Meet Marjorie Medina

We recently connected with Marjorie Medina and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marjorie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I owe my resilience to my mother. In first grade, my teacher grouped us by perceived intelligence, and I found myself at the table labeled “least intelligent.” At the time, we didn’t know I had a learning disability; all we saw was my daily struggle in school. One day, I came home feeling defeated, telling my mother I felt stupid. With only a ninth-grade education, her response changed my perspective: “No, Marji. You just learn differently. This means you’ll need to find another way, which will make you a master problem solver. Someday, when things get tough for the other kids, they won’t have the experience of finding alternative solutions like you will.” Her words have stayed with me throughout my life, reminding me to always seek another path.

Another powerful lesson in resilience came when I was five. My mother decided she wanted a pool, and instead of waiting for money or help, she took a shovel and a five-gallon bucket and dug a 17 by 20-foot hole in our backyard, four feet deep. She collaborated with my grandfather to create the walls from redwood slabs and built a deck from scrap wood. This transformed our backyard into a joyful pool oasis, all because my mom believed hard work could achieve what money couldn’t. She never made excuses; she simply found a way.

Her mindset and unwavering dedication have become my secret weapons for success.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

At my company, we believe that furniture shouldn’t be seen as disposable or out of reach. The market often presents two extremes: either outrageously expensive, perfect pieces that few can afford or cheap, particleboard products that harm our planet and exploit workers. I wanted to create a middle ground—a model of conscientious capitalism.

Our furniture is made from solid wood, designed to be durable and timeless, while remaining affordable. By using recycled and reclaimed materials, we can keep production costs low, allowing us to offer quality products that everyone can enjoy. This way, we’re not just selling furniture; we’re promoting a sustainable and ethical approach to design.

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?

The most crucial skill for anyone looking to start a small business or pursue a career as an artist is to take a business class. Many artists I encounter feel uncomfortable with the business and financial aspects, but just like you wouldn’t build a house without a solid foundation.
You shouldn’t start a business without a business plan.
Art is ultimately a product that requires good record-keeping, understanding quarterly taxes, and effective marketing and client acquisition strategies. One of my favorite quotes from Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad highlights this: “You don’t get rewards for being a good writer; you get rewards for being a best-selling author.” The family restaurant down the street might serve a better burger than McDonald’s, but it’s not quality alone that sells millions of burgers. McDonald’s has a solid business plan, which is key to their success.

I’m not advocating for compromising artistic integrity; rather, I’m emphasizing the importance of competition. Small business artists deserve recognition and a place in the market. The more artists establish a strong business foundation beneath their beautiful work, the greater the opportunities for the rest of us to support and purchase their products and services.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

I once heard that CEOs read 5 to 10 books a month. For me, reading didn’t come until I was about 16, and I didn’t discover I had dysgraphia until my freshman year of college. That’s when I was introduced to audiobooks, and it truly changed my life. I absolutely love literature.

Unfortunately, many of us learn financial literacy through our families, which can contribute to generational poverty. If your parents struggled financially, how are you supposed to learn about money management? If they didn’t finish high school, it becomes difficult to grasp concepts like algebra, impacting your grades and future opportunities. We often get stuck in our socioeconomic brackets not because our parents want that for us, but because they lack the knowledge to teach us.

For me, books became my ticket out. They have transformed my life and filled in the gaps where my family couldn’t. Some of my favorite introductory books on business include:

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
These books have equipped me with valuable insights and knowledge that have shaped my journey.

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