We had the good fortune of connecting with Irma Gastelum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Irma, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I had reached a point in my life a couple years ago where I knew there had to be more to life. I was a sales manager for a cell phone store making good money but after 5 years I started asking myself is this all my life will be? Things began to get rocky at work dealing with poor management and toxic work environment, and then this opportunity arises. An opportunity of a life time. Little 25 year old me with no college degree took the initiative to contact multi millionaire business owners for mentorship and they responded. The next day they invited me and my son to their home to meet them and celebrate their sons birthday party. Simply God ordained.They quickly took me under their wing, helped me get state licensed and trained me to start my own business. I then was faced with staying at a “secure” time consuming job or take the risk and quit my job. Man what it’s roller coaster it’s been since I quit my job 3 years ago but If I wouldn’t have put myself out there and looked for more I wouldn’t be in the amazing position I am now.

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What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve always had a burden to help others and when I was presented with this business opportunity it was a no brainer. I would be able to impact others but also they way it can change my life and those around me. So many people are passing away with out life insurance, leaving their families with the financial stress.so many people are either not informed on Life Insurance or misinformed. Unfortunately Life Insurance isn’t a one size fits all and unfortunately there’s companies out there taking advantage of the less knowledgeable. When I found out there was Life Insurance companies purposely doing the low and middle class wrong, I knew my community needed someone to inform them . Being raised in a Hispanic community I came to realize we were in desperate need of education, as many were fist generation Mexicans with no one to guide them on how to be set up financially for their future. That’s when I took to instagram and Facebook and started making educational videos on the topic.
Building a business will be one of the hardest things you do because you are the business so if you’re not okay your business will not do okay. I had a lot of personal growth to go through, I needed to become mentally tough. Every one has to go through the process but the ones who aren’t willing to be uncomfortable won’t make it and that was almost me. It came to a point where I started living in fear. That I wouldn’t even try due to the fear of failure but I Thank God I stepped into an amazing community at my Church and they re envisioned me, pushed me and reminded me of the value I bring. A scripture that God gave me was “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”John‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ . All the obstacles and challenges I’ve gone through since I started my busienss didn’t make sense to me then but now I understand I had to go through all that to become resilient, to become the person who will build a multi million dollar business.

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Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my bestie was in town we’d of course have to stay at the Wyndham to get a beautiful view of the bayside. For brunch go down to their deli and have the best Cesar salad in town with a view of the water. If we’re up for it walk over to seaport village. Then for a late lunch we’d head over to Liberty station to walk around eat some food and grab a good coffee. Then later on in the week we’d have to check out a baseball game preferably Padres vs Dodgers! Then head over to sea world later on in the week to get the kiddos tired.

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Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All the doors that have opened for me wouldn’t have been capable without God. I truly believe he placed my mentors Mario & Franny Arrizon in my life. They run an amazing multi millionaire organization and when I first began my business they took time out of their busy lives and really invited me into their personal life and made me family. And when I hit a point in my business life where I wasn’t sure If I had it in me anymore, I stepped into an amazing church called Victory Outreach and I can say I’m still standing in business because of the encouragement of my Pastors sermons and from the community there.

Website: https://form.jotform.com/240985499815172?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYewJCzL5H3iqBlODF84PajI0YLR17pNXISLRsbytDBJQPBA_-gg3iICvc_aem_Aaty6XnpexiHVYBtZWPwT5QlSduB3WhP9ngXU5lhkeY_-sqn-SlBchYB1-rgbiEAfv2DWOqaNwumi__SXsPOD4Z7

Instagram: _irmeee

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