We were lucky to catch up with Louie Ortiz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Louie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
When I started out, I had two regular jobs—both of which were part-time. One was at a pet store and the other involved working as a paralegal for a blind attorney. While I enjoyed aspects of both jobs, I believed I could feel happier and more fulfilled running my own business because I could have more control of my time and earn more money. As I grew and matured, I realized it was about so much more than just those two things. I found that I could make a positive lasting impact on people’s lives on a much larger scale by owning my own business. I wanted to help people see that there is more to being a business owner than just trading time for money. If you are passionate about whatever it is you are doing—whether owning a business or working for someone else—it will drive your level of energy and enthusiasm. You have to dig deep within yourself to know what truly gets you excited and then follow that path. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than helping people as a business owner, so I don’t have any reason to look back.

Louie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I see myself as a CEO, serial entrepreneur, public speaker, mentor, and philanthropist, although not necessarily in that order. I’ve founded several different kinds of businesses, starting with an aquarium manufacturing company with thirty full-time employees. I led this organization for seventeen years, during which time we completed projects for clients all around the world.

In 2007, I founded The Louie Ortiz Group, a company specializing in sales and marketing of luxury residential real estate. Realizing that my main purpose is to inspire and motivate others to achieve things they never thought possible, I created YesEvenYou.com, a real estate platform with live training, downloadable content, interviews, and more to help us discover what real estate agents really need and guide them toward finding success.

Along the way, in 2012, I created Monbi.com to help entrepreneurs accelerate the start and growth of their businesses. Our goal has been to connect business owners with private local and global investors and provide them with resources, community and tools to help them succeed faster.

Meanwhile, The Louie Ortiz Group continues to expand. It started out in Southern California, but over the years, we have expanded, recruit and help real estate agents in multiple cities throughout California. My team and I are passionate about helping our clients achieve their life goals and dreams through the mastery and sales of real estate. What I am most proud of is the positive impact we make every day on people’s lives. What sets my businesses apart is that our team members and employees are passionate about helping others succeed.

Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses
I’ve been fortunate to have bought several businesses, including two manufacturing businesses, three service-based businesses, and a real estate brokerage in another state. These purchases made it faster and easier for me to grow and scale. The structure of the purchases was similar in that I spent a lot of time getting to know and understand what was most important to the sellers. Many times, it was not about a cash-out sale, but rather about generating income over time or creating a legacy. When you’re buying a business, it is important to recognize why they want to sell and what they are looking to do in the future. You have to be respectful and patient with them, as this can be an emotional and anxious time. They may be undergoing major life changes and are still processing what things will look and feel like for them in the future. Taking the time to get to know sellers and help them with their goals is key to long-term business acquisition success.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Your team is critical to any success, so you need to understand what motivates them and relate to the challenges they might be experiencing in their work. I feel it’s important to be invested in your team’s present and future far beyond a paycheck. I try my best to create a culture in which leaders listen to the team’s needs and goals and help them achieve whatever is truly important to them. This involves providing growth opportunities for them that they might not be able to receive anywhere else. I believe in creating an atmosphere in which employees learn, grow, and achieve while making a positive impact. At the same time, it’s important to have one-on-one conversations to establish clear and regular expectations on both sides. You want to take the time to create an authentic appreciation strategy that thanks and rewards the contributions of each and every team member. In addition to creating a unified company vision with shared goals, you need to foster a culture of innovation, freedom, empowerment, and collaboration to create a powerhouse team with strong morale. A business is only as good as the sum of its parts, so you want to establish a hard-working community of people who are passionate about their work and enjoy what they do. If your business provides exceptional client experiences, your team will feel immense pride in their work and therefore will succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LouieOrtiz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hgtv.louie.ortiz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelouieortizgroup/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louie-ortiz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thelouieortizgroup
• Other: www.YesEvenYou.com www.Monbi.com