Team, I’d like to share with you a very powerful story from an UnFranchise Owner named Flora Montes, which I think resonates with people all around the world. With support and encouragement from her senior business partner, Jessica Velez-Benito, Flora overcame her initial fears of showing the plan – and now her business is flourishing along with her confidence!
Passing that initial fear threshold when showing the plan is a huge step to fulfilling your potential as a UFO, and I’m so proud of Flora for taking that critical step! The success which follows is a direct result of teamwork, belief, and self-confidence which spreads throughout the whole team. Congratulations to Flora for overcoming your fears and thriving – and congratulations to Jessica for being a tremendous mentor and teammate! This is what UnFranchise success is built upon!
Keep Growing!
-JR Ridinger
Q & A with Flora Montes
Introduce yourself; when you started your UnFranchise Business, who was your Senior Business partner, and why/what made you start your UF business?
My name is Flora Montes; I am the CEO and Founder of Bronx Fashion Week. My Senior Business Partner is Jessica Velez-Benito. I learned early on that I needed seven revenue streams to succeed in becoming an entrepreneur in its most accurate form. I was invited to a presentation where Jessica spoke in the summer of 2018, kept in contact with Jessica and registered my UF business in May 2019.
What motivated you to get someone in front of the business plan after 3 plus years of being in the business? What has it done for your confidence to get more people in front of the plan?
Fear has stopped me for several years; regardless, Jessica has never given up on me. She lovingly pushed me, and despite being a bit scared, I took the leap of faith, and nothing can stop me now. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
You’re attending MAIC2022 in Greensboro, your first MA Convention – why did you decide to attend? What does it mean to you to be there with your team?
One of the many things I love about Market America Shop.Com is that it is a team effort, and I look forward to meeting my team in person at the convention. Dawn Florio gifted me a ticket last year, and I remember watching the virtual MA Convention for the first time, being inspired, and making a promise to myself that I would attend. I am grateful to Jessica and Dawn, who have never given up on me, have always been patient and encouraging throughout my journey. I now know that to succeed in anything I do moving forward, I have to be all in.
What advice would you give to other UFOs who have been stuck on the sidelines to get people in front of the plan and go to MAIC2022?
Let go of fear and take that leap of faith. My mantra now is, “what is the worst that can happen if I ask, they will say NO, and NO won’t kill me, I just have to do it again.”
