Gabriel Petasny Of Color World Painting: Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life

An Interview With Jake Frankel

Stay Mindful of Legal and Regulatory Compliance — As an immigrant, I’ve found navigating the legal and regulatory requirements of starting and running a business in another country can be complex. It doesn’t hurt to take some time to get a better grasp of permits, licenses, taxes, and other legal obligations before jumping into your business.

In this series called “Second Chapters; How I Reinvented Myself In The Second Chapter Of My Life “ we are interviewing successful people who reinvented themselves in a second chapter in life, to share their story and help empower others. As a part of this interview series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gabriel Petasny.

Gabriel Petasny is the Co-Franchise Owner and General Manager of the Color World Painting locations in Orlando, FL and Tampa, FL. Before Color World Painting, Gabriel helped build and grow businesses in his native country of Argentina and at one point, oversaw 70+ employees. Currently, Gabriel runs his painting businesses alongside his partner and childhood friend, Emanuel Lombardo.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

My business partner and longtime friend (Emanuel Lombardo) and I grew up in Argentina. We’ve been friends since we were nine years old. Growing up, I was always interested in starting my own business. At 17 years old, I told my parents I didn’t want to attend college which really upset them. Despite their persistence, I knew college wasn’t the right path for me. Instead, I was much more interested in diving into the workforce and starting my own company.

Fast-forward a year and I was ready to pursue my passion. I was frustrated with the economic uncertainty in Argentina and was eager to find a solution that would allow me to provide for my family and live a more stress-free lifestyle while operating a business. After brainstorming ideas with Emanuel, we migrated to the U.S. in search for a better life.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite life lesson quotes is: “The world is full of opportunities, but they won’t come knocking on your door. You have to go out and create them.” — Unknown. Essentially, everything is out there and available to you, you just need to be willing to go get it. As an immigrant coming into this country and looking to make a name for himself, I constantly remind myself working hard leads to achieving success. I don’t believe in luck — I believe you need to work hard to make things happen.

You have been blessed with much success. In your opinion, what are the top three qualities that you possess that have helped you accomplish so much?

1. Flexible — Flexibility enables entrepreneurs, like me, to adapt to changes in their environment whether they are unexpected or gradual. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adjust and thrive in new circumstances is crucial. I pride myself on never getting too comfortable and being ready to pivot at any given moment.
2. Ambitious — Determination and ambition can lead to personal and professional growth. A drive for improvement can lead to innovation and the development of new ideas, products, or solutions. While it’s beneficial to have a drive for improvement and growth, I do still believe it’s equally as important to practice gratitude and appreciate success along the way.
3. Professional — Practicing professionalism can lead to personal growth and self-improvement. It encourages self-discipline, self-awareness, and the continuous pursuit of excellence. At Color World Painting, instilling professionalism in customer service has always been a must. Along with my team of professional painters, we strive for customer satisfaction in every home or commercial property we transform.

Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion about ‘Second Chapters’. Can you tell our readers about your career experience before your Second Chapter?

Before I joined Color World Painting I was very interested in cars. When I was 17 years old, I had thought of a business idea for importing tires. After some convincing, my father lent me some money and I started my very own company. I treated it as if it were my child. It proved to be a big success, as we were in business for 18 years before I eventually sold it and moved to the U.S.

And how did you “reinvent yourself” in your Second Chapter?

As I’ve mentioned, I didn’t feel Argentina had anything to offer Emanuel and I anymore. The economics and politics were a mess, plus we were looking for something bigger and better. Eventually, my family and I picked up and moved part-time to the United States. In a few short months we learned about Color World Painting, so the rest was history. In just one year of business, we’ve been able to grow substantially. This is due to my intuitive team, loyal customers and help from our parent company, Authority Brands. Through hard work and dedication, we’ve generated massive brand awareness and expanded our business. This is all thanks to the residents and commercial businesses throughout Central Florida.

Can you tell us about the specific trigger that made you decide that you were going to “take the plunge” and make your huge transition?

Starting your own business is risky and many will tell you the survival rate during the first year is low. However, I believed choosing to franchise versus launching a startup would help reduce the likelihood of failing, as there is an existing and proven business model ready for you to replicate. Unlike those who start their own companies, I have a built-in safety net. Franchise businesses also are an attractive option for many entrepreneurs, like me, that are new to this country. With all of this in mind, I decided to take the plunge and join the Color World Painting team. While it was a huge transition, it was certainty worth it.

What did you do to discover that you had a new skillset inside of you that you haven’t been maximizing? How did you find that and how did you ultimately overcome the barriers to help manifest those powers?

Discovering and developing new skills is an ongoing process. Personally, I discovered my skillset by embracing the journey of self-discovery and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Unlike most people, I believe being uncomfortable is a good thing. By taking on new challenges and responsibilities, it helped reveal skills I didn’t know I had and forced me to learn a lot more about myself. You can’t be afraid to pivot or adjust your focus — your willingness to explore and grow is key to maximizing your potential. Baptism by fire isn’t the worst thing! I also took advantage of my curious mindset. My curiosity drove me to explore new areas and hone in on skills I haven’t been utilizing.

How are things going with this new initiative? We would love to hear some specific examples or stories.

Business has been great this past year. Emanuel and I are extremely proud of how we’ve been able to establish and grow our Color World Painting franchises. Not only did we have success with our Orlando location, but we recently expanded our footprint to open a new location in Tampa. While there are ups and downs to every business, we are overall very happy with our progress and have big plans for the future.

Our greatest achievement to-date has been keeping the business alive. It is said that most businesses fail within their first year of operation, so we are happy to have surpassed that. Operating a business in a new country is certainly different than we expected. There are unique rules and structures we must stay mindful of. No matter if you start a franchise business or choose the startup route as you come to this country, there is a learning curve. The biggest difference is that most franchisors offer the necessary training that can better prepare franchisees for what is next. Authority Brands’ franchise network offers extensive classroom and on-the-job training requirements that each franchisee and staff member must complete prior to opening. The courses are set up to be practical, engaging and rewarding — setting up franchise owners for success no matter what part of the country they’re franchising in.

Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I’m grateful to my business partner and longtime friend, Emanuel Lombardo. He has been a tremendous asset throughout our franchising process. Fellow franchise owners within the Color World Painting system have been incredibly helpful as well. There are many unknowns when you migrate to a new country and similarly, when you start a business. Franchisors have the capabilities to provide an unmatched network and support system that you would otherwise not have access to as a startup. My fellow franchisees have a wealth of knowledge and experience that has helped guide Emanuel and I during the beginning stages of my business.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started in this new direction?

Ironically, we experienced many problems on our first day of officially being open. We had some issues amongst team members while we were getting operations in order. This wasn’t something Emanuel and I expected right out of the gate. Managing a team can be challenging, but with the right strategies and approach Emanuel and I were able to gradually improve teamwork, productivity and morale. We knew from the first day on that we needed to establish trust and set clear expectations amongst staff. We needed to ensure our team members understood their roles, responsibilities and performance expectations. Since then, it’s been smooth sailing.

Did you ever struggle with believing in yourself? If so, how did you overcome that limiting belief about yourself? Can you share a story or example?

Believing in yourself is a crucial aspect of personal growth. It’s essential for building confidence and resilience. It may take time and patience, but with consistent practice and self-compassion you can succeed. Although I’ve had moments of self-doubt, I’ve always believed in myself. Ever since I was young, I had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and tried to surround myself with inspiration. By learning from my failures, celebrating small wins and seeking guidance and feedback, I’ve been able to achieve my goals.

In my own work I usually encourage my clients to ask for support before they embark on something new. How did you create your support system before you moved to your new chapter?

I’ve always believed my family and friends were my support system. However, since embarking on this new journey, I’ve also found support from my business team. They are equally as much of a family to me. They also help me find a balance between my personal and professional life.

Starting a new chapter usually means getting out of your comfort zone, how did you do that? Can you share a story or example of that?

Getting out of your comfort zone is essential for personal growth, learning, and achieving your goals. Most days I’m completely out of my comfort zone! I’m always encouraging my team to try something new — I find being disruptive is when the best results arise. For me, I’m able to step outside my comfort zone when I challenge my fears and visualize success. First, I identify what’s holding me back from trying new things and assess the risks. I ask myself if they are rational or based on irrational beliefs. Then, I imagine the potential positive outcomes and encourage myself to stay optimistic. For those looking to venture outside of your comfort zone, start with small, manageable steps rather than taking giant leaps. You can gradually push your boundaries to build confidence. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with discomfort, and you’ll discover the growth and opportunities that lie just beyond the edges of your comfort zone.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me before I started” and why?

While starting a business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, it comes with a fair share of challenges and uncertainties. I wish I knew the following before I started my business journey:

1. Always Go the Extra Mile — Go above and beyond in everything you do. This shows commitment to your work and can enhance credibility amongst your team and within the community. By doing so, others are more likely to view your business as a reliable and dependable brand. Going the extra mile also sets you apart from competitors.
2. Constantly Ask Questions — Asking questions is a primary way to learn. It demonstrates curiosity and a desire to understand new concepts. For me, I constantly reflect on our best practices. I always want to explore if there are ways to improve our training, services or customer relationships. At the end of the day, I want to put our best foot forward.
3. Difficulties of Building and Maintaining Your Team — As business grows, hiring and managing employees becomes crucial. This is something Emanuel and I struggled with from day one. Many entrepreneurs, including myself, wish they had a better understanding of recruitment and team building before doors officially opened.
4. Don’t Forget About Marketing — I found building a brand and marketing a new business were more challenging than I originally anticipated. That’s because I often coined marketing as the “fun stuff.” While our business was well received in the markets we entered, I noticed our marketing efforts took a backseat compared to mastering operations. Now I understand marketing is equally as important as operations. To take it a step further, it’s important to grasp how marketing tactics must differentiate in each region you service. Every market is unique and it’s important to dial into the local marketing program within each.
5. Stay Mindful of Legal and Regulatory Compliance — As an immigrant, I’ve found navigating the legal and regulatory requirements of starting and running a business in another country can be complex. It doesn’t hurt to take some time to get a better grasp of permits, licenses, taxes, and other legal obligations before jumping into your business.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I’d love to encourage community building. More specifically, bringing people from diverse backgrounds, like me, together to achieve a common goal. I believe when people are treated with kindness and respect, it creates a positive and inclusive community. This, in turn, encourages cooperation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. Strong communities are better equipped to address common challenges and support one another. When you’re nice to others, they are more likely to reciprocate your kindness. This creates a positive cycle of goodwill and cooperation.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. :-)

I’d love to sit down with Elon Musk. His success is admirable and can be attributed to a combination of factors, including his disruptiveness, determination, innovation, and risk-taking attitude. Between Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly known as Twitter), he has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and is a gamechanger in every industry he enters.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Your readers can keep up with Color World Painting by visiting us at https://www.colorworldpainting.com/ or on social media:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColorWorldPaintingCorporate/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/color-world-painting

Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!