A few weeks ago I got a BIG reality check. A friend of mine, Kenny Silva, invited me to a tour Latino Tour of Latino Nashville businesses hosted by Conexión Américas. I was hesitant at first to go because it was a little outside of my comfort zone but I’m glad I did.
Conexión Américas helps Latino families in Nashville in three areas: Social, economic and civic integration. A few of the services they provide are financial and taxpayer education, entrepreneurship classes and grassroots leadership development.
The tour had three stops. First we went to a Latino clothing store that was owned by an amazing lady named Maria. Maria had moved from Mexico and started out by cleaning houses. She knew she needed to do something else to provide for her family when, one day, she couldn’t physically get out of her car because she was in so much pain from the back-breaking work. She saw an opportunity in the market for Latino clothing and went from traveling to California and bringing clothes back and selling them door-to-door to owning a clothing shop in a prime location in Nashville. Even though Maria didn’t know how to start a business but she dived head first into it and along the way got connected with Conexión Américas and took their entrepreneurship courses that helped her shape her business into what it is today.
The last stop of the tour was to hear a young lady speak about her catering business that she had recently started up with the help of Conexión Américas. She’d always loved cooking and had been working in several restaurants learning American and Southern cooking as well as refining traditional Mexican cooking.
After the tour, something struck me about these entrepreneurs. Neither of them complained about how difficult it was to get where they are now. And they both had something big in common. Their stories revolved around providing for their family. Not once did they talk about getting rich or how tough being an entrepreneur was. They were selfless. All they wanted was a good life for their families and themselves.
It’s such a simple thought we try our best to make it more complex than it really is. But it really isn’t. Maria has worked 7-days a week for 30 years straight for one thing. She knows what she wants and is laser focused and successful because of it. Doing it for money or anything wouldn’t have gotten her this far. So here’s what I want you to do. Two things:
1. Find out what that one thing is that’s driving you in your business or job. Make sure it’s the right thing.
2. Find a non-profit like Conexión Américas (or if your local, join them!) and get involved with one of their programs. I can promise you it will be life changing.
2.5 If your interested in being a guest of Kenny Silva’s tomorrow (Thursday 5/25) Head over to his blog and leave a comment!
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