How can someone be Homeless?

                           This is something I’ve always thought about but, never had an understanding of.

Every day I walk from the parking garage to my office and always come across a homeless person that’s either sleeping behind the parking garage or on the sidewalk.  I always think to myself “Why?”   I see so many homeless people downtown during the cold winter months or rainy season with nowhere to go and I want to ask them “Why don’t you have any friends or family or people in your life?”

The other day I met with a group of Brazilian investors to go over a few multi-million dollar projects and other business plans.  We went over different ideas, new products and our vision for the future.  Once we were done we all decided to go out for lunch and we came across two homeless people.  My heart was immediately broken thinking, “What happened to them?  Do they still dream about the future and why haven’t they gotten any help?”

I believe in this country we are given the opportunity to choose our careers, choose our friends and the life that we think we deserve.  I know there are some homeless people have mental disabilities due to a traumatic incident in their life but everyone should have the resources, like a friend or family, to get help.   It’s crazy to think there are those with great lives and then next to them there’s someone with no hope.  They are blind, broken and have no inspiration.

We live in too great of a country to have so many homeless people when there’s so much opportunity.   I can understand those that are mentally not well but even then we have so many doctors, programs, churches and good people in this world.   There are many times where I find myself wanting to stop and ask, “Why are you homeless?” but, instead I continue with my steps to the office keeping them in my prayers and sending them blessings.  How can someone be so alone in this world?

This is GOALYGO!

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)~

New Entrepreneurs!

 

                                         I just love meeting with new entrepreneurs to discuss their business.

It’s exciting to meet that new idea or new business that provides different services.  It’s interesting to learn what excites others and what challenges they face on a daily basis.  After speaking with hundreds of entrepreneurs I find two common concerns.

Lack of Capital – Many people have great ideas, connections and provide a great service but, need more capital. I understand it takes money to make money but, how can you make money when you have no money.  My advice is always “work with what you have.”   Focus on the things that make you money now before you start working on other plans or want to expand your services.  Plan your next investment before you spend any money.   Create a list of all the things you want for your business and then prioritize them in the order of what will bring you revenue today.

Example 1:  If you only have $100 to spend for your business and are deciding between ordering business cards or running a newspaper ad, order the business cards.  The business cards are more important because you can reach more people with a direct approach.  Join different networking groups; most of them are free and simply talk to people about your services.

Example 2: If you need a website but don’t have the $500 to create it find alternatives like a Facebook page that also provides social media exposure and allows you to reach more people organically.  Many people don’t take action because they are too busy focused on what they don’t have instead of working with the resources they do have.

Lack of People – This is a very common concern for many business owners.  We all want more people. Many times new entrepreneurs want to build their business themselves since it’s their baby and a lot of times don’t have the money to pay for expert advice.  My life changed when I realized I wasn’t able to do it all by myself.  I needed help and so I hired on a few volunteers and others that were on a commission only basis before I was able to put people on payroll.  Don’t ever forget that every big successful business was a startup at one point.

There are many painful steps involved in developing a business but, it’s only temporary.  Many people focus all their energy on graphics, website designs, creating forms and doing other technical stuff.  Your time should be invested wisely like in building relationships with potential clients, marketing your products and attending events to bring in more business.  I always say “a conversation with someone about your business is more effective in creating revenue than spending time on building a website.”    You can do it!  Don’t give up!

 

This is GOALYGO!

 

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)~

Hello! This is BEBO...

Hello Everyone,

This is Bebo.  My mom is GOALYGO and I’ve been in my new home for 30 days.  Let me share with you how awesome my life is and how much I enjoy this new home. I finally learned how to go up and down the stairs.  I also learned how to jump on the couch and cry non-stop every time my mom takes a shower. I just want to be with her all the time but she takes long showers and I get so bored.  I found a new toy called toilet paper that keeps me busy when I’m bored and just want to play.  My mom doesn’t understand how much I love it and how much I want her to spend time with me. She says I snore sometimes when I’m sleeping.

My mom buys me a lot of puppy toys and other cool stuff but my favorite toys are her feet and toilet paper.  I bite her nails, feet, legs, hands, hair and I just love playing with her. My mom is different because she doesn’t have a TV so I usually see her reading and writing on something that looks like a computer.  I think it’s called a laptop. Sometimes I just want her to stop working so I take her mouse and walk all over her lap to interrupt her.   It makes me laugh and I enjoy getting her attention.  I love her too because when I go outside she gives me yummy treats.

I noticed that my mom, GOALYGO, isn’t around all the time because she drops me off at Momma Jojo’s house for babysitting.  I love Momma Jojo’s house because I play with Bowser and get to sleep in a big bed with him. He’s my brother and I miss him at times.  I hear my mom travels and works long hours.  I love it when my mom picks me up because when I see her I get so excited and happy. We live in a big house and to make sure people know this is my house I bark when I hear noises or when we get visitors.  When I’m home and my mom is working late, I get upset because she keeps the lights on when I’m trying to sleep. 

I finally met my grandparents recently and they are so cool.  They have a big yard that I love to run around in.  My mom has a few friends that come over to visit and play games and to be honest I only like a few of them.  There are some that I’m still trying to welcome into our home and that’s why sometimes I don’t leave my mom’s lap.  I met these cool girls named Daisy and Norma that I really like and this baby girl Julianna. They were a lot of fun to be around and super nice with us.

There are times when I know I misbehave but, I always find a way for my mom to forgive me. My mom left me inside my crate one day because she couldn’t take me with her and so I sat there bored.  Momma GOALYGO left the light on and some music playing but I didn’t care about the radio because I found a way to open the cage and get out.  I ended up chewing up my mom’s book, shoes, toilet paper, bed sheets, business cards, chair and spilled water all over the floor.   All of a sudden I heard my mom’s car pull up and I quickly looked for a place to hide.  I didn’t have much time so I decided to hide under her pillows.  I heard her scream my name several times and didn’t realize that my ears were sticking out from under the pillows.  Uh-oh….she found me.

I continue to find ways to entertain myself but, at the same time learn the rules of my new home. I am learning to go outside and come right back when my mom’s calls me.  Sometimes I hide under her car just to let her know that I’m not ready to go back inside.  It’s fun to watch her chase me around and try to catch me.  I enjoy my new home and love my new mom.  I love the comfort of snuggling up to her neck when it’s time for bed.

Hope to see everyone soon!

BEBO Lucas Willis

GOALYGO's dog

What's my Special SPIRIT?

                                                This is something special not everyone has….

What is the spirit of the entrepreneur? On Monday, I woke up around 6:00am to start getting ready for work.  I was doing my make-up and realized I was actually excited about going into the office.  I couldn’t wait to get out the door and on the road.  For a second, I thought that was weird since the world hates Mondays but, then I realized not everyone has the spirit of the entrepreneur.  To be able to walk into an office with no directions, no expectations, no guidance, and no accountability other than the one that you set for yourself is the powerful spirit of the entrepreneur. You don’t know how; you just know that you must.

This spirit is so special because it comes from within and flows through your body, mind and heart. The power to create ideas, develop strategies and implement solutions. You don’t know how things happen but you continue to provide a service. Your heart beats differently when you hear the word “business.” You walk faster because this spirit guides you to move forward and opens the door to new opportunities. The entrepreneur spirit talks to your heart and fuels you with passion for your new business venture.  It’s a powerful force and when you find yourself facing challenges, you spring into action and take control.  You learn to manage even when your brain tells you to walk away.

Many people can’t relate because they weren’t born with the entrepreneur spirit. They may like the idea of a business and the possibility but, it’s just not in them.  When you talk to a fellow entrepreneur it’s like speaking a different language because you both understand how the business world works. Many people get excited about an idea but, very few take action and carry it on to completion.  Only the spirit of the entrepreneur can move your heart to reach the ultimate goal.  Your steps are stronger, your determination speaks loud and your success has no limits.

I encourage you to look within yourself to discover if you have the spirit of the entrepreneur.

This is GOALYGO!

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)~

Who is in my circle of influence?

                                          This is a very important topic and can determine your success.

There’s a saying my mother would always tell me…. “Dime con quien andas y te dire quien tu eres.”   In English it means, “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.”  This saying has always been a guide for me to choose my friends and business relationships wisely.  It’s so important for us to make the right relationship choices.   When you hang out with successful people, you see wealth and great achievements but, when you hang out with negative people they see unemployment, no money and hard times.  I understand we’re all faced with unfortunate circumstances from time to time but, what language are you speaking?

Many people say “But Aly, it’s easy for you to say because you have a business and you have this and that…” Well, the truth is that it’s not easy and what I have didn’t appear overnight.  People forget the time you have to invest in developing your skills and relationships to achieve success.   I learned the basic principles of business when I started in the business world back in 2003.  My business coach told me “Hang out with people better than you and become a student.”  I was taught a formula that changed my attitude and helped my business grow.  The formula is “spend 80% of your time with successful and wealthy people and 20% with other people.”   I learned so much by surrounding myself with successful individuals and by trying to attend every possible seminar to develop my skills. Today, I continue this principle because we are always students and there’s always room for improvement.

We become a reflection of the people we spend most of our time with. Be wise in choosing your group of friends and acquaintances.  I have many different circles of influence and they each have a place and time in my life.  Your time is very valuable and it’s the biggest asset you have.   When people say “I’m broke” the first question that comes to mind is, “Tell me how 80% of the people you hang out with are doing financially.”   It is so important to be aware of that 80% influence.   If you ask the same question to successful people, the answer will be different; not because they are better but, because they speak a different language.  The same applies to people that like to party a lot or people that are very fit and active.  You’ll see that the majority of their friends are just like them and they all have the tendency to think alike.  We are who we associate ourselves with.

I encourage you to become more aware of your circle of influence.  It is vitally important for you to succeed and choose to surround yourself with people that can teach you from their life lessons learned in the past. Become a student and choose your circle wisely.  Be cordial to everyone but, spend most of your time with those that can teach you new things and you’ll see how all of a sudden you’ll end up speaking the same language of success!

This is GOALYGO!

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)~

Doing Business in the Caribbean...

Many people have no idea what it takes to be successful until they dare to GO for it.


It’s funny how people react when I say "I have a security and technology company in the Caribbean."  It might sound smart or BIG but in reality it can be painful sometimes. You are dealing with different markets, laws and regulations.   You have to build relationships with people you have nothing in common with.  It can be a risky at times and it takes a lot of money.


While having lunch with a friend, she asked "What made you open a business in Puerto Rico?" I was speechless for a minute because I asked myself the same question.  I answered, "I saw an opportunity and went for it fearlessly."  She said, "Yeah, but how did you do it?"  I responded, "Well, I got on a plane, rented a car and started visiting local government agencies to file the necessary paperwork.  I then made a list of security companies I wanted to visit and one by one I stopped by each office to introduce myself.  Some called me crazy, many said NO and turned me down BUT, a few agreed to a new partnership.”

I live by the principle of "if I don't know the answer, I ask."  That's when I started making new connections and opening new doors of opportunities for the business. My vision and desire were greater than any possible doubt. The success of any business takes hard work and long hours but it’s only for a period of time.  I knew this much when I made the decision to open that market.  It has been a remarkable experience to work with incredible leaders. Puerto Rico has taken the best of me with countless hours spent flying, in and out of business meetings and working late but, I enjoy every minute of it. We expanded our services to the Caribbean and we continue to grow the company.

This is GOALYGO!

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)

Aly, Are you Stubborn?

                          I believe you have to set your own boundaries so the wind does not take you away!

I find this topic very interesting because people see the way I handle certain situations and consider me as being “stubborn.”   When someone tells me I’m stubborn and hard-headed I always laugh.  I know this world is not black and white and that’s why I no longer take things to heart.  I always evaluate my options and listen to the viewpoint of others.  My stubbornness kicks in more when I’m making decisions; there’s no room to bend the rules.  I am the “don’t-bend-the-rules” kinda stubborn like a corporation that has restrictions and policies in place.  If you set rules, obey them; no exceptions.  Now, I apply the same rule in a positive way; if I say we are doing this, we are doing it.

My stubbornness comes from wanting to set certain expectations and guidelines.  There are specific rules I have and I consider them as “Things that are acceptable” and “Things I won’t put up with.”  These rules allow me to live a happier life and have very little stress.  I took some time earlier in my life to come up with my own expectations and guidelines.  That’s why I have no problem disconnecting myself from people or situations that don’t meet these expectations.  Some people might refer to them as having values and principles; I call them “My Life Rules.”

There was a point in my life where I was the YO-YO kinda girl.  I just didn’t have any boundaries.  I felt that I was always pleasing people and molding myself to be nice. I wanted people to like me, accept me and give me validation.  I was lacking a sense of confidence and ended up trying to please everyone but myself.   One day I was happy and then the next day I was miserable.  It was an emotional rollercoaster. One day I was up, the next day I was down.  I started discovering what I was willing to accept and deal with in my life.  I learned that I was the one that allowed things to happen to myself.  Nobody has control over my life but me.  That’s when I created my first “Aly’s Rule”….. “I will not allow anyone or anything to take away my joy” and it works like a charm.

Any time someone attempts to mess with me and I start to feel anxious over a situation, I immediately snap out of it and apply the rule. Now, you can refer to me as “stubborn” but, I live my life with principles. I have other life rules that are very strict and some are pretty funny.  I’ll blog about them in the near future.  I encourage you to set your own expectations and guidelines in your own life.  I live by these principles and I truly enjoy it because I get to live an authentic life created by ME.  

This is GOALYGO!

Yanira ALY Nazario :0)~