Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Guerrero.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I think my journey of being an entrepreneur really started back in 2020 when I was working a corporate job but deeply desired to do something different. I always knew I wanted to have my own business, but during the pandemic, I started dreaming of what service I would provide and how I would get started. Every day during work, I would listen to entrepreneurial podcasts and female business owners on how they got started. I did that for months, just gaining knowledge and preparing myself for when it was time to take the next steps. It wasn’t until the fall of 2021 that God gave me vision of how I was going to serve people and what my next steps were. I’ve always had an interest in money and finance, and I found that there was a desperate need for bookkeeping for small business owners. I felt called into this space, given my background in accounting and my desire to step into entrepreneurship. Looking back, I can see how intentional every step of my journey was, even when I didn’t know what the end result would be. Everything was working out and lining up for me to be in the place I am now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say the biggest obstacle I faced was just getting started, and I think that is the hurdle most people struggle with. There were many moments of doubt and hesitation, wondering, “What would people think?” or “What happens if I fail?”. It’s extremely vulnerable to put yourself and your name out there, market yourself, and share your vision with people. There is plenty of room for rejection, judgment, and fear, but what got me through that hesitation was trusting in God’s plan. I believed the reason the Lord placed this dream on my heart is because He was going to see it through. There were seasons when my business was very slow, especially in the beginning but I trusted that if I wasn’t growing at the speed I wanted, it’s because God knew it wasn’t time and I wasn’t ready. I know I will face many more challenges in the future as I grow, but my plan is to always remember that God holds my future and the future of my business, and as long as I embrace that, there’s nothing to worry about.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Balanced Books?
Balanced Books is a faith-based business that aims to create financial peace and build financial awareness for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and dreamers. My intention is to help business owners to feel comfortable with their finances and promote financial understanding. I believe entrepreneurship is the backbone of this nation’s economy and I desire to serve this community by promoting good stewardship and a lasting legacy. I promise my clients that I will serve with integrity, coach with the heart of a teacher, and lead with a Christ-like love. What sets me apart from others is the relational aspect of my business. I strive to create lasting relationship with my clients and ensure they are heard. At the end of the day, I’m helping with people’s finances, which is a very vulnerable area for most. It’s more than just cleaning up books and reconciling accounts. I provide peace of mind and consistent results they can trust.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
While I started my business after Covid-19, the pandemic showed me a couple of things. First, I took this opportunity to get ahead. Instead of taking it as a setback, I strategized how I could get myself more established financially, and I tried to stay in tune with where God was leading me. Even in the midst of it feeling like the world had pushed paused, God never stopped moving. It was during 2020 that I prepared myself to start my business. I learned a lot through podcasts, books, and prayer. Without this season of preparation, I don’t think I would have been mentally or emotionally ready to start my business. The second thing I learned during Covid-19 was realizing people don’t have all the answers, and you don’t need to have all the answers. I think it took a season of feeling like I had nothing to lose to realize I really had nothing to lose in taking this leap of faith. If I fail, I would just get back up again. If I received judgment or criticism, I just keep moving forward and focus on my mission. 2020 felt like the wild west, so I took advantage of this to put myself out there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balancedbookssd.com/
- Instagram: _balancedbooks
