As a part of The Startup Journal’s Founders Sequence, The Startup Journal sat down with Gina Diaz, entrepreneur and prime immigration and actual property lawyer, Ms. Diaz is a champion in each entrepreneurship and investing, and educates and helps immigrants, ladies, and the Latino group in navigating monetary challenges independence and wealth creation. She can also be a founding member of We Win, LLC, a company devoted to bringing ladies into the world of actual property, and We Win, NFP. For extra info, go to TheGinaDiaz web site or discover her #TheRightAttorney on social media.
Let’s have a look at what Gina shared with us about her journey…
TSM: Are you able to inform us, in 10 phrases or much less, the first motive you need to assist individuals grow to be actual property buyers?
Diaz: I need individuals to have a backup plan and a safety blanket, so to talk, that they’ll entry at any time.
TSM: In a little bit extra element, inform us extra about the advantages of actual property investing and one of the simplest ways for individuals to find out about actual property investing?
Diaz: Actual property investing, if completed proper, will help you retire out of your 9-to-5 job; can create passive revenue and a legacy for your loved ones. Along with having this monetary safety, you are additionally serving to non-homeowners have a beautiful place to hire and name dwelling whereas saving sufficient cash to grow to be a home-owner themselves. By investing in actual property, you additionally assist the neighborhoods you put money into by renovating properties that in any other case would not be redeveloped or can cut back the worth of different properties in the event that they’re in poor situation.
TSM: You additionally work with different entrepreneurs. How does actual property investing relate to the broader entrepreneurial expertise?
Diaz: Investing in actual property can lead you down many alternative paths that can make you an entrepreneur. There are numerous shifting elements on this course of. For instance, when investing in actual property, you will want the companies of an lawyer, accountant, appraiser, common contractor, surveyor, electrician, HVAC firm, cleansing service, housekeeper, venture supervisor, and so on. By your ardour for actual property investing, you’ll be able to grow to be an entrepreneur in any of those areas, which is able to join you to your actual property funding tasks and do what you like for others whereas constructing your individual portfolio.
TSM: You might be additionally centered on immigration legislation in your legislation follow. What sort of relationship do you see between immigrants and the startup group?
Diaz: I passionately imagine that immigrants are a significant a part of the startup group.
Immigrants present companies that others are unwilling to do or do at an inexpensive value. In any case, this nation was made up of an immigrant group that got here for a greater future. Immigrants coming right here as we speak need the identical. I all the time discover it humorous that individuals assume immigrants are pointless. I don’t imagine that this nation can or would survive with out them.
Immigrants have an necessary operate for the well-being of this nation, however they’re solely acknowledged as troublemakers.
TSM: That could be very true. What are a very powerful belongings you inform immigrants to assist them discover their dwelling on this nation as entrepreneurs?
Diaz: I prefer to remind immigrants that there isn’t any such factor as “getting right here the straightforward manner” as a result of we come right here understanding that we’ll be handled as outsiders and that we should adapt to a brand new atmosphere. We’re conscious that we’ll get low-paying jobs and mainly have to start out from scratch, however our want for prosperity in a land of alternative and freedom is so excessive that we’re prepared to simply accept it.
We got here for a greater future and our want to develop and discover a higher future for ourselves and our household. Subsequently, would not it make sense for us to benefit from the liberty and alternatives this nation has to supply and transfer ahead? You do not want any particular calling to construct your expertise or craft and be so good at it. All you want is the will and ethics to do it and do what you’ve got, in some instances, risked your life and search for these alternatives. Entrepreneurship is among the finest and most worthwhile methods to do that.
TSM: You might be additionally the co-founder of We Win, LLC, centered on introducing ladies to actual property investing, in addition to a transitional housing nonprofit. Why is it necessary to you to provide again to the group?
Diaz: Serving to ladies put money into actual property is essential to me as a result of once you consider the phrase “INVESTOR” you normally consider a person. You do not mechanically see an image of a girl pop into your head, do you? Nonetheless, ladies are the choice makers on the subject of shopping for a house. Ladies are historically, however not all the time, those who resolve whether or not sure properties are appropriate for his or her households. Because of this we, as ladies, already make many choices about what we take into account “dwelling”. So it is smart that we additionally grow to be buyers to assist different households discover their good dwelling.
WE WIN was created to supply a secure area for girls to study from one another with out intimidating males into feeling like they don’t seem to be asking the precise questions or are afraid of being laughed at or seen as weak. As ladies, we historically really feel extra snug in a room the place we see different ladies doing what we need to do and listen to from a girl who has been there, completed that, and understands the challenges we face every single day.
TSM: As an entrepreneur, going again to your youth selections, inform us what elements influenced your resolution to be an entrepreneur your self?
Diaz: I by no means imagined myself as an entrepreneur. I all the time thought I’d work for an enormous firm and positively be on the prime, however I will not truly be operating my very own. Nonetheless, I rapidly discovered that not everybody shares your imaginative and prescient and is keen to interact along with your concepts. Once I obtained my license to follow legislation, I noticed so many alternatives to develop and assist, and sadly the locations I labored at did not imagine in them or need to attempt the trail I wished. Subsequently, with the assistance of my present husband, I made a decision to observe my imaginative and prescient and my concepts by myself, which led me to grow to be an entrepreneur.
Generally you must be the one to imagine in your self when nobody else will. It’s important to have the braveness to hearken to that interior voice that tells you to do one thing that others are afraid to do and do not be afraid to fail. Failure shouldn’t be a nasty factor, however a stepping stone that brings you nearer to success.
TSM: What do you intend for the way forward for what you are promoting and the place are you increasing into new areas of entrepreneurship?
Diaz: I plan to proceed training legislation and increase my data of actual property and immigration. I plan to proceed serving to my group in any and each manner potential. I hope to start out a non-profit group to supply authorized assist to those that can’t afford correct illustration.
Moreover, I plan to proceed increasing my actual property portfolio in Illinois, different states, and even different nations. I got here to this nation as an immigrant from Mexico, and my mother and father wished me to have a greater future and achieve success. I do not plan to allow them to down. The sky is the restrict.
TSM: What’s a very powerful factor you inform different entrepreneurs and startup founders? What classes have you ever discovered?
Diaz: I imagine a very powerful factor to inform different entrepreneurs and start-up founders is to lose worry. Concern is the primary motive individuals keep the place they assume it’s “secure” and solely “dream” that in the future they’ll be capable to do what they need. Time would not discriminate or care about your plans as a result of it’ll simply move you by. Time doesn’t stand nonetheless for anybody. So as a substitute of dreaming about it, do it. Lose your worry and embrace the teachings as a result of the one approach to study is by doing. It’s important to do it.
Nobody else can do it for you. YOU should study the teachings, and YOU should take these possibilities. It is extremely uncommon that you just grow to be profitable in a single day in your first attempt. It takes time, persistence and dedication, however most significantly, YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Do not let worry cease you.
Crucial classes I discovered have been those I needed to repeat. Do not forget that.
TSM: What’s an fascinating truth about you that individuals won’t know?
Diaz: I’m an solely baby and I don’t solely fear about myself and my baby, but additionally about my mother and father.
I’m very proud to say that due to their sacrifice in educating me, I’m now capable of repay them they usually have been capable of retire very early. My biggest achievement is that I gave my mother and father a greater life than the one they’d and endured to place me the place I’m as we speak.
TSM: That is improbable. Thanks on your time and good luck in your future success.
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