My dear members and friends of the PR/HCCPC , Happy Easter to you and your loved ones.I'm not sure if you celebrate the holiday but if you don't this is how I relate it back to my personal and business life. Both work hand in hand to assist us all in the dealings of making and performing wise decisions.

I was raised with the belief that there is a higher power that controls and oversees everything in our lives. That what you have laid out as a major plan, had its architect in a quiet desk immersed in silence somewhere without your knowing. That your decisions sometimes are not really made by you personally , that there is always a hidden plan in the works without you realizing it. Its like being invited into the corporate board room but not really being there. A higher power of some kind is in the works since the day you were born. Since the day you decided to become an entrepreneur.

Personally , I believe this 150%. It has always guided me by recognizing that I am not alone when it comes to deciding what is best for me , my family , my friends , my members and my business. Finding within myself the expert advise that he alone has planted into my DNA , so that I can accept his hand in all of this , in all of my decision making , in all of the steps taken in the staircase of my life. Sounds strange to some and to some it's well , sounding pretty normal. 

We are all blessed with and endowed with many rights and dreams. Better yet with the right to dream. To dream big and dream all the time. So with that said , allow yourself to question yourself in all your decisions , if for some reason you're questioning yourself one , two and three times it's not strange , it's a higher power opening your mind to empower your talent of what it is that you do or wish to do. It is an insight to seeing what is there that of course is not seen by the naked eye. But by the eye or sight of pure intuition. An insight that comes with your business savvy DNA.


Let me know how your intuition goes on your next decision , I would love to hear all about it.

Talk to you all next time,

Ana

Dear Members and Friends of PR/HCCPC ,
Today we start our journey and the great events . Awesome members that are signing up by leaps and bounds is exciting. Just to say this brings chills to my skin. First let me say we are going to do what is necessary to promote and mentor our members and the community they serve.Especially now with a downtown office in Lakeland! Watch our ribbon cutting on our home page. 

But let me first start with congratulating several members : Ruth Vazquez in her ribbon cutting , welcome Yohansi  Santana and Divicious Deli to downtown Lakeland and to the PR/HCCPC! 
Please see article on her and others in The Ledger 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20140410/NEWS/140419969?tc=cr
 
But now to my much anticipated BLOG. it has been weeks since I gave you all my insights , right? here we go .......

Today's topic is " When did I let my guard down in my business?" 

I get a kick , when people around you feel it necessary to make things look like "hey I'm all here for you" or "trust me , I am here for you or I can promise i am gonna make this happen to your advantage , you'll see..it's going to be ok". Well................... not so! Ask yourself how savvy are you at verifying if someone is legit and trustworthy in business , with your business? What has motivated you to allow someone to come into your territory to , well just take the reins in your successes behalf? Ask yourself this , today , tomorrow and always.

My training came from my parents, my childhood spent in a grocery store in NYC. Everyone loved to work with my parents because they were the peoples reason to come and shop at their shop. But there was one thing about a couple of them that would shop there and more than one occasion they always got away with a lot when it came to abusing my parents confidence and trustworthiness.I made note of these people. I guess this is where I get my female intuition. LOL! As I grew , I had more say in the business , from product execution to negotiating with vendors, the products they wished for us to purchase at wholesale to even dealing with those who always had a say in the business without being part of "La Familia" .

I remember an event my family always helped to put out.It was a block party that was always held on the night of San Juan in June. My parents and some great people got involved with closing one street to have fun with family and neighbors. My parents were always looked as the God Parents of this party and so they held meetings and selected committees for this occasion. But one year I remember I was 17 and I was pretty savvy at that early age, by negotiating with the local precinct for the street closures , getting the fire dept to come and participate plus getting other vendors to do so. In other words I was the planner of the whole shing ding. Many thought we were making a ton of dough , but it wasn't so . Monies went for uniforms for the soft ball teams in the neighborhood which was a great way to get them off the streets and the grounds off the projects. But good things never stay good for long,right?

When I turned 18 , the neighborhood once again started to plan for the JUNE event. Well my Dad and Mom where too busy but still were going to help out. There was one particular person though , that always since I could remember was involved with the structure of the event , but never wanted to be in charge or remotely responsible for the setup of the event period. But this person saw what we could do with something so small yet people from allover came. To make this short , this person approached my parents to help 150% and said they can do this and do that. Even promised some entertainment because of a close relationship at a local well known downtown club. As I heard them talking , I personally felt this was a family controlled event. Family meaning mine and the 200 other families on my street. Well the event came and the so called entertainment came , problems arise when there were no permits for such a show and people went array. This person promised something that was never put into writing and guess who was then responsible?Fingers pointed only to my parents and those who were close for years bringing together this simple yet wonderful event. But where was the person that stated to my parents and the committee , "trust me , I'm here for you"...?The following year the block party never happened and the year after. No one wanted to deal with it again because of the takeover under the noses of a close knit community. A block party that I can remember always happened rain or shine. But when it was given to someone who only saw to benefit themselves it lost its luster and its shine. And it's purpose , family and community first.

We moved away and everything had then changed forever. My motto of this is , don't give up your reins to something you are in total control of. Whether big or small. Anything goes wrong you are the face that will stand the ground to be held accountable , not a just "un interesado".Many will know what I am talking about. There are those who will see your weakness under duress and take advantage of this.But in small , medium or large businesses you NEVER give up the seat at the head of the table unless necessary. And if necessary find a way not to.You hold the scepter to your running of your kingdom , a king or queen never steps down. Roses , champagne will come and go. But your reputation and your love for what you do will stand the test of time. Avoid those rose colored glasses they have asked you to try on. They were not meant to be worn when it comes to your business and it's success.

See you all next time.
Ana