Welcome to our ‘Conversation Starter’ series, that aims to introduce you to business owners around you, and to help get to know each other better.
Welcome to our ‘Conversation Starter’ series, that aims to introduce you to business owners around you, and to help get to know each other better.
Through these questions, we want to learn more about you. Not just your challenges and what you’ve experienced along your entrepreneurial journey, but the person that you are, beyond your business…about what makes you, you!
We realize that work does not always define us and things may not be what they seem. Often, we tend to work with people we know and trust. Most work partnerships fail because people hold back and don’t openly speak about what they want, and think.
As business owners, we have to show up and make ourselves known, if we want our business to grow. For some people, it is easy. For others, the idea of networking and social gatherings is not something they look forward to. In a world where people ask you right away, ‘What do you do’, what if it were more about who you are and what your story is?
How much fun would it be to first encounter people without knowing what they do? Just meeting them and finding out what you may have in common and what you can learn from each other. Work and business opportunities could come second, naturally.
Here are a series of icebreaker questions answered by the people that inspire us. We believe the answers to these questions can help start conversations in a different way.
- As business owners, we’re constantly networking and meeting new people. Let’s say you’ve just met someone for the first time. What’s the first thing you’d like to know about them?
What is their goal this year? Not their “new year resolution”, their main personal and professional goal.
- We know you’re super busy – as all business owners are, no doubt – but when you’ve had the time to squeeze in some TV-watching, what’s the last thing you watched? What made you choose that particular show?
Just started Netflix 2 week ago actually. Didn’t have TV for a decade before that. Watched Altered Carbon, ‘cause I like Sci-fi and I’m always passionate about the application of new technologies in our everyday life – and how they change the way humanity thinks.
- Before you decided to go solo and be your own boss, you must’ve worked for someone else. What advice would you give your previous manager?
Do not rule by fear, but by inspiring people. Fear is efficient for sure – but only sometimes. And then staff leave and retain sour memories of their boss.
- A koala bear jumps in through your window, and he’s looking at you. Why is he here? And what does he say to you?
“Wanna travel with me, dude?”
- A resume can only tell you so much about someone. Often, the most interesting things about that person can’t be learned from those pages. What do you think is the most interesting thing about you, that your resume wouldn’t tell us?
That I failed many more times than I succeeded.
- What gets you out of bed every morning? What is it that excites you, or is meaningful to you?
These days, my newborn son does a tremendous job waking me up early! Every day, I’m working towards my dreams – what motivates me, little by little. Also, I’ve learned to start my day with what DOES NOT excite me and to get it done.
- We’ve all got different talents and skills. It’s what makes us unique. What do you think you’re amazing at? And what are the things you’re not-quite-the-best at?
I’m a real Jack of all trades, master of none. I like new challenges and learning new skills, not perfecting one. This is also what helps me manage people with extremely varied skill sets – at least I have some idea of what they’re doing!
- Building a great team takes time. It’s not easy to find the right fit – like, the people who share the same work values, have the same vision for your business and have a sense of humor. If you were granted a wish to hire any 5 people – people you know, celebrities…anyone – whom would you bring into your team?
That’s a tricky one! And I’ll probably give different answers next week, but as of today, I’ll get:
Zinedine Zidane, Scarlett Johansson, Neil deGrasse, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart. No idea which business we’ll do together, but at least we’ll have fun and it will be done.
- If you woke up one morning and found yourself on a deserted island, which three things would you want to have with you? Why?
A Koala (he asked nicely at question 4), a survival set, complete with Rambo knife and matches, and a satellite phone to get the hell out of here before a python eats me during the night.
- Inspiration can come from anywhere…a picture, a bike ride, the lyrics of a song, a pet, or even a gorgeous sunset. But people have the power to inspire us like none other! There is always someone we look up to, someone we admire. Who has inspired you in your life, and in what way?
Definitely my grandparents, now gone, but always on my mind and acting as a “mental yardstick” that I use to evaluate my successes.
Both of them being immigrants, they taught the values of working hard and integrating.
- What’s your spirit animal? If you haven’t ever given it a thought, the time is right now!
I like to think of myself as a wolf, sometimes pack leader and sometimes lone hunter. But to be fair, I’m probably more of a Meerkat. Highly social, cheerful, and a bit wild.
- What characteristics do you admire the most in a person?
Passion, integrity, honesty.
- Is there something that you’ve always wanted to do but were afraid to try? What’s stopping you from doing it?
Not anymore! I’m actually finishing my first book as I reply to this interview and I released my first board game last month.
- We’ve all been impressed by someone’s skills and wished we could have them too! If you could have a new skill at the snap of your fingers, what would it be?
Drawing. I’m absolutely fascinated by that but never had the patience to pour the thousand hours to become good at it.
- What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Good weather, the sea, good friends, good food and wine, and if there’s a little gaming or motorbike together involved then it’s paradise!
About Jean Curci
Jean Curci is an entrepreneur and media producer from Marseille, France, with more than a decade’s experience in Asia. His current company, Yangoods, is the fastest-growing Myanmar fashion brand and is inspired by the country’s art, history and culture.
He has founded Blue Belu, the first Myanmar boardgame studio. He also co-founded Dagon Dice, Myanmar’s first RPG society. His previous successful professional endeavors include event and food & beverage management, vintage item imports and scuba diving instruction.
He is a lifetime storyteller, comic devotee, and fantasy buff.
We hope this interview with Jean Curci helps break the ice and foster familiarity. Now that you know a little more about Jean Curci online, you could make things more interesting by connecting offline!
You could contact Jean Curci here:
Website: http://www.yangoods.com/
