Co-Founder of No Us Without You, Va'La Hospitality & Finca Tachibana

I've learned that when something that you've worked very hard for doesn't go as expected, you must deal well under the pressure and keep pushing forward with your dignity in stride. Pressure busts pipes, but it also makes diamonds.

I befriended a homeless man in my first year upon moving to LA from the Bay Area. His name was Trayvon. He wasn't necessarily a mentor so much as he was a friend I admired. He is no longer with us anymore, but before passing, he taught me that there will always be someone out there that would love to exchange your problems with theirs. He gave me an infinite perspective that I will never forget.

It's okay for someone to not know everything that they're "supposed to". Their work ethic outweighs anyone else who can push buttons and read spreadsheets. Transparency and honesty are more concrete traits that carve a person's character. Their willingness to learn something that is foreign or unfamiliar can carry them into the next round or into a higher position later on.

Aside from hard work, practicing patience everyday helps to manage our families' livelihoods. If you say you work hard, match this patience with your work ethic. Remind yourself that understanding others is fueled by patience.

In retrospect, I accredit the love for being compassionate and hospitable towards my upbringing. As a child, my family and I took numerous trips to Mexico, which later I learned (economically speaking) was very polarized. Life is far from fair. Seeing a nation's social divide throughout the years is a badge I've carried throughout my life.

I appreciate solitude. The fabric of this stillness allows me to focus and approach any situation with clarity. Being clear headed enables my instincts and thus allows ideas and thoughts to flow. Follow what you feel is honest, fresh, and concrete. Never compromise.

WIthout a doubt, the one thing that I cannot live without in order to do my job is my team. All members of our team allow for me to rest assured that things will get done. They push me as much as they inspire me. The No Us Without You team makes me proud everyday. Each one of our team members reminds me of why I fell in love with hospitality in the first place.