Horacio's Story

December 2008: McAllen, TX

If you were to tell me seven months ago that I was going to have a business of my own, I would have probably laughed. But now, I can proudly say I own one and I’m not even out of high school. It hasn’t hit me yet, but it probably will when I start paying taxes.
People say that luck is when preparation meets opportunity, but I think many people leave out two necessary parts: desire and execution. You might be prepared and have the opportunity to do something but, if you lack the desire or don’t execute your plan, then you won’t accomplish anything.

I began planning for my business after I drove by a perfect location that was near a new school that was just being built. I had worked on a Ford PAS project that had to do with choosing a location for a new business plan near a school and target students, and as I was driving by, the idea just clicked in my head. When I got home I told my sister and my mom about my idea and we began to make the necessary plans for it. That day we called the owner of the suites and we gave a down payment. A day later we found out that people had called right after us to reserve a suite to start a snack bar; too bad we called first.

My mom, my sister, and I began our partnership and have all put equal amounts of hard work and money into this business. My sister and I took care of the most of the paperwork while my mom was in charge of buying the supplies required to open the snack bar, 8th Wonder.
In order for the business to run as successfully as possible, I began to do research on what the students wanted. Their preferences would essentially create my business, so I asked permission to conduct a survey at a middle school to find out what the students liked. Afterwards, I created the menu according to the results that I received and after being delayed due to remodeling issues and permits, we are finally open!

My football coach preached to our team to start something with the end in mind; that’s what I did. I want to improve my family’s economic status that was seriously shaken up after my Dad had an accident and injured his back. I also wanted to somehow get money to pay for my education after I graduate from high school. Maybe some day we can expand and my Dad can quit his job and take care of one location and be home with us.