We recently connected with Celeste Grajeda-rojas and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Celeste, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
In December of 2022 I was 7 months out of college, working a 9-5 wfh job and bartending on the weekends. The following month I was fired from my bartending job and evicted from home. I knew I never wanted to give any employer another chance to put me in such a vulnerable position again and that’s how my business, Tipce, was born. I overcame the shame of losing my job by taking back control and taking a chance on myself using all the money I had to start a business.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Professionally, I am fully focused on my businesses now. What started as a rookie bartending business in 2023 has blossomed as we head into our third wedding season this year. We double our events and revenue with each coming year. I now own a second business called Bevenue, where I teach aspiring mobile bar owners that there is Revenue to be made in the Beverage industry. I help others through 1:1 online video chat mentoring and by releasing all my templates and digital products that help me in my business.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Overcoming fear of rejection: This past year I received over 100 wedding inquiries and have booked a fraction of that. Yes putting yourself out there is a huge thing to overcome, but something even bigger is being OK with the answer “no.” I know I’m not going to gain every client I talk to and I have to be OK with that. Some clients will not be a good fit.
2. Be a nerd: Take time to be an expert at each department that runs your business. Wear hats in marketing, HR, finance, etc. Does this mean you shouldn’t outsource and hire professionals like attorneys, CPAs/bookkeepers, insurance agents, graphic designers, social media managers? NO. You should hire help if you need it, but never stop learning about things that will help you understand business better.
3. Build connections: challenge yourself to go to multiple networking groups and not only get your name out there but take in the names of others. No one wants to help business owners more than other business owners.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I love the works of Jen Sincero – her entire “You Are A Badass” book series always pulls me out of a business slump and puts me back in a grind. I do have a special place in my heart for business/self-help books that are written by women. In my opinion, they take more complex approaches that make processes easier to understand. I read books by people that I relate most to.
Some of my favorite nuggets from her:
-Deciding is freedom, indecision is torture.
-Go from the type of person who takes what they can get, to being a type of person who creates what they want.
-Want it bad.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tipcebar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tipcebar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tipce-Mobile-Cocktail-Bar/100090588391178/
Image Credits
Fernando Montenegro, Margaret Marshall, Ocean and Rock, Marlies Hartmann
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
