1. I wouldn't say the majority of the people, but here it's common to work for your dreams, be your own boss.

me: Buenos Dias!!

2. after a night of heavy patron anejo drinking!

jorge.avila: Hola!, how are you?

me: I told a couple of model in the (my client) JBNI NYC Flat that I'd go to the gym to make my 6-pack glisten!! =P

jorge.avila: hehehe

me: I feel great... steam room after a night of heavy patron anejo drinking!

jorge.avila: hehehe, that's my night today...
I have a busy night ahead
  :P

me: AHA! remember... Hot Steam and Sea Salt to pull the toxins out!!! ...So, WELCOME .. Bienvenidos to the @journik Entrepreneurship SHOW!!!

jorge.avila: Thanks for the invite
I saw that you're doing a set of interviews

@journik:  So,
 
jorge.avila:  sounds interesting
 
@journik:  I really appreciated your guest blog post on Motivation http://journik.posterous.com/tag/jorgeavila
Are there many entrepreneurs in your immediate community?
Most people in America seem to have jobs and WANT to get out... but dont know how...
 Sent at 2:22 PM on Thursday

Most people in America seem to have jobs and WANT to get out... but dont know how

jorge.avila:  There are entrepreneurs in my community, yes. Specially since I live in Monterrey, a city well know by its entrepreneurs.
A lot of big companies from Mexico were created in Monterrey. I wouldn't say the majority of the people, but here it's common to work for your dreams, be your own boss.
We have to remember
that our economy doesn't offer the same life style that americans have, that's also a big something to consider.
For example,
A mid-class american lives much better than a mid-class mexican.
So people wanting "more" know that they have to create their own business, where they can do as much as they want.
 Sent at 2:25 PM on Thursday

3. A mid-class american lives much better than a mid-class mexican.

So people wanting "more" know that they have to create their own business, where they can do as much as they want.

jorge.avila:  Some people start working on their own to be able to survive, but they do it correctly, and people start demanding more and more their products and services, and in no time, they have a good-size business and their life is completely different.
I have a lot of customers, who never went to college, and still they are very successful.
It's not easy to do business in Mexico, since we're more a by-relations economy.

4. I have a lot of customers, who never went to college, and still they are very successful.

@journik:  Agreed... One of the wealthiest men I know owns a chain of about 100 clothing stores in Mexico City. What business did you start... and what do you mean by "by-relations"?
 
jorge.avila:  You have to know the right people, that's something that I like from the US, when I first met my customers there, they didn't know me, but they took the decision by our offer, not by who we are.
I started a company that offers solutions based on Technology
we don't like to think about ourselves as IT people, we understand the need, and we create the right solution with out technical skills.
With by-relations I mean that here in Mexico is very common to only buy from friends,
that's why large hardware companies have much trouble
and that's the reason why a company like DELL had to reopen their Partners program...
 
@journik:  WOW!

jorge.avila:  I'll give you an example

5. here in Mexico, is very common to only buy from friends

jorge.avila:  DELL is a great product, and a cheap one since it sells directly through their website (or phone), but if large companies are buying from "a friend" they will buy what the friend is selling, and it results that it's HP (since HP has a distributors channel)
So DELL was having problems to gain market, that's why they decided to create the partner program
so right now, you can have "a friend" who sells DELL
 
@journik:  OH WOW!!! THATS even more tight than I Imagined!
 
jorge.avila:  Yes, specially since the direct sales to home is not that strong in Mexico
(remember, people earns much less than in the US, and computers cost the same)
so, the large sales are being made in government, corporates, etc.
 
@journik:  For me... Even if my own SISTER sells seashells, I'll buy seashells where it's more convenient!
 
jorge.avila:  hehehe
yeah, that's the american way,
not the mexican ;)
 
@journik:  HAH!

6. We have lost projects here in Mexico, because after all the sales process somebody said "I have a friend who can do that"

jorge.avila:  I have always said that it's easier to do business there, since it's just matter of being good on what you do. We have lost projects here in Mexico, because after all the sales process
somebody said "I have a friend who can do that"...
and that's it.
So, after a while you start creating your relations
and doing good :)
 
@journik:  AHA!! Friends B-E-F-O-R-E you need them!!!

WAIT... so how did you start getting clients in USA? No matter HOW good you are... you have to get KNOWN!
 
jorge.avila:  Yes, you're right about it. It all started because I have a brother (one year older) that is a US Citizen
he was born in California while my father was doing his master at Stanford
and he's an architect
professional life as an architect is very tough in Mexico, 

@journik:  Ahhhh... he SHOULD HAVE gone into computer sci!!! he'd be a founder of Google, and TWITTER!@!!!!!@*&@*(&#@

I have always preferred to put my marketing money in "free projects" that really get us new customers

by referral

jorge.avila:  very bad paid, so after he got out of college
 
@journik:  re stanford!
 
jorge.avila:  (my father is the one who studied at Stanford, he did a Master in Computer Science)
but that's another story :P.
So, my brother moved to Texas long time ago
 
@journik:  OH! =O
 
jorge.avila:  and we created a website for him
www.miguel-avila.com <- you'll like it
and people started asking who did the website/app
so he was referring us customers
 
@journik:  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
!
 
jorge.avila:  that's how we started the doing business there
we have customers in several cities of texas,
chicago, and palmetto (FL)

@journik:  WOW!
Well.... Now... You'll have customers in NYC, LA and Seattle... The places I WORK!
 
jorge.avila:  Thanks, I was at LA few weeks ago
 
@journik:  To me... It's amazing how few people realize that doing a simple favor like building a website for an influential person will pay you back 100000%!
 
jorge.avila:  yes
you're right about it
To be honest,
I have always preferred to put my marketing money in "free projects" that really get us new customers
by referral 

@journik:  Ahhhh.... When people want to do a few hours of work and collect a few pennies immediately... i think... "Sad... they don't want to invest in themselves!"

"Do you know how do you sell?"

jorge.avila:  You're that's so true
A customer once ask me
"Do you know how do you sell?"
At first, I didn't know what he was talking about,
 Sent at 2:44 PM on Thursday

7. You have to do what you love.

 jorge.avila:  and then he told me "You sell by advising, you explain and show how the solution will work so clearly that all you have to do is to put it on paper with the price to get the project"
Let's say that there are two things that I really like to do, and for my luck, that's what I sell.
I like to help, and technology, it's like people say
You have to do what you love.
That has helped me a lot.
Also,
 
@journik:  I had a Law School student... who worked for me for a few weeks... for pennies... I told him that if you help me get to double my sales... meaning work more, better, smarter... I'll be ABLE to give you an executive position...

Now, I am almost at double sales and because he left just 2 weeks ago... I have to go looking for a new person who did NOT invest their time in MAKING THEIR OWN FUTURE...

8. most people thinks in short term

to be a business man, you really need to see the big picture, and that means thinking in mid and long term

jorge.avila:  That's a common scenario, most people
thinks in short term
to be a business man, you really need to see the big picture, and that means thinking in mid and long term.
We all have a specific time to work our... best ;), and really get things going, and that's just after college
that's when somebody needs to speed up
those are the years where you really have plenty of energy
and most probably time (since most people is single and without kids)
But I was telling...
Since I was a kid, I learned that there is only one thing left when you die
that's your name.
 
@journik:  ahhh... yes..
 
jorge.avila:  So I'm very careful when it comes to promise something to a customer, it doesn't matter what it is.
You have to deliver. There is no option.
 
@journik:  no excuses
 
jorge.avila:  That's not a common way of thinking in Mexico,
that's something that I have exploited greatly
 
@journik:  Hell, mierda... i think thats common on EARTH!!!
=)

9. You have to deliver. There is no option.

jorge.avila:  Thanks to others people bad service, I always find open doors.
 
@journik:  Aha! Interesting... BE THANKFUL for idiots!
 
jorge.avila:  Yeah, that's like the basics of business, actually it applies to everything.
Yes
 
@journik:  Without idiots... how would people know I was smart?!?!?!?!?! =P
 
jorge.avila:  hehehe
The thing is,
that if you "work smart, then hard" (we use that as our motto)
 
@journik:  I LOVE IT!!!!

So do you specialize in any IT issues specifically? infrastructure? Database? Security??? And how do people reach you if they need your help... even for little things...???
 
jorge.avila:  you will grow.
I try to maintain an open door policy with customers and prospects... <- what's that?
well
I like to chat/talk/meet
with people
talk about what they're doing
give them tips, options
experience that we might have...
and then...
they ask "Would you help me?"
 
@journik:  You E A R N their trust FIRST
you dont ask for it...
!

jorge.avila:  exactly
so
(and to be honest)
we really don't sell,
they buy from us
of course we follow a sales cycle
but in reality they already want the service
 
@journik:  HAHAAAA!!! Well... I'm sure many CTOs and business owners will read this ... who would be a good client for you?
 
jorge.avila:  We have customers in lots of industries, we mainly help in automating/optimizing processes
it doesn't matter if you do services or products, technology can be applied in any place
While talking to prospects, we also find out if in reality they need tech, we have found that in many cases there are "human" factors involved in the situation
so we mention that kind of things,
I'll give you an example
We have had customers who complain that  their current ERP doesn't work, and they would like us to create one for them.
So we start asking the employees simple questions, like, did you had training?
 
@journik:  Yeah... Humans suck!

They really complicate things! Especially if they are gorgeous in a cocktail dress and like top shelf Patron Margaritas!

jorge.avila:  the owner says: Yes, everybody got trained.
the employee says: There was people trained, but they left; none of the current employees is trained
 
@journik:  oh no!!!
 
jorge.avila:  So you have a simple miscommunication problem,
very easy to be solved,
without incurring in new expenses
 
@journik:  Interesting!
 
jorge.avila:  honesty help us to build trust
you would be very amazed of the impact that it has on the final customer
since you didn't charge anything they actually try to find something to do business with you
it makes you feel pretty good.
We see all customers as a long term relation,
so we're not in a hurry to get money from them
also, having a customer who really trust you helps in a lot of ways
for example, it makes collecting much simple :)
 
@journik:  TRUE!
VERDAD!
=)
 
jorge.avila:  One rule I set since the first days of the business
is to get rid of bad customers,
we're here to give a service, we're not a collecting company, and we refuse to waster our time in that.
 
@journik:  Aha. ...

Jorge!!!... I really want to go further into your business philosophy and how you use twitter internationally... and how you do marketing... can we do another interview next week???
 
jorge.avila:  sure thing,
 
@journik:  Excellent!
 
jorge.avila:  tuesdays and thursdays are the best days for me
 
@journik:  Perfect... what's your website??? To make it convenient for the people who need you...?
 
jorge.avila:  sure, we're actually changing it, so I'll give you two URL's
www.avilaintegradores.com (Spanish)
www.avilaintegradores.com/2009 (the new version which is in english)
 
@journik:  excellent... OK! Thank You for your time!!! Next interview... Jorge Avila's Marketing Strategy... and Twitter... and More on business inspiration!
Can you send me a few pictures???
I'll post in a few hours...
 Sent at 3:09 PM on Thursday
 
jorge.avila:  sure, I'll send you some photos so you can choose from.
 
@journik:  perfect... I'll put up the interview at http://journik.posterous.com as soon as I get the pictures!!! =) Gracias!
 
jorge.avila:  thanks!...
talk to you later, it was nice chatting...
 
@journik:  likewise!!! bye!

ABOUT @journik: He is Bob Wan-Qi Kim. He has been a web entrepreneur since before it was called the web. Hi passion is approaching health and healing from both an Eastern holistic perspective and a Western high tech genomics perspective. His main project in the health care arena is spreading the word about the effectiveness of 100% natural, all-herbal, zero side-effect medicine. See his client: http://JBNI.us

Also see @journik's Holistic Health Care Blog: Health Myths You Still Believe!

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