I’ve never really struggled with adult acne, other than the occasional hormonal breakout. But lately? Life is life-ing hard, and I’m stressed the fu@$ out. My skin is screaming at me.
Getting back into business has reminded me of all the breakouts, the hair loss, and the sleepless nights I dealt with last year. But I knew that would come... and I jumped in anyway.
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a business owner. Sure, I might complain to my other founder friends, but I genuinely love it. I love putting out fires, I love the chaos, I love seeing a project come to life. Because nothing compares to when a customer tells me how much they love our products. That makes it all worth it.
But this relaunch has been… tough. We don’t have all the resources we once had, and that’s been humbling. It’s also a full-circle moment because it reminds me of when I first launched Becalia exactly seven years ago. Back then, if I got one sale a month, I’d celebrate like I won the lottery.
I had a full-time job that helped me fund my dream, though that came with personal debt that later bit me en las nalgas. So, in many ways, this feels different. I don’t have the same financial safety net. The opportunities and resources that once existed for small, minority-led businesses have shifted. And that’s okay.
Because I believe in what we’ve built in our community, our products, and in myself, I know I can pull us through.
I’m writing this for anyone who might be in a hard season right now. You’re not alone. Don’t let social media fool you; no one has it all figured out. That’s why I try to stay transparent as a founder without being a total buzzkill. The glamorization of “girl bossing” is wild. The truth? Most of us micro-business owners are running our companies out of our homes, trying to make magic happen with limited resources and a whole lot of determination.
Seven years in, I’m proud of what I’ve built, even if it means starting over.
At one point, Becalia was everywhere in magazines like Parents Latino and in collaborations with UPS at NYFW. But the truth is, those were also the years when many companies focused on supporting minority-owned brands. During the pandemic, we flourished (who remembers our hand sanitizers?). But last year, things shifted.
Election years are tough on small businesses. Spending slows, our retail partners closed, and most didn’t place a single order. That reliance on wholesale partners ended up being our downfall. And because my other business, Hola Amiga Experience, kept me busy with large-scale events, I failed to act fast enough.
I own that. Relaunching Becalia feels like my way of making amends to myself, to our customers, to the brand I love so much.
So, what have I learned in these seven years? A few things (and honestly, I’m still reminding myself of them daily):
1. There’s no perfect roadmap.
Everyone’s journey looks different, just like people do. Stop comparing.
2. Don’t chase perfection; focus on excellence.
Perfection doesn’t exist. Excellence means showing up as your best self, for your family, your business, and you.
3. “This too shall pass.”
Tom Hanks once said: When things are bad, this too shall pass. When things are good, this too shall pass. Everything is temporary, and that’s oddly comforting.
4. Closed mouths don’t get fed.
Ask for help. The worst someone can say is “no.”
5. Get out of your own head.
The only person you’re competing with is you. Everyone’s going through something, even the ones who seem like they’ve got it all figured out.
6. Take risks.
Yeah, sometimes I end up picking up the pieces, but I always learn.
7. Nothing is a failure if you learn from it.
Mistakes are lessons. Sometimes painful ones. But they make you stronger.
Seven years in, and I’d do it all over again.
Seven years in, and I’m still not giving up.
To those who’ve been here since day one, thank you.
To those who are new, welcome (and sorry, I know this isn’t your typical brand blog 😂).
For our 7th anniversary, I have one big favor to ask:
Please share Becalia. Tell your friends, your family, your followers about what we do. About our community. About why we exist.
Thank you, mil gracias, for your support throughout all these years. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every second. 💛
