The Move that Changed Things Forever for Melissa Rodriguez

In today’s episode, Jeff interviews Melissa Rodriguez in L.A., who owns a 7-figure marketing agency. Melissa had her roots in Boston, but after she moved from Disney to L.A., she realized there was more to explore than she was currently experiencing. This sparked an idea for a blog about self-discovery, and the rest is history. Please tune in to hear all the details about Melissa’s amazing story as she goes from working a corporate job to gaining her freedom day. There is also an opportunity to get a deep discount on Melissa’s exceptional experience for new business owners.

Melissa and Jeff discuss:

1. Raised in Boston; went to school for accounting and finance.
2. Landed an internship with a big public accounting firm making $25/hr at 18yrs old.
3. Worked at the law firm for 6 years, then ended up at Disney in California.
4. The move from Disney to L.A. was the inspiration for a blog, which led to an invite to help promote a festival in Boston.
5. One day, Melissa felt a calling/inclination to switch from accounting to marketing.
6. After quitting the accounting job, she cashed out her 401K and had to figure out how to make the marketing business work.
7. Currently, her 7-figure business is a full stack service marketing agency that is helping brands who are successful offline transition to online. Specialty: helping with the messaging to market to the Hispanic community authentically.
8. A new program launched this week will give back to new business owners and help them start their entrepreneurial journey prepared.

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you had $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I'm going to walk around my city and ask shop owners what the three things they are having problems with right now are. I'm going to write it all down, and I'm going to identify what the common patterns are. And I'm going to figure out how I'm going to build a service-based business with low overhead so that I can serve their pain point.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Hiring the wrong people.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? “If you are on the business track, Traction by Gino Wickman, and if you are on a spiritual journey, The untethered soul By Michael A. Singer.”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “We swear by Slack.”
5. What is the best way to contact you? “ Email is the best way, find it on Instagram @melissarinc.”

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation

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