REINVENT AND UNDERTAKE
(SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES)

Determination, Decision-Making, and Perseverance are the Key to Entrepreneurship.

READY TO GROW YOUR MANUFACTURING BUSINESS PROFITABLY? SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY.
SUMMARY

Denisse

Hello our friends from the Reinvent and Undertake podcast. Today we are with a new guest. His name is Danilo Burgos. He is creator, founder and CEO of Alphanova Consulting. How are you, Daniel? Welcome to the show or welcome to the podcast.

Dan

Yes very good. Thanks. Thanks for the invitation and thanks for having me.

Denisse

Thank you very much for spending this time with us. I know you are a very busy person and thank you very much for sharing too.

Dan

You.

Denisse

Your history. And you. Oh, I forgot the word and your tour. Your tour. In your business, Danilo, can you tell me who Danilo Burgos is?

Dan

Well, Danilo Burgos is an entrepreneur who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. He finished his studies and then went to Puerto Rico to finish university and always had that entrepreneurial spirit and looked for opportunities and ended up starting in the United States, having a career in manufacturing and then he started his business five years ago consulting companies in that manufacturing industry.

Denisse

And they are focused. Your company is focused on precisely helping all those manufacturing companies to reduce costs, increase productivity, improve employee responses, and also improve the company culture. It isn’t true?

Dan

If right. East. Most of the companies that do what we do focus on the technical side, meaning effectiveness, optimization, those kinds of areas for improvement. We try to strike a balance between that and also create a healthy culture. With the market, this, of employment that is so competitive today, it is important that companies offer only or beyond just a job, but also a work environment where employees are recognized and are involved with the company and its growth.

Denisse

Magnificent, huh? Well, when you introduced yourself you said you were an industrial engineer. I also saw that you have certifications, not certifications. But you are also and did a master’s degree in business administration. You also have a master’s degree in Quality Management as well, and you also have other training that helped you in your entrepreneurship.

Dan

Yeah, look, what happens is that it’s like going through the story of one’s life. One evolves and changes. When I was little my. My dad planted those seeds for me. Of businessman, of. To think about business, but they never manifested themselves until I was older and In my career I started Industrial Engineering and I always thought I was going to be an engineer and I was going to continue my career in a company.
And initially for pharmaceuticals, because there were many companies of that type in Puerto Rico at that time. But then I realized that the field was not open to me, no, I did not find opportunities and I gave up on that a bit, I gave up, I decided to evolve and look for other alternatives and I remember when I was finishing my first master’s degree in Quality Engineering, I took a class accounting and I felt quite strange because it was something very different, but at the same time it was very interesting because it was how the business works and I decided that I wanted to do a master’s degree in business.
I always thought it would be a good balance to understand the technical side of the company, but also the business side. Exact. And eventually throughout my career I realized that I could start a business. And that was where then me. I set out to develop myself to start my business.

Denisse

So your motivation comes from an early age, but when you say yes, I’m going to open my business, that’s the right time, the best time to start a business.

Dan

Yes, look, I was in a company where I was exposed to another, to another consulting company and I quickly identified that this is the type of business that I want. But when you come as an immigrant to the United States, a country so big and powerful, so many companies and so many resources, you feel so small, so insignificant. And for many years I gave up on that idea and it wasn’t until I was in another company.
They sent me to training and the person who was giving the training was a consultant and I got concerned. You just how are you doing today? How can it be? And I remember that throughout that week-long class it was two separate weeks. Every afternoon that we finished the la, the presentation of the class, I stayed with him for an hour and he stayed answering my questions as how it was and how he can and how you alone?
And that, that was amazing. A business lesson, of life, of believing in yourself. And from that moment I said yes I can and yes I will do it, because here one sees many large companies, but he taught me that this person taught me that what really makes the economy here in the United States are small businesses. and not really big business.
For example, 99% of businesses, a very high number, are small businesses, considered small businesses.

Denisse

Above all, everything that is SMEs, not small, medium, or micro-enterprises, and all those companies are really the ones that drive the economy, and not only in the United States, but throughout the world. I think.

Dan

Yes, I think that’s how I’ve also learned that, but I definitely don’t see a country that big, I don’t think so, either it’s big or it doesn’t work and at that time I realized that it wasn’t that big.

Denisse

And besides, we ourselves don’t think what am I going to do here? In other words, I am going to open, who is going to listen to me, who is going to want me even to hire my services? In other words, what can I offer that is not already on the market?

Dan

Yes, it definitely, definitely was. It was a pretty good time to tell you from the time I found out this service was offered to that person. Three years passed in which I gave up. I said no, I can’t here. I can’t compete, it’s too much. And when I spoke with that person, I realized that it really is possible and that it doesn’t matter where you are, if you open up, you can open up to yourself, you can make way.

Denisse

wow! And what was the first step you took?

Dan

Look, I remember when I was on my way back to my house I was driving, I had to drive like five hours and obviously after having that realization, my mind was focused on that all the time and I remember the day the first step was the name , the name of the company, as I remember the day when this is the name and I jumped.

That’s how it was where my company already has a name, I already have a name.

Denisse

A revelation?

Dan

Yes Yes Yes. Because I like that there is a meaning or that there is a type of motivation. In other words, it can not only be for, for money, or yes, obviously businesses are there to provide money and everything, but also one contributes something to society, something valuable that other people benefit from, either for a product, service or an experience that is provided.

That the name came first.

Denisse

wow! And after the name what else did you do?

Dan

Look after the name. Look, I remember. I remember that I started experimenting with business cards and technology and the Internet. I remember what, what. That I made a logo and put a name and put my email or my email. And the other day I was at my mother and sister’s house and there I saw that they had the first card at home.

Imagine the memories it brought back.

Denisse

I imagine that, I imagine, because I imagine that you were sitting at your computer with thousands of dreams, thinking about how it would be next year. It will not really be possible to realize this dream, it will really be possible, it will be possible to start this project and it will be successful. Because I think that one of the worst things that we have, well those of us who undertake or who want to open something is uncertainty, right?

Dan

Yes of course. Look, hey I’ve learned through my father and other people that it has to be within you or you have to acquire it and really internalize it as a way of life. For example, I never liked being an employee and I always, always had that as no, no, I don’t like the word boss, I don’t like someone having authority over me.

And I felt like I was exhausted between those years until I rediscovered it with this person. But once I saw that it was possible, it was like a complete commitment that I said eh, that is, whenever, how long it takes. But there I went and from then on I headed my career in that direction, that is, the roles, the types of companies, where I worked, the things I learned, who I looked for, the mentors, who I asked questions.

Everything was everything with that in mind, always from then on.

Denisse

So you had mentors who helped you create your project and start it up?

Dan

Yes Yes. I have had mentors, but more in my growth as an individual, as a leader, as a professional.

Denisse

Personal growth.

Dan

Exactly, like personal growth. Obviously I saw them as for me, my. My role at that time for the company, but I saw it more as, uh, beyond that, I saw it as the services that I was going to provide to potential clients. Yes, yes, more recently, yes, I have had mentors to start a business, because obviously my area of ​​expertise is not in marketing and sales, since that is an area that I have had to develop outside of, engineering and manufacturing.

And sometimes you have to seek help. Nope?

Denisse

Exact. And tell me one thing, I think that the important thing in general terms, the important thing when you open a company, is to define your value proposition.

Dan

It isn’t true?

Denisse

And also define the pain points of your client. Then. How? How did you design your value offer? How who guided you? Or did you just sit down and start to see what methodologies you could use or how? How did you do that part?

Dan

Look, I tried by myself for a while, and I did it without success, because there are some principles that I have learned with some mentors that I have a year ago in marketing. Sometimes one thinks that the client is going to focus on our methodology or how we do things, when in reality they focus on what is the result that you are going to bring to my company.

And that was what I discovered with my mentors. Apart from that, identifying your client as clearly as possible is a very valuable form of market, either when you start or start with your marketing message and offer your services. If you talk to the world saying I’m here to serve the world, you’re going to say I don’t know who you’re talking to, but if I do, when your message speaks to that person and says Oh, you’re speaking to me directly, that is , I am the person, for me it is the message, because you are beginning to attract or create interest in them.

And it was with, with the help of my mentors, who your client is, where you have more experience, what is more comfortable, what are you passionate about and what you can offer that part is a little easier, because What I do is very tangible for them, like saying improving efficiency is going to bring more money to their company and so on and so forth.

Exact.

Denisse

And how did you validate your business idea?

Dan

validate it? Look, social media is incredibly powerful and to a certain extent for many years no, I didn’t participate, but it’s almost impossible for businesses to have a business and not participate in social networks. So through social media I contacted people in my, in my network and I basically asked them for their opinion and so people gave me, they gave me their feedback, there was no other way to validate it was that no a long time later, not a short time or a lot, but eventually people, clients, prospects approached me and obviously one always asks how did you find me?

What called your attention? And there you go investigating and you realize. A person told me Look, look, 25 providers and your page was the only one that spoke directly to me, that I said Wow, this person is exactly what I am looking for.

Denisse

How important for everyone who listens to the podcast, it is super important to know all the pain points of the clients, of our potential clients. Not as that Danilo says, knowing him so well, so well, that you can speak to him directly from your website, that the message is direct and that way that client will look for you as was your case. Magnificent Daniel.

And how did you get your first client? What did you feel as well?

Dan

Imagine an emotion! I remember what I did, I attended many events of associations of people in that industry and one day I met a person and this one no, no, I had no contact for a while, but when the opportunity presented itself I started it because I went, I lost my job in the business, I was a bit lazy and then I had, they let me, they let me go and then I said look, I’m leaving here, here I go, I’m going to start my business.

Right now I don’t want to work for anyone anymore. I may or may not have enough experience, but I think I feel like I have enough to add ideas and add value to companies. And then when. When that time came, I made a list of all the people I knew that it might be and I approached that person and coincidentally one of the companies he communicated with needed help and that was the communication.

passed the

Denisse

and you took advantage of it.

Dan

Yes

Denisse

Ah good. Y. And the following clients, for example. Well, there are so many methods, not for clients, one per network, then cold call. So I think that I can’t do the most difficult one. I don’t know, I have to practice because. Okay, but. But how about you make cold calls and use your social networks as you said that you also have another method or strategy to get clients?

Dan

Look, there are several things. One was the next customer. I got it a while ago that I discovered the power of content. When you put content and the person is interested and attracts people to you, attracts people and at one point towards that, then I called him, contacted those people and then that told me of his interest. And through that I got my second client and around the same time I got another one through referral.

In other words, when you do a good job and a person sees you, it’s like a form of marketing, because if someone knows another person who has the same need and you see that you do a good job, they can refer you. And so I got almost those two clients were at the same time, a person saw me and told me. Ok, look, I know someone who has been looking for help in this area and he tells me that he can’t find it, he gave me his information and that’s why we didn’t contact and we ended up doing jobs together.

Denisse

And one more question to your first client, did you get it and did you already have your website? In other words, you already had all the identity of your company assembled or. Or do you still have nothing?

Dan

I had it because already, by that time I was already working on that idea when they told me in a month you won’t have a job anymore, well it was like they made the plane as a background and put full power on it. Ok, the time has come, so hurry here we go. So I started my first, the first iteration of me, of my page and today it is completely different.

But the first iteration to have something. A friend helped me, he gave me something very simple and with that, with that I started too.

Denisse

You also put everything Lean into practice for me, right?

Dan

Yes Yes of course. It’s trying to make things simpler than the message out. Sure, you obviously need help getting to the message that will resonate with prospects. But if at the beginning it was like that, only me and then with the most basic exact thing.

Denisse

And now your team has grown or do you have a team?

Dan

Now I am first and foremost I have an assistant who helps me with all the truth about what happens behind the scenes to provide the service, to make change. I did all the marketing, everything helps me and I find myself in the process of meeting and interviewing people because I was already starting, reaching the point where the work is already a lot for a single person like me, and obviously my goal is not just to be doing the work, but bring other people to do most of the work and that’s it.

Now I work a little, but now I focus more on leading the company and where we are headed.

Denisse

Of course, and during, well, during the whole process, let’s say it’s the escalation and growth of your company. EM what? What strategies did you implement?

Dan

You mean like marketing or.

Denisse

EM Yes, because for example, you already had your first client. The second client, and after everyone left, they received other people for you to work with them. So after that, do you have other, other advertising or marketing techniques or strategies for your customers to reach you or not?

Dan

Yes, yes, look. Eventually I started posting articles on my page. I have over 40 articles on different topics. It got to a point where I started looking for help from mentors. Some mentors helped me with my, with, with the mentality, with my way of thinking, as a businessman. In other words, no longer an engineer, no longer an employee, now an entrepreneur. Are you starting right now?

Ok, the mind changes, then yes, very difficult, then with marketing. And then I thought ah, look, to a certain extent I do, I’ve already made calls as you say, this cold door and I managed meetings and discussed with people. No, I wasn’t very successful in that area, but what I have found is that the social media opportunity is so great that there is no need to call someone who has never heard of you.

The best way, I think, is to make the approach. Without, without the without starting with calls, but starting with, with content. Let him help you, let him help him contribute. And when the call comes, the person is already better prepared for it. To be more receptive to that call. Okay.

Denisse

And what is the hardest? What is the hardest and most difficult thing that you have seen in these five or six years since your company was created?

Dan

Yes, look at the fact that the person who starts a business has to think that it is not something in the short term. And today I find that people are very impatient, that is, the most difficult thing is to have the patience that things will not happen at one’s pace, they will happen at the pace of customers and the market.

And sometimes, when you are an entrepreneur there are ups and downs, there are times when you feel that you have mastered it, that you are in a good place and there are moments when you feel that way. I don’t know if this will work. I mean, that ups and downs of emotions, especially at the beginning. The first years are the most difficult, I think, because many people regret it and finish and do not close.

And I feel that, thanks to God, I am a very persevering person, but sometimes it becomes difficult for him to believe that you are going to achieve it and that you have to change and improve and make adjustments until you reach the point where you are having little hits. But it is time to have that perseverance, that patience.

I feel like it’s the hardest.

Denisse

If it is the mentality of the entrepreneur, right? But do you also have a bit of training in coaching, personal coaching?

Dan

Yes, look, I received training in the company that I had that was previously and obviously I put it into practice a lot with different leaders and I had many, many sessions and I still have sessions with leaders to help them develop.

Denisse

Ah, ok, yes, it is super important to work on the mentality of an entrepreneur, right? Because as you say he has highs, lows, sometimes much more lows than highs.

Dan

And mostly awake.

Denisse

But as you say, not perseverance and the desire to carry out your project. I think that’s what motivates people to keep going. Nope?

Dan

Yes, it definitely is. It’s achieving that dream, not having that motivation, and keeping and staying focused on that.

Denisse

Yes, sometimes I’m on days when I want to throw in the towel, well, what I do is close my computer or go for a walk, I’m going to do something, but when I come back I’m already fresher. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. We can continue?

Dan

Yes. This is, as they say, a roller coaster of emotions.

Denisse

Yes, exactly. And that I still do not get my. Not officially my consultancy, I’m doing everything, creating my website and I don’t know what, but. But yes before you start. And I’m with ups and downs is. Imagine, as I say, what it will be like when I launch everything and. And get me going?

Dan

Well, and it’s a trip. In other words, even the people I talk to, who are more advanced, who have bigger companies, say the same thing. In other words, it doesn’t stop, my dad always tells me it’s like no, you can’t let your guard down because there’s something around the corner, a bigger client or you lose a client or the economy goes down or an employee leaves. goes.

There is always something and how.

Denisse

How does a pandemic arrive?

Dan

Or a pandemic arrives and you have to change your entire work model. Exactly, that does not stop as an entrepreneur. The clerk goes and drinks, does his job and gets his check. No, but the entrepreneur has to worry about accounting, sales, marketing, the delivery of the service or the product in all aspects, it is much more complicated.

Exact.

Denisse

And tell me what is it? Which? What was the biggest mistake in your entrepreneurship process that you made?

Dan

Look, I think maybe the biggest mistake of maybe was not seeking help earlier. I tried for several years to do it myself, and look, I’m not a sales or marketing person, but I read a lot and tried and even managed to get clients on my own. But it got to the point where I said no, no, no, like no, I haven’t gotten to where I want as fast as I want.

And if I offer help to other people because other people can’t help me because I was so reluctant to seek help until eventually I did. And I am so glad I did and continue to seek help. I have mentors and they go to people who have already been through this, who have been able to help me, of course.

Denisse

Magnificent. And which one is it? What has been one of your greatest successes in this process?

Dan

Look, I feel that perseverance is something too big in this. In other words, take action and be persevering. Nope? When mentors tell me something, I try to take action. When I see something that doesn’t go well, I take action and stay focused on seeing that this isn’t something that takes a day or a week or a month.

I am after years and but when you already achieve it, well, things become much easier, but being like this, being determined, taking action and having that perseverance, I think that have been the things that I have succeeded in plus.

Denisse

Yes, and they are keys. You know that many of the interviews that I have done in this podcast, that is repeated. Perseverance, action and all those words already stick with me. And then I say well, that, that is, that is, that is the key. That is the key to success, definitely. EM And well, now we come to this part of the closing questions, and I wanted you to tell me what motivates you to continue day by day.

Dan

Oh well, various things. Look, I want to prove to myself that I can do this, that I can have a company with a work team, always achieve great things, I don’t know, but always when I was little, the people I knew told me: you are going to achieve great things, you are going to achieve great things. And sometimes I didn’t believe it, sometimes you know, you don’t believe it.

Besides, I have a family, I have a son and obviously I want to set a good example. And this is how I anticipate the moment when it is time to comment on these things, share them with him and teach him these experiences so that he can forge his own path. Whoever it is does not have to be the same as me, but at least it is not because he does not know that he can be a businessman or an entrepreneur, since he chooses his path, but knowingly.

Exact

Denisse

And you could share with us a book, TV show or podcast that helps you get inspired and have new ideas regarding life in general or your business.

Dan

Look, I can tell you several in terms of books, there is a book called in English, it’s called Rich Dad, Poor Dad, that is, by an author named Robert Kiyosaki and he talks about how an entrepreneur thinks and I remember reading that book and it was like my dad was talking to me, but in a more polite and refined way.

And that book was very powerful in reaffirming that the mentality of an entrepreneur is different from that of an employee, it does not have. It does not mean that it is better, but different. But there are other programs that there are some programs that have inspired me greatly. Here in the United States there is one called Shark Tank, they make investments and every time I see it and achieve and see a person who, who achieves and grows their business, that inspires me a lot.

There’s another show called The Profit with a guy named Marcus Lemonis. He does, let’s say, something similar to what I do, going into business, the only thing that he invests and helps them. That has been a lot of education. He gives many guidelines on how to make improvements, how to understand business. And recently I discovered a person here called Grant Cardone, that he is an entrepreneur, sometimes a bit aggressive in his sales methodology, and that is why I rejected him for many years.

But lately reading me has made me more open to listening to him and everything he says has really been very inspiring, many things they say.

Denisse

No wow. I’m going now, I’m going to look for those books, I’m going to look for them.

Dan

And they’re very, uh, yeah, they’re very, very, very inspiring, honestly.

Denisse

Magnificent. And do you have any routine that helps make your day more productive?

Dan

Yes. Look, I always start my day by doing exercises in what I do first thing in the morning. And that’s when I listen to, for example, Grant Cardone or Robert Kiyosaki on YouTube, there are many videos of them. I always try to listen or something that inspires me, something that educates me or something that brings me a smile so that my day starts on a good note.

Denisse

Excellent! Good. And now one of the somewhat difficult questions How do you deal with failure?

Dan

Look, that’s difficult because sometimes you feel really bad when, right, there is a client that you like and you don’t get it. Closing a business, something I have learned. Look, there is a quote from a player I saw called LeBron James, here he says don’t get too high on the highs, but don’t go too low on the lows and I’ve always taken that.

I’ve gone into it a lot like you can’t get too excited because I’ve had chances. Clients say yes, let’s go ahead and in the end it doesn’t happen. And I’ve had other failures and neither. I have also learned that it is not the last chance. And as entrepreneurial entrepreneurs we always have more opportunities. We are in control of how to create them, so that gives me a lot of encouragement that there is always something later.

And failures are sometimes the best lessons to learn.

Denisse

Exact. And what would you advise people who want to open a business and don’t know what to do or where to start?

Dan

Well, look, there are several things, educate yourself. When I was at that time, when I still said yes and the name, I began to investigate here in the United States and an office that encourages the creation of businesses and they give you free training in marketing matters, accounting matters, like you form your business, legally what you have to know. And around there I began to educate myself on how it works and what I have to know and they even give you free mentoring, all for free, that the government has a budget for that, to help entrepreneurs start businesses, wow I want to be educated , thing that when you start you already start with an advantage, you know,

many things that Another person I know launches without that, well he’s going to know and he’s probably going to make a lot of mistakes out there. I would start by identifying who the key customer is, if there really is a market, and how you can help.

Denisse

What great advice, really great. Y. And a question outside the script.

Dan

Because.

Denisse

You worked with Space X. How did you get that client?

Dan

Look, that client came organic. Or that person was looking for someone to help him in his warehouse. And this was quite something. How to say it? Pretty simple. We barely spoke. What he needs. What are you looking for? I need someone to see me and help me with this area of ​​my warehouse. And we put a date, and it was pretty, pretty simple. Honestly, this wine so organic.

Organic wine to us.

Denisse

So good so good. And it has reached the point of or how long it took until you broke even, not a margin where you already had profits.

Dan

Well, look, partly in my progress I have had my own clients, but I have also had to do what we call here, subcontracting and it means that someone has a contract and needs help because they have more work than their company can handle. And they hire professionals like me, I partly did that. That’s an area that people can also when they’re starting out in what they find their own customers, they can also supplant their income and use.

And that’s where I started and then I kept looking for my clients at the same time and then I was able to make a profit and. And well, there is already one, continue. But the point is to never stop doing marketing, no matter how busy you are with your clients, you can’t stop. And sometimes that happened to me, that I had clients, I didn’t have time anymore, I didn’t do marketing and well, when those projects were finished, I started all over again.

And that, that’s, that’s not good, not at all.

Denisse

Ah, well, well, I think that from this talk we take away many, many, many lessons learned, a lot of advice. I wanted to thank you Danilo for being with us and sharing this hour. Well, I’ll tell you that now here in Geneva it’s 12:15, over there Danilo in the United States.

Dan

It’s at 5:15 p.m.

Denisse

Five and 15. Well, thank you very much Danilo and well I’ll let you rest after your long work and well, until next time.

Dan

Thank you very much. I thank you for the invitation and I hope it will help your listeners. Truth in his, in his travels, in his journey, for what it is to be an entrepreneur.

Denisse

Very well thanks. Thanks for your invitation.

Dan

Thank you very much. I thank you for the invitation and I hope it will help your listeners. Truth in his, in his travels, in his journey, for what it is to be an entrepreneur.

Denisse

Bye Bye.
Language »