Meet Esai Miera: Cannabis Marketer & Customer Service Expert

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

Hi Esai, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
My idea for “Budtender Academy” came from my problems and pain points, looking for advice or tips on being a successful budtender. There is very little out there on the subject due to budtending still being a new concept and job in general. Our mission here at Budtender Academy is to educate and elevate Budtenders at all levels to be the customer’s right-hand man or woman. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve had a customer-facing job since I was 14 years old, which equates to 11 years of client and customer service experience. Like most of us started, my first job was at an amusement park, and my second job was at a fast-food restaurant. At each different position, I learned more and more about retail customers and client-based customers. Besides the actual work experience, I studied what it means to be a great leader, ensure the customer comes first, and all other business essentials. I believe having years of experience and years of education through mentorship, books, and podcasts are what sets me different from everyone else. The biggest lesson I learned over the years is applying empathy in the workplace, from a leader’s perspective managing a team and from an employee’s perspective helping a customer. Leading with empathy gives you an advantage because it shows whoever you are talking to that you care, and when you show you care, outstanding results happen.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Colorado all my life besides the one and a half years in Los Angeles, I can give you the best options here in Colorado. I would first take them out of Denver to one of the fantastic hot springs we have. Mt. Princeton or Steam Boat. After a weekend away from the city, I would take them to some of my favorite dinner spots. For Indian food, we would check out Spice Room in Denver, and for oysters, we would go to Angelos. After dinner, we can go out to a couple of bars downtown and then hit a nightclub after!

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?
It is 100% true that my success in life has not only come from myself but the leadership and mentorship I’ve had over the years in my life. That mentorship has been in the form of my family, friends, books, failures, and the many signs that the universe gives us. The first shoutout I want to make is a shoutout to the universe itself. My relationship with the universe is what some would have with their god. In my eyes, the universe and god are the same. I would not be here living this life if I was not allowed to live in this period. Which means I am here for a reason. The next shoutout I want to give is a shoutout to my family, friends, and girlfriend. Throughout the years, I am receiving nothing but love from this group. When times are hard and I’m struggling, I can count on this group to help me back on my feet. Not everyone has family and friends to rely on, so I am blessed to have that. Not everyone has a loving and supportive significant other to count on either, so I am immensely blessed to have her in my life. The last shoutout I want to give is a shoutout to myself. Some might read this and think that it’s egotistical to shout out themselves out, but on the contrary, it’s essential to give yourself love and credit for your sacrifice and hard work. I want to thank myself for believing in myself, even when life gets hard. I want to thank myself for ending the day by loving myself even when I don’t feel I deserve it sometimes.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esaisworld/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esaimiera/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/esaisworld

Image Credits
Anthony Chavez – https://www.instagram.com/thephotochamp/