Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Mikey , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
By working on my social power, I have learned to be effective and successful even when I am the only one in the room that looks like me. I’ve been branding since early 2012 when I first started my dancing career. Back then I used to have colored hair, blues, reds, and greens. My hair is my fashion tool. No matter where I go or what I’m doing, people stare at me. I can’t pass, unseen or un-watched, it doesn’t matter if they know me or not. At times it does annoy me, especially when I’m out trying to have a good time. I command respect and get everyone’s attention based on the way I carry leadership despite my hippie vibe, my rockstar fashion, and my buddhist spirituality. I’m sweet, gentle, funny and very sociable, yet very strict and serious when it comes down to business–I play no games. I show up to succeed no matter what I’m doing. I give it my all, over and over with an attitude of resilience.
Through the years, I have learned to take advantage of my physical appearance and my personality and the attraction I bring. I believe people are curious about me, they wonder why I don’t dress or act like other successful entrepreneurs. The blueprint of a professional for decades has been to dress sharp and be pretentious, at times arrogant and superficial. I have the physical appearance of a hippie or a rebel. Piercings on my face, tattoos on my arms and hands, dreadlocks in my hair, and I dress very comfortably, “shorts and a T-shirt” unless I’m forced to show up in a tuxedo. Occasionally, you will see me with dress clothes for family and friend reunions. Even my mother has a hard time comprehending how I can be successful professionally and financially considering how I look and dress. But the key to my success in running three companies is how I apply knowledge about structuring and conducting business, my endurance in problem solving, and how well I handle pressure as an entrepreneur.
After being a dancer for a few years for church groups, I became one of their dance instructors. Now, I’m recognized by Latino communities from my dancing teams in Georgia. Part of this recognition is due to my physical appearance. It seems I’m unforgettable. At the same time I was dancing, I worked as a professional dance instructor, teaching two or more dance teams with six to eight members. During a period of eight years, I was hired to teach young children and adults choreographed dances to be performed at social events. These social events usually hosted 200+ guests. When I walked into the venue or hall during the meal time, the dance floor would be empty, and all eyes would follow me as I walked across. I would stand tall, looking up and keeping my eyes focused on the dance team sitting at their table. I never looked around. I always approached my dance team slowly with a big smile, complimenting their outfits and congratulating the host for their special occasion. In my hand I held a copy of the event itinerary and a pen, indicating that I was there to direct the program for the main event.
Right after that, I would walk directly to the DJs and introduce myself in person, though we had previously spoken over the phone. They had already received the program and music list with a timeline as everything was organized before the date. But I would give them guidance and last minute instructions prior to the dance show, all of this while the 200+ guests were watching us. During the main event, one of my team members would be working with them backstage while I was handling the dance team and its participants. I was on the floor at all times.
After meeting with the DJ, I continued with the next vendor, the video and camera crew, then the servers and any other vendor participating in the event. I would give everyone a time frame for their best shot, “their time to shine,” and set my dance team up for their best performance. After all, we practice for two or even three months, and I need everything to be perfect for them and their loved ones watching. Once my job was done, and it was established that I was in charge, I would walk to every table and say hello to everyone, introduce myself and compliment them for their amazing outfits and their generosity. To host such events requires time, lots of money, and godfathers/padrinos.
My favorite part was always the final standing ovation for my dance team, or as I call them, “my children,” seeing their smiles and their eyes open so wide, so full of joy, seeing them proud of themselves, knowing that they had finally overcome their own fears and felt so proud of who they were. I love watching them feeling accomplished for how much effort they put into our dance show. I still hold on to those memories and always will. When I’m in the room surrounded by others, I’m an example that success is not defined by its physical appearance, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Leadership is an act, respect is an action, ownership is a characteristic of an asset; therefore, I like to conclude that any human willing to put in the work and constancy can obtain success as a professional regardless of being the only one that looks like them in the room.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m currently focusing on my three companies, two are established in Georgia and one in Mexico City. I founded Mikey’s Mobile Bar, a private company of professional bartenders and a catering team in Georgia. Global Service Painting and Contracting specializes in high-end clients that need commercial or residential painting and construction services in Georgia. Muchas Gracias Viajes y Tours operates in Georgia, but it’s established in Mexico. We provide hot air balloon tours over the Aztec pyramids, four wheel tours, and local activities in San Juan Teotihuacán, best known as the Aztec City. I stay busy all year around, from managing the finances to handling the employees. It’s a responsibility I enjoy and endure. Apart from the companies, I also work as a volunteer for local foodbanks, homeless shelters, and animal shelters. I join them when I can and when serious help is needed, not just financially but to help handle a major event.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Experience comes over time. In my journey, I have chosen to put focus and effort into these three tasks: being willing to work with others in order to obtain a common goal, having a structured financial plan to follow with precision, and integrating a solid marketing strategy in my business plan in order to have efficient client outreach.
A business owner must have the willingness to work with others in order to obtain a common goal. The goal could be to sell a product or service, connect with an audience, or launch a campaign. Even with something like E-comers where you don’t have direct contact with clients, you are still required to provide good customer service, and in order to do so, you will need to be willing to work with customers to make future sales and keep your business operating.
A business owner is in charge of creating a solid structure for the business. One of the main focuses is to have a financial plan. Keeping track of expenses and staying on budget is essential to having a good profit margin. A lot of people start a business without registering their business entity, limiting their access to tax cuts and other benefits for their business. The next step before making any purchases or doing any marketing is making sure you open a business account to deposit your initial capital. Keep track of expenses and profits under one account and make it easier for you to have control of accounting files: sales slips, paid bills, invoices, receipts, deposit slips, and canceled checks or payments.
The most important feedback I can give as a business owner is to create a business plan with dates and deadlines, reviewing it often and making changes accordingly. A lot of people forget to implement this sales strategy. Make a plan on how to maintain clients, regain clients, and create new clients. This comes in part with a marketing plan, based on your product or service you will define the answer to each question. This is why I won’t elaborate much on it because there are many factors and information that only the one structuring and operating the business knows.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
This is a question that requires elaborating because in order to create my new branding as a multiple business owner, it has required me to have a solid network in all areas: entertainment, construction and remodeling, and global tourism. To accomplish this very important foundation for my expansion in the U.S.A. and in Mexico, I have worked as Ambassador for Premio Lider Internacional, a corporation established in Orlando, Florida. The CEO and founder, Neilo Narvaez, has an extensive telecommunications and music background. He has been a producer for Pepsi Music Festival since 2012 and the Latin Grammys; he also was part of several radio shows for more than three decades in Europe, South America, and the United States. In 2022, Neilo created something similar to the Pepsi Music Awards in Orlando. These awards are dedicated to professional business owners, celebrities, and influencers in all areas. During the ceremony, Premio Lider International awards a trophy to the winner and a certificate that validates the member as a leader in their industry. This certificate can be used all over the world for career or business purposes.
I was nominated by Premio Lider Internacional as best bartender in Georgia during 2023. Then, in 2024, I was given a certificate for my contribution as an ambassador helping the corporation in various states, such as New York, Florida, and Georgia. This will be my second year acting as their ambassador and my first nomination as a businessman leader in 2024. I’m enthusiastic about the nomination yet a bit nervous for the public display. I have been working undercover for so long that it is hard for me to allow others to know more of my professional background without feeling overexposed.
Personal growth and being a public figure is another area that I have worked on a lot.
Being in control of how much I’m exposed and how my audience knows me in my present lifestyle is very important to me. I still strive for everyone to feel included, including myself, when speaking to people from my past dancing career.
This is also why I have agreed to do the interview with the Voyage series and Canvas Revel series as a form of practice and active engagement with my audience. I feel very honored and productive knowing my various communities love me and seek my advice and knowledge. I may not be teaching dancing, but I’m still teaching and guiding “my children.” I feel very satisfied that there are so many successful people all over the world– good people, people of kindness and integrity, people who are teaching me, too. I’m learning so much from various industries helping me navigate vendors and other business owners.
At the present moment, I’m swimming with bigger fish, always looking for a bigger ocean to expand my horizons. One thing for sure is doing business in Spanish, which is a whole new skill. I’m learning how to be at my full capacity when doing business with powerful and smart Latino business owners. The way that the American industry runs business so systematically doesn’t always apply to other ethnicities.
Lastly, I would like to thank all the readers for their love and support. To the writing editors who have contacted me for the interviews and for those that don’t know me yet, stay tuned, I’m always up to something.
Best regards,
Mikey Medina
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/mikeymobilebar.rsvp/mikeysmobilebar
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeysmobilebar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeysMobileBar/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikey-medina-822aa22a5/
Image Credits
Mikey’s Mobile Bar with Clubhouse Beverage
Muchas Gracias Viajes y Tours with Ricardo Alonso
Global Service Painting and Contracting
Coreografias Noche de Party
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