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

Hi Ricky, is there something you believe many others might not?
People often say that you should strive to “be your own boss.” In reality, they have no idea what they’re asking for. Society tends to glorify the idea of being your own boss and that only by being your own boss can you be “free.” This concept is fundamentally misunderstood. There seems to be this illusion that by being your own boss, you become free from responsibility, petty work, having to abide by a schedule, etc and that you basically have free reign to do as you please when you please without anybody telling you otherwise. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If you have a boss, part of their job is to make your schedule, make sure you follow it, keep you accountable, make sure the work you need to do is getting done, correct you when something isn’t being done, provide you with systems to follow so you know how and what to do at work, pay you, and countless other behind the scenes duties fulfilled by “the boss” (people in management.) If you are your own boss…all these responsibilities do not suddenly disappear and take care of themselves…YOU have to do them. You may not have someone scolding you if you don’t show up to work, but if you don’t show up, things don’t get done, your business suffers, and slowly but surely, you’re headed towards doom. If you are your own boss, you have to learn to keep yourself and your team accountable and manage your new “free” time. YOU have to figure out a schedule for yourself and have the self discipline to stick by it, otherwise, you and your business will fail. You have to make sure things are being done. You have to decide WHAT needs to be done, how often, by who, how, etc. If something goes wrong, YOU are responsible. If someone sues you, YOU have to defend yourself. If you need more staff, YOU have to hire them. If something goes wrong, YOU have to fix it, no matter where you are, what time it may be etc. That means that for example, if you’re having a great time at a party, dinner, family event, etc but your work requires your assistance immediately, you HAVE to drop anything you are doing and tend to the issue. There are no true “breaks” for bosses. There is no such thing as being “off the clock.” The boss is ALWAYS responsible for what is going on at ANY time. I could go on for days, but I’ll cut it short. Though being your own boss has its pros, it most definitely comes with cons and even most of the pros are only possible with serious self discipline, organization, planning, time management, hard work, and sacrifice. The grass is always greener…

What should our readers know about your business?
We’re proud to say that El Patio has been a staple in our community for over 68 years. Since 1954, we’ve been serving quality homestyle Mexican cuisine with warm service and a smile. As a family owned, small business, we put family at the center of everything we do. Some of our staff members have been with us for over 30 years and we are so grateful for their hard work and dedication to our beloved restaurant. All of our recipes are prepared from scratch with the finest ingredients and have remained intact from their original form 68 years ago. We love hearing stories from customers who have been dining with us for decades. We’ve seen generations of San Diegans visit us and we are so excited to serve generations more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I’d bring them in for the El Patio House Breakfast (chilaquiles, juicy carne asada, guacamole and homemade beans). Then, I’d probably take them to Coronado to enjoy the beach and go for a stroll. Lastly, we’d surely end up in Tijuana for some great drinks and chill vibes!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my mother, Lili, who raised me while she was a single mom, small business owner, real estate agent, counselor, among other things. She has been an incredible mentor and has a vast wealth of knowledge on life, business and relationships. I am continually amazed by her accomplishments and how she is able to juggle so much on her own. Love you mama.

Website: www.elpatiomex.com

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