What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need to really want to be and entrepreneur from the bottom of your heart! … That is the only way since it implies a lot or work, effort, patience and perseverance. If you are not 100% convinced is not easy to succeed.
What did inspire you to start your business?
The desire of being independent, be successful by myself and be able to do what I love.
How did you finance it?
Self financed.
Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, I believe that it’s important that I am Latin since my business (Event Organizer) is in Argentina, so I can have a better understanding of my clients.
Regarding the Image Consultant business, I believe it is important since I have a lot of readers in Latin America.
In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
When you are entrepreneur, and you face adversity, there are no many variants, either you face it and keep moving or you just quit. There is no space to give up … that is why I believe is very important to be really convinced of what you want to do, if not when you face the first problem, you will just run! And believe me, being on your own is full of adversity, risk and fun!
What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenge is to not be disappointed and lose motivation when sales are not what you expected. As event organizer, is very common to work a lot and get cancellations or just not hear anymore from your client. Regarding the Image Consultant Online, the biggest challenge was to catch up with technology; I had to study a lot!
If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would change the unreliability of the market (talking about event organizer).
What was your childhood ambition?
Being a singer. Then I heard my voice … and I decided to study and being an entrepreneur : ). My first business plan was for an Event Organizer (only children parties), and that was even before I started college, I have always wanted to do something related to event organization.
Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Carlos Slim – Carso Group. It is amazing the emporium that he developed, that is why he is the richest man in the world.
Estée Lauder – Estée Lauder. She started her company with only 4 products and now her company is one of the best and bigger beauty business in the world.
Alejandro Soberón – CIE (Consorcio Interamericano de Entretenimiento) Owner and CEO of the bigger entertainment company in Latin-America.
For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I prefer lunch because you can make it as formal as you want, and also at that time of the day you are not too tired.
What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Since this is YOUR business, if you don’t fight for it, nobody will do. So, sometimes I work during the weekends missing some personal events, but in general I try to have a balance, that is the benefit of being your own boss.
What is your favorite quote?
Benito Juarez – “Among individuals as among nations, the respect for the others rights is peace”
Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Sometimes, because everybody around you have an opinion about your life, is not always easy to not be “by the book” (conventional).
Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake was that I didn’t measure the economic risk before I started. I had a small economic support and I had to do “magic” to survive.
Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I believe I am very creative since I am developing all the time new ideas to improve my business. I love to innovate and that is why I enjoy doing events since every time is a different and new project. Also, as an Image Consultant, one of my biggest satisfactions is to be able to help people; help them to smile again as we change their style. In my job creativity is always involved.
About the Company:
I have two companies:
MANEQUI
Blog and Online Image Consulting Services. My objective is to help people to get the image they’ve always wanted with out losing 5 pounds, grow 5 cm or become a millionaire! I work with real women, just the way they are, helping them to create their best version of their selves.
http://www.manequi.com/
ONIRICA EVENTOS
In Onírica we organize events but not in the conventional way, because our objective is to bring to reality our clients’ dreams and expectations, everything that they thought it was not possible to do. We take care of every detail of the process and all our suppliers are the best in the market.
We are convinced that when you do an event, you only have one chance of doing it right!
http://www.oniricaeventos.com/
