Episodio 5. Crear Tu Propio Espacio: De Inmigrante a Influencer en Utah. Mac Castro

What do you do when the spaces weren't built for you? You build your own.
Mac Castro was born in California, raised in Mexico by a single mom who worked three jobs and ran a nail salon out of their home. At 11, he moved to Utah. At 16, he lost her. And from that point forward, he decided to bet on himself — and hasn't stopped since.
Today Mac is a full-time content creator, photo booth business owner, jewelry brand founder, and the organizer behind some of Salt Lake City's most beloved markets and Latin nights for POC-owned businesses and the Latino community.

Transcript

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Today on our on Swazo podcast, we will be interviewing Mac Castro. He is an influencer in the Salt Lake City community. He has created a huge buzz within the Latino and small family-owned businesses, bringing them brand awareness and more engagement. He was also featured on G Honey's magazine, the first issue, which was really cool to do that. And I will let Mac introduce himself as well. Well, hello everyone. My name is Mac Castro. I am a local content creator based here in Salt Lake City, Utah. I own a photo booth business, a jewelry business. I'm also an event host. I host um dance parties at different venues and clubs. I also host monthly markets for small POC-owned businesses. And I also do full-time content creation. So yeah, that's me. Wow. Wow, that cool brilliant said that's a lot. Very impressive. Um so welcome to Swazo podcast. Uh, we are so excited to be here because we have a lot of people that um, you know, come to the Swazo Center. They want to know, I mean, you did something that is not very normal for people to do. I mean, people talk about all the time, but like quitting your job and saying no more of this, something else allowed it, but I never do it. Yeah. So like that, you execute it. You so let's talk about a little bit about that. What took you from having your 95 job, your paycheck to paycheck life, and saying this is enough? What made what was that took you to make that move? So funny story, actually, it was um just realizing that the place where I was didn't really value me or my work. Um, I have been working um for a state agency actually for the past five years. And I thought I was a little bit more valued than I actually was when it came down to it. Um, they kind of made some moves that didn't align with what I envisioned for my position there. So I did decide, you know, I think it is time for me to step away from this position, but I was at a crossroads because I didn't think I wanted to do this more of the same. I didn't want to just go to another thing that I wasn't passionate about, working for other people that didn't value me after years of showing my work, you know. So I did just uh take a second to analyze what I wanted for my life, what I wanted for it to look like, what I've always wanted to do. I mean, by then I already had um my photo booth business for years and years. And so I knew I I could build something from scratch, you know. And so I came to the conclusion that a passion that I've always had has been jewelry. And I always wanted to have a jewelry brand, a jewelry business. And so I said, let's give it a shot before applying to any other job. Let's see if I can make this happen. And I put in the work, and within a month, I was up and running and I started doing markets and putting my name out there, and it's uh been really, really well received. So that's great because um uh and you say like, well, it was pretty fast. I mean, you could get uh that to turn around. Was there a moment that you had that you're like, oh my gosh, I don't know what I'm doing? Am I doing the right thing? Even though you're passionate about and stuff, I'm every business owner goes through through that, you know. Like we have as those moments, those moments that were like, oh, I don't know if this is gonna work, or you know, some things are hard, something that you thought that was gonna happen uh a little faster, or you know, a promise that somebody made and it doesn't happen, and you're like, I need to make a living out of this. So do you have any of those moments? And if do you do you feel to that you can share one of them with us? Because this is about the hardships, the hardship. Yes, do yes, you said starting a business as well. Yeah, yeah. Some hiccups I feel like that you maybe faced when starting. Mm-hmm. Well, yes, I honestly have those almost weekly to today. To this day, I definitely like there's there's so much that goes into it, right? From your physical exhaustion of it all to the burnout to just not knowing how to navigate like a new um space, like the jewelry. I didn't, I I didn't really know anything about jewelry. I didn't know anything about any of this. So I had to do the work of finding my vendors, my providers, like sourcing the jewelry and stuff like that. And all of that comes with its own set of challenging and limited or challenges, sorry, and limiting beliefs. I feel like the biggest one has been beating the imposter syndrome and believing myself worthy of spaces and taking up space at these places that are not designed for me, especially in the state of Utah. When you say like these places are not designed for me, talk a little bit more about that. How what do you mean by that? Because I think we've all have felt that way. But yeah, but how tell me uh uh what where makes you feel uncomfortable that you're like, hey, I'm not gonna stop at this. What are those places? I mean, I find myself in those places pretty often in all of the different um like groups that I'm a part of and all the different communities, the intersectional intersectionality of it all. Like um, as a content creator, I get invited to these spaces that are all very much uh Caucasian, right? They're very white, and I they're definitely I almost never see people of color there. Um and that's on those spaces, but also like in the markets and stuff that I started to apply for is when I started my jewelry business to be a vendor. Um, it was also like they they were full of, you know, not people in my own community. And so I yeah, like I had to navigate through that, and that's exactly why I started creating my own spaces and building my own markets because I wasn't getting approved for different ones, or I just wasn't feeling a really like good vibe when I was there. And so I decided to start doing my own markets and focus that on people of color owned businesses, and then when I do my Latin night or my dance parties, there's already a lot of everything else. I said these are gonna be Latin nights and regreton nights and stuff like that. This is designed to our for our hip ball. I I I love that um because I mean tell me a little bit about your background. You said that um like you're like come from Mexico, uh, and stuff. Do you you grew up here? Do were you like like you grew up here and everything? You feel more comfortable? Yeah, so um the the vast version of the story is I was uh born in California, but when I was about a month old, my mom took me back to Mexico where she had her whole life, single mom. Um, so she raised me over there. My whole elementary experience was in Mexico. And then when I was about 11 or 12 years old, is when I moved here to Utah, my whole family migrated here. And so I started the ninth grade here, kept it going, and I never really went back to school to Nasicome. But I had the privilege, because I consider it a huge privilege to have been raised in that culture, learn the leavage, you know, entirely, and then do the same when I was still young enough to let it. So I had kind of like yes the bird, while yeah. So um, and uh when you when you create like these new spaces and stuff like that, I mean I think you have had uh pretty much a good success because there are a lot of here in this community, a lot of people that way. We have you, Diana, you know, you coming from uh immigrant parents that build uh a business here and we're doing like um so many different things. And uh this is what Swazo is about right now. We want to be the place, the house for, you know, for the for people like like you guys. And so uh I do have a question for you. Um did your family or did you anybody in your family do any of them have entrepreneurial experience? Like, did you ever see your parents, your uncles, or anybody in your family have that experience prior to you starting this this new chapter, this new journey? Yes, absolutely. So uh my mother, actually, who raised me over in Mexico, she was a hustler. Uh and I say it was because she and Forty did pass away when I was 16 years old. Um, but before then, she taught me to be a hustler to really like look for opportunities. So she was a kindergarten teacher in the morning, she was a high school English teacher in the afternoon, and they would she would come back home and she was her own uh she was a nail tech, so she was her nail salon at the house. And so she was always on the run, she was always looking for new ways and new things and new businesses and projects. And so I always saw that. And I feel like that just formed this core belief in me that like I can also start whatever is in my mind too. And if you work hard and if you put in all the hours, it will become successful. Yeah, and it's incredible because like you're talking about like three different things to she's she has done, you know, like and you that's what exactly what you're doing. You have your you have your yes, so many things going jewelry, the photo booth, the influencers, influencers, the the dance, like uh uh events and it's that's and so um what have you learned that you would say it's important for somebody that is trying to kick quit their nine to five? What are would be like important points, important things to consider before they make that decision? Or do they have to consider anything in a specific? What would you say to them? Yeah. I feel like the number one thing that I always say is is like the first step is knowing your why. I feel like you have to know what motivates you, what you're working towards. Um, if you I feel like I when I first started out, I had the wrong, like I had the the wrong thought in my head of like, oh, I just want to make money. Like that's what I want to do. I need to survive, I need to, and that's acting out of kind of almost desperation and that's herring negative energy into your projects. However, if you switch that and you really go back and analyze the root of everything of like, what do I want for myself? What kind of business would make me happy? What is it helping others? Is it helping businesses? Is it helping, is it making something? You know, it once you're so connected to the core of what it is, then the business is just like a secondary thing that if you work hard and you take the steps to make the successful, yeah. Well, yeah, yeah. That's interesting because I this I think this is a common point that we talk about. Uh business owners are successful is finding that passion, you know, finding that mission. What am I doing here? What is the meaning of this that I that I'm doing? I feel like a lot of business owners sometimes we're like in survival mode too. Like we're just like, I just need to make ends meet or whatever. So finding the why and really going back to why we're doing that is um really important. I feel like that's a really good point. Thanks, Mac. Absolutely, thank you. Yeah. And so let's go back like we when you started, because you have several things going on at the same time. Yes. What about the marketing part of it? Like going there, being an influencer? How did that start? Yeah. So um I feel like it's all kind of like tied together. So I started in the jewelry business, I wasn't getting approved to any of the markets, so I made my own through the markets. Sorry, really quickly. I have a question. Is there steps that you need to do? Like what are the do when you say you need to get approved? Like, do you sign like I don't know how you don't know what what are the steps? Absolutely. So um, if you want to be a vendor at a market, um, you have to apply for it. So most markets will have either like a Google form that you have to fill out or you have to reach out to an organizer, yeah, or something more formal like that. Um, but um they go really, really quickly because they're I mean, I feel like they're they're more popular this year around, but yeah, and last year they weren't as as much. So there's only a few happening, and so they would get filled up really quickly. Or um, I mean, as an organizer now I understand why, but they only accept like one category, like one jewelry vendor, one tattoo artist, one this and that. And so those go quick. And so by the time I used to see the applications, like I would just budget to them. And so I started missing my own. Yeah. Okay. So back to the question, yeah, the marketing. The marketing, like how to do how you know, how did you navigate the marketing of of all your businesses? Maybe yeah. Well, no, like because you started probably doing for your business, and then how how did that kind of go on for you to now being, you know, like the influencer content creator for a lot of, you know, promoting a lot of the business here in the Salt Lake area? How did how did you get there? So I've always been passionate about creating content. Um, I've always been fascinated with um it sounds kind of bad, but like the internet and just pop culture. I'm like, yeah, wait a minute. Well, you know, I've always I don't know what it was. I don't know if it was just the fascination of it being growing up in Mexico, like not having access to it, and then moving here where it's like everything's new, there's like pop culture, everybody's talking about the same thing. And so um I started with Vine back in like 20 2013, the the half Vine. Um, I used to make little six-second videos and it was a lot of fun, but then they got rid of it and there wasn't anything until 2019 when TikTok kind of like popped off. And so yeah, I hopped on that as well just because I wanted to start physically no, I haven't had it to me already now. Not that, but I did, you know, download TikTok and started kind of like making little videos and stuff. I had to teach myself how to edit and how to do things and hooks and you know what it all entails. But once I got that down within the last, I would say three years, um, that's when I started kind of making more like just better quality content. And that pointally was when I started my new businesses and when I started kind of like shifting everything and mixing it all together. And so it kind of grew all alongside both projects. Um, and so I figured out once I knew how to edit and how to make like good videos for myself, just about like my own day-to-day, um, I was like, well, I should learn how to do so for my business because I understood the scope and the power of so true, you know? Yeah, and so I started trying it just for to advertise my first market, right? And then to advertise the launch of my I did like a house party for to launch my jewelry, and so I advertised that. Oh B. And then um I started, I went to a restaurant and I just made like a little review video and that popped off. And so I saw, I was like, oh wait, if I have my skills of creating AO is I could reach a lot of people and benefit the stuff. Or so I started so businesses started noticing that and they started reaching out to me and inviting me to try out their food or test out their products and this and that. And so I was like, okay, let's do this to expand my portfolio and my skills. That was always in the back of my mind. I'm gonna take on this project, even though it's gifted or it's non-paid, because I'm expanding my knowledge and really solidify my position in this community. And sure enough, um, I put in the work, I would do videos every single day. I would go multiple businesses every single day and shoot and like just you know, publish every single video every day. And so it was a lot of work, but eventually I just started kind of merging all of it into my own businesses, my own projects. And now I also had with that the growth that I had. I also had the community support, I had the following, I had the trust. And so I feel like now I'm in a very privileged position where whatever events that I put on or whatever project I have, if I market it correctly as my own as well, I feel like it's really well received by the community. So let me let me ask you this now. Looking at a a a business owner that probably wants to, you know, like um use your service or be highlighted by by you and the and everything, uh where is the line? Because I think that I a lot we have a lot of like good content uh creators and stuff like that. But where is the line that sometimes you start like this, um doing for free and seeing and and and and then what at what point do you say, okay, now I'm gonna start charge for for this? Or are they are you waiting more on the other side where they are like they are so happy with what you're doing that they are offering you? How do you go about that? Yeah, I mean, at first I was taking on the gifts, right? Like the gifted opportunities, the partnerships, collaborations, and stuff like that. But I also feel like there comes a point that you as a creator have to evaluate your worth and the worth of your work. And it is a lot of work to be a content creator, you guys. It literally takes probably so it takes two hours for me to go to a place and take all the footage and then go home. It takes me another three to four hours to edit and have a final product. So it's a full day's worth of work and all the hours that you put in. And it does take a very specific kind of knowledge and person to really put it all together, especially the the quality and the level of work that I do now because I put in so much work and learn how to do it, that um I feel like it once I have that conversation with myself and realize, you know what, I this is a full-time job and I am investing a lot of time, energy, and work into it, I think it needs to be compensated. That's when I started, you know, and and I also that's when I feel a little bit more comfortable with with everything I was doing and more confident in my work. So when um a brand or a restaurant or a business would reach out back out to me, that's when I would be like, um, you know, they usually ask for your rates. Um, they don't really expect, you know, a gift tip for free, anything like that. So I started sharing my rates and just coming up with like gauging kind of what was doable, what was realistic. But how the way I operate will always be if you're a small local business, I understand how it is as one myself. And so I always do a pay what you can kind of basis and just leave it out to them. If it's a bigger brand with a lot of, you know, hey, I'm sure gonna be the fair. Okay. Um before you started kind of like giving your rates, did you like do some market research to know, like, okay, this is a normal rate for people to be charging? Or like how did you know where to even start, how to price yourself? How did you do that? It was a lot of trial and error. Um, I also had some friends that were already content creators who I asked and was like, hey, what about this? What about that? You can get a manager, but that also like that's a whole other thing. I still don't have one just because it's not something I'm looking for. But um, you can ask, you know, a manager for the rates and all that. But I also looked it up online, but it's so complex because it has a lot to do, like you have to check your analytics, like your reach, your numbers, your following. Also, um, businesses sometimes won't have a budget and you have to work with what they have. So I feel like what it was a lot of research, a lot of trial and error, and pitching something and maybe um being ignored by a brand and being like, okay, next time I'm gonna go under yeah, and you know, just have it. But I feel like the most important thing of it all is just having those honest, transparent conversations with the business that I'm talking to. What are your expectations? What can I deliver and where can we meet in the middle? So it's fair for both of us. Yeah, yeah. Because I think it's one important thing. A lot of like uh business owners, I mean, they there is there is there are views. You can have a lot of views and everything, but then how do you translate those into uh sales? Yeah, into sales, yes, because at the end of the day, we are all in business to make money. Okay, well. Um, and so uh what what are the tools or how do you show your clients uh what is their return on investment on the work that you're putting on? You know, I know for say I'm looking for like sales or yeah, for sales or brand recognition, what is like the what is like probably the core of what you're doing with social media for those um clients? So the way I show kind of like show your work, right, is um sending all those analytics. Like I'm always gonna be sending them the analytics of like this is how many um, or before we even do the deal, I send them, you know, this is my demographics that I reach. This these are my numbers from previous videos. Um, this is my audience is 80% female, 20% male. They're located in these states or in these countries. So I'm very transparent about all that. I never guarantee sales because there's really no way of yeah, that's helling, you know, but um I guarantee the reach. And um the thing that the way I operate is I'm gonna share your story and gonna share you with a community. And that's what I can't do. I'm not entirely sure if they're all, you know, all the views are gonna try or convert into actual sales, but I can certainly put your story, your name, and your business out there to this community, and you know, you're gonna be in the back of their mind for the next summit. They're looking for something to do or places to eat or stuff like that. So most of the time they're they're entirely okay with that. And then of course, um, after I make the video and I post it after a week or so, I'll send them the analytics. This is how many people it reaps, and I hope that you know they will feel like it's a good um you know thing for you. And most of them, like they'll send me um reviews and stuff like that. I have seen a lot of growth with within you know those businesses that have helped. So it is, yeah, that is that's very re rewarding, I guess. Yeah, right. Um if we go back to the time that, you know, like you struggled and you had, you know, like you were learning, you were in that learning curve. Uh, what were some of the mistakes that looking back you would avoid immediately? Or you would tell people if you're going kind of like the same road, avoid these mistakes. Is there anything that comes to your mind when we talk about that? Hmm, that's a hard question. Um I mean, I feel like don't sell yourself short. And and we're talking about like the the like as a content creator. Yeah, I don't forget. Yeah. Well, as a business owner, you know, if there is any experience that you have that you're like, like say let's talk about your first market, you know, like you said, okay, I'm not getting to these markets that I want to to get into. I'm gonna create mine. You know, there were there some challenges there? Were there any mistakes that you say, oh, I should have done this better? How do you go about impairing yourself? Because obviously it's something that you have been doing, you know, like with all like this, this, um, these steps that you have taken to be where you are today. So are there any mistakes or anything that you like, oh I, you know, I think about that, yeah, I could be better. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean, I feel like for me, it was very much that imposter syndrome that I had to get over. Like, that was my biggest hurdle. I I didn't feel worthy of any of those things. Like I didn't feel like my I was operating from a negative. Negative um mindset. I was like, no one's gonna show up to this. Like, I don't really have any value. Like the businesses I hope, because when you go through a market, like really the businesses that are a part of it are putting a lot of trust in you to bring us to bring the people and I that's a lot up on your shoulders too. Stress, you're like, hey, what if nobody comes? Exactly. Yeah, yeah. But the community will come, like the everything will work out the way it's supposed to. If you truly are connected with your vision and if you truly are kind of like a fountain of that to others around you. Because like my businesses would or the businesses that I that were involved would probably also be on that same mindset had I not just shit today and be like, you know, guys, we're gonna have an amazing turnout, or like whatever it looks like, we're here for our community, creating spaces, blah blah blah. So I feel like it really does have a lot to do with the mindset that you go into anything that you go and do. So what was that thing that made you change your mindset? Yeah, because because imposter strength, I mean, I understand that. I think we've all had felt at a certain point. Yeah, we're just sweat jokes. Yes, yes. That's interesting. I don't think I've ever really thought about that. Um maybe like seeing the first project come to life. Okay, okay, like it's all theory until it's real. Really? Yeah. And so I I I knew I had put in a lot of work, I knew I had done my best, but it was still like up until the day of when I got there and I saw all my vendors like all set up, and when I saw the first like few people come in and like say, Oh, you know, the energy is great, and like all these ideas that you implemented, like the DJ, and then like the businesses and the way you curated things. Like, once I I saw the whole project and realized, like, wow, this is really me. Like, I then I did this, I I did the thing. Absolutely. Yeah, like that was um very empowering or very reassuring to every night that I was doing. And of course, the consistency and the repetition and the growth and constantly being um trying to do better every time, I feel like that's also very empowering to me and has helped me get over that imposter syndrome and also help others do the same. I can genuinely say I've attended Kick Spider, has attended the markets, and it's really fun. The energy that he brings and just like the vibes of all the other vendors there, we're all kind of we're a little community at the at the market. So I genuinely can say you do a really good job with the markets. So and Kirs is really proud of you. Um I feel like right now, this what right now where we're talking about mindset. There's a movie, and I would like for everybody to watch this movie. It's called The Secret. I don't know if you've ever seen it right a book, it's I feel like it's on Netflix, no say. Um, but it's called The Secret, and it's a really good movie, and it genuinely is all about that. It's about mindset and having a positive mindset because if you're always constantly like, oh, my business is never gonna, you know, it's always gonna fail, nobody ever buys from me. But if you switch that mindset, your mind is so powerful and you can genuinely make your mind and your dreams a reality. And I feel like that has been something that you've done with your with your businesses and your content creation. So I I love that. Thank you. First, yeah, thank you. So um, talking about the businesses that you do content creation for, I I bet you sit down, you look at their social media before and then the after, you know, like you have your video and stuff like that. Uh, what are the common mistakes that you see business owners making on their social media that you can identify right there and you know that you can turn that around uh by doing something different? What would would be those things that you see commonly on, you know, every other business? Yeah. I mean, I know that it's hard and it's very time consuming and you know it's it's difficult and it's uncommon, but I feel like um when they're not really engaging with their community or doing the work to create a community for their business, like it's very easily spot, like you can spot it pretty easily. You go on someone's or a business page, and if they if their last post was, you know, weeks and weeks ago, or if you see the comments but you don't see them responding to people asking them questions or responding to people in the comments, um, there's no stories being posted like daily and stuff like that. I feel like if they're not engaged with the social side of things, they're not gonna be narrow. They're they're gonna be stagnant, you know, and they're not gonna be recognized by the community. However, if they do the work of interacting and posting and like innovating and stuff like that, I feel like that really helps with the growth. Because that's a very common mistake. Like uh sometimes business owners they think that they are spending money with uh marketing killing and actually reinvesting. Yeah, you in and and you need such shifts. Yeah, that it is to be present because like we get bombarded with a whole bunch of like, you know, like different videos and products and everything they and our brain has to select what we keep and what we don't. So so if you're constant, because I think that's one main thing too, is you need to be constant, like you're a social consistent. You don't, you don't need it, like you don't just post today and then three months from now and expect for something to happen. I do, I will say I do notice when a business, like whenever I'm gonna go support a business, if I will always go look at their Google and their Instagram. And if their Instagram looks like they haven't posted in since 2019, then I'm very eerie to want to support them. I'm like, I don't know if they're up to date with things going on. So that is something that's a really good point that you mentioned that because I will go look, I'm the type of person that will look at Google and um Instagram before I become before before. So that's a good point to any business owners for sure, just be on top of your social medias because people are looking out for that. Okay. And I also wanted to mention it's not a matter of making sure that you're posting every hour and like that everything looks top-notch. Like it really isn't. It's some, it's a it's really just your online resume almost, right? Like your face card when it comes to a business. And so, um, like you're seeing people will go and check out your profile. And if it's just make sure that it aligns to your brand, make sure that it's a reflection of what you want other people. So yeah, we of course. Whether it's like really high-quality images, if you're a restaurant, make sure that it has images of food of the food, of the experience, like that it's really inviting, that the caption isn't too overcrowded with words, and it just has the stuff that you need people to know. So it there's just a lot of little elements, but it really, if you have a top-notch look of your social media, it really will convert to more trust and more community. Yeah, I agree. So if my Instagram, my social media is dead, and you could give me three advises, three like tips for me to change that, what would those be? I feel like I also maybe have a follow-up question. Is there a difference between restaurants, like marketing for restaurants versus marketing for uh at a clothing brand or something? Like, do you notice like when you're doing those types of things or like tips and tricks for two different types of businesses? Yeah. Yeah, there's definitely b uh differences like that just because a product versus a service, right? Like, yes, it's a product like food, but it really is the experience that you're gonna go for, like to go to a restaurant, because you can just order food and that'll mean that or anything. Yeah, but you're you know, your customers are going to you for the experience of like the sit-down, the service of like are the waiters or waitresses like are they kind? Are they really attentive? Like, so there's a lot more that goes on with like restaurants and food versus clothing, it's really just you know, you want to invite people to come and shop. So you have to do a lot of like as a content creator, I focus more on like the products, the clothing, the options. Are they size inclusive? Are they, you know, at a good location that's convenient, you know? So yeah, there's definitely like a lot of different uh differences, but at the end of the day, it goes back to at least for me, it's sharing the stories behind the business, sharing the products, of course, but telling people why. What is why why is this relevant to them and why they should come and visit if they're local or why they should consume this. Um, I think there's also another layer of like me as a content creator, I've earned my audience's trust. And so I'm very careful as well. I have to be really careful as to what I recommend and not to lie to people online because I feel like a lot of content creators, I mean, I'm not saying anything, but I feel like sometimes I see Rad. Sometimes, you know, um content creators, especially when they're starting out, they'll just be recommending anything, you know, and then you go and it's maybe not it doesn't live up to that expectation. And so that that's a disservice to the business and to the content creators. So, you know, I feel like it's it's very important to to do that. Um and I don't know if I answered your question. I I kind of wanted to see that because what I hear a lot is then uh storytelling, it's it's one big thing, is like you having a mission and you making sure that even the business that you are creating um content for align with that mission that you have, even though they have their own business. I mean, it has to go also with what what you're doing, what you're doing, what you believe or why is also MF. Yeah, yeah. And so I I think that that's great. I mean, it gives us a lot of good. Um how do you decide? Like, so if somebody that is watching us wants to say, Oh, I want him to, you know, like come to my business and do a highlight. Do you do that just like one-time basis, or do you do a constant job with them? Do they come back to you and say, hey, let's do something else? How does that go about? Yeah, so so far I've only done like a one-off, uh like a one-time, one video basis kind of thing, just to try it out, just to see if the business likes my work, if they do see a return of um investment, or if they, you know, and it's also up to whatever they want. If they come to me uh with a proposal of like, we'd really like like a long-term partnership, or this is kind of what we were thinking, I'm always happy to discuss with them. I haven't done that yet. I've only been working like on one video one time, um, which is honestly kind of what I prefer. Something that I was kind of thinking about before this podcast is I feel like with businesses that use like, let's say, the same content creators over and over again, or they build their brand around a content creator, they're I feel like they're doing themselves a disservice because they're tying their entire business identity with oh, that's content creator. And social media is so fragile sometimes. You, the content creator, can do something that isn't aligned with the community and then will be dropped from their choice, you know, and then with that, so will that business. Or I just I I think it would be better to do one-offs and like you as a business, if any business owners are watching that are interested in starting to work with content creators, I do think that it's good to explore and it's good to try and buy different content creators and see what vibes and what gives your numbers and what you know, ask also um ask your customers when you see someone that comes back in and they say, Oh, I saw you on TikTok uh TikTok or I saw you on Instagram, ask them, oh, what one was it? Just do your own field research and see what works for you. And then after that, if you really, really like a specific content creator's work, then maybe start exploring more career. You know, yeah, that's cool. That's a good I didn't ever think about that. That's a good point. I feel like that's very, very, very good point. I mean, uh it's it's important for you to think, uh, I mean, uh every business owner wants more, wants more work and everything, but they want to have their own rent. They don't want to associate with somebody else personally, yeah, exactly. I never thought about that. Yes, I'm gonna bring I'm learning things now as we were talking. So yeah, thank you, back. Thank you. So um I guess I have a question. What would you tell? Because you like you're pretty well known in Utah, honestly, bro. Yeah, but do you like yeah? Like, do you walk into like restaurants and people are like, oh, like like do you ever feel like they want to like give you good service or like or I don't know, like what what are the advice when you go places? Yeah. Yes, I have been experiencing that just lately. Honestly, also I don't know if I mentioned this, but this this uh marketing consecration, all of this is only one year old for thank you. So I a year ago in March of 2025 is when I'm not quite my corporate job and just went into all of this full time. So um it's very rare. So you look at feel listen. Yes. Absolutely, yeah. Do the work and and follow your dreams because a lot can happen in a year. I feel like the universe is just waiting for you to make the decisions and make the actions necessary to realign to what you really truly desire and want your life to look like. Yeah. And when you make that step, as small or big as it is, it'll start just blessing and flowing better. And that's definitely happened for me. So I know it's it's true. And so, um, to answer your question, sorry, yes, it has been just shifting in the past like six months, I feel like, just because of that rapid growth. Um, and also I have the privilege of being in Utah where we're all a small community, and so it's a little bit easier to be noticed and to be known. And so um, yeah, now it's it's a little bit different. Now I get a lot of like perks from and they get a lot of trust from businesses and nice a lot of invites to come and try different things. Yeah, good. But my my thing will always be to to highlight the the stories of of Latino um businesses or people of color owned businesses and creators and just support um instead of uh competing, it's collaborating and just like more units if they had more community. Yeah, I feel like another another aspect of this whole thing is like it does it can get pretty competitive and it can get pretty toxic when it comes to the content creating space or even like we're all kind of doing the same thing, right? We're all trying to highlight different businesses, we're all being reached out to by different businesses and like who can make the the best videos or who gets the numbers or who's everywhere and you know who's not really doing the work. It can get really taxing and tonsive, but for me, it's always gonna be about creating collaborations, creating community, inviting others. And also another project that I started doing is creating um, I guess they call them like influencer events in Haadan. So I also started noticing that we weren't us people of color, we're not really being considered for those big opportunities to this day. Like um, just like big events that happen here in Utah that big brands from out of state or even out of the country come and do activations here for. It's always gonna be the same kind of creators, the same demographics. And so I started to um just pretty much get get um a venue and um get different sponsorships, get activations ready, like organize a whole event, and then invite an all people of color influencer audience, um, just to highlight them and just to create that synergy and that and that just like energy of like that space here so the same thing. We all have a why, we all have desires and hopes, and we can all just elevate instead of like try to tug at each other, you know? And so all that to say it's about collaboration and not competition. And um, it's just really important to create those safe and bun spaces. Hello, Sat. And and also like you have your own personality that you bring into the work that you were doing. And and it's kind of like I'm not trying to be you, you're not trying to You're also thinking to we are yeah, we are doing things and and and there are different personalities for different types of business promotions and stuff like that, right? Um a lot of people these days they want to be influencers. So I think that's one of the things that they are getting wrong in LSA. Yeah. Well, not only just not being authentic, but thinking that this is competition and like Max says, is like collaboration. Yeah, that that is the important thing. So um that that has been great, like talking to you, Mary, like getting to know a little bit more of what you're doing. Um, for people that are looking and they're trying to find their place, like be an influencer and stuff like that. What would you tell them? Like, what have you learned this year so far besides the things that we already talked about? Is there anything that you would say, do this first and you know, like take this step first that probably will get them ahead? Yeah. So, number one, um, it's not about being an influencer. We're all influencers already. We all influence our family, ourselves, our community. Like we have that power as human beings. It's not about that. It's about if you want to be a content creator, it's about what kind of content do you want to create? Why do you want to create it? Do you want to help others? Do you want to, you know, educate others? Do you want to just be a walking ad? You know, whatever it is which is valid, just make sure you know your why again. Also, editing is truly, I would say, 80% will dictate 80% of how successful you are and how quickly you can grow. If you know how to use your editing tools, if you know how to make the content, it's gonna set you apart from everyone else that doesn't really quite know and also isn't putting in the work to educate themselves to make quality content. So I do say I would say definitely learn how to use, you know, an editing app, how to take good quality content, learn the settings of like your camera and so that it's like because I I only use my phone. I don't use any special gear, any special cameras. I have one tripod, one phone, and one little light, and that's how I built this whole thing. And so it doesn't matter what you have, it's about how to you, if you know how to use it and all that. So educate yourself and just keep doing it. Consistency is so, so, so important. Um, whether it's just to prove to yourself that you can do it and that you're able to treat this seriously as a career, or to show your audience and the people that you're inspiring that, you know, this person is showing up for us and is showing up for themselves and that inspires me. So I'm gonna continue carrying on with the journey. And so what are the advice for people that are trying to grow their followers? Um, do you have any specifics that you say, hey, you know, this this would be something that influencer? Yeah, as an installer and also as a business homer. Like, is there anything that you say I would grow my following by? Yeah. Um, definitely creating that community, so being responsive to your comments. Definitely don't treat them as spams, treat them as the family that you're building, right? So respond to people, make let let them know that you are a real person, adult. Yeah, and that you care for them and what they have to say, whether it's just like, you know, a short little comment, a couple of hearts or whatever, but just make sure that you make them feel valued because they're giving you their attention. You have to get them something back, you know? So definitely build your community, show up for them, show up for yourself, post consistently, but also I feel like um always stay true to your values and your, you know, driving force behind everything that you do. Crazy uh education. Um, you said if Kate, learn how to do it. Do you have any recommendations of where people can learn how to edit their videos? What, you know, app good apps that they can use for? It's what what would you tell them about that? Honestly, I wish there was like and I don't know, there is like a masterclass or like a you know school for it, but really um just doing your research. I just did it on YouTube or like on TikTok on the same apps that I wanted to edit on. I um or I just downloaded an ab. I use CapCut. That's kind of what the one I prefer. So I downloaded that. I had no clue how to use any of it, but just like exploring the features and like just doing carrying it. Try it out. Um also if you are one of those visual people, just do just go and do a tutorial or like follow a tutorial on YouTube on how to use something, but just ask the questions and ask online and like research and do that work as well. Um, but it's super, it's it's really it takes a lot of work, but it's not like that hard, you know. Yeah. What is the difference between the ones that make it and the ones that don't? That just like influencers? Influencers, all right. The difference, like you know, some people, I mean a lot of people start and everything who what do you think that makes the difference of making it and growing it and getting stuck and you know staying just where you are? Complacent, naive, yeah. I definitely think consistency is it like if you're not really like a lot of people start really um motivated, right? They start the projects, they start posting and people start noticing them, but then they fall off or they just don't continue the work. And I understand like there's a lot that goes on on a regular day basis, like your family, your work, school, whatever it is, like your if you have children, like it's a lot of work for some for just one individual to like stay consistent consistent and also spend like four hours like editing that video and oatnut and posting every day, it's really hard. But I feel like if you find a balance on how to incorporate that and if it's something that you really want to do, you'll prioritize it as your other projects and you're gonna continue it, you know. So I think if you continue showing up for yourself and for your passions and your projects, like they will be successful, whether that's building a business or um you know becoming a content creator or just anything that you're doing, just keep on showing up. How does Mac uh, you know, deals with the pressure? Because like everything is depending on you. And how do you how do you decompress? How do you say, hey, you know what? Now that's my personal time, it's my personal time, it's like, you know, like it because as business owners uh and as influencers and stuff, sometimes I mean that line gets thin because you bring the work home, you do all of those things. So when do you say, okay, how do you find a balance? Yes, how do you find a balance? How do you how are you saying right now? I uh am still working towards Punch. Are you a workoholic? I am definitely a workaholic, especially when I I feel like I wasn't before. And I feel like I was really complacent with my life that I had like working for that agency and just like not having anything else going on. I feel like I was honestly falling into this depression. I didn't understand why, but I realized now that it's because I wasn't connected with what I really wanted to be doing. I didn't feel proactive. I was just kind of on an automatic, kind of like autopilot mode every day of my life. And so once I made that shift and I started working towards my dreams and my goals and started seeing that word paying off, I feel like you just kind of, it's like, yeah, something switches, you know? And so I'm still trying to find the balance between like easing up a little bit and giving myself some days off. And so that's actually been one of the things that I've been doing lately is um kind of giving myself like the weekends, right? Or like one off weekend, just be like, you know what, I'm not gonna edit. It's not the end of the world if I didn't post tomorrow or today or whatever. And it really isn't. I feel like there's a lot of misinformation online, and I've seen it of like you have to post every day or else the algorithm, it's gonna not favor you and you're not gonna get any views and stuff. But really, if your content's good and you have a community and you're building something good, first that won't matter if the numbers are good or not, and second, like you're if it's gonna be together, you're gonna continue working towards it. So get taking some breaks, taking some days off, and honestly leaning a lot on my friends and family and um just being present in everything that I'm doing. That has helped a lot. That's great. If you were to finish this phrase, if you really want to grow, you should stop. If you really want to grow, you should stop. If you really want to grow, you should stop. I don't know. You should stop letting others dictate what is possible uh for you and what you're worthy of. Um, you should stop limiting yourself to all saying. Yeah, and it's true, and it's so true. Like it really starts from within. Like the the mind is so powerful, and the words and the content and what we consume is so, so powerful in like empowering us or keeping us down. And so I feel like you should stop also consuming really pessimistic content like all the time, or like doom scrolling and stuff. Like, just um stop putting it on POLT. Stop putting your dreams and your life on hold and just uh decide consciously one day, you know, I'm gonna start and this is what I am and this is who I want to be. Believe in your and that's what's gonna set everything in motion. So stop putting that off. Okay, yeah, that yeah, that was literally it. So I doubting yourself. I feel like if you want to really grow, don't doubt yourself and just go for it. I feel like that's fancy you read the same thing as me. So yeah. Mac, we appreciate having you here. It was so fun. We're getting to know you, you know, learning from you and and all. You made some really good points for anything learned right now for anybody that is listening. If you got some, you know, good content out of this, if you got good information, please share with somebody else too that could use this and subscribe to our podcast. We're starting this up, and so you know, we're really happy to um to share information, to share, to talk to some successful people. And so nos vemos in the proximal episodio. Thank you for being here with us. Bye.