Michael Flores > www.CookWithMichael.com

Michael Flores, Creator, Michael Flores.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
To be an entrepreneur you must have a motivation and a desire to be different than the norm. You need a vision and an idea. Finally, dedication, love, and passion, those three will get you anyplace you want to go. I’m dedicated to nourish, I love family and friends, and I have a passion to create.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I started my own business simply because I did not have job security. My business cards read “chef” not “chef/owner.” I wanted to make sure that if one day I found myself without employment there was something to fall back on. I landed on my own gourmet foods.

How did you finance it?
I started my company by the generosity of my parents and a loan from on order of Catholic nuns!

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I think the biggest way my Mexican heritage has influenced my business, besides flavors and ingredients I use in my cooking, are the values and sense of life I carry within me. They come from growing up around the table and in the homes of my family where people are respected and life is celebrated every day.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenges I find with having my own epicurean fare are the large companies with their foodstuff. They are bigger, they have more money, they have more power and influence……..how does one compete……..offer an inferior product in order to work the numbers?

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I am great at organizing except when it comes to my business, and I mean all areas! If I could change something about my business it would be to get better organized.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a child I wanted to own a restaurant. I envisioned myself greeting people at the door and cooking for them in the kitchen.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
An entrepreneur not only creates but destroys and that’s not easy to do; I’m in awe of those who have. I can start listing those I admire but instead I’ll single one out, my father. He’s a genius when it comes to creating new and successful enterprises.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
This may sound funny but I don’t schedule meetings at mealtimes. There are too many distractions…..large menus, the kind of water to drink, the litany of the daily specials, and then waiters wanting a decision as to what I’m going to eat (this is where everyone leans forward to listen…..what sounds good to Michael.) The meeting hasn’t begun and already I’m off to a terrible start. So I say business first and then we eat. This actually seems to speed up meetings. The back and fourths in the board room get shorter with the knowledge that a meal is next (and the anticipation only grows if I happen to be cooking).

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
In order for me to make [Chef] Michael Flores a success I’ve had to sacrifice my personal relationships. That’s always been the hardest part for me.

What is your favorite quote?
One of my favorite quotes is “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying “I will try again tomorrow.” _Mary Anne Radmacher

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
For me being unconventional is not difficult at all. There’s an excitement in seeing and doing things in a different manner, breaking away from the norm is a fun challenge. The best thing about being unconventional is that no one sees you coming.

Biggest mistake made?
Not listening to my mother! I’d say that’s the biggest mistake I’ve made.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Of course I do. The word innovator means so many things. I think an innovator is educated and very adventuresome, not just the creator of new ideas. He or she should be a trailblazer, a modernizer, a mastermind. Those words fit me to a tee when I’m in the kitchen or teaching a class; that’s me even when I’m in front of the cameras demonstrating a recipe to my television viewers.

About the Company.
My name is my company, my company is my name. Michael Flores is a chef, television personality, cookbook author, and owner of a specialty foods company dedicated to presenting unique and delicious gourmet products. I rely upon traditional methods of classical cuisine while incorporating ingredients from diverse cultures. In this multi-cultural diversity I explore the richness of flavors, aromas, and presentation, a culinary journey which reflects my appreciation of peoples and their lives mirrored in their foods.
My goal is to help everyone become the STAR of their own kitchen. I am a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
http://www.cookwithmichael.com/

Michelle Villalobos > www.MichelleVillalobos.com

Michelle Villalobos, Owner, Michelle Villalobos.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
1. Passion & Purpose. Without these fundamentals, none of the rest works. Passion gives you the energy to put in the hours, and the desire to see things through. Purpose gives you the security of knowing you’re on the right track, and helps you stay on it.
2. Support. Whether they are employees, a partner, or a collection of outsourced individuals, you need to work with people who you can trust and who represent you well. Skills can be taught, attitude and motivation can’t.
Also, try to find people that complement your strengths and fills in your weaknesses, that way you can focus on what you’re great at, instead of trying to shore up your weak spots.
3. A Win-Win Mentality. Unless you are focused on how what you do brings value to others, you will fail.
4. Focus on Execution - I have a million ideas and plans. I can only execute a limited number of them. You need to choose, and be ruthless about saying no. I haven’t 100% figured this one out yet. It’s my number one challenge.
5. Patience. If you have all of the above, it WILL happen. But the worst thing that could happen is to give up before it has a chance to work, and that takes time.

What did inspire you to start your business?
As Thomas Edison said: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” I was miserable at work. The owner of the company I worked for had inserted a CEO above me, who just didn’t get what we were doing and questioned me and my team’s every move. After having worked my way to “the top” and fighting so hard to get there, I just couldn’t handle someone not trusting or believing in me. I started having fantasies about getting fired. That’s when I always know it’s over. I simply gave up.
So I quit my job to take another, which I ended up hating. Within a month and a half, I quit that one, and simply decided I would not, could not, go back to a job. The common denominator (or so I thought) was that I was miserable because I had bosses (I didn’t stop to consider I was miserable because I had bad bosses).
Anyways, once I’d jumped ship – and announced it to the world – I had to make it work. That is the WRONG reason to start a business. Furthermore, I discovered bad clients are FAR worse than bad bosses. That said, I ultimately found my purpose, my passion, and once that happened, things became much better.

How did you finance it?
I got my first consulting job on the same day I quit work, from that very same boss. He hired me on the spot to be a “consultant.” He asked me what I was going to do when I quite and I said: “I’ll be a consultant. That way I’ll do all the research and strategy and then hand it over, and clients can choose to take it or leave it, instead of argue over every step of implementation. He laughed and said “I’ll hire you.” And he did. He paid me my first fee, and with that, and my savings, and selling off all my old 80’s gold jewelry, and getting rid of cable, and disconnecting my home phone, and not (really) shopping for a year... well the rest is history.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
While I was with Spanish language media, selling it, I felt every day I went to battle to lobby for the Hispanic Market. It was such a challenge to get people to understand the value of it, of marketing to it. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. But now it’s not about that for me. A lot of what I’m doing is to help business owners understand who THEIR target is - and understanding Hispanics is just one piece of that puzzle.
See, in my entrepreneur workshops, seminars and trainings, we nail down who they need to target, what the correct message and value proposition is, and how to deliver it in a way that’s creative, viral and “pulls” business to them (instead of old-school pushy, promotional, interruptive models). So it’s not so much about targeting this market or that market, it’s about figuring out how exactly it all applies to your market.
Plus the lines are getting blurred anyways with so much acculturation and reverse acculturation going on(particularly in large urban markets), it’s more about engaging on much narrower ways than simply “Hispanic” or “Spanish.” It’s about interests and connecting emotionally with much smaller groups and on a deeper level by delivering value to people’s lives.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Being an entrepreneur can be very very lonely and it’s true that sometimes I lose faith, think about giving up and just plain get overwhelmed. When that happens
I do one of two completely opposite things: 1) I go into my cave. Disappear and disconnect. or 2) I call up people who I know will inspire me and get me back on track. I’m a big believer that everyone needs a coach – whether that’s an ACTUAL coach or simply your family, friends, partners, employees. Whatever you choose, you do need SOMEBODY. Oh, and be careful, family usually (usually) isn’t the best for this, their too close and have trouble seeing things strategically...

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Our biggest challenge is me focusing, especially focusing on what I’m great at and letting go and allowing my team to take things off my plate. It’s difficult for me to trust others since I’m such a perfectionist. However, with each thing I let go, I’m able to focus more on the part of my business I love: helping others, designing and creating content, building new workshops and programs!

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
More scalability. I want to go national and even international. Perhaps the answer is finding partners who could help us launch our educational workshops and seminars on a much larger platform. For example, my dream would be to do workshops and
seminars all over the world for entrepreneurs, sponsored by Sharpies or Staples, or even the U.S. Government.
Imagine holding free workshops for businesspeople to help them become more successful. That would be incredible!

What was your childhood ambition?
To be an astronaut/brain surgeon/theater actress/professional gymnast/
skier (so I could do BOTH the summer AND Winter Olympics). I was an overachiever with serious ADHD.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Ali Brown: a badass businesswoman who has built an internet marketing how-to empire.
Tina Fey: a comedian who has turned her gift for writing and acting into an incredible success that makes me laugh, a lot.
Gary Vaynerchuck: the embodiment of passion and purpose (not to mention “hustle”). I love him.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
All three. And everything in between. I am a meeting machine.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
What personal life? I’m 34, single, and work 70 to 80 hour weeks. I love every minute of it. ‘Nuff said.

What is your favorite quotation?
Here is an expert from my favorite quote (it’s long): “I do not choose to be a common [wo]man. It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security.... I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed....I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout.... It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, ‘This I have done.’” – Dean Alfange

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Perhaps at one point in my life it was, but I’ve sort of “grown into” myself and become more and more “me” - which is really quite unconventional in a lot of ways. And in fact, I think it’s essential to my brand. It makes me memorable, which is essential these days.

Biggest mistake made?
“There is no failure, only feedback.” Every decision, wrong or right, ultimately led me here, which since I’m here, is where I’m supposed to be. In terms of WHAT feedback I’ve learned, the biggest lesson (and I still learn it every day) is to trust my instinct. I know more than I think I do a lot of times, but I’ve often ignored the little voice in my head, and doubt those instincts.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I am an innovator because I think creatively and can often see things in a way that others don’t, but also because I LISTEN more than others. I am open to other people’s ideas and can fit them together, whereas I find that many people, particularly other entrepreneurs are closed to other people’s ideas because they are too attached to their own. The key to being innovative is to allow other ideas to “have sex with” yours (I stole that concept from Gary Vaynerchuck, who is another innovator, one that i admire intensely.)

About the Company:
We create educational workshops and seminars that I deliver on how to market, sell and brand yourself more effectively so that people remember you, refer business to you and have you “top of mind” in your field.
What makes my workshops and keynotes different than most is that the learning program is always effective and educational but never boring. No lectures. No long dissertations. They’re interactive and hands-on. People walk out energized, motivated, and connected with the other people in the room. It’s like school but fun.
Our audience consists of mostly solopreneurs, freelancers and salespeople who need to build their business in this time of ADD, information overload and economic stress. The new program we’re launching is called “From Nobody To Somebody: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Becoming an Expert In Your Field... Fast.” We teach our clients how to do it using a combination of high-level strategy plus more tactical in-person and online techniques.
My company markets and sells these workshops to the public and to sponsors who want to engage this audience to generate leads and develop relationships. The networking at our events is just amazing – probably because people are so fired up from the content, their minds are wide open to meeting new people and exploring new partnerships. We also create custom programs for companies who want to bring us in-house.
www.michellevillalobos.com

Jose Acosta > www.artid.com/jose

Jose Acosta, Owner, Jose Acosta Studio.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Dedication, Motivation, Drive.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I wanted to work doing something that I enjoyed and could do for the rest of my life. I guess I am following my dreams.

How did you finance it?
Saved up money and cut back on a lot of things like vacations, new car, etc.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes. The Art I create is Cuban-American art so my product is a Hispanic product bought by art collectors throughout the World.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Their will always be high moments and low moments and sometimes they change very quickly. So you just learn to keep going and have a positive outlook.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Money. In every business the more money you make the better off you are in terms of producing, advertising & marketing.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Add an Art Marketing specialist.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be a Millionaire

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Desi Arnaz, Emilio Estefan, Steve Jobs.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
You need to dedicate all of your time to your Business so make sure it is something you love to do. Get family involved and enjoy all.

What is your favorite quotation?
The person who says it can't be done will be interrupted by the person who is doing it.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No you always need to look at every situation with fresh eyes. Try new things & experiment. Create new ways of marketing your product.

Biggest mistake made?
No big mistakes so far I have been very Lucky.

Do you consider yourself an innovator?
Yes, because I am creating new art that is very different then past painters. I am also creating custom welded metal frames for my works that make them unique.

About the Company:
Jose Acosta Studio is owned and operated by Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta
Born in San Jose Cuba 1966 currently lives in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with his Family. Jose has made great strides in America. His works are in over 200 Private and Public Collections. Jose creates both Paintings & Sculpture. Most recently his works were added to the collection of The World Bank Art Program Washington, DC, United Cerebral Palsy, Healthy Families, Touro College, The University of Pennsylvania Art Collection. Jose is included in “Antologia de Pintores Hispano-Americanos” and his painting "Celebration" will be on the cover.

Jose Acosta most recently exhibited in the Exhibition COLORS created by NY Book and exhibited at the Queens Museum of Art. On November 7th Jose Acosta was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Mayor Brian P. Stack & the Board of Commissioners of Union City, New Jersey.

Bright colors, swirling figures, and vibrant energy characterize Acosta’s paintings. “There is a strong influence of my native Cuba in the happiness and bright colors of my paintings,” he says. Acosta was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 3 years old. He considers himself a Cuban-American and is very proud of both his Cuban heritage and his American citizenship. "Generally my paintings depict my personal history and my surroundings. I paint from my heart, expressing a little hope and happiness in all of my creations.”
More information: www.artid.com/jose

Tayde Aburto > www.hiscec.com

Tayde Aburto, CEO, Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need to have the innate ability to visualize an opportunity in the market, develop the concept and to have the determination to make it happen.
An entrepreneur has to have inspiration, creativity, initiative, patience and fortitude to be able to achieve their goals and overcome obstacles they encounter along the way.

What did inspire you to start your business?
The inspiration we had to create the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce (HISCEC) was the desire to form a business association that was focused on providing services to e-businesses and the need to establish business relationships with Hispanic business-owners across the continent.

How did you finance it?
The business has been financed by our partners. Since the beginning the decision was made to not solicit outside investors, which meant all the partners had to maintain outside employment to be able to continue to finance the project. This was something we had to do during the first couple of years in business.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Of course. We have launched the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce to be able to contribute a small grain of sand to the growth and development of the Hispanic business community through the use of the internet and Information technology. Our family and cultural values have allowed us to achieve our planned objectives much quicker than we could have hoped. The strong sense of identity that we have motivates us to be able to offer the best we can so that we can represent with integrity the Members of the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce who have given us their confidence to serve and represent them.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Maintaining a positive attitude and an open mind. Analyzing problems with a relaxed mind and with an unconventional focus allows you to resolve times of crisis more quickly and efficiently.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
To communicate to the market that our intentions to serve them are genuine. Offering a free membership without cost causes some “suspicion” at the beginning. Some businesses think it is just a marketing scheme. They doubt the seriousness and real promise of support to the Hispanic business community. Now with 772 members, 517 businesses listed in the directory, the perception has changed. To further add value and to support the HISCEC community we are hosting the Hispanic Business and Technology Expo on September 10-11th at the San
Diego Convention Center. For more information about the Hispanic Business Showcase please visit http://www.hbshowcase.com/. Everyday more companies recognize our genuine promise and support to the Hispanic Business community.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The HISCEC is constantly changing. Our business is to serve the Members of the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce in the best way possible by offering services that contribute to the growth and development of their businesses. Having said that, the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce is an organization that is constantly changing to be able to respond to the needs and expectations of our Members.

What was your childhood ambition?
There was a time when I wanted to be well-known executive of a large global company, and then I thought I would rather be a recognized political figure but finally I realized that what I really wanted was to have a strong feeling of success and helping others realize their success as well.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
My partners, Omar Aburto, Octavio Aburto, & German M. Bravo. Their intelligence, dedication and ambition are a great motivator for me.
I also really admire the many entrepreneurs that I meet day in day out through the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce. Their success stories are a key motivator for me.
Of the billionaire entrepreneurs, I admire Carlos Slim. His intelligence for business and social responsibility are a great example for me.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Any of them are good for me especially when the Restaurant has good food.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I have not been able to spend as much time as I would have liked with my wife and baby. But ever since we founded the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce we knew that we would have to invest a substantial amount of time working during the first few years to be able to position the organization. So in a sense we were mentally prepared for the challenge. As soon as we reach an optimum operation level, we will be able to spend more time with our families.

What is your favorite quotation?
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of Money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort” –Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, it is a part of my nature.

Biggest mistake in business made?
I have made several, but have learned from all of them. I haven’t made the same mistake twice. However one mistake I made that cost the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce about $4,000 that could have been invested in Marketing and positioning the organization.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. To be an innovator is one of the innate characteristics of an entrepreneur.

About the Company
The Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce (HISCEC) is an online Hispanic business association focused on promoting Hispanic businesses via the Internet and the use of e-business tools. For more information, visit http://www.hiscec.com/. HISCEC will be hosting the inaugural Hispanic Business and Technology Expo on September 10-11th at the San Diego Convention Center. For information about the Hispanic Business Expo, visit http://www.hbshowcase.com/.

Get listed in the Business Directory - http://www.hiscec.com/en/Members
- Free Business Listing. Promote your business in the Hispanic Business Directory. An online business directory, featuring free business listings (with logo of your company, link to your web site, pictures of your business, online catalog, and get customer feedback for your products or services).