Week 2 – Jonathan Christian

During this project, some of our meetings will be in people’s offices, and some will not. This week I met with Jonathan at the ABC Restaurant in Coquitlam. Even though I have known Jonathan for quite some time from going to networking events that he has put on, I thought this would be a great time to learn more about him.

Who is Jonathan Christian?

Jonathan is also an immigrant to Canada. He was born on the Isle of Man and “is very proud to be Manx.” His family history goes back to 1176, to Viking heritage. Jonathan has hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit in his blood. His father owned a family business delivering central heating oil and marine diesel for fishing boats and tractors. At a young age, Jonathan’s job was to reel in the hoses on his father’s delivery truck. Jonathan and 3 brothers “were brought up to be very independent but very entrepreneurial.”

On to the questions…

Our first question was from Melissa Musika from Indivine Visual Productions:

Q: If you could go into a time machine and go back to the day you started your business, what advice would you give yourself?

A: “Write a budget.” Jonathan answered. “Real simple because everything costs way more than expected”

Next Anne Stadnyk of Say It Now asks

Q: What was the most important quality you needed to grow your business?

A: “It actually hasn’t changed for me.” answered Jonathan. “It’s one simple word, and that’s honesty. A fair days’ work for a fair days’ pay.”

Our final question was from Jason Nitroman of NitroLube:

Q: Was money the motivator to start your business?
If not, what was?

A: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, because we all want to make more money than we think that you can in a regular job.” Jonathan answered. “But more of a motivator to me was flexibility rather than freedom.”

In conclusion…

I thought that I knew Jonathan before our coffee meeting. Boy was I wrong. Jonathan was raised to work hard and respect your business. At a very young age, he was taught that if you worked hard, you would get paid, and if you treated people with respect, you would be treated with respect. Thank you Jonathan.