This will be easy.” Being willing to train yourself in a variety of skills is a small business reality.
Contact Info:
- Website:greengoddesspedicabs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengoddesspedicabs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greengoddesspedicabs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greengoddesspedicabs8071
Image Credits
Kim Fox Photography
