We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Sanchez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.

Sara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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 often have to check in with myself and ask “am I happy being a business owner and would I like to go back to a 9-5 job?”. The answer always is, no. I would not like to go back. I love being a business owner. It’s not weakness to go from business owner to having a regular scheduled job, but as life is constantly changing we need to know what is going to fit our needs both financially and mentally. This past year has been difficult for many people, both wealthy and not. We often look at the financially well off as being unfazed by a changing economy when it comes to providing for their families and still getting to take that vacation. But thats not always the case. As an investor myself, finding a healthy balance between economy, meeting the needs of my businesses and growing family, this year has been financially challenging. No matter how many hours spent working, nothing seemed to be changing and I would ask myself, would a steady 9-5 be a safer option.

The answer for me still has been no. The challenging economy has driven me to work harder without working more hours. I had to strive to find the shift in what would make me better without the compromise of taking away from what’s important to me and thats time spent with my daughter and loved ones. I was able to adjust to serving new clients that would allow me to work during my daughters school schedule and taking on jobs that I could bring her to. Now, bringing my daughter to work does not necessarily mean I am compromising her time with me. Instead, I chose jobs that would bring us both joy. By giving her a task as “mommy’s assistant” or finding ways that will help nurture a curious mind and learning environment for her. By all means, I dont expect her to grow up doing what I do for a living, but I find there to be a sweet spot for introducing a passion for a job that I can show her brings me joy in the end of the day. My choice to be a business owner allows me more room to maneuver challenges of a struggling economy as well as making balanced choices in my personal and work life.

Creating multiple revenue sources has also been a game changer. I have tried to work a 9-5 as well as run my own business and it was a challenge and left me limited. I choose to be a full time business owner in multiple industries so when one slows down, another will be able to hold me over. Essentially, to make this doable, I have some businesses that allow me to have passive income with a manager running the day to day so I can put my focus into one that gets my full attention. I chose photography as my day to day as it challenges me as a creative, fuels my passion for the arts as well as gives me the flexibility to choose my hours.

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.

A little about me. I like to start with, I am terrible about talking about myself, but getting uncomfortable allows us to grow and be comfortable in ways we didn’t know possible. Am I right?
We can go back to my first job as an artist working on commission starting at the age of 15. I was the youngest at my company but knew I had a goal. That was to be able to buy my own car without relying on my parents fixed income to support such an expense. As an artist, working on commission was both the hardest and most rewarding job I could have started with. It taught me about not settling for what the minimum requirement was to do the said job, but instead it forced me into being uncomfortable and striving to do the best work I could. At the end of the day I was able to say “I earned my pay based on doing good work with a good business ethic.”
That confidence launched me into having the drive and courage I needed to step out of from under a boss and begin leading my own team. I had become my own boss at the age of 25. I did not do this alone, I always preach that we are better together. I met another business owner and he guided me in the initial steps of starting a business and how to grow.
There were definitely some slow times and then really good times. I learned how to plan ahead when the times were good, allocating the extra funds to future expenses. This allowed me time to grow out of the slow seasons by using the extra time to learn, develop new skills or better the skills I had. Classes, workshops and volunteering during this time when I wasn’t busy working.
Volunteering my services allowed me to give back to my community and bring joy to others. But when you do this with passion, people notice. During the time I was building my business, I was able to volunteer for a non profit event held on a Caruso affiliated property known as the Americana At Brand located in LA. The events team took notice and from then on out, for may years, my team and I were the go to contractors to service their events on their properties including the Grove LA. All because I used my slow time to give back to the community and during that event I was noticed. I, by all means, had no idea that was even a possibility. But the joy doing what I loved was noticed and the way I made people feel came a bigger reward. I dont think that me volunteering alone would have made the staff notice me. It showed that I was there for the purpose of giving/providing without expectation of something in return.
I think ultimately, what sets me apart from others is doing everything with passion. You pour your passion into what you do, people will notice and you will reap the rewards. Being the best person I can be in a service driven industry, leading with my heart has given me the privilege to work with many repeat clients over the years.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a time in my career that I needed to pivot and it was simply because this particular business had run its course. This was the first business I had, but clearly not my last. By no means was it outdated but it no longer served me after a nearly 20 year run. The passion was not there.. Photography was always in my back pocket and it came and went as a hobby. the hobby for that had stopped when the shutter broke and I didn’t see the significance to replace my equipment.

I did not jump immediately into photography. I actually had a major pivot that allowed me to evenly go that direction. My fall back business I had with my husband at the time became my life raft. He had created a business that I had the opportunity to work alongside and help him grow. Covid hit and we had to yet again, pivot. I was able to make an introduction and we grew by 2 business partners. One of the best decisions we made. A pivot with fresh eyes, new ideas and the opportunity to grow was the secret to this particular formula.

Now, this health care company was my fall back but was not my end goal. Did it pay the bills? Yes. Did it serve me at that time? Absolutely! Was it my passion, no. But I found a position within the company I fell passionate for and was able to do it with my whole heart. A pivot to me is not a one time motion. It is what sets us up to continue to put into motion what will serve us. This business essentially was a stepping stone. Not only did this provide for me financially, it gave me the confidence to pivot into my investments and allow me the opportunity to have a buffer for what passion I would be ready to pursue next.

Just like any setback, this forced me to think, shift and not settle. Covid and a business that did not quit fit my long term desires was a journey of learning what I wanted in a new career strategy. It slowly started to fall in place and I decided to explore my interests in real-estate and photography. I bought my first home in Texas (a place I had family and traveled to often) and made it a long term rental. This long term rental was not fueling my dream. Yes I was traveling to get the house ready, I was able to work my photography business at the same time both her and there. I felt unsettled. I wanted more of a challenge. So I started researching and my hearts desire was to create an STR (short term rental). I could not do that with the property I had purchased in Texas so I started the search. I chose the next most traveled place I find myself in, and that was Washington state. With the help of some knowledgable friends, I found the dream home for my future STR. That is now known as Rooted Retreat. Here I am able to fuel my passion and I was able to display my photography work throughout the home. I now have a successful retreat and fuel my passion as a traveling lifestyle photographer.

I am beyond thankful for what we as a team created in the health care world and allowed us to grow individually. The continual pivot is a constant opportunity for growth launching me into my two favorite careers. Realestat and photography. I was able to further dive into further investments that I was passionate about and create incredible relationships in the process.

Pivoting is growth, opportunity and sometimes done better together. My investments, among the other investors along side me is a perfect example of pivoting together. As a team, we have been able to come together, help take companies to the next level with our financial investments and desire for growth. Many of my accomplishments are attributed to the business owners I have met on my journey sparking a new career path or furthering me on the journey I am on now.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is it turns what should be work into something fun. It fuels me. In the face of uncertainty, my creativity never stops. It fuels that “pivot” when something is not working for my business or the income source runs dry during a season. I feel like being a creative has been the biggest blessing and I look at it as a skill.

As an artist, I feel like I am never running out of ideas. To combine that with being a female in business, I am rewarded with resources and knowledge of how I can make this opportunity best serve me. For example: What can I do to tie in my passions of 2 different careers and make it successful? I decided I would purchase a property in another state. I did my research and created a STR. I am now able to have a new income stream, use my creative passion to furnish the home and serve traveling visitors. With the help of my house manager, the home is always ready for new guests and I can manage bookings from my home in California. I can keep my passion as a traveling Photogopher because I can travel to that particular state, set up clients appointments and check on my property at the same time. Essentially, I can use my creative energy to multitask my businesses. I love that I can provide a space for people to create lifetime memories as well as a gift to capture memories to be cherished for lifetimes to come. For that, I’m extremely blessed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://RootedPhotograhpy.pixieset.com
• Instagram: @rooted_ Photos
• Other:
  @TomcatMedia

  @tequilagrandiamante

  @momentixlovesyou

  Stratalending.com

  Gallagherstaging.com

  STR (Rooted Retreat) https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1036538670688082260?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=603f2748-f0b8-40f5-8260-19bf88ed2dcd

Image Credits

Photography: @rooted_photos

Studio headshot by: @curiouserphotographer