Meet Nonny Rodriguez | Entrepreneur

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

Hi Nonny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business was something I always dreamed of. I wanted to create something on my own and have control over my own destiny. I felt frustrated and burnt out by constantly providing my supervisors with innovative ideas and pouring my energy into projects. Despite consistently delivering projects on time and giving my all, I felt undervalued and replaceable. It became clear to me that I wanted to channel my efforts into something where I could directly benefit from my hard work and creativity. Ultimately, I wanted to create something that I could be proud of and that would make a positive impact on the digital world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One thing about me is that when people first meet me, they often see me as this “pretty face”, and while I appreciate the compliment, I often feel like there’s an image that people form of me that doesn’t quite match who I truly am I know it sounds cliche but I think that people are afraid to show support or give out compliments because they think “she is too pretty she does not need it”. What sets me apart is that I try to see things through the lens of an observer. Yes, I take pride in my appearance, but what I’m most proud of is my intellect.

My goal is to be a brand that goes beyond just showcasing beauty, style, and interior design. I strive to present not only my everyday appearance but also believe in a happy, and healthy lifestyle. I want to be seen as a natural platform for everyday individuals. I show my face without make up, I share behind the scenes of my journey from being in the corporate world to someone that is in charge of their own success. I have bad days too.

I’m passionate about being more involved in the future, be part of a community and sharing the knowledge I’ve gained from my experiences, especially from moving away from my birth country which was Russia to a Germany where my parents hoped to provide me with a better future. I am the product of their sacrifice; they sold everything to give me a better life. Now, I somewhat repeated their past and also ended up in a country where I did not speak English very well, but it did not stop me from being where I am today. I love the US it gave me a new opportunity; my home is Colorado, and I am proud of what I have accomplished in those 12 years of living here.

I want people to know that if you struggle with language or feel ashamed because you’re not grammatically proficient, your mindset will take you far in life as long as you’re willing to learn. When I first came to the US, my English was limited, and what I thought was a front desk position turned out to be a housekeeping job because I didn’t understand the language. However, I didn’t let that stop me. Instead, it fueled my determination to learn, educate myself, and never give up.

I started as a maid, then worked my way up to a front desk position, landed a customer relations role, experienced different parts of the business such as accounting, stakeholder relations, lead management, event management, translations and marketing. Through these experiences, I gained invaluable knowledge about the inner workings of a business, which has ultimately led me to where I am now—my own boss, negotiating projects, partnerships, and affiliate deals.

What I’ve learned is that there’s value in wearing all the hats in a business. Each role provides free knowledge that contributes to your own future success. The key is to never stop learning and to never give up on yourself. If you want to make your mark in this world, you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. You have to be open to learning new languages, working hard, and pushing yourself beyond your limits.

In my opinion, success is built on failure and experience. When I’ve faced failure and people would tell me I am not good enough (I faced it several times), I would try to do it better next time. There were times when I cried, but I’ve learned that even on the darkest days, the sun still shines the next morning. That has been my “mantra” ever since.

Success requires resilience. It’s about being willing to start over, again and again, until you find what truly fulfills you. It’s about embracing the challenges and using them as stepping stones toward your goals.

Even to this day, I have doubts about whether I’m good enough. But then I remember how I started, how I came to this country, and it gives my life a whole new meaning.

I want people to understand their value. It’s okay to ask questions, to negotiate better payment terms on a project, and to say no if something doesn’t align with who you are.

I made a conscious decision to stop chasing dollar bills and instead focus on what truly brings me joy and what’s best for my family. The era of being stuck in a job you hate is over. Remember, you have a choice; you just have to make it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a great question! If I had a week to spend with a friend in Colorado, here’s what I’d recommend:

1. Pikes Peak: The mountain views are breathtaking, but be sure to check the opening hours to make sure it’s not closed.

2. Izek the troll in Breckenridge: This hike is amazing and very family-friendly. They’ve recently added another troll called Rita, which I’m excited to see.

3. Frisco Bay Marina: It’s one of my favorites. They have a nice play area, perfect for a picnic, and you can even try paddle boarding.

4. Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs: This remains a favorite for its stunning natural beauty.

When it comes to food, Colorado offers so many great options. Here are a few of my favorites:

– Legends Coffee in the Southlands area is perfect for a morning pick-me-up.
– Paris Baguette serves delicious pastries.
– For dining, you can’t beat The Denver Central Market in the heart of Denver. It’s a spacious food hall with diverse vendors.
– Bierstadt Lagerhaus is great for beer enthusiasts, and the entire area has some fantastic spots.

A few other places I would recommend checking out are Cherry Creek, Union Station, Larimer Square, and Lone Tree (Park Meadows). There’s so much to see and do in Colorado! Don’t forget to support your local food vendors they serve the most delicious tacos. Just to name a few: Senior Chicken and La Reyna Azteca. Lastly, I have my eyes on the new La Foret Restaurant which was the former Beatrice and Woodsley restaurant. The ambience is an eye catcher.

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?
The main people who deserve a shoutout are my husband, my daughter, and the current social media world (I know shocking that someone would credit that).

Firstly, I have to give credit to my husband. We met back in Germany where he was stationed as a military US soldier. Our love story began on Halloween night, and at that time I didn’t speak any English. Our communication relied heavily on translators, and as you may know, back in 2010, Google Translate wasn’t as advanced as it is today (it took him several voicemails and pizza nights to make me feel comfortable). Despite the language barrier, he never gave up on me. He encouraged me to express myself, showed me endless patience, and never wavered in his support, even though I couldn’t speak the language. He is my biggest supporter, always encouraging me to believe in myself. He’s the yin to my yang, and even though we are so different, they say opposites attract 🙂

Next, my daughter is my greatest accomplishment in life. She has taught me to see the world through the eyes of a child, to be patient, kind, and to never lose my sense of imagination. As adults, we often lose sight of these things as we get caught up in the “rat race” of working hard and making money.

Finally, let’s talk about social media. It’s getting pretty unreal. People are always chasing celebrity statuses, to the point where they almost lose themselves in this constant comparison game. There is nothing wrong with working hard, earning your dream wages, and spending it on things that make you happy. But I think a lot of people don’t really talk about the impact social media has on mental health. Faces are hidden with filters that make everything look flawless, and suddenly natural imperfections, like pores, are seen as a bad thing. I don’t think there is a right or wrong in this, but we do not wake up like this and I certainly don’t want to promote that imagery on my social media platforms.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/februaryalways/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557726962710

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@februaryalways/videos

Image Credits
Nonny Rodriguez @februaryalways