We recently connected with Carlos Vazquez and have shared our conversation below.

Carlos, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I’ve often asked myself if I am truly happier as a business owner. It’s certainly a thought that has crossed my mind more than once. When things get tough, as they often do in the entrepreneurial world, it’s easy to long for the days of a regular job with steady income and less personal risk.

I remember one day in particular, it was an ungodly hot summer day in Miami, and the AC in my home office was on the fritz. As the owner of my own business, every little thing was my responsibility, including this broken AC. I sat there, my shirt stuck to my back, staring at the computer screen that was blurring with the heat-induced delirium.

I was working on a particularly difficult digital marketing campaign that wasn’t producing the results I was expecting. Simultaneously, I was trying to navigate a misunderstanding with a client who wasn’t happy. My to-do list seemed endless, and I remember thinking, “Wouldn’t it be easier to go back to the Marines or maybe just sit comfortably in an office at Bank of America, dealing with clients face to face?”

But then, a phrase that I’ve learned in my journey sprang to mind. “Success and failure are temporary states.” It’s a phrase that has served as a reminder for me whenever things get tough. It reminds me that just as the highs in this business are temporary, so are the lows. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and opened them to see the glow of the computer screen in the dimly lit room, filled with the golden Miami sunset.

I could have easily succumbed to the allure of a regular job, but then I remembered the potential of my own venture. I remembered the freedom to control my own hours, the possibility of higher earnings, and most importantly, the satisfaction of building something that was entirely my own.

I realized then that while the road of entrepreneurship is filled with its fair share of bumps, I would choose it any day over a regular job. There’s a certain thrill, a certain sense of accomplishment that comes with building your own business from the ground up that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. The challenges are just stepping stones, lessons learned on the path to success.

So, while I’ve thought about what it would be like to have a regular job, I’ve concluded that the journey I’m on now is the right one for me. It’s tough, but the rewards far outweigh the trials. In the end, running my own business gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Carlos, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Carlos, the mind and energy behind Miami Marketer. My adventure in the world of technology and marketing started back in 2003 with an unexpected spark – a prank call to Fidel Castro. This quirky beginning ignited a curiosity in me about how technology could be leveraged to connect brands and people in meaningful ways.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to put my passion into action by designing and executing marketing campaigns for renowned global brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Universal Studios, Disney World, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean. But what truly sets Miami Marketer apart is our belief that every business, no matter its size, deserves top-tier marketing strategy. We use the same proven tactics for local start-ups as we do for multinational corporations.

At Miami Marketer, we specialize in creating high-converting funnels and automations. We understand that as a business owner, your time is priceless. Our goal is to allow you to concentrate on what you do best – running your business – while we streamline your marketing processes and boost your growth.

Our strength lies in our ability to use technology as a bridge between brands and people. We believe marketing goes beyond selling products or services; it’s about building relationships, stirring conversations, and curating experiences that your audience won’t forget.

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is the diverse portfolio we’ve built at Miami Marketer. Assisting a wide range of businesses, from international brands to small local enterprises, in navigating their digital marketing journey has been both a challenge and a joy.

I want potential clients to know that when you work with Miami Marketer, you’re not just hiring a service provider. You’re partnering with a team that’s genuinely invested in your success. We bring the expertise garnered from working with global powerhouses to your unique business, ensuring that you benefit from strategies tailored specifically to your needs.

Ultimately, it’s about maximizing the 24 hours we all have in a day. My team and I at Miami Marketer are committed to making sure you can focus your time on running your business while we handle your marketing needs. Together, we will build connections and drive your business to new levels of success.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most significant lessons I’ve had to unlearn in my journey as the founder of Miami Marketer is that I can’t, and more importantly, I shouldn’t, do everything myself. As the saying goes, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

When I first started Miami Marketer, I was involved in every single aspect of the business. I was the strategist, the executor, the customer service representative, and the accountant, all rolled into one. I was, in essence, a one-man army, tackling each task head-on with a can-do spirit.

The backstory behind this approach was simple. I believed that if I wanted something done right, I had to do it myself. I felt that by controlling every part of the process, I could ensure quality and success. And, for a while, it worked. I was making good money, and the business was growing.

However, as the business expanded, so did the workload. I found myself working longer hours, struggling to balance the myriad tasks on my plate. I was constantly under stress, my personal life was suffering, and ironically, I had little time to strategize and grow the business, which was the whole point of starting Miami Marketer.

It was then that I realized I needed to unlearn the notion that I had to do everything myself. I had to learn to delegate and trust a team. Letting go of control wasn’t easy, especially when I was so used to being involved in every detail. However, I understood that for Miami Marketer to continue growing and serving more clients, I needed to start sharing the load.

So, I began to build a team, bringing onboard talented individuals who shared my passion and vision. I had to learn to trust them, to allow them to take responsibility for parts of the business I had once clung to. And while I may have started earning less personally, the trade-off was well worth it. Today, we serve more clients than I could have ever managed on my own, and I have more time to focus on my personal life and strategize for the future of Miami Marketer.

This journey taught me that unlearning can be as important as learning in business. Letting go of the belief that I had to do everything myself and learning to trust my team not only allowed Miami Marketer to grow, but it also allowed me to grow as a leader.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In business, and in life, you’re often required to make quick decisions and pivot when circumstances change. My story of a significant pivot comes from the early days of Miami Marketer when we were primarily building WordPress websites.

At that time, the website building space was becoming highly competitive, with numerous players offering similar services. It was challenging to differentiate ourselves in a market that was rapidly becoming oversaturated. I realized that continuing down this path wouldn’t allow us to stand out or significantly grow our business.

That’s when I identified a gap in the market and a unique opportunity for us – building sales funnels and automated systems. This wasn’t just about crafting beautiful, functional websites. It was about creating comprehensive online systems that would work tirelessly, 24/7, to capture leads, nurture them, and ultimately, convert them into customers. This was taking web development to a whole new level.

The decision to pivot wasn’t easy. It required a new set of skills, tools, and an entirely different approach to what we had been doing. But I was confident that this was the path to take. So, we began the process of re-educating ourselves, learning about sales funnels, marketing automation, and investing in the necessary tools.

The result? The pivot proved to be one of the best decisions I’ve made for Miami Marketer. We were able to distinguish ourselves from traditional web designers and started catering to a unique niche that not many in our industry had tapped into. Our revenues began to climb, and we started getting recognition for our distinct approach to web development.

Today, the community of people who do what we do remains relatively small, which means we continue to have a unique selling proposition in our industry. This pivot allowed us not just to survive in a competitive landscape, but to thrive and carve out our own space in the market. It was a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to take a turn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://miamimarketer.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/miamimarketer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamcarlosvazquez
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/carlosvazquezsr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/miamimktr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/miamimarketer
• Other: Fiverr: https://fiverr.com/miamimarketer