Scott Zychowski, owner of Andrew Z Diamonds, joins Eric and Sawana to trace a jewelry story that spans three generations and an ocean. His grandfather, a Polish immigrant, ran four shops in New York, and his father Andrew later built a long-running New Jersey store before retiring to Anthem, Arizona. Scott bought the business roughly seven years ago and, with his wife Jessi, has since expanded to locations in Anthem, Carefree, and DC Ranch.
Much of the conversation moves past jewelry into how he grew the company while staying present for his family. He talks about guarding his calendar, learning to decline low-value commitments, and leaning on a strong team instead of doing everything himself. He credits mentors like Travis Ringe for showing him that scaling was even possible, and revisits lessons on delayed gratification passed down from his dad. The episode closes on community, including his support for Phoenix Children’s Hospital fundraising tied to a Wicked themed Emerald City event.
Key takeaways
- Scott Zychowski bought Andrew Z Diamonds from his father Andrew about seven years ago and now owns it with his wife Jessi.
- The business traces back three generations, from a Polish immigrant grandfather with four New York stores to a father who ran a New Jersey shop for nearly 40 years.
- Andrew Z Diamonds has grown to three Arizona locations: Anthem, Carefree (Spanish Village), and DC Ranch.
- On his father's advice, Scott spent two years at Wells Fargo before joining the family business, so he would know the corporate world he was leaving.
- He credits mentor Travis Ringe and the idea that your circle determines your ceiling for pushing him to scale beyond a single store.
- Scott and the hosts dig into protecting time, learning to say no, delayed gratification, and supporting Phoenix Children's Hospital, including green jewelry for a Wicked themed fundraiser.
Related: More Eye on Anthem episodes