We were lucky to catch up with Heber Esturban recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Heber thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
From Revere to Koh Samui: How Our Marketing Hustle Took Us Around the World
Entrepreneurship is no easy road. It tests your patience, resilience, and determination at every turn. But once you push through the challenges, it opens doors to experiences, emotions, and places you could’ve never imagined. Our journey is proof of that. From growing up in Revere, a small city in Massachusetts, to jet-setting across the globe to places like Koh Samui, Thailand—it’s been a wild ride. And it all started in a high school classroom.
Back then, we had no idea what marketing even was. Honestly, some days it still feels like we’re figuring it out. But those early years gave us something invaluable: a passion for creativity, storytelling, and connection. My business partner, Alejandro Arango, and I grew up together and later bonded over our love for photography. At first, it was just a hobby—snapping photos of friends, school events, and anything that caught our eye around the city of Boston. We didn’t realize it then, but that passion was planting the seeds for something bigger.
By the time we graduated, we had developed a solid foundation in photography and a growing curiosity about how visual content could be used to tell stories and connect with people. That curiosity eventually evolved into a full-service social media marketing agency. Fast forward to 2022, after the world had started opening up post-lockdown, we decided it was time to level up. With six years of experience under our belts—not just in photography, but eventually videography too—we were ready to turn our dreams into reality.
Then came the game-changer.
Our very first client in our agency invited us on a business trip to Thailand, all expenses paid. It felt surreal. We packed our bags and set off on what would become the craziest adventure of our lives. But nothing could’ve prepared us for what was ahead.
A Trip to Remember (For All the Wrong Reasons)
There were five of us on this trip, but only one made it to Thailand as planned. The rest of us? We were in for a ride.
It all started with a missed connection in Istanbul, Turkey. Our layover was too short, and by the time we reached the gate, the plane had already taken off. The flight attendants delivered the bad news: we’d have to stay in Istanbul for 24 hours. Meanwhile, Alejandro had a six-hour layover in Munich, Germany. But instead of being stuck in an airport, he made the most of it—zipping around the city on a scooter, snapping photos, recording videos, and even finding time to chill at a local café.
Back in Istanbul, things weren’t as smooth. With no cell service, no local currency, and no clue what to do, anxiety and stress started to creep in. But if entrepreneurship teaches you anything, it’s how to embrace the unknown and trust that things will work out. We eventually found a reasonably priced driver who took us to a hotel (thankfully, the staff spoke some English). They pointed us to a nearby restaurant—though it turned out to be one of those tourist trap spots that sneak extra charges onto your bill. Classic.
But the next day made up for it. We stumbled upon a rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views of Istanbul, right next to the stunning Suleymaniye Mosque. As the sun set, we captured content, soaked in the moment, and realized this unexpected detour was part of the adventure.
Thailand: The Wild Ride Continues
Finally, we made it to Thailand. But the surprises weren’t over yet.
Our taxi driver, who greeted us at the airport, was more than just a ride—he turned out to be our unofficial tour guide. He drove us up a winding, remote mountain road to our Airbnb everyday, making sure we arrived safely.
From there, things got even more interesting. We connected with a group of locals who took us to hidden gems across the island—Buddhist temples, Muay Thai gyms, and even unexpected events. Alejandro and a friend found themselves sparring with female fighters at a Muay Thai training center. And our taxi driver? He moonlighted as a promoter for Muay Thai fights and got us front-row seats to a match on the island. We even rode elephants and petted tigers that trip—experiences we never imagined when we first started our business.
Every day in Thailand was unpredictable, but that’s the beauty of entrepreneurship. You never know what’s coming next. But as long as you’re ready, camera in hand, the world has a way of rewarding your hustle.
Looking back, this trip was more than just a business venture. It was a testament to how far we’ve come—from two kids in Revere, snapping photos in high school classrooms, to entrepreneurs capturing stories around the world. And if this is just the beginning, we can’t wait to see where the journey takes us next. (Hint: we moved to Miami).
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Visionary Movement group is a marketing agency that helps create and manage top-performing social media campaigns for businesses and brands.
Our mission in partnership with our clients and VMG, is to give full resources to target potential clients and leads through organic traffic on social media, we do this by creating content, such as capturing videos for Reels, pictures, and marketing posters that showcase the current up to date information, promotions, events, and portfolios of clients.
We focus on establishing a professional business brand identity that showcases the Benefits/experiences/testimonials/ and current promotions for our clients.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Back in highschool, we didn’t really know what marketing was. Honestly, some days it still feels like we’re figuring it out. But those early years gave us something invaluable: a passion for creativity, storytelling, and connection. My business partner, Alejandro Arango, and I first bonded over our love for photography. But at the time, we were both pursuing our own paths—Alejandro was building a career in real estate, and I was running my own car detailing business. Life, however, had different plans for us.
As we navigated our individual careers, we realized we were both developing skills in sales and marketing without even noticing. Eventually, we decided to combine those skills and turn our shared passion into something bigger. That’s how we grew into a full-service social media marketing agency.
Fast forward to 2022. After the world started opening up post-lockdown, we knew it was time to level up. With six years of experience under our belts—not just in photography but videography too—we made the leap to turn our hustle into a full-time business.
We started with what we knew best: the automotive and real estate industries. Alejandro’s connections in real estate gave us our first in. We approached the office he was working for, offering our marketing services at a time when the industry was just beginning to recognize the potential of social media. Many of the more established agents hadn’t yet grasped how powerful digital marketing could be. But we were persistent. Using our creativity and influence, we began working with a few agents, starting small with updated headshots and slowly introducing video content into their property listings.
It wasn’t long before we expanded into real estate photography for platforms like Zillow and MLS. With some capital under our belts, we invested in drone photography, offering a fresh, aerial perspective that was rare in the industry at the time. That move was a game changer. Drone shots gave listings a modern, dynamic edge, and soon, we were in high demand.
Meanwhile, I reached out to the auto body shops and customization businesses I had built relationships with through my car detailing work. Tapping into the automotive scene was both natural and exciting for us. Car content already performed well on social media, and we knew exactly how to amplify that. Working in an industry we were passionate about made the creative process flow effortlessly. But we didn’t stop there.
Bringing our creativity into other industries is what truly took us to the next level. We began branching out—working with nonprofits, restaurants, personal brands, finance companies, clothing boutiques, credit repair services, and more. Each new client brought fresh challenges and opportunities. Diversifying our portfolio didn’t just expand our reach; it sparked new ideas and strategies tailored to each industry. As we learned the ins and outs of these different businesses, we started to see patterns. We figured out what was already working for them and where we could add value. Over time, we crafted a blueprint—a proven strategy for helping businesses see a return on investment through social media marketing, often faster than they expected.
One of our biggest milestones came when we surpassed $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue. That moment was more than just a financial achievement; it was validation that all the late nights, risks, and hustle were paying off. From snapping photos in high school to running a thriving agency, our journey has been anything but linear. But that’s the beauty of entrepreneurship—you never know where the path will lead. What started as a shared passion turned into a business that not only supports us but also helps other businesses grow and succeed. And if this is just the beginning, we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Leaving behind everything familiar is never easy. The decision to pivot from our hometown of Boston to the vibrant, fast-paced city of Miami wasn’t one we took lightly—but it’s been one of the most transformative choices we’ve ever made.
Growing up in Boston, you become deeply rooted in the rhythm of the city. You know the streets, the people, and the way business flows. It’s a city rich in history and tradition, but as we grew in our entrepreneurial journey, we started to feel its limitations. Boston, for all its charm, has a small business ecosystem, and while we were proud of the work we did there, we realized that only a select few truly broke through the noise. We wanted more. We wanted to test our limits, to see how far we could take our creative agency when placed in a bigger arena.
That’s where Miami came in and that’s when everything changed.
Moving to Miami wasn’t just a relocation; it was a leap of faith. My business partner, Alejandro Arango, and I packed up our lives, leaving behind the network we’d spent years building. We landed in a city where we had little to no connections, stepping into an environment buzzing with some of the best creatives and entrepreneurs in the game. It was exciting and intimidating all at once. But if there’s one thing entrepreneurship has taught us, it’s how to embrace the unknown. We knew it would be difficult—that’s what drew us in. We craved the challenge, not just to grow our business, but to grow as individuals. Miami was our proving ground, a chance to push our creative limits and redefine what success looked like for us.
In Boston, we had built a full-service agency with a team behind us. But in Miami, it was just Alejandro and me, back to square one. This pivot felt like starting over—but with a crucial difference. This time, we weren’t walking in blind. We carried with us all the lessons from our Boston journey: the mistakes we’d made, the wins we’d celebrated, and the insights we’d gathered along the way.
Rebuilding from the ground up was a humbling experience. It forced us to reevaluate our approach, streamline our processes, and focus on what truly mattered. Every client, every project, was an opportunity to refine our craft and sharpen our business acumen. We weren’t just applying what we’d learned in Boston, we were evolving beyond it.
Miami quickly showed us how much we still had to learn. The city’s creative scene is a melting pot of talent, innovation, and diversity. We found ourselves surrounded by industry leaders, people who were pushing boundaries in ways we hadn’t even imagined. Instead of being intimidated, we saw it as fuel. Every collaboration, every connection, became a stepping stone to elevate our skills and expand our horizons.
What started as a daunting move turned into a masterclass in business and personal growth. The longer we stayed in the game, the more our network grew, and the more our agency evolved. We began to attract bigger clients, collaborate with top creatives, and make our mark in a city known for its competitive edge.
Today, we’re proud to say that our leap of faith is paying off. We’re building a strong foundation in Miami, working alongside some of the biggest names in the city and creating alongside incredible talents who continue to inspire us. But more than that, this journey has taught us resilience, adaptability, and the power of betting on yourself—even when the odds feel stacked against you.
Moving to Miami wasn’t just about business. It was about challenging ourselves to dream bigger, push harder, and embrace the uncomfortable. It was about stepping out of our comfort zone to discover who we are and what we’re truly capable of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://visionarymovementgroup.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmg_agency/
