We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Santiago Salazar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Santiago, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.
At Flor Keeps, we currently donate a portion of our proceeds to an Austin-based non-profit organization called WellAware. WellAware implements lasting clean water systems to drive development and empower communities in East Africa.
We wanted to contribute to a cause that not only helps people in need but also makes sense for our brand to collaborate with. Our flowers at Flor Keeps don’t require water, but people do. The techniques we use to extend the lifetime of our product go hand in hand with water conservation. Therefore, we are able to create an initiative to help those that really do need this resource.
Santiago, 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?
My name is Santiago, Owner & Founder of Flor Keeps! We are a floral company based in Austin, Texas specializing in real flowers that last over 1 year. None of our flowers require any water, & should only be kept indoors!
After spending 10+ years in Austin, Texas, I quickly came to recognize that this city embodied qualities that are rare to find anywhere else. The food, the scenery, and most importantly; the people, have elevated what it means to love what you do & where you live. Austin radiates a sense of creativity, encourages risk-takers to be themselves, & poses an emphasis on always giving back to the community.
Inspired by my father’s flower business over the last 10 years, it was time to shift the mold of what flowers could look like, come from, and how long they can actually last.
The goal here is to bring the Austin community together & reinvent our wildest visions, ideas, & passions. If there’s anything about this city, it’s that we dare to be different. We push the boundaries of the ordinary & we fall together, knowing we successfully gave it everything.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Absolutely. There is one book in particular that changed my way of thinking when getting into the entrepreneurial space. “The Go-Giver” by John David Mann & Bob Burg.
This book illustrates the story of an apprentice looking to find the “key to success”. What makes someone so successful? On this quest to find the answer, the apprentice is assigned by his mentor to meet 5 very successful CEO’s across different industries.
All of the very wealthy and successful minds that the apprentice had the privilege of meeting, all shared one value that allowed them to become so dominant in their fields/ The answer? Giving. The mindset of giving back to others, giving quality service, and giving towards a better cause overall circles back with an abundance of fortune, opportunity, and happiness.
The Go-giver shifted the way I thought about success and gave me more incentive to question my intentions and the “Why” behind what I do. And since then, Flor Keeps has been able to change lives every single day — including my own.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One very important lesson I had to unlearn was the stigma of how an entrepreneur should operate. The idea that an entrepreneur should be up working very late hours, work non-stop, and never rest to build the brand is… completely unrealistic.
This type of work ethic will only lead to burnout and exhaustion. I realized that in order for your company to thrive and succeed, one must take care of themselves first. This means taking your weekends, walking away from your computer at night, and making time for your friends and loved ones. If I wasn’t recharging myself and regaining my energy, I would not be able to provide the same energy back into Flor Keeps.
While there are a million things to do when building a company, there is only so much time in one day, and it’s very important to show yourself compassion by separating your work & personal life. Build good habits, set a healthy schedule, and do your best with the resources that you have.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.florkeeps.com
- Instagram: @florkeeps
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItsFlorKeeps
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/florkeeps
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flor-keeps-austin