Outside The Box
US Marine Joey Mac Dizon runs the Mobile Cigar Lounge, offering a very unique service for parties, weddings, retirements, and more! We discussed the good and bad of operating a mobile service business and the challenges of operation during COVID. Joey is a funny guy, you won’t want to miss this episode!
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Transcript from Episode 24 with Joey Mac Dizon:
Keith McKeever 0:03
Welcome to the battle buddy podcast with Keith McKeever. Hey everybody. Welcome back to another episode of battle buddy podcast. I've got the smoking panda. Here with me today. Guy was coolest nickname ever and one of the coolest businesses ever. And this episode is about entrepreneurship and taking that weird, crazy idea that you could have out there about a business because we all have one every now and then. And actually putting the imperfect action in taking the steps make things happen. So without further ado, Joey, go ahead and introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your story. Your military life growing up military stories, stuff like that.
Joey Mac Dizon 0:42
Awesome. First off, thank you, Keith, for having us. really an honor. We love coming on podcast was just like yourself, fellow veterans just telling the story getting the word out there. Because you know what, man, you're doing awesome stuff as well of myself out there veterans that you've had on this podcast. But Hello, everyone. My name is Joe Mack aka the smoking panda located in beautiful New Jersey. I own a cigar business called the mobile cigar, the mobile cigar lounge, and what we do is we bring the wedding and and the private parties and we bring that to gar beautiful experience to those parties. So our team is all veterans and first responders and the owners, myself, Patrick and Miley. We're all veterans ourselves. So we all serve. And whether it's in the Marine Corps, or Miley, he served in the army in Afghanistan, so I mean, we'll dive right into it. But yep, six years in the Marine Corps, it was a no 311 11 Bravo from from my army, from my army brothers and sisters there. But it was a great time good stuff stationed here with 225 golf company, Fourth Marine Division when Iraq Oh 809. and did some did some ETS over at Mongolia and in Norway. So for those pictures got to travel in three different countries. So that was a good time.
Keith McKeever 2:01
Awesome. You gotta love it when you can travel. You know, that's one of those. Those benefits that a lot of people try and join for is the opportunity to travel and unfortunately not everybody can. But it's really cool. Both of those would be some really cool locations for different reasons. I'm sure Mongolia would have been really interesting. Europe would have been awesome. My trips in Europe were limited to layover so that you Ireland if you count staying in the in the Shannon Ireland airport for about an hour layover. St. Germany, just about an hour, maybe two hours, something like that. So not not quite, I think fitting the definition of visiting your you don't leave the terminal. I don't think it counts. The Koi don't count, but they'll shoot the messenger on that one. So, so anyway, this episode is all about you know, your business. And when we when we met, like, I just thought it was cool seeing the world right because there's so many veteran entrepreneurs out there in people can go down like this road of creating a I'm gonna say normal business in some ways, like family, become a mechanic and open up a shop or I'm going to become a real estate agent, insurance salesman, whatever, right, the more traditional business, but you took cigars and decided I'm just gonna take this show on the road. Because why not? Right like it? So I'm really curious, you know, what was the spark for that? Where did that idea come from? And at what point did you just say? Let's do it this way?
Joey Mac Dizon 3:35
No, totally. You know, it's funny. I have a good friend. She owns a brewery called backward flag and a good friend, another Marine. He owns a coffee company called Black six coffee. And as of course, our cigars the most cigar lounge. So we were doing a support event for a good friend of ours for backpacks for life here in New Jersey. And it was so tobacco, coffee, and alcohol. And we're laughing because that's like the trifecta of what makes like a serviceman service woman.
Keith McKeever 4:03
really innovative
Joey Mac Dizon 4:05
running in their veins, one of those three are all of them, you know, for the most part, but yeah, we took an idea Well, actually, we took a passion of truly enjoying cigars you know, for me, and for Miley and Patrick smoking cigars was that pastime of being able to just do that camaraderie, socialize you know, and for us in the military so much remember the phrase smoking if you got them so that's kind of like a good tactical pause and for those of you that that don't know that it's kind of like that little break whether it's on patrol whether it's you're doing something you can take that nice three five minute break, you know, there might not be cigars per se, but they could be cigarettes but in the during those times those minutes it's kind of like a quick reflection. They kind of just like relax for a good single minute and get back jump right into it. But you know, for the for the longer times where we're sitting in the smoke pit smoking cigars, Celebrating, you know, sometimes a company with alcohol, it's nothing better than being in a group of, you know, for me, for Marines for some people, whether it's air force men, soldiers, sailors, it's just a great way just to just to relax. So we took that passion, and we love what we know, we absolutely love doing those things, and just turn it into a business, you know, when you take the civilian sense, what what do memories consist of is thinking of birthdays, weddings, retirement parties, celebrations, those are things that we believe should be lit up, you know, with a cigar and you know, caught up in smoke. So, we took a passion and what we love doing and just turn it into business, and when when, when pleasures, business businesses pleasure, you know, for us, so it's been it's been quite a journey.
Keith McKeever 5:47
Absolutely. You know, it is quite a journey when I when I look at your Instagram page, and I'm just like, man, it was crazy looking parties, man, you guys are, you know, I mean, just, they just look so much fun. You know, everybody, a lot of them are like said retirements and weddings and stuff like that everybody's dressed, you got good alcohol flowing, everybody's smoking just lounge back, and I'm gonna get all the time. And it's like, wow, you know, it's really needed sometimes, you know, like, mental health have a good time. Like, what not smoking is your thing, like everybody needs that kind of environment sometime. And, you know, not not a place I hung out with hung out much. I did. And I've told you before, I'm not a smoker. Currently, I did on my first deployment, but a lot of that was just kind of boredom and sitting in a tower watching prisoners. And it was a little a little smoke shop, the guys had like a handful of Cuban cigars, and some little beanies, or whatever they were called cigarettes, I mean, kind of smoked out of out of boredom. And it was just kind of it killed the time that sometimes other people visit my tower, or just kind of hang out just smoking in the gutter, right? You know, just kind of take take that break what, whether it's 10 minutes or 20 minutes or whatever. And so it's it's huge. So, you know, your your business's mobile, and because you're going on site to a lot of things. So like, what, you know, what, what kind of goes into that logistically, you know, how did you settle on kind of mobile instead of just opening up like a cigar shop where people can kind of come in and do things.
Joey Mac Dizon 7:21
Thank you, Keith, us something that really, I helped a good friend of mine, Mike Rios, fellow Marine, he wants to start a food truck down in Miami. So I went down for like, a couple days just to help them start a food truck. And I really enjoyed the whole mobile game, where they just show up to events, people line up, you know, if you've been to food truck festival, or you've been to these amazing and delicious food trucks, you'll see lines, you know, breaking down the block. And I really enjoyed it, because they really didn't have like a storefront, the traditional brick and mortar that people had, they would just go to events show up. And that that was there. That was the name of the game, right? And so for us being mobile, going to different events and going in different areas. That's exactly what we want it to be logistically, if you think of this is what the military How did how did the military prepare, you know, us as entrepreneurs to go into business? Logistics, you know, when you're when you're whether you're squad leader, or your fireteam leader, squad leader, platoon, Sergeant, team commander, the CEO, you're planning all these moving parts? Okay. You know, for me, it's kind of like, hey, you know, a is going here. They need be they need their, you know, their beans and bullets, they need their stick, or for me to be like, guys in cards, right? Yeah. So that same was just a plan. Like, last week, we had about 18 events going on, you know, this weekend, this week, we probably have close to like 12 to 15. You know, logistically, making sure that everyone has what they need, and moving, moving, making sure that we move that, that pen forward. And so that's that that's what we want to do. And mobile was the way to go, you know, anyone that's struggling nurse, I was just in April, just in Las Vegas, you know, for wedding, Kentucky Derby over in Kentucky couple weeks ago, and just getting back in Miami last week, because we had a wedding. So mobile actually kept us and really went to our favorite during COVID as well. So, you know, unbeknown to us, when we started this business, under three years ago, be three years in September, you know, the mobile game was where it was at, where we could be in different locations and show up and create that experience. And that's what really made us successful.
Keith McKeever 9:34
Yeah, it makes perfect sense when you stop and think about it. Because you could have a brick and mortar and have the expensive brick and mortar. And yeah, you could have a lot of cigars in there. There's a lot of different things you could do, but you don't take it anywhere. And so, you know, as I think about your business sound like it makes so much perfect sense. You know, and I would challenge other people who are entrepreneurs out there, whatever your idea is, you know, don't discredit the idea of taking things on the road. You know, I mean, it's got a little bit of logistics involved, right? You got to figure out what to take, you know, and all those different things. But you can really kind of limit your your overhead from a business owner perspective, you don't have to have the brick and mortar, I got reliable transportation, know where you're going and know what you need to take with you. Right? Absolutely. And handled payments, and, you know, do all that all the business fun stuff, but it's a, it's a really creative way. And I'm not surprised you guys have had a lot of success over this last year.
Joey Mac Dizon 10:29
And the great thing is kids, we don't have to use like old government technology, you know, we can use things like Google Calendar, you know, Google Excel spreadsheet, you know, that just logistically, and then just, you know, mailing whatever needs to get mailed to my southern team or wherever, it's just, logistically, it's just so much easier, and it just makes more sense. You know, and especially when we talk about, you know, passing through COVID, I know, pivoting was a big thing, especially in the entrepreneurship. community, we get close to, we hit about 197 events last year, and COVID. And this year, we're probably gonna do over 450, like, we're about to break 400 In the next couple days, but I'm gonna cap it, because we're still looking for a few good men and women to keep us going by, you know, that that just shows that, you know, being mobile, and we're in the event industry living in New Jersey, you know, we were the one of the first states that shut down during this whole COVID crisis. And, you know, being in the event and wedding in Chevron, those were big weddings, especially when we talk about New Jersey thing about these big Italian, you know, huge wet Spanish Italian weddings, where there's over 150 200 people now being crushed, just because, you know, because of the pandemic, you know, we had find out different ways on how, how to keep our company going in, and kind of like, keep the flow going. But you know, we planted those seeds a year ago, and things are going well now,
Keith McKeever 11:53
ya know, there's a lot of pivoting that had to do for a lot of people in the service industry, but especially the event industry, like, I think I told you once that my wife is a makeup artist, and she, you know, does X amount of weddings per year, well, last year, a ton of them were getting canceled here in the Midwest. And there were just people were just like, Okay, I'm just gonna err on the side of caution. If I can't have if I can have a party with 50 people, and I want 250 Is my max well, like, I don't want to do it. So they'll just, you know, a lot of people just said, I'm just gonna wait a year or two. And she is beyond busy this year. Yet with with makeup stuff for weddings. And it's just, it's crazy. But you know, some people, you know, some events still have to go on. And that's awesome. And, you know, that's, that's a lot of planning. But what I am curious, because you kind of walk right into it unique challenges. So what kind of unique challenges if you guys had specifically in this last year with COVID? Like, how have you had to change your plans or adjust?
Joey Mac Dizon 12:53
You know, and changing plans adjusting going right, going back? How did the military prepare us for this? You know, Murphy's Law, right? You know, you think a plan is gonna go, things go go, right, but all of a sudden, you know, a wrench gets thrown in or something happens, or, you know, the door that was supposed to be there is not there, right? So for us, it was just continuously pivoting, I'll just use the word, continuously pivoting every day, and not looking at those as problems, but finding solutions right away, and finding out those challenges. Because immediately, one of the first big challenges, right, that we have no control over is like the mandate, back in April, May, you know, no parties whatsoever, then, slowly 25 and under outdoors. So most of my experiences were based on like these huge weddings, as well, we never had something small. So we're like, you know what, let's create a smaller package where they can have a cigar roller there, you know, a couple cigars and into our experience for these birthdays. And we did so many of them. And what we did was, we made sure that, you know, we got a lot of their feedback, you know, we totally thank them. We're like, Hey, you mean a lot if he could not keep a secret? And share the world? You know? Absolutely. And that's, you know, we started off with maybe like 40 or 50. You know, Google reviews now, we're approaching almost 175 Google reviews. And that's a big thing. But those were a lot of people and a lot of our supporters that helped us. So that's just one of the challenges that we had, you know, especially as an entrepreneur, you go through different levels of challenges. One of them right now is we are returning down business because we don't have enough people we're training new people to get into the into the flow of things. But that's one of our challenges. And I think we've we've from beginning to now, there have been all sorts of challenges, but that's what makes it fun. Keith, I think, I think finding find the solution to making it work. It's kind of like the fun creative piece of being an entrepreneur and for us being as military as veterans. that it's, it's in our blood, it's in our DNA, especially when you started, you know, be supervising junior enlisted, or whoever that you need to make sure things needed to happen. I think those skills that we learned really did help. And for us it like really did help. Really, yeah,
Keith McKeever 15:19
that that is a, I guess, you could say, a soft skill that that you the people learn in the military, they don't realize that they have. And I think that's why a lot of vets end up you know, as entrepreneurs, because we're used to looking at a salute at a problem or a problem or situation, either one, and you look at it, and you're like, Okay, well, we're gonna have to go attack this location. And we're gonna do it this way. And you guys are gonna be over here, and you're over here, you know, and you plan all these different things out and you plan every single detail is, you know, and then, like you said, the wrench gets thrown it, you know, here's your FUBAR moment. Yeah, and now you have to adjust on the fly instantly, and it's okay, all the sudden, you're, you know, I don't need you over here now, and you're here, and we're gonna do this, you're gonna do that, whatever the case may be. And so you just have to kind of adjust and like, fix the problems, right? Yeah, we're gonna wear multiple hats, personnel, logistics, all kinds of things. It's kind of in our, in our brain to be kind of like, consciously aware of what's going on situational awareness. And looking for those, those weaknesses? Correct. And that's all they really are. Business is weaknesses, and an opportunity to fix them.
Joey Mac Dizon 16:32
Oh, you see me? Yeah, yeah,
Keith McKeever 16:34
I got it. Yeah.
Joey Mac Dizon 16:36
Me, my good buddy. You know, he's an entrepreneur, he's a veteran, but you know, I have a good circle of entrepreneurs that I kind of, like talk to, and we're like, it's Ron is an entrepreneur should be able to, one, find a solution quickly, right, for the challenges and learn how to put fires quickly. Right? I think that's what the any situation, right? But just think, oh, man, you know, didn't get there. 25? What do we got to do? Okay, we're just gonna do a, b and C to make it happen, you know, or when you're dealing with the clients, you know, the clients not happy with this thing? What can we do? Let's figure it out. You know, putting out those fires quickly, I think is what makes any any entrepreneur successful. Those two basic things, and its rawness is a you could problem solve. Because entrepreneurs, this should be a teacher, I'm an entrepreneur, that means I'm problem software. By job right, you're continuously readjusting fire all the time. And then the second thing is putting out those fires, whether it be internal or external. You're putting out those fires, you're making sure that hey, when something starts lighting up, you squash it, or right before it's even lit up. You address it. I think those are, those are two key things that make any entrepreneur successful.
Keith McKeever 17:54
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. It's it's a wear many hats, prior fire police officer, paramedic counselor, I really want to look at like, you know, you're you're always going to be you know, fixing some sort of problem. So. So what kind of winds have you guys had, you know, over, especially over this this last year with COVID? Or, you know, throughout the, since the beginning, what kind of major winds have you seen, if you had to you just didn't see coming?
Joey Mac Dizon 18:25
You know, at Keith it's been quite a journey, you know, 2020 we doubled our revenue from 2019. Um, a couple a couple of days ago, we we actually broke our revenue from 2020 A couple of days ago. So incredible. Yeah, so we're on track to double. For 2021. We've grown our team, we've hired two part time, but now one of them's going full time, as our kind of like our back office secretary, and she's doing an amazing job Jackie, her husband works at the hospital, and one of the hospitals here in New Jersey. Um, so, so many wins, man. And we're, it's like counting our blessings all the time, because we have an incredible team of veterans and first responders, you know.
Keith McKeever 19:21
Kind of losing you they're
Joey Mac Dizon 19:25
yummy. So we're,
Keith McKeever 19:27
yep. Thank you back now. Yeah.
Joey Mac Dizon 19:29
You know, we have a couple of veterans and first responders on the team that, you know, thank us that this is something that they've been looking for where they feel like they're back. They're back in the military, you know, besides all the BS stuff, I'm like, at least we don't have to like tell you the PT or, or the U 20k. Home for some, but they feel like they're back because the camaraderie between those those lines whether you're a firefighter, your red, blue or green, I mean, those lines are like, you know, the same in my eyes. So We have so many wins, man, but those are major wins, you know, and traveling, you know, go, you know, people are booking us from Delaware to the tri state area to the far reaches of Pennsylvania, to just flying into Miami, you know, going, looking to expand them, they're flying to Las Vegas. So, for us, you know, being in or coming into our third year, we're doing very well, you know, I credit a lot to my partners and to our team, and a lot of to our supporters and family members. Because without that, we wouldn't be where we are today, you know, so I would say there's a lot of our wins. But you know, for us, it's just being alive, trucking growing bigger, better, stronger. I think those are love, good things that we're looking at. Awesome.
Keith McKeever 20:41
I bet you were really devastated when you got the word that you needed to go to Las Vegas or Miami, right? To attend some parties and work really hard for you to get on the plane and go do that.
Joey Mac Dizon 20:56
You know, man, there's so many like wins that we've had, like me, my partner's like 2018 2019. Myself, Patrick and Miley probably did almost every event. You know, we were at every ran different longer. These are like, a 10 hour events. Now we're going to they're like, two, three hour events in total. And I remember one time was three, we're sitting by, you know, my, my kitchen table. And we were just going over, like expansion and stuff like that. And I look over to that. I'm like, Guys, we have like six events going on right now. And none of us are right, though. And that that's like a key, like key point. And I even for me, when I first traveled to Las Vegas, I think we had like 15 events going on that weekend. I was driving, I was driving in the state, you know, logistically, you know, successful. And you know, what's great about working with a team of veterans and I mean, we're there hiccups. Absolutely. But guess what they, they just freakin kill like one. One of our guys is like a man. He didn't have like, the, the cutter or something. But he just he just adapted and overcame, you know, he uses what's called the Tibetans are poking holes and making things but they enjoyed it. Because it was it was like a punch. So it's kind of like you do a thing. But you know what day, they're such great and amazing team members, right? That, that they that they really go into it. And they're like, I don't wanna let the team down. And that's the kind of mentality that we have. And that's how we feel, you know, we do a lot of team get togethers where woe is us that we have to drink whiskey cigars. Or like, but that's our culture right now, you know,
Keith McKeever 22:39
you shouldn't have any problem recruiting people.
Joey Mac Dizon 22:44
But it's just, it's just a great culture. And those guys are awesome to work with. And we have a great team chat. And man on the weekends, that thing fills up with pictures, because everyone's showing off where they're at what they're smoking, and taking pictures of the bride and groom smoking our cigars that we have, even though we're about like, 15 It's a beautiful thing. But when you have that type of synergy, the business go grow, like tremendously, it's go grow organically, as well. So that's what we've been looking at.
Keith McKeever 23:14
Yeah, that's, that's always the best, you know, that's, that's, I think, a much stronger foundation to kind of grow organically. And, you know, you said something that's gonna kind of take me off my, my list of questions. You know, I kind of had some some questions and points I wanted to bring out but you said you had a point where you're sitting at your table, and you realize the three of you weren't working on that. I think something I struggle with sometimes is delegating things I know a lot of business owners do they kind of want that control of having their, their, you know, hand in the day to day operation. So have you guys kind of over overcame that, you know, that kind of natural poll to like, be involved it just kind of pull back and say, You know what, our employees are handling this, and we're in good hands because they're out there doing what they need to do. Because I know it's not an easy, natural thing for a lot of business owners.
Joey Mac Dizon 24:04
Oh, absolutely. You know, it's okay. I learned in the military in the Marine Corps, you can delegate authority, you cannot delegate responsibility. Right? So you have our team members where they come in, they represent the company, but ultimately, something goes wrong. It's on the mobile, it's on them. It's on us as the company. So when Miley Patrick and I sat down and we created an SOP, like we have an SOP, we have our code of conduct. And Miley goes over with each team member that comes onboarding and sound like hey, here you go. Alright, you're good, man. You know, just go do it. Yeah, you know that we as a military, right you want you want to make sure that you you understand and so that if God forbid something goes wrong, or they do something that I'm supposed to do will be like, Hey, man, you know, we went over this, you know, not like the did we go over this, but we went over So I think setting the parameters of being able to but you know, when you're working with vets and first responders, it's just so much easier because they get it.
Keith McKeever 25:08
I was gonna ask if that makes it a lot easier because the mentalities already there, they're
Joey Mac Dizon 25:14
easier to it's so much easier to understand we go over the SFPD started laughing Oh, we got an SOP absolutely my man. And you know, one of the key things that we have to some companies, you know, I'll call policy, it's either yay or nay. For us, I go, I don't tolerate two things drunken behavior and driving consumption. If you want to have a glass of scotch, if you want to have a glass of wine while you're working, that's part of our culture. And I respect that you that you understand it, you know, sometimes we go to these weddings like cute, we're talking about closing these weddings and you got a MacAllan 18, Johnnie Walker blue, you got Glenlivet, 21 sitting down, and the bride or the groom, or the father in law offers, absolutely, you know, celebrate with the family. That's what that's why we're there. But you know, they all understand and the, they don't want to let the team down. And when you have a group of I don't even like to call them, you know, they call me boss, some people, I don't like that, you know, I like I'm part of a team because I'm out there, like I'm doing weddings, do you know, where we're out there, we will make sure that we do what's best. And for us being in the military, we join something greater than ourselves, right? So when when they join our team, they're like, Hey, listen, I represent the company. Like, it's not just, you know, it's just keep it such that smoking pan, it's like the mobile cigar lounge, like, if they ever hire us ever again, the quality, the customer service, the opportunity for that experience, bar, none is always consistent each basis. And I think that's what makes it makes it fun, and makes it creative is just doing those things. And, and you know that I guess that's where we find ourselves very successful right now is because that's what we promise and that's where we deliver. And, you know, are there other times where there's some hiccups? Absolutely. But same thing, address the fire, you know, admit and move forward and create that solution, right opportunity
Keith McKeever 27:05
to learn to absolutely learned from every failure or hiccup, whatever you want to call it.
Joey Mac Dizon 27:10
And so and then I'll be lying to you, if there were some times where, you know, we're dealing with a client, something, you know, something went wrong, but you know, we addressed it, and we let them know, we apologize, and that we're growing company, and, you know, going through COVID We were really, really going through, you know, wedding season now it is but you know, we learned so much and I'm so grateful for that. Right? There's a there's a great book, you know, a great thing, you know, failing forward I think is a big thing. And something in the Navy in the marine to take calm seas never made experienced sailors. And I always pick that I won't get that tattooed somewhere on me because that's it's that's such a great quote, of just being able to men calm please don't make you. It's when those those those storms, those dark times where it's just like, man, like what, what should I be doing? I think that's where people grow and get out of it. So I think that's yeah, doing
Keith McKeever 28:01
some, some imperfect action. I think you're in the best producer tribe as well on Facebook. And I mean, I've got the the humble Alpha veteran empowerment shirt on. And as Layne Malone always said, you know, imperfect action. That's one of the things I've heard him say so many different times. And it's like, get you have to do something. Imperfect Action, you're going to screw up at some point. I mean, I've screwed up. I'm going to real estate business I have, I've screwed up some things, man, I've paid for some things out of pocket for some closings. You know, whether whether it's my fault, sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's just easier to do. You know, I mean, I've had situations where I'm like, okay, you know, I'll just pay the $100 home reinspection fee, just because it's just easier than going back to my seller who's pissed off at the world right now, because they didn't get things their way. Or something went wrong. And it wasn't my fault, but it wasn't, you know, whatever. And so sometimes, you just kind of got to eat some things. And like, I'm not doing that again, man or that red flag. But, yeah, you know, you kind of mentioned like, company culture. I think that's that's huge one too. And that's really apparent that you guys have made a very conscious effort in bringing in military first responders. Because like, something always sticks in the back of my mind. I tell my boys this too, like when I was in the Air Force, I was told you have to name tapes, right? You have your family name, and that means something you also have, you know, your branch name. And, you know, your, your Marine, I was Air Force, like, we take a lot of pride in the branch we served and we take a lot of pride in the career field that you're in within that branch. And you as a business owner, have to find a way to get your employees to buy in as team members, value team members as part of that team correctly. that shows that you guys have done that. Because like I said earlier, it's kind of hard to just kind of give up a little low power and low control. Oh, I didn't delegate things.
Joey Mac Dizon 30:13
I hit a man. But once you once you get that, once you get that going, where, you know, I'm one of those, you know, I have great, amazing coaches, where they're like, if you want to get big, you can't just go by yourself. Yeah, go with a team. Right? If you want, if I just want to welcome Panda, it's gonna take me a lot longer if I did by myself than the than the team that we have now. Right? And that going back to that culture, you know, we had to, you know, meet my partner's meet every week, you know, we go over things, what's been going on, right? And we're like, hey, this coming Monday, it's Memorial, you know, for us, it's a big weekend. It's not like thank veterans, right, you know, you know, some people, you know, it just happens, right? But it's like, I think for someone it's not, because it's not our day, this is for this for for those who passed. And, you know, we were like, Hey, let's do a toast. So we put on a group chat. Hey, gents, we're gonna have a toast that 1900 on Facebook, you know, from 719 100 to 1950. Come on in, we'll go through all the calendar invites and everyone like for the most part everyone approved. And because anyone can call me and say hey, man, I saw that you're doing your thing. I love that he's like, it warms my heart. You know, when a company like that where we get to acknowledge that hey, listen, this is this is for our brothers and sisters that passed. So I've just gone back to that grain that that culture, right. And those are the the these guys and gals that that work with us. I think it just shows where they we that we give back and that we understand each other?
Keith McKeever 31:45
Absolutely, yeah, you gotta you gotta do do those kinds of things and set your culture up. Right, but I want to take it a step. Very serious way. Joey? I got to know because I should ask earlier, your alias of smoking panda. Where did that come from?
Joey Mac Dizon 32:05
So I love that. So Canada, so I played rugby during during my college years, right? Yeah, it was great. That's where I met Miley. We're playing Do you one up in Norwich University but
Keith McKeever 32:21
he's froze here again
you're still frozen
now he's starting to come back.
Joey Mac Dizon 32:47
Alright, good nap. Yeah,
Keith McKeever 32:49
yeah, you're getting better. Now. You can go back into view here. There we go. Universe does want us to know about the secrets of the smoke.
Joey Mac Dizon 32:57
That's all guys say about that.
Keith McKeever 33:01
Let me that's cool. That's that's that's awesome. I didn't know that. Forget. Underrated sport, a big football fan button. And you know if I can if I can get some rugby TV dude, I'll sit there watch it even though I will. must admit. I don't understand all the rules. It is still an awesome sport.
Joey Mac Dizon 33:18
Oh, I love it. I love Yeah. But yeah, that's how that's how I got my nickname, you know, playing rugby. You know, being you know, I'm bigger guy now than I was when I when I was playing. But they're, you know, because I'm Asian and to bear and to Panda. So they start calling me panda. And then you know, Panda was going on and then you know, people calling panda and smoking pan because I smoke cigars. Nothing too crazy.
Keith McKeever 33:43
Makes perfect sense. Or something like that. But I just had to ask your business partner so they have any good nicknames?
Joey Mac Dizon 33:51
Yeah, we call them Miley. Smokey, you know, cuz he's like a big huge bear. Right. And Patrick, you know, either. You know, he likes to call himself a little squirrel. He's a little squirrely guy. But he's, you know, he's gone. Patrick. But, but it's just like, you know, a couple of our guys have like a little map. Like we have gotten the maverick become this guy. And he's Army Lieutenant dresses to the tee. We call him GQ. Just because he just looks good every time.
Keith McKeever 34:21
GQ, and just embrace it as a as a company culture and have everybody have a nickname. And when you let a client know be like, hey, GQ is gonna come or the smoking panda is going to be your representative.
Joey Mac Dizon 34:34
Yeah, it's funny. I've had people call and they're just like, hey, is this the panda? My name is Joey.
Keith McKeever 34:45
Oh, jeez, that's awesome. Yeah, so it worked out right. Hey, works right? It's all about branding. You got to brand yourself. You got to brand your business. Wow. Wow. So, uh, with with with your business, in fact that you guys started a business that's like, so out there. So, you know, kind of hate to use the word crazy, but it's one of those, you know, kind of crazy ideas that just kind of pops in your mind. And you're like, I'm gonna run with it right? Because it's not that traditional, like I said earlier, what what advice do you have for somebody who's kind of got that idea and starting, you know, starting in their process, starting to get the ball rolling a little bit? What What advice would you have for them? is kind of going down a similar path in whatever way that looks?
Joey Mac Dizon 35:32
No, I love that question. You know, especially for, for anyone that's starting their own business, I think one, or I will just we, you know, we touched a little bit about it, but I think always one is find a mentor. Right. You know, I'll speak to I'll speak to veterans themselves, right. When when we go in, and we check into our units, right, we'll usually the NCO, when you become an NCO, the senior NCO, you're always looking forward, you're always looking ahead of you, you know, and kick you and I know that we've served with guys and gals, and men, I would, man I, being in the infantry, I would go break down a door for them, take a bullet for them, you know, give our lives to them. Because a we got to take that building. Yes, sir. We're taking that building, you know, I'm saying, and that's, that's where we got fun, but those styles of leadership, and that mentoring, I think, is a huge thing. So I think so the first thing I would say is find a mentor, find a coach, find someone who's 1020 100,000 feet ahead of you, right, and just reach out to him like, Hey, listen, this, why would you let me tell you, I'll save you three things. They'll save you time, money and people, they'll just they'll just make your business get a lot easier. When you have someone that's there to coach you. Right. But you're taking them, you know, the the military mentality where you have that NCO that's guiding you. Right, that senior NCO that's guiding that junior NCO. Right. Same thing with officers, they all have different levels, where they're each guiding each other because you're trying, right in the military. Yes. Know, your job and the job ahead to two steps ahead of you. God forbid that guy goes down, are you that other guy goes down that you need to know those jobs? same mentality?
Keith McKeever 37:09
Absolutely. Have you done any? You know, have you had the honor privilege of being mentored anybody? Anybody ever reached out to you?
Joey Mac Dizon 37:18
Yeah. So you know, for us, we do two things. One, we do entrepreneurship programs called the Leo program here at Don Bosco and New Jersey. So we got we actually had four interns, that high school kids that helped us guide but we taught them about marketing, they worked with Patrick and Daniel, to go by marketing. So we helped guide them and one of the mentors there for one of the groups, and that's still going on, we've been doing it for about a year and a half now. One of the alumni captains for bunker Labs was our bunker labs. I've been doing that for two years now where we work with veteran entrepreneurs on a virtual basis, guiding them and tell them to grow their business. So those those two things, man, you know, it's one of those things, Keith, or you get to the top right, not you know, there's never a top right, especially entrepreneur. Yeah,
Keith McKeever 38:05
you get to that level. Yeah, yep. Yeah, I
Joey Mac Dizon 38:07
turn around, help next, bro out, right. All right, you get up here, or you help that person up. I'm heading back up to the next part. And that's part of our culture. Right. So those two things right now. So the high school level, right, teaching our young, our young men or young men because it's done Boston, all boys school, young men right now had become entrepreneurs, and also our brothers and sisters of veterans, their learning COMM And founders as well as labs, except subacid. We do mentorship programs, stuff with them, too. So those two programs that
Keith McKeever 38:37
we have on the bunker lab stuff is pretty cool. We had a bunker labs event here in Peoria, Illinois, maybe year and a half, two years ago, and I went to a small, small little thing, that's really cool. You know, just to just meet some other veteran business owners, you know, in the community that I didn't know before. And I'm like, Man, this stuff needs to happen on a local on a local basis a lot more often. Because there's a lot more people than you know, that are just barely outside of your network. And I'm sure it's a lot easier my my area much smaller population wise than the New York, New Jersey areas and stuff like that. But it's a it's a really cool thing to do. And it's awesome to be a mentor, because I never considered myself one but I signed up was a veteran buddy and in. In a in Facebook group right now, like you're signed up to be a mentor, and I never expected anybody to reach out and I just put hay just real estate, right? Because that's the industry I'm in. And I've had two or three people reach out to me. And it's been a really cool experience to just have somebody who's thinking about that as a career choice and just be honest with them and be like, you know, here's, here's what you need to know, before you dive in with both feet, right? You know, you arm yourself with as much information and you can do things in perspective, without just diving in and not seeing what's in front of you. So that's really cool.
Joey Mac Dizon 39:57
And just keep your ears that press the time, right? With all this stuff. Money, because I'm sure there's things are like, oh sure I spend money invest ready that's like Nah, bro just do this right? Yeah, yeah, people like developing those relationships with people. That's why I would say, time, money and people are those three things that if you have a coach and I've, I've always had a coach for the most part of my life, whether it's sports through music, I've always had a coach in my life. And I think that's a very important thing, someone who's ahead of you, that can help guide you through this thing called life, whether it's, you know, a business or a family or whatever. So, I would say that would be like the number one thing is to find a mentor. And I think number two would be put your ego in your back pocket. You know, I always tell veterans, you know, I'm a vet myself, so I don't mind it. You know, I guess our counterparts will say like, it is, yeah, yeah. I'm like, No, I'm like, no one owes us anything. You know, we got it, we got to do what we got to do. Right? Are there opportunities and doors for us? That are open? Absolutely. But guess who has to walk through those doors? Guess who has to pay those bills? We do. Right. And I I think for us as being as being entrepreneur, like leaders in our industry, we've had an example. Right. And that's why I went when I was given an award over in the Kentucky Derby for being the diverse Business of the Year, or my speech, thank you speech was, you know, this for us that anyone that that looks to hire or is looking to start a business, you know, this for us as an whenever you go, and you want to use a veteran owned veteran, spouse owned business, that there's a level and certain level of quality of professionalism that we have, and there's a standard, but because of that award, you know, this is for all of us, that we this is a win for all of us, because we are we you know, we do great as entrepreneurs, you know, I think I think veterans have a great opportunity to come on, it's not for everybody, but you know, a certain a certain level of us that do have it. But yeah, putting that ego in your back pocket of like, hey, you know, they do me this do me that now, you're not gonna get far with that, you know, never resume share for years. Right? It's not gonna get you anywhere. But having that, that kind of humbling, right, that humble state, looking for that mentor, coach to help coach you, and get you out? You know, I was very fortunate that when I got out, I met a lot of you know, of our guys, help coaches. So I say things, Keith,
Keith McKeever 42:27
that would be humble, Shameless, unpaid promotion plug for the humble Alpha veteran empowerment. Yeah. Honestly, like, be humble. Yeah, empower, you know, be empowered, empower your fellow veterans, right, and just provide provide value, because, yeah, nobody owes us anything, but we kind of hit on a good point, we do have certain doors that open for us. And we have certain opportunities that are not afforded to other people. And you just have to, you know, you have to recognize when that doors open, you have to find the tools, you have to find the people in the mentors. And, you know, another another good point is diversity that you bring up, like, you know, we do create, tend to create more diverse businesses, you know, diverse, you know, in terms of gender, race, religion, whatever, like, you know, those of us who serve, we all know that everybody has value. I don't care what you know, I don't care who you are, what you believe in, or the color of your skin is right? Do you provide value? Are you a good employee? Gee, are you a good mentor? You know, can you help me achieve what I what I need to achieve? And what's important? Are you a good person, right? If you're a good person, I can trust you, and you fit all those other things like, you're the person I want to be around. Absolutely, no. And that's how you build a really winning business. Yeah, he's kind of embracing those skills so and kind of wrap things up, but I, I want to I want to get more serious. I already asked you the smoking panda question. But since you said your business is about cigars, and you also drink. What's your drink of choice?
Joey Mac Dizon 43:57
Oh, I get this all the time. My man, what's your a panda? What's your cigar? What's your drink? My you know, it's so hard man. You know what I? It really depends on my mood. And my experience. I think there's a lot of people out there that there's hundreds and 1000s of cigars, and the world of whiskey. The world of whiskey is just freaking zero by now and right. I've had some of the most greatest memories of just like some cigars like I'll need one of them was the 75th anniversary or eighth anniversary for prodrome. Really good day. I had that when I was down in Miami. I've had good drinks from pappy Van Winkle to McAllen number six to number 18 to Louie, Louie the 13th over in Las Vegas. Oh, man, it really I'm sorry, he but I all the time. It's so hard for me to pinpoint because you and I can meet up for the first time and we could have like a 12 year old Scotch or something you know something like under the on no one 101 25 range. But you know a man. Oh remember that. It doesn't have to be like a huge thing right with you have a nice drink like a Buffalo Trace or something like, like a peerless or angels envy. And we could sit down by a fire and smoke a $10 cigar. And I would have one of the greatest experiences possible, right? So it's so hard for me especially being in this business man, I can't pinpoint
Keith McKeever 45:33
a point. It's not the drink. It's not the it's not the cigar. It's it's the company you keep around you are the memories that you know the event location and the people so darn good one. So, we'll go ahead and wrap this up. But I got I got three final questions that I asked every day. And it's always I'm always curious to see what people's responses are. But for somebody who's looking to get out of the military today, what piece of advice would you have for them.
Joey Mac Dizon 46:04
So they I said, find a coach, find someone that's in their area, check with your check with your American Legion, check your your hometown, wherever you're moving to check with some veteran groups that you could you could like whether it's a bug labs, you know, metric continuous was one of my first ones that you service projects together, find find those groups, go go with your tribe, right? The lot of people have been in those tribes for quite a while. So they know understand the process. So when you write when you're checking out, start doing a little bit of research, find some some some local veteran groups that you can meet up with. And so you could continue on because let me tell you, you've done for years, you done 1020 years in the military, you go back to civilian life, it's easier for you, it's gonna be a hard trip, you go there, and you actually have some vets. I've been through there that that have either a team through hard times, they won't make sure that none of us go through that again, or they just want to be there and help them support. So yeah, for someone who's going out, Keith, I would say find find some of those local groups go go to no people like the VA as well, the VR support, they usually have some, some veteran groups that they can and social groups, it doesn't have to be like a group where it's like, hey, you know, as to do A, B, and C, find a social group. Get together, especially if you're a veteran business owner, there's tons of groups, Facebook is a great place. Instagram is a great place. So Keith, hopefully that helps someone out there. Find find your tribe again, because once you go back there, no one's gonna trust me. No one's going to get us when we get out. Yeah, you'll be telling like stories and jokes and people are like, if you okay.
Keith McKeever 47:49
No, I mean, you really think about some of us some of your stories. You're like, Wow, if I tell those in the wrong I am absolutely nuts. It's normal because we live through it, you know, you you experience it, but finding a connection, like a connection no matter what I think is huge. And it's huge for transition. It's huge for just adapting to a new normal. Because, you know, for me, it was Honor Flight Program sending veterans to DC. That's right, I got involved I've I'm a legion member, DAV VFW. Like I VA, I'm a member of all those organizations that are all great, but none of them had in my area, something that really spoke to me and I watched that documentary man and I'm like Honor Flight that's what I could do. Because I grew up loving and appreciating you know, the veterans before us, just like a lot of us do. And I'm like oh, we can take these World War Two vets to DC Korea Vietnam guys like without them we wouldn't be able to serve you know, we may not have a country without them and their sacrifices so you know that would there's been a huge part of my life for five or six years now. And someone were civilians it you know that some of the volunteers civilians, the directors in my location are civilians, but there's a handful of us that's man, and we really get each other. You know, we we know and understand each other we all when push comes to shove, man, we dive in and get the job done. And it's become like another family to me. And it's that's huge. You know, I don't know where I'd be without honestly. So that's that's a good piece of advice. You know, whatever that looks like for somebody. Yeah, whatever you're into, you know, and it could just be veterans organization that's into I don't know play Monopoly whatever, you know,
Joey Mac Dizon 49:32
actually, there's a hope for the Warriors right. They're doing a Dungeons and Dragons thing virtually. Because you know, there's events and lesson The great thing is I would probably do it if I was into you know, dungeon dragons, but it's whatever you're into where you could go in and be like, Hey, bro, Asus, you know, we understand each other,
Keith McKeever 49:55
and like, have this path this hobby that that intertwines.
Joey Mac Dizon 49:59
Correct. And just so happens I love being a wizard you know?
Keith McKeever 50:04
What are they doing Dungeons and Dragons? I was kind of thinking that but I went monopoly instead.
Joey Mac Dizon 50:08
Yeah. I mean, we're not we won't be too aggressive.
Keith McKeever 50:13
Ah no, I'm a straight shooter. You know I that monopoly is the only game I will cheat it you know never play with me never let me be the bank. I mean, I will openly admit it. Do not let me be the bank in Monopoly, do this. We pray
is not
a look over. You know, I have a stack of money like, Hey, how'd you get that? I have passed a lot. You know what I mean? Property. Yeah, you got you got to be really, really aggressive. You know, in Monopoly, man, I take it seriously. That's why nobody plays with me. Yeah, I'll play Monopoly very much. Give my kids my kids know not to let me be the bank. But a second question, final three. What advice would you have for somebody who's looking to you know, to join a military today?
Joey Mac Dizon 51:07
Um, you know, do your research, right. For me, I always knew I always wanted to join the military. I was just who I was. It's who I am. I've you know, I did Boy Scouts. I loved I wish I could do like the JROTC but now my schools near me did it. But like, I always am being part of a team, you know, I always found that I just enjoyed being a part of a team. And going after something, having those goals, right. Doesn't mean that you have to join the military. You know, do your research, find out that branch service, but going back to you can find a mentor, and talk to people who have been in the service where you can talk to them and ask them their experiences, right? You know, you know, the recruiters obviously, I'll give you the, the sizzle, right? Hey, give traveling around and anything like that you get to you know, for the Marines get these dragons and you get to slay them, you get this sweet uniform. But I always say do your research, you know, I each branch offers a different culture, right? Even though we have a fundamental culture of being in the United States Armed Forces. There's there's a corporate each branch, and it's the most funniest thing in the world.
Keith McKeever 52:16
I know you could slay dragons and have a sweet uniform, or you could look like a bus driver. You know, a bus driver with a really sweet dorm room. Tonight, so she's very carefully. Oh, like,
Joey Mac Dizon 52:30
everyone, you know, it's funny kid really quick. You know, I went to a private military school called Norwich University up in Vermont. And we had all ROTC is the birthplace for ROTC. Right? So the Marines, so when we had PT, the Marines and army are always running like, it was the most terrible, like, we just knew we had to run, like every day, whether it's running, push up pull ups, and then the airmen and the sailors, they would have these like school circles of like pee, and they're just like, Alright, let's do 10. All right, they do. 10. All right, water up. running all the time, but you can see the culture. But you know, and it's, for anyone that's looking to join the military, definitely do your research. Like I said, there's a culture in each branch. One, they might, they might talk to you than the other one, right. And each one brings a certain type of pride into it. Like, you know, people in the Air Force people in the Coast Guard. Right. I don't think I shouted them out yet. But the Coast Guard is paid for, you
Keith McKeever 53:37
know, they're kind of like, kind of in the family. Yeah. You know,
Joey Mac Dizon 53:41
it's funny kids. We had Daniel, he's an Air Force enforcement, right. And, you know, we would always rag on him. And then we had James come in, he's a Coast Guard. And then he's like, yeah, when he came in
Keith McKeever 53:57
we're not we're not the baby in the family. And we're not like the, you know, the black sheep of the family anymore. You know, much love to the Coast Guard, but I think technically they fall under Homeland Security. It's like, you know, you're kind of in the club you kind of not left foot is what your right foot is it now, what will you know will adopt you on officially sometimes.
Joey Mac Dizon 54:21
We also have police officers and firefighters so that's always fun. SpaceForce yet? Not yet.
Keith McKeever 54:31
Whatever they're gonna call him I mean, don't even get me started on the Space Force, man. You know what, man? I don't understand it yet. But whatever.
Joey Mac Dizon 54:40
Air Force is like steak and lobster. SpaceForce is like wagyu steak and Maine lobster.
Keith McKeever 54:49
We know they're gonna get all the fancy stuff, right? Like us. Air Force just got bumped down the list a little bit like an extra 10 years because we got to force some rockets now. Okay. What's your Space Force? You guys need some astronaut suits? Correct? Feeding well because there's not gonna be a whole lot of food to grow in Mars, you know?
Joey Mac Dizon 55:10
So yeah. Tangent but yeah, take advice Do your research. Get it
Keith McKeever 55:16
awesome. So last one is what organizations you know, would you like to give a shout out to veteran organizations that you think are doing some amazing things that people should be aware of? And why Oh, my goodness, I know probably a big list
Joey Mac Dizon 55:30
Big shout out to you know, these are just from our experience if I forgot like my apologies you know, the Mission Continues big thing that really just should they were the first organization that really like man, I like being part of my tribe again. Hope for the Warriors shout out you know, even Wounded Warrior Project shot I've known some guys and gals that have gone through their nothing but love. Bunker labs, backpacks for life. Man, there's so many arms to artisans. That's a good friend of mine, she takes veterans and moves them into from, from a veteran tour to space she sent me to cigar rolling school. Um, geez, there's a fucking Shield of New Jersey, marriage shout out to everybody I can't even name you know what, you know, it's funny through teeth. It's like, funny, but, you know, we give back every month 5% to a local nonprofit. We've been doing it since since May of last year. Right. Even though we were going through some hard times during to COVID was doing much we still give back 5% Every month, we're donating to a local nonprofit, every month and last month, we gave it to backpacks for life and gave them around almost over $2,000 that means that gives Edie plus bags to homeless veterans. month before that we did a we did First Tee of Jersey Shore that that gives 11 Kids 10 weeks of golf lessons and equipment. You know, I'm saying and then this year, this month, we add smoking shields of New Jersey, we're over two grand already. And we're about to give them and that's gonna be for for the families of the fallen that have passed away due to COVID or the line of duty. You know, these are great organizations, but shout out to all of them. You know, today's children, man, I can't even name so a black six foundation. I'll stop there. Because it's just so many that that's like truly helped us and, and you don't have great, amazing people behind those brands. That's a hard question, Keith. Yeah,
Keith McKeever 57:36
no, I you know, like, it's always interesting, because I never know where people are gonna go with it. But, you know, really, you should get the shout out for you guys. I know it's easy, you know, being veterans to just give back and give a portion back but you know, I think every veteran business should do that they should find a way you know, whether it's financial or whether it's mentorship or whatever, you should find a way to give back to your community I mean, but I think that's a lot of us as a whole we find some way shape or form to do that because we care and at one point in time we we all rose our right hand you know to support our country in one way shape or form so I think it's just kind of naturally ingrained but you know, once again I got your your business go down there at the bottom, the mobile cigar lounge, calm. Reach out to Joey Mac, the smoking Panda, whatever you want to call him on the phone. He'll take care of all your cigar needs for all those weddings don't do I don't. I mean I didn't say that. I did I hope the podcast didn't pick that up. Not kidding. Marriage is an amazing thing. Everybody should get married. You should have cigars at your wedding. But you know all in all seriousness, Joey, I appreciate you for coming on the podcast man and looking forward to connecting with you and talking about your business because it's so unique. It's so special. You're doing something that's just makes so much sense when you think about it, but it's like hey, I don't know why that wasn't wasn't a thing a long time ago. cigars and drinks at parties like it's it just makes too much sense. So appreciate it. Appreciate you coming on sharing some wisdom. You know, people would go What's your I don't have a scrolling here but what's your what's your Instagram? And I know you're on clubhouses stuff too. Where else can people reach out reach you?
Joey Mac Dizon 59:22
Yeah if you want find us on clubhouse I'm at cigar roller of Facebook Instagram at the mobile cigar lounge. If you want to look us up on Twitter, you know cmcl underscore NJ Pinterest the mobile cigar lounge only fans it's are now just kidding. Making one
Keith McKeever 59:54
man You had me on that dude, you play damn good. I was like no There's people on there evidently you know other things than you know what everybody knows it for you man you you had me
Joey Mac Dizon 1:00:09
this man's just about to throw his only fan oh geez Wow we'll talk cuz I think I'm thinking of making one but not for that reason but for like
Keith McKeever 1:00:22
oh that's that's the best laugh How about podcast? Yeah Joey I give you a good one you must have gullible do but I totally did that one dude I bet that hook hard I love it man awesome awesome awesome. I'm dropping back in here and into the into the background and play little little outro so hang on we'll chat here in a minute. Thanks everybody for tuning in to the to the podcast
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
