I grew up listening to the well-known phrase “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. No matter what obstacles come your way, your willingness to grow and fulfill your goals is the key to achieving your desired success. Like many of you, possibly, I came to this country full of dreams to fulfill. However, I never thought that life was going to take a turn, in which I would eventually become a business owner. Being Latino, in a predominantly Anglo-Saxon country, is not a disadvantage necessarily as many might think, but rather a broad opportunity in which you can demonstrate your level of proficiency in your area of interest.
For example, in the city of Reading, we can observe the variety of Latino businesses that exist, such as: the famous bodegas, mechanics workshops, furniture stores, supermarkets, body shops, barbershops, beauty salons, pastry shops, restaurants, day care centers for children, construction, plumbing, dance halls, legal services, medical offices, mental health centers, real estate, and among others many more. Although, for many of these owners, including myself, the process of starting and maintaining the same has not been easy, the satisfaction of being able to provide a quality service has been of utmost importance.
We, as Latinos and business owners, have been part of a new era in the United States, where through our efforts and above all professionalism, we have been able to contribute significantly to the economy of this country. To all business owners, remember that “where there’s a will, there’s a way“. Do not let anything, or anyone, stop you from achieving your goals, because that’s how we can show that Latinos came to this country to contribute positively to our community and to society at large.
By Joel Cintron
