We’re looking forward to introducing you to Flower Sanchez. Check out our conversation below.
Flower, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
As of late, something I strongly feel that society as a whole is struggling with, but would never admit, is their authenticity. Many are trying so hard to focus on living up to these false ideals and expectations that I personally feel social media is responsible for. It has created a generation of people who are living a lie online entirely and I think we should stop that. Comparison is a thief of true joy, we have to stop this obsession of comparing our lives to random people on the internet and just live authentically as ourselves. We are all so special and individually have so much to offer. I’d love it if we could tap back into that . Let’s put the phones down, the kids are watching us you know? Just my opinion.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For those who have not been following my journey, my name is Flower and I grew up in San Diego, California. I just turned 30 this year! Wow. What a journey it has been indeed.
I am a Creative Director in film/media, a wellness specialist and a Chef. I’m also a mom to the most wonderful boy in the world who just turned 9 this year. Those that know me, will tell you that I wear many hats.
Growing up, I had to overcome quite a bit to get to where I am today. As a kid, I was homeless and was even temporarily placed in foster care when my mother was struggling to overcome and beat alcoholism. She’s come a long way and I’m so very proud of her. Now, as a single mom, I definitely can understand her struggles a lot more than I did as a child. I love where we are now. That’s like my best friend honestly. I am deeply rooted in forgiveness. Healing is a process. In the words of the late, great Nipsey Hussle, “this life is a marathon, not a sprint.” .
Most recently, I gave up acting and writing during the writers strike, and have been sort of stepping into what I call my soft life era. I’m realizing a lot about myself and what I’d like to leave behind and what matters most. Although I love Hollywood and all of the amazing experiences and people I was blessed to encounter throughout my career, I needed time to just be present and pour back into myself. I also lost my media partner and best friend shortly before I made the decision to take a break to cancer. Finding someone that you can work with, one that feels more like family is truly remarkable and I just know that I won’t find anyone like him again. Which, I’m now at peace with.
I’ve since launched my first wellness spa, and my latest baby, Clementine, a new food establishment catering to the vegan and vegetarian community. Ultimately closing out my chapter with the food truck I helped establish with my father at age 18. It wasn’t easy, I shared a lot in my previous article about our relationship so if you know how much I love that guy and love that establishment, you understand. However, it is imperative to know when to pivot or move on in life and as an entrepreneur. It’s very easy to get comfortable and become stuck. As an artist, it’s essential that my skills get utilized or I would just not be fulfilled. Most people actually like to accredit my culinary skills to my dad, but he actually never taught me how to cook. My grandmother, Florencia, who also taught him, is the reason I am so great at it in fact. She is in my opinion the best Mexican chef in the planet.
Since launching Clementine, named after my wonderfully sweet niece, I have received so much love and support from the community I sometimes am in disbelief. I’m so very grateful to be able to make people happy through food, it brings me true joy. Tapping back into my culinary artistry was definitely the best thing I could have done for me at this time in my life. I’m glad I get to do things my way this time around and receive the proper accolades or “flowers” if you will, that were never given to me in prior food business endeavors.
I’m not really a person who likes the spotlight, though some are confused by my colorful personality. I’m actually quite introverted. On the contrary, I just enjoy the creative process, results, and feedback I receive. The money is also a great incentive, but I’ve never been the type to be motivated fiscally. I’m happy to say I now have my own 5 star establishment (according to Google and my customers lol) and I did it on my own. That to me is confirmation that I’m on the right path.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, my brothers and I were often looked down at or counted out due to the fact that we were the ones with less. Given, we were in fact homeless, our mom had to leave us with family often to avoid sleeping in cars etc,. The family around us had a way of constantly reminding us that the expectation of us being successful wasn’t as high as the standards set for our cousins or other family members. We would just never be good enough essentially. As a kid, you start to believe people naturally.
I remember living with my aunt from ages 10-13 in Arizona. My aunt constantly shredded any ounce of self confidence I had. Once, even told me if it weren’t for her taking me in I’d be pregnant at 16 and that I wouldn’t amount to much in life. I had an uncle who recently shared his disdain for the love we have for our mother despite her past mistakes even questioning how we could still love her. I remember feeling really upset about that. I still work through those issues to this day. As I mentioned before, healing is a process. The important thing is that I got rid of all of the toxic mental trauma I was conditioned into and realized how beautiful my journey actually is. How much I truly love myself and how powerful I actually am. That is something that no one can take from me now. They were all simply projections of their own insecurities and I needed to grow up to understand it better. Some people are just hurt and don’t know how their actions can affect children for the rest of their lives.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been so many times both as an entrepreneur and a single mother that I have felt like giving up. It happens to a lot of us. Some do and some continue on. The key here is to know how to pivot instead. That is what saved me. Most recently, I ended my engagement with my ex fiancé and remember feeling like I failed at marriage. But that’s not true. I simply didn’t settle for a life I knew could be much greater. Knowing your worth will always be an asset in making tough decisions. Another example, I remember feeling so lost when things started to get rocky with the food truck. So, I went and got a part time job as a bartender at a Topgolf. One of the most toxic work environments I had ever been in. This was after I was so sure I’d never return to a 9-5 job. I remember feeling like a failure as an entrepreneur like how did I get here? Am I just a bartender? Then I realized, this is just apart of my story. There is nothing wrong with working to support my dreams. I came in knowing nothing about making drinks and left as one of the best bartenders they had. A new skill set to add to my résumé is just a plus. “Clementine” emerged from all of that so I’m happy everything happened in the way that it did. I needed to humble the thought that an entrepreneur can’t work a regular job because it’s just not true. Especially in this economy. Many of us do and in fact use it to financially support these endeavors. Every business I’ve ever launched was funded by me, not a bank. I don’t have financial debt or massive bank loans to pay back. Many entrepreneurs will showcase and highlight the success, but never the process. The change in perspective was growth for me. Maturing, actually.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Honoring my elders and ancestors. It’s essential to me and my life. Success breeds a lot of things including a weird shift of energy some refer to as “having haters” lol. I personally am not dealing with that, my elders and ancestors handle everything for me, spiritually speaking. I feel as though I’m simply here to complete what they couldn’t and make them proud. By honoring them in all that I do, I remain divinely protected from any negativity or harm. The ones I am blessed to still have with me on earth are my biggest motivation. My grandmother, Florencia, will be 90 in February. She migrated to this country from Mexico and built her life from the ground up starting with nothing and speaking no English. To be able to do what I do coming from an immigrant background is a huge blessing I don’t ever take for granted. My other grandmother, Elanor, has created such a beautiful life and legacy, for many she feels like home. I can only hope that one day I will be even half of the matriarch that she is. I hope they all see what I’m doing and are extremely proud of me. My son now practices honoring them in his own little ways as well. It makes me so happy to see him connect with them.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m cooking or helping my community in any way. That’s when I truly feel a sense of peace within. I need those moments as they fuel me to continue to strive for greatness. Most recently, I began coaching cheerleading for at risk youth. The bond I have built with those girls and the way they light up when they see me is truly special. I need these moments to remind me of why I work so hard. The more successful I am at what I do, the more I can continue to help others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spottieottiedopalyscious?igsh=M2F6dGwwdHZpMDVt&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6zVtAjUM/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Photo credits: myself, my aunt Caryn Tate, Graphic designs by Calvin Pierre Wilson
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