Master Fernando Camareno > www.mastercamareno.com

Master Fernando Camareno, Keynote Speaker, Personal Safety Life Skills Coach, Business Program Developer & Consultant.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Desire, passion, vision and a mission. Being determined to develop your talents and abilities to their fullest, recognizing that they were given to us in order to live and perform by them.

What did inspire you to start your business?
The capacity of achieving independence, time management, better income, self fulfillment and pride. The opportunity to make a contribution to society, becoming a part of its improvement.

How did you finance it?
Interesting question. For 44 years I have been investing in the Martial Arts discipline, which has become the basis to my professional career. You may wonder what I am talking about; during my 33 years as Martial Arts instructor, developing behavior modification and character development programs, I have been able to develop the entrepreneurial attitude to become a leader, which led me to the achievement of 7 World Championships and 6 World Records among other achievements as an athlete. Holding such distinctions become my best financing actives for the present and future global business models.
People decide to join your projects for three reasons: They know you, they are attracted by your personality and they trust you. This combined with business alternatives of global scalability that require minimal investments of less than $ 1k, perhaps up to $ 5k.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Hispanics share a unique spirit of self-improvement and strength empowered by their passion on doing things. On the other hand, in my case as Puerto Rican, we have the advantage of being Bilingual, as we are educated both in Spanish and in English (as our second language). But with today’s technology language gave more opportunities.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I only need to take a look at the process of everything that I have invested and done in order to be where I am now. The value that I give to those processes gives me the strength and focus to go on. We need to remember that it is not about what we have lived but what we are about to live…So we must live intensely.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Being an orphan since an early age, having lost everything, I had an accident where I received a 13,570 volts charge; it was uncertain if I would ever walk again. The moments that I lived after the accident gave me strength and helped me look at life from another angle. Today, I share that experience with my work team.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The only thing that I would change is having started the use of development systems, duplicable in a way that would hold constant productivity.

What was your childhood ambition?
When I was eight years old, a World Champion told me that if I really wanted to, I could achieve anything I wanted, even become a World Champion myself! I believed in him and initiated my process, which was interrupted during the best time of my life by the loss of my parents, all the money and my accident. I was kept out of any competitions for twelve years. I was able to recover from all this with the use of nutraceutical technology in 2004. And being thirty-eight years old I was able to achieve my goals, including being a part of Team Bergamo, Martial Arts World Champions from ESPN-2.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Wow its almost impossible to choose only 3 but here I go: Steven K. Scott (with the Book “The Richest Man Who Ever Lived”), Angel M. Nieves (the one that introduced me in the Direct Sales and Social Network Biz) and Alex Hoffman  & Laura Boerr (both my direct upline sponsors in my actual Business ISAGENIX)

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Depending on the audience, the product and the approach required, any of the 3 are effective to me.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Investing everything I had, including all my time. However, the results are worth it.
  
What is your favorite quote?
VIVE LA VIDA!  Which means:  LIVE LIFE! (The name of our organization and brand)

It is difficult to be unconventional?
For those who are at the forefront of marketing models, it is quite normal, actually.

Biggest mistake made?
Not paying enough attention to the multi-level marketing business models sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. Upon acquiring personal experience and combining it with the experience of other successful people, you get your personal formula for getting innovating results. Good or bad results, still from innovative efforts.

About the Company
Master Fernando Camareno – Puerto Rico
Keynote Speaker, Personal Safety Life Skills Coach Business Program Developer & Consultant.
Website: www.mastercamareno.com
Tel: 787-603-5333
Skype: fernando.camareno
13,570 VOLTIOS.. - "Conoce Su Historia" http://tcpros.co/Nf6Cx

Ginalisa Monterroso > www.themedicaidexperts.com

Ginalisa Monterroso, Founder of Medicaid Advisory Group

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
To be an entrepreneur, you have to believe that you can truly make a difference. You are providing a service that you have created to help people. You have an idea that answers the questions of others and you have to be proud of that too.

What inspired you to start your business?
I wanted to become an advocate for people who are lost in the complicated Medicaid system. I wanted to prevent other families from suffering the way that I suffered when trying to help my 
daughter.  

How did you finance it?
By applying to Medicaid as a supplementary service, we receive some of the funding that we need to function. The rest is found through medical, local, and national grants that we must apply for on a yearly basis.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?
Yes. I am very proud of my Hispanic heritage. Strong, hard-working, and intelligent Hispanic women have paved the way for me to be able to be successful in my business. Seeing my mother jump into her business the way that she did, also gave me the confidence to start my own business.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?
When medical professionals were turning us away, I knew that my purpose was to advocate for my daughter and her rights. My desire to provide for my daughter was what kept me going, and knowing that I can help other families who are just as confused as I was, keeps me going. It’s so important to know everything that you can so that you don’t get taken advantage of; It’s my passion to educate people to prevent that from happening.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The world of healthcare is overwhelming and sometimes that has intimidated my business. Especially being a woman, a Latina, and a single mother of a disabled child, it has been a constant struggle to keep my head above water. Everyday that we succeed, it gets that much easier.

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?
I would change how we are funded. If we could receive unlimited funding, we could help out so many people figure out how Medicaid can help them. The goal is to help the highest amount of people that we possibly can and more funding would help us to do that.

What was your childhood ambition?
When I was growing up, I always wanted to be a mother. The day my daughter was born was the happiest day of my life. I wanted to love a child the way that my mother loves me. She set such a great example for me to be successful and confident. She is my biggest support system and I knew I could give that to someone else: my child.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
I really admire Julia Hartz, the founder of EventBrite. She inspires me because she left her career in television to create a business that provides a service to people that she really felt was needed. It takes courage to leave what you already know how to do for something else that you truly believe in. 

Selena Quintanilla is inspirational because not only was she Hispanic, she was also a woman who dominated in the Tejano music industry. This was completely unheard of and she was beloved on the American and Mexican music charts even after her death. What makes her a great role model was that she was very family oriented; she did music because she loved it and because her family loved it. She then launched a fashion line to further expand her creativity and her brand. Selena was a lovely Latina businesswoman that I think we all could learn from. 

Nely Galan is one of the bravest women I’ve ever heard of. After running a TV station, the company was suddenly sold and she was unexpectedly out of a job. She began her own production company and eventually became the first Latina to become the President of a television network in the U.S.: Telemundo. She is a great example of picking yourself up from a very low point and turning that experience into a lesson. She has leveraged her experience in the media to become a widely successful businesswoman.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I think that breakfast meetings are the best. It’s the beginning of the workday and everyone is still focused and committed to getting the job done. Being a mother, I know how much food helps everyone to get, or remain focused. A good meeting can really set a great tone for the success of the rest of your day.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?
In order for me to accomplish my dream of helping people navigate through Medicaid, I had to become a public figure and use my daughter as the biggest example of how Medicaid can be almost impossible to figure out on your own. Even though we gave up some personal privacy, it was worth it to know that I am making a huge difference in the lives of many Medicaid recipients.

What is your favorite quote?
“Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.” – Michelle Obama

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. Being unconventional in business is the best thing to do. We are asking the questions that no one else thinks to ask, which means we get the answers no one knew they needed. We think outside of the box to accomplish our goals.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake was not starting Medicaid Advisory Group sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I do consider myself an innovator because most business owners, especially in healthcare, are in it for the money. I created my business on the idea that I could help a lot of people get through this necessary part of life. Focusing on the emotional Return on Investment (ROI) rather than the fiscal ROI is business innovation. I’m helping people get through what they have to get through in order to receive care and live their best lives.

About the Company 
MedicaidAdvisory Group provides guidance and representation for those who are struggling to understand the Medicaid system. We are the patients’ advocates throughout the entire process and we just make everything a lot easier on the families. 

Juan Manuel Perez > www.pitagrill.com

Juan Manuel Perez, Pita Grill Owner (Chelsea, New York City)

What do you need to be an entrepreneur? 
To be a good entrepreneur-because these days EVERYONE is an entrepreneur-you need to have a vision that you believe in and that drives you to make that vision a reality.  Then, of course, you need to be organized, ambitious and self-confident.  You can't let anyone deter you from realizing your goal, from attaining that dream that mobilized you in the first place.   

What inspired you to start your business?  
My parents bake bread for a living and work out of our home in Mexico.  I grew up watching not only their technical skill in executing great bread but also their entrepreneurial spirit: they always sold their product!  They taught me a great work ethic and they inspire me still, every day to excel.  When I came to the United States, I started at the very bottom of the totem pole so to speak, as a delivery boy.  But nothing was beneath me and I learned every facet of this difficult food industry.  When I finally got the opportunity to run my own restaurant, there was nothing that I did not do or could not do.  The business felt mine because I had cleaned the bathrooms, I had run the register, I had delivered the food and cooked the food.  I felt confident in my abilities because I knew how to do every job in the restaurant.  

How did you finance it?  
I saved for many years.  There were no tricks or gimmicks.  I worked very, very hard.  I worked long hours. I lived frugally and I saved. When the opportunity came to take over the Pita Grill restaurant, I seized the chance and was ready financially. However, I did need some financial help. I received funding through Fora Financial when I needed to fund restaurant renovations shortly after taking over ownership. Fora Financial helped me a great deal.  If you can find funding with a low interest rate, it can be a great financial tool.  It can help push you that extra step further.

Does being Hispanic/Latino have any influence on your business? 
No.  Not at all.    

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead? 
My experience and my knowledge push me to excel and when I am faced with difficulties, I just push through.  I never stop or complain.  I never lament.  I just keep going looking for the pot at the end of the rainbow.  I never forget what brought me to where I am today.  I never forget how lucky I am.  I never forget that original vision.  

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?  
The biggest challenge in the food business is the big chain competition. Competing with Chipotle, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, etc. is tough! These big corporate food chains have huge financial backing and huge advertising budgets.  They detract from smaller businesses and open so many stores within 1 square mile, that it takes a great deal of skill to keep a food business open.  It is a case of Simon and Goliath.  But I never lose faith in Simon and in us small business owners.  It is important also, as a consumer that you make purchase choices that help other small businesses.  I try to buy my coffee at the bodega near my house and I like to make local grocery purchases.  Every day we can make choices that help each other out, that can help our communities not get enveloped by the huge corporate chains that want to take over every facet of your daily life from pharmaceutical needs to pizza and coffee etc.  Just remember Simon and Goliath and contribute to the struggle as best you can.  

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?  
I don't think I would change anything about my business.  When I want to change something, I change it!  I can, however, think of things I would like to add.  I would like to drive sales up by taking advantage more of the area my restaurant is in.  We are near Port Authority and in the heart of Chelsea.  I would like to introduce more people to Pita Grill.  I am planning to take steps toward this goal this year: advertising, word-of-mouth campaigns, social media etc.    

What was your childhood ambition?  
Most of all I want to be a good human being.  I think being a businessman does not mean that my moral virtues have to fall by the wayside.  I think these can, instead, help me to make my business better in the end.  I grew up in a very poor family.  For a time we had no place to live and worked in the street.  I always dreamed about coming to the United States and I always dreamed of making my parents proud and becoming a success.  At the end of the day, I care most about taking care of others and keeping close to the good moral principals that my parents instilled in me.  I am proud of where I came from and I love the idea of helping others too, aspire to dream big and realize their dreams.
  
Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.  
Carlos Slim.  Donald Trump.  Jorge Ramos.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?  
Lunch.  Definitely lunch.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?  
My sacrifices have truly been great.  For the last 16 years I have not been able to see my family in Mexico, not been able to hug my mother or kiss my father.  I miss them so much and this sacrifice hurts a lot, it truly does. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of everyone I grew up with and long to abrazarlos.  
I am devoted to my business and I spend my days, my nights, my weekends, and my holidays working.  I love being a businessman and I know what it takes to succeed; but, yes, the sacrifices have been great.  

What is your favorite quote?  
“The biggest thing in life is not money, it is not power, it is not a position that you hold; it is what you hold in your heart and your mind.  Your heart and your mind have no limitations and their potential is never-ending.”  

Is it difficult to be unconventional?  
No, not at all.  When you have a goal, nothing holds you back.  There are no limits or conventions or traditional paths.  You just work toward your goal, you just realize it.

Biggest mistake made?  
I don't think there are mistakes. But there are weaknesses. I tend to trust people too quickly. I should be more wary. I should be more cautious.  I am working toward this. I am always a work-in-progress!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?  
I do sometimes. I like to bring new concepts to existing businesses and I love to help business evolve. That means I have to observe a lot. I need to watch the needs of the clientele and adapt to suit their needs.

Description of your company: 
Pita Grill is an eclectic and healthy concept that was born in New York City and which I feel proud to be a part of. We sell fast-food cuisine with all-natural ingredients; we don't believe in serving processedfood and make all our food in-house. Our extensive menu offers things such as hummus, fish tacos,smoothies, pita sandwiches.  We serve food in a relaxed atmosphere and believe in always serving food with a smile.  We are always happy to serve you or fulfill your catering needs. See website www.pitagrill.com

Anthony Rosa, CEO, www.gseafg.com

 

Anthony Rosa, CEO, GSEA Fashion Group, LLC.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Passion and a relentless determination to succeed.

 

What did inspire you to start your business?
Control.

How did you finance it?
We are still in the process of financing our factory’s growth; however, the company was built on a combination of personal savings, family and friends.

 

Being hispanic - does it have any influence on my business?
Not necessarily since apparel is a global business; however, I will say that my culture defines the way I run my business - with much passion.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
My faith carries me throughout any and all adversity.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Balancing USA Sales with Peru Operations.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything…yet.

 

What was your childhood ambition?
Since I was a child I always wanted to play professional basketball. Fell short of that goal, but who knows, maybe one day I will find my way there through another door…maybe by designing and merchandising for the NBA.

 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Amancio Ortega – controlled the supply chain, created an empire - Zara.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Either one, but if I had to go in order of preference… lunch, breakfast then dinner.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time with family – can’t ever get that back, which is why I work as hard on balancing my life as I do trying to grow the business.

What is your favorite quote?
Do not have one

 

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I think so. Going against the current on a daily basis is not easy, it challenges your will to succeed every day.

Biggest mistake made?
Trying to grow too quickly, taking on accounts bigger than what our factory could handle.

Do you consider yourself an innovator?
Not so much an innovator as the apparel manufacturing business has been around long before I was born and will continue on long after my time is up, but I do consider our approach to controlling our supply chain to be different.

About the Company:
GSEA Fashion Group is a Full Service Fashion House for an expanding family of fashion-forward brands with its Apparel Manufacturing Plant in Lima, Peru.GSEA Fashion Group produces Premium Better Basics and Novelty Tops including, but not limited to: T-Shirts, Polos, Fleece, Dresses and more... Direct-Access to the World's Finest Luxury Peruvian Pima Cotton separates us from competitors.

Website: www.gseafg.com  / Facebook: www.facebook.com/gseafg

Anthony Rosa, CEO, www.gseafg.com

GSEA Fashion Group from GSEA Fashion Group - NYC on Vimeo.