WEBVTT 1 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.800 Hello everybody, and welcome to Summerhouse with Sam. I'm your host, 2 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.519 sam I Yella and today, once again, we are coming 3 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:18.280 to you from mouse Trap Fitness, the home of CrossFit Mousetrap. Guys, 4 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:21.280 if you're not familiar with mouse Trap Fitness, it's located 5 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:23.960 in beautiful Lake one of this to Florida. And if 6 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.640 you're asking yourself, where's link one of this to Florida, Well, guys, 7 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.519 basically it is the very Disney side of Orlando. We're 8 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:33.640 less than a mile away from Disney property. So if 9 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.000 you are close in the area, you're visiting Disney, you 10 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:39.520 want a good workout, guys, drop by Mousetrap Fitness. Say hello, 11 00:00:39.799 --> 00:00:42.439 come on in, let's get in shape together. All right now, 12 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.799 I am very excited because today's guest is the one 13 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:50.840 and only mister mo Amuzont. Hello, Mo, Hey, Sarah. How 14 00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:51.320 are you doing, Sara? 15 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:51.439 How? 16 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:54.240 How are you? Wonderful? Wonderful? And again I want to 17 00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:56.320 thank you for being here for joining me for the podcast. 18 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:57.119 It means the world too. 19 00:00:57.240 --> 00:00:58.119 Thank you for inviting me. 20 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:02.159 Absolutely. Now for those of you listening and watching, guys, 21 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.599 I have known Mo for about a decade. Okay, now, 22 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:13.480 originally here at mouse Trap Fitness adjacent in the same building. Yeah. Absolutely, 23 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:18.000 there was a gift shop in supermarket and Supermarket absolutely 24 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:21.560 and it was great because after a tough workout, we 25 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:24.439 just walk around the corner of the building replenished absolutely 26 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.519 whatever we needed we went in. I still remember Linda. 27 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:28.159 Linda. 28 00:01:28.599 --> 00:01:32.599 Linda was the person who was behind the counter. We 29 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:36.319 would just have like nice little conversations. We'd say hello 30 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:38.599 and then we'd be back on our day And Mo, 31 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.120 how were you were you the owner? 32 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.000 Yeah, my family had owned it. My dad was in 33 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:45.840 the super market business back in the nineties on one 34 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:48.159 ninety two, and when he we moved back from Jordan, 35 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.959 he bought that store so we could teach us business hospital. 36 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:54.079 House, so he had that focus in mind when he 37 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.519 made he purchased that business. 38 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.239 So we went to UCF, we went to Valencia, but 39 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.640 during the off times or after school, we will go 40 00:01:59.640 --> 00:01:59.959 and work. 41 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.879 So yeah, and you mentioned you had business on one 42 00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:06.239 ninety two. For those of you not familiar with one 43 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:11.680 ninety two, it is the corridor, yes, for Disney Disney 44 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:15.719 basically for a lot what we would refer to as 45 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:22.199 the tourist area, gift shops, hotels, restaurants. Absolutely, and how 46 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:27.439 long did your family have businesses on one two since ninety. 47 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:29.080 Four when that moved from Kentucky to. 48 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:35.960 Yeah, and yeah, I apologize, No, I'm asking because were 49 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:37.919 you alive in nineteen ninety four? Of course I was 50 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.879 born in eighty nine. Okay, all right, now you'll have 51 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:42.120 to forgive me. This guy is a young man. To me, 52 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:44.280 he's a young man, and we say that all the time. 53 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:46.879 And I would say, you know, good morning when I 54 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:50.240 see you, and you'd always call me Samo, which always 55 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.280 made me smile because I call a lot of people nicknames. 56 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:57.360 Nobody ever calls me a nickname because my name is Sam. Sam, 57 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:58.840 I am what more do you need? You know, it's 58 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:02.719 an easy, quick name, but Samo, and I always appreciated it. 59 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.879 I'm the only one who calls you Samo. Yeah that's crazy. 60 00:03:05.080 --> 00:03:09.919 Yeah. Oh, admittedly your wife started calling me Samo and 61 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:15.960 it always made me smile. Shout out to Missaliana Abuzant guys. 62 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:18.680 Just a quick background. So obviously we know that Moe 63 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:22.080 and his family had businesses here in the tourist corridor 64 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:28.000 of Orlando, but you are also the founder, owner and 65 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:34.000 operator of Abstract to Orlando and that is Florida's premium 66 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:36.080 premiere art experience. 67 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:38.199 Thank you, Yes, indeed, absolutely, it's. 68 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.080 It's one of my favorite places in the whole wide world. 69 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.199 And I will have to just admit to everyone listening 70 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:46.840 and watching at home, I worked at Abstract Orlando. 71 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:47.599 You were the best. 72 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.080 Ah, I appreciate it. You guys made it easy. Everybody 73 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:52.639 made it easy for me there, and guys, it really 74 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:54.479 just allowed me to shine. And I want you to 75 00:03:54.520 --> 00:04:01.319 know that this podcast is a direct reflection or that 76 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:04.719 this happened is because of Abstract or Landdarks. So I'm 77 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:07.159 just gonna give a quick let's just do a quick 78 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:09.439 bio on Abstract if that's all right, of course. 79 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.520 So it's funny, continue please. 80 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:15.400 No, no, So Abstract Orlando originally opened in. 81 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:17.079 What year twenty eighteen. 82 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.040 It was a different name than Massimo Art Gallery right 83 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:23.279 right now? What was? It originally intended to be as an. 84 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:27.360 Art gallery to help local artists sell and promote their paintings. 85 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:30.120 It's funny because it was a place where like more 86 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:32.720 than ten artists would display their art and they would 87 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.959 have access to the studio. I wanted them to come freely. 88 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:37.480 Let you say, you're grabbing a drink with a buyer 89 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:38.920 and you want to see your art, and you're like, hey, 90 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.680 let's go to the gallery. You open up, you show them, 91 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:43.120 you sell, and you leave. But a lot of artists, 92 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.519 they were good at making art, but selling art is 93 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:47.279 what's difficult. 94 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:50.720 Art. For selling, it's a challenge. Yeah, not all artists 95 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:54.480 are good at the other aspect of absolute art world. 96 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:59.279 And so that was twenty eighteen. Yes what happened. That's 97 00:04:59.319 --> 00:04:59.920 the easiest way. 98 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.480 So I had the gift shop and I had the 99 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.720 gallery at the same time. And the gift shop, believe 100 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.519 or not, was funding the gallery, meaning that all the 101 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.959 of course we weren't selling arts, but we would attempt to. 102 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:12.360 We would do exhibitions, we would host free wine and 103 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.839 free cheese to bring people in. Best selling the art 104 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:16.720 was one of the hardest things, Sam, that I've ever 105 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.399 done in my life. It was hard. But what made 106 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.439 it difficult, Sam, Like you got there has to be 107 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.839 like a culture or something in the air to sell art, 108 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:28.759 Like you gotta be like in major cities, you gotta 109 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:31.720 have like for some reason, the client tele the target 110 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.160 market that I was attracting maybe weren't into buying arts. 111 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:36.000 Okay, so they were coming for the free cheese. 112 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:38.120 Was share with them, and of course it's the art itself. 113 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.199 Maybe it didn't reflect with certain people, certain target and 114 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:43.199 it has to do with marketing. It had to do 115 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:45.519 with finding your target market. It's just it was one 116 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:47.600 of the hardest things Sam, honestly. 117 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.519 So at what point did you transition from what it 118 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:52.680 originally was found as to what it became and what 119 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:53.879 it has become now. 120 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:57.839 COVID COVID really ignited, so it closed the gift shop. 121 00:05:57.839 --> 00:05:59.240 Believe or not. It's a funny story. I think I 122 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:02.480 mentioned a lot, like maybe a month ago. COVID happened 123 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.199 and there was no tourists. The van lord here said 124 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.160 pay or leave, and I had no other choice, so 125 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:10.319 I left. Do you know how hard is to liquidate 126 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:11.319 a Disney gifts? 127 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:15.600 And if you're when I mentioned gift shop, we have 128 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.680 something in mind here in Orlando specifically. Okay, it's t shirts, 129 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.680 it's mugs, it's glasses, it's hats. 130 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:23.439 He changed everything, all those things. 131 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.399 Yeah, all the stuff. Three for ten, three for. 132 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:26.160 Ten, four for ten. 133 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:27.439 Oh, that's a deal. 134 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:29.839 That is a deal, trust me, that's a deal. 135 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:34.000 I should have taken advantage of seriously, well for ten 136 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:35.959 that's great. If nothing else, I could have worked out 137 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:38.680 with Mickey Tea right like that. No, that's awesome, it 138 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.480 is okay, So you had to close that business, yes, 139 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.920 because it wasn't any decision you had made. The decision 140 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:49.920 was made for you. Sure right. 141 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:51.800 It was pushing me in the direction that I needed 142 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.680 to go, even though I was afraid to let go 143 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:55.399 of something that I knew was good. It's just it 144 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.639 was bad timing at the COVID no tourists in town. 145 00:06:57.680 --> 00:06:59.199 I was like, you know what, once it picks up, 146 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:01.000 we'll be back to can fine, okay. 147 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.720 But but it didn't happen. So how did that help 148 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:10.079 you change or transition into what abstract become? 149 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.040 So my attention back then was half in the gift shop, 150 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:13.959 half in the in the gallery. So with the gift 151 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:17.000 shop being one, I had full focus on making the 152 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.199 gallery what it is today. And I took some fixtures 153 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:22.160 from the gallery from the gift shop, I put it 154 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:24.839 into the thing. It's just it really pushed me to 155 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.480 jump with both feet versus dipping on both sides. 156 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.920 You can't have jump into the pool right now, you cannot, okay, 157 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:34.480 And so it's a blessing. It had you focus and 158 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:40.160 hyper focus on abstract and when you transitioned from a 159 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:47.079 gallery for the sale of local artists pieces, how did 160 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.199 you decide, Hey, we need to do something else and 161 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.519 you landed on instructing guests on how to paint. Is 162 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:54.959 that right? 163 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:58.759 Yes, So we offered many different courses. We offered fluid art, 164 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.439 which is the one we offered now, which we grew 165 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:03.240 in it three sixty. And I'll share with you more 166 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:04.759 and I'll bring Walt Disney into it. 167 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:05.839 Okay, Yeah. Absolutely. 168 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.879 We tried soap making, candle making, any kind of art 169 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:10.560 experience you could think of, but fluid art is the 170 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:12.560 one that stood out and we were able to grow 171 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.480 three sixty. I think there's a story for Walt Disney 172 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:16.720 where I think he went to Louisiana or just other 173 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:20.120 states on a pier and he's like, yeah, let's open 174 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:21.959 Walt Disney World on a Pier's like, I don't like 175 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.519 it because the ocean is there. You could only grow 176 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:24.040 one eighty. 177 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:26.000 Oh, you can't go all the way around. 178 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.879 Okay, So that's why he opened Rolina so he could 179 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:30.199 do three sixty. So with fluid arts, it opened up 180 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:33.519 to sculptures table, decore so many different things we could 181 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:37.000 paint on resin that just blew up and explo exploded. 182 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:40.960 That's amazing. And when you started, do you remember what 183 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:44.799 your options were as a client, as a guest to 184 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:49.279 your establishment, what were their options to paint. 185 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.559 A basic canvas, only one sized canvas, one cheeseboard. I 186 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.600 used to go to Low's and get it cut in 187 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:56.399 the cutting department. 188 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:58.000 That's awesome. It's so great. 189 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:00.840 So one does and yeah, that's it. Four pieces. 190 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:04.840 That's crazy. And let's say you started offering that. I'm 191 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.200 just let's say you started on a Monday. Yes, how 192 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.879 long was it before you realized we can do this? This? 193 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:14.159 This has a market. 194 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:16.200 The minute, the minute, right away, there was no Yeah, 195 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.399 it's just we knew that one percent better. If we're 196 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:19.919 doing this today, yeah, I'm We're in it. 197 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.600 I don't give up. Absolutely. If you're watching, guys, we're 198 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.039 looking at our wristbands. He says one percent better. And 199 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.799 I want you to know he believes that. And it's 200 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:31.399 not just something that he says one percent better. You 201 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:33.840 walk into abstract, you're gonna see it. You walked by 202 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:37.679 the the employees, the resin room. It's on the wall, 203 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:41.320 like guys, it's it's something he believes in. And we 204 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.960 want to talk about a little bit later how you 205 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.639 convey your beliefs to your team. But as a member 206 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.559 of your team, I am so grateful. Guys. We'll see 207 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:53.120 if we can get into that story about how I 208 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:58.919 joined MO Aleana and their team. It changed my life. 209 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.080 And I know that sounds funny and people use that 210 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.200 term a lot, but no, it absolutely did. It helped 211 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:08.960 me open up my eyes and realize what I am 212 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.200 capable of, you know. And so we'll talk a little 213 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:12.679 bit more about that here in just a minute. But 214 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:16.360 I do want to get back to your partner, right, 215 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:19.639 because a lot of times we mentioned owner operator right 216 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:24.320 mo Abusan, but a lot of times, unfortunately the spouse, 217 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.679 your partner, gets overlooked, and I want to make sure 218 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:31.200 that we know that she is integral to the success 219 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.519 of Abstract Orlando. 220 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:34.399 So we have a nickname for each other. It's called 221 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:37.919 Bendido bandits uh huh, so like Bonnie and Clyde's. 222 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:39.320 I love that. 223 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:41.159 So my phone her name is Bendida. 224 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:42.120 Oh that's awesome. 225 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:42.559 I like that. 226 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:45.080 Bonnie and Clyde. Now let's not talk about what happened 227 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:46.679 to Bonnie and Clyde at the end. Yeah, all right, 228 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:49.960 but we all do. Yeah, absolutely, we're all headed to 229 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.919 the same place. No, but Aliana, big shout out. Hello, 230 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:00.159 if you're listening, Aliana, you are probably the heart this 231 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.919 worker I've ever I've ever met, and I know a 232 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:05.120 lot guys. If you're listening to this and you just 233 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:07.320 got offended because we know each other, don't be offended. 234 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.879 This woman is no joke. First of all, alarm goes 235 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.720 off and she works out every morning. 236 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:15.159 Every morning at five. I didn't go today, she went. 237 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.399 That's awesome. So every morning at five she's working out, 238 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.279 and then after that it's to the studio or how 239 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:24.240 do we do it? Home, breakfast, shower, to the studio. 240 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:28.240 That's that's yeah, it's amazing and it's so impressive. And guys, 241 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:31.000 there are no days off for these two. Okay, if 242 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.120 you have a business, if you believe in your business, 243 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.919 there aren't any days off. And We've had many conversations 244 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:42.000 one on one, and I'm always so impressed with young people. 245 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.840 You guys are young to me, right, and not just 246 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.759 the vision that you guys have, but the drive I 247 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:50.320 think you can have a vision and not the drive 248 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:51.480 and nothing's gonna happen. 249 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:54.840 Right, dedication, Sam, We know that relies on us whether 250 00:11:55.399 --> 00:12:01.039 we eat today or don't. Literally literally, And it's just 251 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:07.039 sometimes it gets a false notion that pictures and videos 252 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.639 people see like smiles and they think that we're rolling 253 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.480 in it. But it's day by day. It's earned, it's 254 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.639 never given. So tomorrow's a new day, another opportunity to 255 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.080 get it right. 256 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:21.799 Yeah. Absolutely. So you guys were originally located Abstract Orlando, 257 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:24.200 I mean over on International Drive. It was a very 258 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.320 small space. 259 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.799 Thousand square feet by SeaWorld. Wow. 260 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:29.080 Really, I didn't realize. I never knew the square footage 261 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.879 a thousand. 262 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.480 Square feet third of what we are in today. 263 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.120 That's so impressive, And the reason I think it's impressive 264 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:36.960 is because you were able to accomplish so much in 265 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.399 that tiny rectangle. I used to call it, or refer 266 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.120 to it as the shoe box because yeah, it was 267 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.080 red title. Yeah, you open up the door and you're 268 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:47.679 writing the experience. Yeah, absolutely, you walk in. You would 269 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.360 have artwork on the sides to display, and then you 270 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.360 would have tables. How many tables did you have? Six? Six? Tables, 271 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:55.320 so three and three right, and then. 272 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:58.039 All down the corridor just boom. 273 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:59.480 Yeah. And then did you have a paint bar? 274 00:12:59.679 --> 00:12:59.879 Yes? 275 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.440 Course, Okay, So the paint bar is what basically what 276 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:04.720 I'm referring to you, guys, is a setup where you 277 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:08.080 can mix the paints. The instructor could prep everything and 278 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.200 then bring it to the tables for the guests that 279 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:14.600 were in the class. And then in the back area little. 280 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:18.120 Back room, yeah, took the paintings to dry. 281 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.639 Yeah. And you also had a restroom. We had one 282 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:22.840 restroom and it was an outstanding by the way, thank you. 283 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.679 Yeah, definitely. 284 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.440 I know that sounds funny, but guys, they went next 285 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.600 level with the restroom that they had in that location. 286 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:31.120 Every bathroom in a business speaks about the owner and 287 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.600 management is just how organized and clean they are. And 288 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.679 you know a Leana OCD. 289 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:40.279 Yeah, definitely definitely. And I learned so much about taking 290 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:44.200 that extra step, not just doing the minimum, but one 291 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:49.080 extra step. Yeah. Absolutely. So at one point, were you 292 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:54.039 able to transition from the original location a thousand square 293 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.240 feet to the location you are currently at? 294 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:58.519 So do you mind before we get into that police, 295 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:02.159 I got that location because the landlord was a friend 296 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:06.759 of my brothers. They're Lebanese, very nice family. To rent 297 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.720 a space, you got to show financials. Of course I 298 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.799 didn't have strong financials. 299 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.600 They wanted numbers. 300 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.200 I wanted to know that you get a four to 301 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.480 sign a five year lease. I'm not lying to you. 302 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.240 I went it out office and I said, okay. He's like, 303 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.480 what do you want to use it for? I said, 304 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.480 I want to I want to open our gallery in 305 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:21.519 the man he's like in the seventies. He looked at me, 306 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.600 He's like, are you sure. Yeah, no financials, threw me 307 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.279 the keys, like sign right here, and I signed a 308 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.559 five year lease right then and there. 309 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:32.159 That's amazing. That's such a blessing because you did that. 310 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:35.919 You still had the gift shop, yes, and the supermarket 311 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.399 at the time. 312 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.159 Just the gift shop. 313 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:39.759 Okay, just the gift shop. But at least you had 314 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:43.080 a source of revenue, right of course. And so worst 315 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:46.360 case scenario, and I'm assuming you tell me, is that, well, 316 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:49.000 if this doesn't work out, I can always just have 317 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:52.679 the gift shop. Right But at what point, how far 318 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:56.039 along when you were doing both did the gift shop close? 319 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:59.639 So you started twenty eighteen COVID twenty years. 320 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:04.279 Okay, testing, failing big time and learning, offering some experiences 321 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:07.559 here and there. Until COVID happened. We went full full. 322 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:10.840 All in. Yeah, all in artwork. Okay, So you close 323 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:14.360 up the gift shop, you start abstract, you start fine tuning. 324 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.519 Of course I was mentioning before we started recording that. 325 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:23.120 My last guest, Alan Thompson. He's really big into systems, 326 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.679 and I know you and I have definitely talked about 327 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.879 systems before. And you guys continue to fine tune and 328 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.879 improve your systems, right, That's. 329 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:35.120 How you buy your time back, Sam, I don't want 330 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.679 to be attached like this is something that Agana's really 331 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.559 doing a good job and making me realize. Abstract or 332 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:43.600 Lendo is not Mo, and Mo is not abstractor Lendo, 333 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.960 two different identities. 334 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.279 Okay. 335 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.840 I'm a funny guy. I like to go to the movies. 336 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.519 I'm chill, you know. I mean, yeah, I don't want 337 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:50.799 to be only known for a business that I opened 338 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:53.279 and I love it. I love after Lando, but I'm 339 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.440 trying to disconnect my identity from it so I could 340 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.960 do other things. Maybe, or it doesn't make sense so 341 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.240 you need systems for something to continue. 342 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.320 No, man, that makes me so happy and smile, because 343 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.919 again it's important to have a good partner, right, and 344 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.759 someone who sees things maybe from a different perspective than 345 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:14.200 our own. And then to hear that. I think for 346 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:17.600 many entrepreneurs you get caught up not just in the 347 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.759 day to day, but the minute to minute. You know, 348 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.840 tell me onlining, please tell me or not? And so 349 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.120 we get caught up. And so when people think abstract, 350 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.440 they think mo or they think mo oh abstract, you know, 351 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:33.360 but I think it's essential for people to have I'm 352 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:37.279 using air quotes if you're not watching a life outside 353 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.919 of the business that they have. So that's amazing. So 354 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:45.080 twenty twenty, do you remember the month that you started 355 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.720 transitioning into the instruction that kind of thing. We were 356 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:50.320 doing it before COVID, just testing the water right seeing 357 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.720 it definitely worked. Yeah, but then COVID happened your life. 358 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:56.360 That's it, Okay, we need to do that because think 359 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:56.639 about it. 360 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.519 We we took the fixtures from the gift shop to 361 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.759 the gallopy, so there was no like it. So we 362 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.480 back before COVID, we used to use a gallery for 363 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.200 venue spots. We used to do like bridal showers, and 364 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.000 all these things, and now after COVID they're hitting us 365 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.640 all like, hey, can we still do it? Like unfortunately 366 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.559 you can't. Right, there's fixtures now and now we're doing 367 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:17.440 class are fully booked. So it was hard. Yeah, it 368 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.079 was yeah. 369 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:20.640 And let's see, so that was twenty twenty and I 370 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:23.559 know November of twenty twenty four you moved to your 371 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.000 current location. Is that right? 372 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.759 Absolutely? 373 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:28.200 Where is Abstract Orlando currently located? 374 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:30.799 Right by the Violent outlets, across from the helicopter, right 375 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.839 by cheese cake factory? 376 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:36.359 Yeah? Absolutely, cheesecake factory, the Violent outlets. That's really all 377 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:39.319 you have to say, right, And so guys, it is 378 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:43.279 in the tourist area of like Buennibista slash Disney side 379 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:48.480 of Orlando. Google right now, Abstract Orlando. How many five 380 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.400 star reviews do you have? 381 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:53.839 I just checked it this one. I checked it twenty six, nine, 382 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.039 six and. 383 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.680 Nine, so almost three thousand and five star reviews. And 384 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.640 do you know how if you're thing, you know how 385 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.480 difficult it is to get a review first of all, 386 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:06.319 just in general, you know, but a five star review now, 387 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:10.240 I like to say five star reviews. People want to 388 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:13.319 let other people know, of course, right, if it's such 389 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:18.079 an amazing experience. And this leads me to the word 390 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.759 that reminds me of mo you ready for it, guys, 391 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:27.559 it's hospitality. Okay, so art I believe it's I think 392 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.440 you've said gets you through the door. Yeah, yeah, right 393 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.119 a right, So let me just give a quick synopsis 394 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.440 of what the process is like. You have a booking, 395 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:37.799 You book your reservation for the class. You can try 396 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:40.119 walking in, but a lot of times the classes are 397 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:43.799 fully booked, so always recommend a book, right, So you 398 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:48.680 make the reservation, you come in, you're gonna get to 399 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:52.039 look around the gallery. There are so many different options 400 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:56.759 to paint. You have canvas, you have sculptures, table decor 401 00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:00.000