We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Princess Murray. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Princess below.
Princess, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Let me start by saying life has so many twists and turns. Every decision is meant to be and every result is as it should be. Where you are physically in life doesn’t have to be where you are emotionally. I’ve learned a great deal in failure and it has proven to be the ladder to success. Success is fluid in the respect to how one perceives it. There is pain sometimes associated with growth which causes one to retreat out of fear and burden. It is in those times hope is not enough; one must have faith. It takes faith to become successful. Faith to find your happiness within yourself in believing something you want is actually there that you cannot see. It isn’t as simple as these words either, its being happy as much as possible in all circumstances as much as possible to align with what you want. You must find clarity when obstacles approach.
I stop sharing my poverty stories because I’m no longer a victim. It is possible from observations, of others that attaining what you want without work is not as rewarding of an experience. Life is about experience. Enjoying the victories along the way to success and learning from the failures.
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 remember walking into the councilor’s office at the University I was attending. She asked me what did I want to do. I remember telling her I wanted to own my own business one day. I didn’t know what, when or how; I just knew I wanted freedom to express myself while making a living. It was a big stretch of my imagination to many people in my family and around me. I failed terribly and often. I still fail. I cried many days and many nights alone. I ran out of money and piled up enormous bills that I had to pay working gigs, odd jobs and multiple jobs. I did work I never thought I would ever do to earn income to start a business. I gave up my apartment, slept in my car and sometime in my store on the floor.
My grandmother was a Pastry Chef and my mother was a cook in our family restaurant when I was a child. My grandmother meant everything to me and I wish I had done this for her when she was alive. During the time while opening my restaurant, my mother went through three cancer diagnosis and during the beginning of Covid. I saw her fight for her life and it encouraged me to fight for what I wanted. It was during the Covid Pandemic I saw everything shutting down and I was terrified of getting sick. But I also saw an opportunity to start a business with the knowledge that the Pandemic won’t last forever and when it ends, I’ll be set for success if I can hold on.
The one thing that makes me proud of my accomplishments is remembering when I worked countless hours delivering food to people in order to pay expenses and now my restaurant is listed to deliver.
I own a cafe in West Adams named Espresso Café LA.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to learn that everyone can’t go with you. I was so excited about my venture and wanted to include everyone I could. When you dream you sometimes dream alone. People don’t mean any harm but they don’t see or feel what you are feeling or seeing. Nor does everyone have the same faith as you may have and willing to risk it all. You must be careful to not hesitate but to follow your path with determination and that may mean walking alone. Along your path you will attract like minded people and things that will assist you and some will be strangers. You began to manifest what you want the more you focus upon your desires. These things and people will appear to either help or can destroy your dream. It is a constant test upon your faith.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Ester Hicks. I am a fan of her philosophy on manifesting what you want in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.espressocafela.com/
- Instagram: @theespressocafela
- Facebook: Espresso Cafe LA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@espressocafela
Image Credits
I took the photo