Woman, do I call it Pasco County Woman, which is what I was
going to call it. Keith said, (imitates Keith) “you know, you’re not
going to stay in Pasco County forever,” so we got rid of the word
Pasco. Patty did all of this design work and with xerox copies, I
went around and got everybody to come back into the magazine
again. That was the start of that. We have always worked on the
focus and where we want to go with it. We are not just selling ad
space, we are not just trying to help this person grow their business,
although that is part of it, but it’s not just that anymore. It is
the meaning behind the magazine: Are we getting good information
out? Are we reaching people? Do people like us? Are businesses
getting business? It’s not just the printing of it, it’s what’s
inside it. It’s the stories behind it.
Jen: So, that was in April/May 2018, and you did that through
December, mostly by yourself with Patty, and through all of that,
as your friend I witnessed every stage of grief, I watched you some-
so much harder than either of us expected it to hit because you had
been grieving through his life.
Jet: Yeah, I remember being home for weeks, not getting
dressed. Having friends and family coming those last few weeks
to say their goodbyes while he was on hospice care. It was very
Jen: Yes, you didn’t let too many people
in. I’m grateful you let me in. It was
different, but somehow through all of this
you just kept working.
Jet: I had to do something.
Jen: You did EVERYTHING. You did
all of the sales, the planning, the editing,
some editorial, the meetings, and then as
I fell more and more in love, and would
write this extra column, or that extra story
for you, I would say to you, “Is there
something I can do for you?” And, it was
for me to convince you to let me build that
website for you. MONTHS.
Jet: You’ve done a great job. We get
great compliments. Everybody likes it. I
tell people, ‘it’s young, it’s relevant for today,
it’s a beautiful website and it’s not for
the fuddy duddies.
Jen: And, it was like pulling teeth to get you to let me do it. You
would always tell me you had someone working on it. It was hard
for you. You were grieving and you threw yourself into your work
and you did it largely alone for what? Six months?
Jet: Yeah, things have changed now.
Jen: In January, I was going through my own professional crisis
and I was really upset and you asked me if you could come over
for 30 minutes.
Jet: I was in a bad place in January.
Jen: You were really grieving. It came in ripples.
Jet: But, it was also a month of realizing that I had to move
forward. That was the month that I got tired of grieving for Keith.
It was the end of the year. I was tired. Mentally, physically. I was
tired of being in the same position that I was in. The magazine
needed a change and it was growing on its own and it was scary
because I knew that I couldn’t do it on my own. I knew that in
order for it to grow professionally, I needed quality people. People
that needed to have the same feelings that I have... the same drive...
the same goal, which is you. Because I have had other partners
in the past when I had other corporations and I learned then that
if you are going to take on a partner, you damn well better have
synchronicity. Otherwise, it doesn’t work. I found those qualities
in you.
you needed to see me because you were grieving that day.
Jet: That’s right and you were the only one I wanted to see.
Jen: You literally had 30 minutes and you picked me up off the
made that didn’t work out and you were grieving so intensely. In
30 minutes, you looked me in my eye and you told me that you
were really struggling and ... you know when I think back to that
but I put a bra on today…
Jet: I don’t think you get dressed unless you have to go out.
Jen: True. I mean, do you?
Jet: Yeeeesss (unsure)
Jen: You get dressed to be at home?
Jet: No. But, I have to go out a lot, so…
-
jamas on purpose because I wanted to be comfortable when we
at us, that was our most life changing meeting together. For me,
you picked me up, you looked me dead in
the face and you said, “I really need to
take on a working partner,” and then you
just started at me. (the two break into
-
gle working partner’ while also thinking
YES! Well, it went the other way around.
It was like all of the sudden I was happy
again.
Jet: Me, too. There was a lift.
Jen: The things you were so good at,
now you can just do that because...
Jet interrupts: Because the stuff that I
hate, you are good at. And, if you aren’t
who is. End of story.
Jen: Once we got together, we have
honed the direction of the magazine. It’s
not so much about the community as the
female voice.
Jet: There is no way that you can single
out a community, we will do special interest stories on a community,
but the magazine, as a whole, is about the female communities,
the warriors, and their families, and maybe some of their
husbands. We can’t leave them out. We aren’t man haters. (at this
point a good 5 minutes of hilarity ensues and the two lose their
way with the conversation, and then out of nowhere:) You know
what it is, I think, being relevant, is what’s helping FWM grow.
The big issue we have right now is getting out there to all the women.
We have been slowly growing, like a spider web.
Jen: Well, I just want to thank you for letting me be a part of
all of this and now, being your business partner...it was all meant
-
scriptions as far as California and down as low as North Port. It
has been a great joy working hard and sinking my teeth into this. I
Jet: I want to thank YOU. The sky is the limit.
Florida Women Magazine has grown in distribution from
bounds and we want to thank our readers and advertisers for their
support. We have met the best people, heard some amazing stories,
and hopefully told a few, too. We can’t wait for you to see what
the future holds. It’s like Jet said. The sky is truly the limit.
813.682.9364 MAY/JUNE 2019 • 11
/partner...it