One question I always get asked when people are interested in my journey to being an entrepreneur is “What do you think is the most important thing to keep you grounded?” I always answer, “to never forget where you came from.” A Tejana (a female from Texas) born and raised on the South side of San Antonio, in a blue-collar family, I saw my Dad work a full-time job, side hustle afterwards to build up a clientele for his successful business now, and moonlight on the weekends as a musician. My mom, mainly a stay at home mom, also would work off and on throughout my childhood the older my brothers and I got. My parents made a good team; we were never without anything we needed, raised with nice things, and exposed to new ventures to keep us cultured. The combination of all I was brought up with has paid off not only in my professional life, but in my personal life as well.
As life brings on new ventures, new people come along too. I have learned some of the greatest lessons in life from some of the humblest people; there’s not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for that. I was recently given the gift of this cool T-shirt from a fellow writer friend and author of Latin Twist; she has not only been an inspiration to my own writing, but also reminds me that staying true to yourself is the best way to not only enjoy your passions, but also grow as a woman. You truly can have it all; you can build your empire from all that you are with hard work, fearlessness, and lots of faith. Vianney, thank you! Not only for the gift, but also for being a wonderful example to many of us that look up to you and for reminding me of where I come from. It’s women like yourself that motivate me to keep on going even when it gets tough; when I even want to quit.
I am no one special; I am a simple woman that grew up with lots of love, a strong family foundation, with passions that I could build a career on. I NEVER forget where I come from; it is the community I was a part of as a child and now an adult, that have been my biggest supporters. I may not have been raised with traditional Hispanic ways and culture, but I am always proud to say I am a Tejana. (The meaning of the name Tejana is Texan Female. The origin of the name Tejana is Spanish.) To purchase a shirt like the one I’m wearing or to check out other Soy Tejana merchandise visit: http://soytejana.bigcartel.com
Read more about my amiga Vianney Rodriguez and check out her fabulous recipes at: http://sweetlifebake.com
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