Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Garcia Merino.
Hi Mary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story honestly starts with a tug at my heart and a leap of blind faith. I built my professional life in the non-profit arena, in service to youth and community and it was a true calling and an enormous blessing. I loved everything about it! But my non-profit days were my also my single days, my childless days, my no other responsibilities days.
Once I got married and had kids, the mom’s brain activated and my world changed completely, for the better of course! Non-profit work wasn’t fitting as well in this new life as it did before. However, the mental exhaustion of an overseas move back to Texas, getting my kids acclimated to their new home, almost two years of job searching to find a good job only to have that dwindle way too fast was taking it’s toll. I wanted so much more than just a job. I wanted my cake and to eat it too! I wanted flexibility, I wanted freedom, I wanted to use my God given talents to share with others and in the process to make a living to provide for my babies. Is that too much to ask? I was feeling this tug at my heart to take that next step although I wasn’t quite sure what it was yet, I knew that I was being led to so much more. I had no idea that tug would lead me on an amazing entrepreneurial journey of a lifetime!
While I didn’t know it at the time, a little get together and product demonstration at a friends house would lead me down a path that brought out all my passion, my ingrained knowledge and love for serving and empowering others. I fell in love with the products that day and eventually this little direct sales journey would be a pillar of my growing business brand and a new lifestyle for me and my family. I jumped in feet first, joined all the small business groups, the local chamber, did all the personal development and followed all the guru’s out there at the time that provided motivation, inspiration and how to’s on how to build an empire. My problem was that regardless of all the product trainings and free webinars I signed up for there was a piece missing for me, a visual thing. I’m a visual learner so seeing things on paper to understand how one thing leads to another is a big deal to me. Aside from that, I’m also a Visionary – I like to see the bigger picture, the end outcomes, the whole story. It occurred to me how many times in my life I have created a Vision Board for either a new diet challenge or for a dream home at various seasons of my life. Every book I was reading from the guru’s all noted that Vision Boards were important and encouraged you to create one, but they didn’t really tell you how.
At this point in my life Pinterest was my BFF and my mental memory bank was working overtime to tap into the numerous trainings I did and eventually I had done enough research on vision boards and the practice of Visualization that I created a list of steps that I thought would lead me to create an amazing vision board that would ultimately serve as a tool to stay motivated in my business and keep my Why at the forefront of everything I did. And it worked! It did not take me long to offer this system to my team members which lead to offering it to other teams, other small business teams and public groups that wanted to provide some training with a tangible item to keep teams motivated. This additional service has evolved to the main pillar of my business brand that has lead to public in person and virtual events, an e-course, women’s retreats and many opportunities that went beyond my initial vision. Thus, my work as a Vision Strategist came to be an enormous blessing to my family. Not only did this allow my direct sales business to gain momentum, it lead to co-founding the MomBoss Sip n Shop events and personal Visualization Coaching to majority female entrepeneurs. That tug at my heart almost five years ago now pushed to take that leap of faith; faith in the vision I had in my mind and heart for myself and my children.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there such a thing as a smooth road? LOL. No, no smooth road here at all! There are so many challenges when you go from working for someone else to building your own business from the ground up. There are no corporate people to call to troubleshoot your tech difficulties, no HR to call to ask questions… it’s all you girl. There were plenty of struggles in regards to things like branding, creating graphics, pricing, etc. But the biggest challenge was getting past my own head. I think we all go through the Impostor syndrome to some extent and while I am really great at talking up everyone else’s business I fall short when it came to talking about mine. I had to accept a couple of things and the first was that although I feel destined to be a super successful entrepreneur, my professional background did not prepare me to create a business it prepared and trained me to serve and build community so I had to tap into that knowledge somehow and make it work for me.
Second, I came to realize that investing in myself was going to be the best thing I could do not only for my business but for my mindset so I found a business coach that opened my eyes to the way the world of small business works and how to adapt my values and priorities to my business. There are struggles on all levels, its the mindset that we adapt that will determine if those struggles remain as obstacles in your business or if those struggles become opportunities for growth and learning. Struggles don’t have to be a deterrent, they can help you grow too.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Spanglish Casita?
The Spanglish Casita evolved from a direct sales gig to a multi-faceted business brand! My main gig is the role of Vision Strategist. As a Vision Strategist, I provide guided workshops that are intentional and purposeful that lead to the creation of the most incredible vision board you have ever made which serves as a tool to keep you focussed on your goals and dreams on a daily basis. The Spanglish Casita is full of services that promote and empower female entrepreneurs as well as provide products and services that motivate and inspire the individual as well.
Being a bilingual Latina is also a strong pillar for me and I love to be able to add my special unique flavor to everything I offer. Here is what you will find at The Spanglish Casita: * Vision Board classes/workshops/parties. In person or Virtual. Private Vision Coaching. Online course available. * Pure and natural products that promote clean, non toxic lifestyle options for the whole family. * MomBoss Sip n Shop Vendor events at Lost Oak Winery in Burleson, TX always highlighting, local, female owned businesses while providing a unique shopping experience for our customers. Looking to expand to other areas of the metroplex *Housewife Happy Hour Parties – Unique, out of the box, customizable parties for groups of up to ten that I bring to you! Menu items include vision boarding, yoga & meditation, smudge jars plus food and treats! Great for a girls night in, Bridal showers, etc. What I am most proud of is that all these facets of my business came about naturally and organically and through the connections made with other women in the small business world. Each facet of my business is a blessing, it allows me to do what I love to do and that is to connect and serve others on a different level.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I truly believe my business would not exist if not for the support, collaboration and education I have received from other like minded individuals. Not one successful moment or one dollar that has come through or occurred in my business was done without a referral, a connection or an easy shout out from another person. I am overwhelmed with gratitude daily as I think of all the support I have received over these last few start up years. I would love to grow my network by inviting people to visit my website, follow my social media and by booking me for a workshop, party or class! My personal vision includes using my bilingual ness to offer workshops to various groups here and internationally, to teach and educate people on natural health alternatives and to cultivate a community of Visionaries that offer their expertise in helping others find clarity in their own personal vision. If this is your vibe, find me!
Contact Info:
- Email: mary@thespanglishcasita.com
- Website: www.thespanglishcasita.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spanglishmomboss/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spanglishmomboss
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thespanglishcasita
