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

Hi Malu, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Living in Florida, I delved into the Natural Stone Business, which seamlessly led me into the kitchen and bath industry. Meanwhile, Rafael found himself in the heart of the Kissimmee area, working with an Interior Design firm focused on vacation homes. This was his introduction to the world of painting. However, his real skills as a painter flourished when he joined a painting company in Sarasota, where he honed his craft extensively.

2017 was eventful. As Hurricane Irma roared towards Florida, we found ourselves touching down in San Diego, seeking refuge. That week-long stay was a game-changer. The city’s vibe, culture, and charm were irresistible, and by the end of our stay, we were plotting our move and dreaming of our own painting business in San Diego.

The low upfront costs of starting a painting venture really struck a chord with us, especially as newcomers to the San Diego scene. Moreover, it was impossible to ignore the city’s thirst for top-notch painting services. We saw a clear path ahead: start with residential projects and scale up to bigger commercial endeavors.

What should our readers know about your business?
‘LIFE IS THE COLOR THAT WE PAINT.’ This drives everything we do, from paying the most attention to the details to ensuring every process is done right.

Our commitment to exceptional customer service sets us apart. We emphasize transparent communication to deliver on our clients visions and desires.

Tony Robbins often mentions that entrepreneurship is a spiritual journey. This rings true for us. The challenges that come with being a business owner requires many habilities that we never knew we needed, we have to become a better person to be a better leader.

Every stage of our business presented its unique set of challenges – navigating financial complexities, perfecting the hiring process, creating a training system, or managing budgets. But challenges, we’ve learned, never cease; they simply transform. Their nature shifts in tandem with our ability to confront and resolve them.

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?
When our family and friends are visiting there are a few stops that we can’t skip in order to give them the best San Diego experience, like for example hiking at Torrey Pines, followed by a quick stop in Black’s Beach to take some good pictures of the cliffs. After all this walking it is time for a perfect brunch at Duke’s, hands down one of the best views of La Jolla, La Jolla itself is a must go visit in San Diego, the sealions are another attraction that anyone loves to see.

Once in San Diego, you can miss the chance to eat Mexican food, and learn more about the Spanish influence in our culture, Old Town is an amazing place where you can find it all, good restaurants, museum, gifts shops and live music.

Talking about museum, Balboa Park is always a good place to spend some hour visiting.

For more local life, go surf at Cardiff reef, have a lunch at Encinitas 101, we love Tratoria Mauricio, sip a beer at Culture and finish the day listening to some local Rock band at The Kraken.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Without a doubt, it’s my mother’s side of the family that has been my biggest influence. There’s nothing more compelling than leading by example. I hail from a lineage of entrepreneurs. My grandmother, a matriarch of 14 children, instilled a work ethic in each of them from a young age. Every one of them, including my single mother, went on to become business owners. Growing up, I spent countless hours assisting my mom and uncles in our family store back in Brazil.

Website: www.lightituppainting.com

Instagram: instagram.com/lightituppainting

Twitter: twitter.com/lightituppaint

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/light-it-up-painting-san-diego

Youtube: @lightituppainting

Image Credits
Light it Up Painting

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