The vision, entity and persona that is Bestola has officially completed one trip around the sun (as of June 22!). In the last year, I’ve learned and grown tremendously in business, yes, but even more in life.
Bestola started as a bright spot during a dark time. I was coming off of an extended hospital stay as a result of my endometriosis. I left the corporate world I had been part of all of my career. There was a fire within me to use this opportunity to chart my own course, but there was also a fear of the unknown and in shedding what I was leaving behind.
This year has been all the things: Inspiring. Uneasy. Exciting. Nerve-wracking. In all of it, more than nurturing a business, I found I was picking up where my ancestors left off while also paving the way for the generations that will come after me.
Throughout the journey of the last year of Bestola, here are 6 lessons I’ve learned:
Building a Business is Hard.
Starting a business — filing for the business license, developing a name and logo — is easy. (And, let’s be honest: Fun!)
Building a business — the day-to-day grind, the constant decision-making, the sustainability — is hard.
As an entrepreneur, you are your business’ lifeline. You’re the one who grows it, does the work, and fuels it every day. And most of the time, you’re doing it all alone.
Showing up as a business owner is much different than showing up as the vice president of a corporation, as I did in my past life. The pressures are different. The problems are different. The fears are different.
And, the opportunities are different. The sense of pride I’ve experienced showing up in Bestola each day has been vastly more rewarding and has kept me going through the ups and downs.
Choose Your Team (Wisely).
The people you surround yourself with are key contributors to your success — and your failure. While this includes friends and family, it also encompasses the clients you choose to work with and the people you invest in for yourself: your therapists, coaches, healers, cheer squad and more.
Having an intentionally curated team is critical. Choose wisely.
Entrepreneurship Will Humble You.
As an entrepreneur, you are in a constant pattern of trying, stumbling, learning and growing. There’s nothing quite like launching a new project only to realize that it’s not working out as planned, or that you want to go in a different direction. Over the past year, it’s been these moments that have forced me to reassess and pivot in more ways than I realized.
You Can Hustle and Rest.
While I was in the hospital, I had the stark realization that all my hustling didn’t really matter. The 50-hour weeks, the working on vacation — it didn’t mean anything when I found myself lying in that hospital bed.
When I started Bestola, I knew there was a grind involved. And, real talk: I like to work hard. I come from a long line of family members who did whatever it took to build a life for themselves.
However, I’ve learned that rest is not only important; it’s essential. The myth that you have to work 24/7 to be successful is just that — a myth. In listening to my body, I’ve found I’m equally productive and more energized because I’ve begun prioritizing my well-being.
More Connects Us Than Divides Us.
Earlier this year, I co-hosted an event for my entrepreneurial peers, Hasta la Raíz (To the Root). Latina business owners put the whole event on, and the evening was a collection of people from different industries, backgrounds and life stories. It was beautiful.
In my work, I strive to bring humanity back to business. I care about the person first. Through some of the incredible experiences of the past year, I’ve learned that while we are all running our own races, when we connect with each other, lean on each other and support each other, we all win. And believe me, there is enough to go around for everyone.
The Path Ahead is Better Than Any I’ve Left Behind.
As I look back on the first year of Bestola, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude. The pride I feel knowing Bess and Bartola have carried me every step of the way has been both comforting and motivating. Each lesson learned, each relationship built, and each step forward has prepared me for greater things to come.
The future is wide open. While I don’t quite know where Bestola will be one year from now, I’m stepping into whatever comes next with an open heart and the inner knowing from the warrior women of my make-up that the path ahead is one that will continue their legacy of service, community, and empowerment.
