An Inspired Chat with Cap Rivera of Maryland

We recently had the chance to connect with Cap Rivera and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Cap, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think the biggest misconception about business is that everybody can do what you’re doing. Some people really study their craft, or as I like to say “Pay their dues”. While others take a quick route, and may find some success in it. But real longevity isn’t sustained because they haven’t truly put the work in. That is why I’m always creating and coming up with ideas constantly so I don’t give myself time to become bored and create a jaded experience for myself making it not fun anymore.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Cap Rivera of the brand Candelicioso which is my candle & skin care company founded it back in 2003. I have also added other things to the repertoire, such as a catering collaborative called XoDelicioso. And my newest creative outpouring of love entitled Verse & Vision Live. Which can be found on mainly on TikTok. This is some of my best work in years, because it gives me a chance to get back into my hosting side and work with two amazingly talented host also co founders of our virtual creative kickback. They go by the monikers of J.V who is such a talented lyricist who inspires me on a daily basis to be better all around, and to be more spiritually in tuned & Pappin who is an accomplished singer/songwriter with a knack of bringing people’s talent to the forefront. Working with these fellas, make it worth it, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else. Our TikTok Channel mainly consist of online talent shows, with added segments of poetry slams, praise and worship sessions, a lyricist lounge, a game show, and a discussion panel just to name a few. We are one of many talent platforms, but we are definitely one of the most compassionate and encouraging, and many people would agree.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I hate to actually say it, because it’s actually tough to admit but when you are younger you think the world is yours and everything is possible but when you move further from the timeline that you have set for yourself and things don’t quite come to pass then your light begins to dim. You definitely stop dreaming big, and you start to view things more realistic because you start to listen to what people say instead of truly believing in yourself 100% like you once did. I do struggle with trying to get back to that child like imagination that I can in fact have everything. But as an adult now I realize it takes a different strategy, and you’re going to have to work harder

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
This is such an awesome question. I think that each and every time that you try and fail it takes something out of you. And it requires so much more energy, strategy, and the basic love of what you’re doing to be able to go forward after failure. I think for me in the midst of it is still having an attitude of gratitude. Because your mindset really can shift your circumstances. So it doesn’t matter how many times you miss the mark. You only truly fail if you stop trying.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I do believe that anybody who truly knows me, would agree that I am solely focused on success, and being a better person all the way around by any means. I am definitely the type of person who does get hyper focused, and when I am passionate about something I’m all in. And sometimes it doesn’t matter the cost because I’m willing to take the challenge and line things up in such a way that it has to be fail-proof. And a lot of times I end up overextending, and putting myself last in the equation all to get it done. But because I’ve had so many goals and aspirations that I’ve wanted to see come into fruition I realize the people who really get to the goal think just like me, but they are more calculated and consistent and that is something I have to work on.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I feel that I have truly been following what I’ve been born to do. Now the road is rough, and it is taking many detours. But I don’t regret going after the things that make me happy. I know that I have different gifts and talents, and I never want to get to the point of my life where I say I wish I would have done this or that. Nothing’s worse than a person looking back over their life and never truly lived. Whether that’s in your full potential, or just not being afraid to take risk, or simply not being apologetic for the choices that you make. I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry, I’ve always had a flare about me. So due to being creative it wasn’t hard to then go into the arts and crafts or the catering. I have always had the gift of gab so even on my brief stint on radio as a host, that’s what makes Verse and Vision Live feel like home to me because it’s natural. So when you align yourself with the right cohorts, YOU can’t do anything but win.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Candelicioso2018
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fullofshenanigans?si=SXtsurA5JR16fLqQ
• Other: Tiktok VerseVisionlive

Image Credits
J.V. of Just Vibing via Verse & Vision Live

Pappin of The GiG via Verse & Vision Live