Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Cortez.
Hi Mario, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This may sound cliche, but I’ve always been a big fan of doing what makes you happy, whether it’s in your career, social life, love life, etc… I have always tried to stay true to doing what makes my soul happy.
After high school, my parents wanted me to go to a four years, graduate and find a well-paying job and so thats what I started to do — ignoring what I actually wanted to do, which was continue working for our family business.
Growing up, my dad always had a business, his main one being a carpet cleaning franchise here in San Diego, and in the back of my head I always knew I wanted to continue the legacy, but I gave school a shot anyway.
I went to a local J.C, chose nursing as my career choice graduated and transferred to SDSU. While in the nursing program, I decided to get my CNA license to get some experience and I started to work for an adult day center in San Ysidro. While there, I split my time three ways, school, work and on the weekends I would work for the family business. Little by little, I was convinced this (nursing/school) wasn’t the path for me, so I gathered my courage and told my parents I didn’t want to continue with nursing and that I wanted to dedicate myself to our family business.
This was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do to this day, but I can genuinely say I’ve never regretted it for even a second.
Shortly after coming back to work full-time with my family, we decided to expand and buy a superfood cafe in the Otay Ranch Center. We were going strong until we unfortunately had to close due to circumstances covid related and terrible management by the mall patrons. During the time-lapse between when we knew we were going to close and actually closing the doors a lot of people were losing their jobs but at the same time, they were starting their passion projects and this was the start of Vive con Huevos.
Vive con Huevos really derived from my initial belief of living your life to the fullest. Seeing people overcome losing their jobs and beginning their true passion projects motivated me to start mine. What started as an Instagram account that I used to share motivational quotes that helped get me get through my day turned into a clothing brand — if I’m honest, this wasn’t what I ever wanted for the brand, so I have put a pause of the clothes — and Vive con Huevos is now evolving into a podcast. This podcast will be focusing on the messaging behind the brand and will bring in people who share the same values and beliefs, starting with one simple question, what does living like to its fullest potential mean to you? AKA Vive con Huevos!
The goal will always be to positively motivate anyone who comes across my brand in the smallest or biggest way possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say it was an easy road defiantly full of ups and downs. After shutting down the superfood cafe, I feel like I lost my purpose and my life spiraled down. I was a bit depressed for a while because I didn’t know what I was going to do next. Once I decided to start vive con huevos that brought an entire new set of challenges, from picking the font, the fabric of the merchandise, coordinating photoshoots and marketing; most things I knew nothing about I made plenty of mistakes but I learned along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vive con Huevos?
Like I mentioned before what started as just an Instagram page with motivational quotes has evolved into something a lot more. My plan was to motivate people which is why this year I decided to pause the clothing part of the business and focus on turning Vive con huevos into a podcast, the plan is to bring people in from different aspects of life to share their unique stories. I feel like most of us are scared to take that first step and my hope is that I am able to aide people to have that leap of faith in themselves and start whatever it is that they have been pushing aside.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to Me is seeing everyone around me happy. I love when I hear stories of people pursuing their dreams and goals and I try really hard to show that on our social media.
Contact Info:
- Email: viveconhuevos@gmail.com
- Website: https://viveconhuevos.com
- Instagram: @viveconhuevos
- Twitter: @VCH_co
Image Credits
Brian Landeros @therealinnerg_ Pat Schneider @patcanfilmit
