We recently connected with Lisa Quintana and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Back in 2019 I was living outside of Nashville TN and I stumbled across a small shack with rows of paddle boards. It was the winter time so it wasn’t operating. I was so excited about trying it I contacted the owner via Instagram. That summer during Covid limited capacity classes were running and I signed up for my first SUP Yoga class. I was instantly hooked. In 2021 our family decided to move back to Central Florida and we along a chain of lakes. The owner of Nashville SUP offered Paddle Board Yoga training so I decided to give it a go September of 2022. I started hosting classes with friends and decided it was time to start my own business. June of 2023 Mossy Paddle Clermont was created and I had my first official class on Lake Minneola. At first we were Bring Your own Board (BYOB) and by next summer I had 3 rentals available for classes. Its been a slow but very fulfilling start. I have met great people and had multiple referrals. I have collaborated with local Yoga businesses and Yoga groups. We run classes from June to October. We have popular theme paddles. A favorite is The Witchy Paddle in October and recently Winter Wonderland SUP as well as Full Moon paddles during the summer. We have SUP Yoga classes from beginners to experts. Every class is a unique experience and it truly does not feel like work when you love what you do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am the happiest anywhere in or around water. I group up in South Florida in a suburb of Miami. At 15 I was Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor certified. I worked as a municipal pool lifeguard throughout High School and College. If I wasn’t in the pool you could find me on the beach. Boating and kayaking are some of my favorite activities. I picked up paddle boarding while living in Boston MA. Mostly in lakes, ocean side and on the Charles River. While living in TN I meant a small business owner with a SUP company and we soon started collaborating on our mutual passion for the water. This relationship became a mentor and she Mrs. Wage trained me and coached me on how to open up my small business offering Paddle Board Yoga and Intro to SUP. It is extremely important to feel confident in the water and be prepared to fall in. I am usually diving off the board into the water anyway. Professionally I am a school teacher and I picked up the skill on having patience and thoroughly explaining detailed situations. I am working on my YOGA certification on land but until then I am focusing on my adventure with Mossy Paddle Clermont. I offer 90 minute Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga classes. We go over the basics of safely boarding a paddle board all the way to securing your paddle and anchoring down. Our setting is beautiful oaks and cypress trees covered in Spanish Moss. It is serene and active as we have a healthy boating and rowing population. This is truly my passion project and I am thrilled to have customers enjoy this unique work out experience. Classes can range from beginners to advanced and modifications are always provided.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

So our last SUP yoga class of the season we are all in bridge pose preparing for Savasana and we all hear a loud POP. I quickly undo by bind and think to myself, what an odd and rude time to throw fireworks. When I finally sit up I notice one of our yogis is in the water and her paddle board is sinking. My reaction time is to quickly grab my paddles and drag my anchor closer. The yogi very quickly hopped on another customers paddle and I reach for all her things and sinking paddleboard that she owns. The seam had completely ripped open leaving a gapping hole. We were a class of 5 and pretty shaken up but happy our friend was in good spirits but a bit cold. Her dry bag did the job and her phone and keys were fine. She was mostly in disbelief that her board had blown and she was in the water so quickly. We had a good laugh and not many pictures since everyone was in action to help. It was definitely a story I will never forget. One of the questions many people ask about venturing in our Central Florida lakes is “Will we see alligators?” My answer is never no but my response is always, “I am out on these lakes multiple days and week and have never crossed paths with one yet.” We still have zero alligator sightings after two seasons and only one big pop. Safety is of the utmost importance. We do not conduct classes during alligator mating season from March to May.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

On my website there are Book Now link to Peek Pro my online scheduling and payment platform. The pros of Peek Pro is the ease to book, sign a waiver and multiple payment options. A big factor for me was Apple Pay option. I personally frequently use Apple pay and believe consumers enjoy the easiness of it. If a booking is not completed then Peek Pro will follow up with the consumer with a quick email. They offer review options that are easy. I have had an excellent experience with there ease of use and customer service.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mossypaddleclermont.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mossy_paddle_clermont/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mossy-Paddle-Clermont/100094687026770/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mossypaddleclermont?