George Lopez broke ground by embracing his Latino heritage on stage — but his influence has reached far beyond comedy clubs.
Since the final episode of The George Lopez Show aired in 2007, Lopez has opened restaurants and brew halls, created a charitable foundation, and even written a children’s book. Now, he’s paying it forward to fellow Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs by sharing hard-won advice from his career.
Lopez shared nine gems that Hispanic and Latino business owners can learn from duringIntuit’s “Unidos We Grow” Roundtable, which took place on the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month 2022.
1. Don’t be afraid of no
Too often, fear of rejection can stop entrepreneurs from asking for what they need, whether that be for funding to start the business or for higher pricing to earn what they’re worth.
“Let’s not assume that everything is going to be no. Sometimes we’ll look at somebody’s face, and we’ll be, like, ‘Ah, they’re going to say no, look at her face!’ But we just can’t assume that everything’s going to be no,” Lopez said. “And if it is no, then go find somebody that says yes — but don’t be afraid of no.”
2. Chase opportunity
When you’re facing adversity or rejection, it can be tough to keep going. But the opportunities are there if you look for the next open door, Lopez said.
“We can’t be afraid to be able to … look for things and not just assume that the door’s closed because it doesn’t come easy to you. Like, if the door’s closed, find a door that’s open or look for an opportunity somewhere else,” Lopez said. “There’s another door, and there’s always something available. And don’t just give up the first, second, or third time — keep trying.”
3. Make a plan for your money
Lopez said his family lived paycheck to paycheck back when saving money for a rainy day meant using it right away. While working on The George Lopez Show, he got a helpful tip for managing newfound wealth.
“I was a bit possessed by [money] when it did start to show up in my bank account in 2002. And the more the show went on, which was great, the more money you made, the less I saved,” Lopez said. “It wasn’t until the show was over, and I remember this guy who did some television show said, ‘The mistake most people make is to think it’s going to last forever, and it doesn’t, and be prepared for when it ends.’ … I was not prepared for that.”
4. Identify reliable revenue streams
Cash flow can be a challenge for many small business owners. Knowing that you have reliable access to funds, or even a revenue stream you can turn on when you need it, can make a big difference.
“The sartén, the frying pan, that was always on simmer for me was the fact that I was able to go on the road and to do standup. So that was always the machine that was allowing me to work in the other avenues,” Lopez said of his cash flow.
5. Find your inspiration
We know that heritage has inspired many Hispanic and Latino business owners. In fact, Lopez said his inspiration for global growth was an elotero in a park.
“A lot of people will say that a seminal moment in their lives was when we went to the moon or when a rocket took off. But I think for me, I saw a guy selling corn in the park with mayonnaise and cheese and dressed up, when everyone else was just maybe using salt and some butter,” Lopez said. “And once you took a bite, you were hooked. So seminally, this guy steamed some corn and started a business. And then it’s just all over the world now. I mean, I saw a lady trying to eat an elote with a knife and a fork, so it’s not a perfect world. It’s amazing: You can steam one ear of corn and change the world.”
6. Never be late
It’s a practical tip, yet one that can be a challenge for busy business owners with a lot to prioritize: Be on time.
“I also grew up around people that were never on time. And I think to be efficient as a businessperson, or be efficient at anything in life, you have to be on time. If you’re late, I mean, you’re late,” Lopez said. “You can never be late.”
7. Ask for help
Entrepreneurs miss out on opportunities for more success when they try to take on everything themselves, Lopez said.
“To be able to ask somebody for help is considered a weakness in our culture,” Lopez said. “And a lot of the times when you see other people succeed in something that you felt uncomfortable doing, we’ve limited ourselves and we hurt ourselves. So we can’t be afraid to be able to say that ‘I need help.’”
8. Own your mistakes
It can be hard for determined entrepreneurs to admit when they’re wrong, and even harder to apologize for mistakes, but Lopez said it’s a must-do.
“I was maybe 23, and that was the first time that I’d ever apologized to somebody because, culturally, a lot of times we just remove those people from our lives. My grandmother would say, ‘That’s my sister.’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t know you have a sister.’ ‘I don’t!’ You know? So we have to be able to say sorry, we have to be able to own our mistakes. And we have to be able to understand when we’ve received a lesson and to be thankful for the lesson.”
9. Trust your intuition
Sometimes, you’ll have a team of supporters on your side. Sometimes, you’ll go it alone. When it’s just you, Lopez said, you have to trust your intuition and believe in yourself.
“I think we have an intuition, being Latino. I think we have a sense of ourselves. And the moment you start to believe in your intuition and believe in yourself, then you become your own inspiration, and you become the best advocate for you,” Lopez said. “Because maybe somebody’s not with you. Maybe you’re alone in the toughest time. And at some point, when you want to be successful, you’re going to be afraid, and you’re going to have to be able to handle that fear. And you’re going to have to be able to tell yourself that you’re good enough and that it’s possible.”
Keep the celebration and growth of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs going during National Hispanic Heritage Month. To hear Lopez drop more business insights — and to get tips from other Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs — watch the full replay of the “Unidos We Grow” Roundtable, sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks, TurboTax and Mailchimp.
This article originally appeared on the QuickBooks Resource Center and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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13 funny money lessons from classic horror flicks
We’ve investigated hundreds of movies, TV shows and video games for cases where insurance would have helped our heroes protect against survival situations. Unfortunately, most of the time insurance wouldn’t do anything to help in a horror scenario — good luck getting a payout after a zombie apocalypse. The good news is that in a few cases, insurance actually could have helped get a little payback for all the mayhem and destruction.
We’ve tried to keep ending reveals on the down-low, but we can’t promise these reviews are completely spoiler-free. Most of these picks make the list of best horror titles anyway, so now is the perfect time to brush up on your horror flicks.
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Check your business insurance
After Mrs. Voorhees’s son drowns at Camp Crystal Lake, she vows revenge on the new camp counselors. But wrongful death should be covered by the camp’s business liability insurance. Mrs. Voorhees could have sued for damages and likely gotten a payout instead of going mad on the camp counselors. Or she could have done both and used her payout money to buy a snazzier sweater for her murder rampage.
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Pet insurance can be worth the cost
The neighborhood is shocked when Cujo, the family dog, catches rabies and goes on a killing spree. If only this family had kept poor Cujo up to date on his rabies vaccine or kept him from wandering too far from the house. Legally required rabies vaccines only cost about $20 out of pocket, and they’re covered by wellness pet insurance policies, so there’s no excuse not to vaccinate.
DepositPhotos.com
Check your home insurance policy
In this classic story about a haunted house, ghosts spook this family and communicate with the youngest daughter through the TV. Does home insurance cover possession and destruction of a home? Yes, vandalism caused by uninvited ghosts would typically be covered, if you can provide proof of the damage.
And because the real estate developers didn’t disclose that the homes were built on a cemetery, the unlucky homeowners could sue for negligence due to nondisclosure, which would be covered by the developer’s business liability insurance.
Warner Bros. Entertainment / IMDB
Your home insurance can cover food poisoning
In this cult classic B-movie, youngest son Joshua is on a mission to prevent his family from eating poisoned food during a vacation gone wrong. The good news is food poisoning is usually covered by home insurance. That means Joshua could get a decent claim payout if his efforts are unsuccessful.
Unfortunately, camper insurance wouldn’t cover cleaning up the popcorn mess in the RV from the infamous corn scene.
MGM Studios / IMDB
Maybe you need an umbrella insurance policy
A gaming tale as old as time: An evil corporation creates zombies in secret labs, the zombies break loose, and everyone dies. According to video game canon, the Umbrella Corporation inadvertently causes the destruction of Raccoon City after releasing zombies to terrorize the city. The famed pharmaceutical company went bankrupt in 2013, after losing its lawsuit for causing the zombie outbreak.
It’s ironic that the Umbrella Corp. might have been able to use umbrella insurance to help cover the cost of the lawsuit payout, though the loss didn’t stop them from trying to reform the company.
Capcom
Maybe add roadside assistance to your car insurance policy
A married couple’s car breaks down roadside in the middle of the desert while on a cross-country trip. But instead of calling for a tow, the couple relies on help from a passing truck driver, who then abducts the wife. It’s a common scam.
Drivers should never hitch a ride from the first random car or an unexpected tow truck that shows up. Roadside assistance included with a car insurance policy or even a motor club membership like AAA could have gotten the couple a new battery for about $100 and a one-hour wait.
Paramount Pictures / IMDB
Consider buying a travel insurance policy
Filming local folklore and legends in the woods without a backup plan? Bad idea.
There were mobile phones back in 1999, when this movie was filmed, so a call for help might have saved the film crew. That’s assuming they would have had any cell signal or a charged phone battery, a common horror movie trope to counter modern phones. Travel insurance companies can help support rescue and evacuation efforts if you’re stuck in the woods.
Artisan Entertainment / IMDB
Definitely get the renters insurance
There wasn’t anything in Henry’s lease about the hauntings and escaped murderer obsessed with his apartment. Renters insurance would likely help replace any belongings that are damaged due to ghostly possession, assuming Henry could pin the blame on vandalism caused by the killer or ghosts.
Either way, his landlord’s insurance would cover fixing his broken front door and patching up the mysterious hole to another dimension that appeared in the bathroom. But that’s assuming Henry can keep from getting murdered first.
And unlike previous Silent Hill games which featured the hilarious UFO endings, Henry can’t even make an alien insurance claim, unfortunately.
Konami
If you’re alive, get identity theft insurance
This horror mockumentary follows Leslie Vernon as he prepares to join the likes of Freddy, Jason and Michael as an infamous serial killer. However, Leslie Vernon turns out to be a villainous pseudonym, with a backstory stolen from a local town legend. That’s a clear case of identity theft called ghosting — when someone steals the identity, including name and address, of a dead person.
While the real Leslie Vernon can’t sue for damages, the camera crew could have reported Leslie for stolen identity and gotten the heck out of there.
GlenEcho Entertainment
Make sure you have health insurance
Youngest son Dalton was playing in the attic of his family’s new house when he hit his head and fell into a coma. His mother is stuck becoming his caretaker until comatose Dalton can be cured, which starts to become a drain on their finances. We’re hoping they had decent health insurance to help pay for medical bills while they resolved the demonic possession issues.
It’s too bad insurance won’t pay for sessions with a psychic and paranormal investigators since they’re not licensed therapists.
Blumhouse Productions / IMDB
Buy insurance for your vacation home
Poor Tucker and Dale were having a doozy of a day when some crazy college kids showed up at their new vacation property to wreak havoc. Let’s hope Tucker remembered to get vacation home insurance before they started renovating and things started getting bloody.
A vacation home insurance policy with personal liability covers property damage, accidental deaths, injuries and resulting medical bills.
Eden Rock Media / IMDB
You may want to consider a disability insurance policy
In Curse of Chucky, we learn that Chucky once stabbed Sarah, a woman he’d loved, when she was pregnant, resulting in her child being born with a disability.
Though you can’t get disability insurance for an unborn child, a disability insurance policy would have helped Sarah pay the bills while she was pregnant and after she developed mental issues from the trauma of being attacked by a serial killer. The only caveat is that she would have had to take out the policy before she got pregnant.
Universal Pictures / IMDB
Go ahead and buy the life insurance
Sabrina Spellman lives in the town of Greendale along with her friends and family in this television series. The only problem is there’s a crisis there every other week, and someone always ends up dead.
We’re actually not sure why anyone still lives in this cursed town, but it’s pretty clear every Greendale resident should take out life insurance. Just don’t make a life insurance claim if you’re going to use your Cain Pit to get resurrected or you risk facing claim fraud.
If only the show could be resurrected so we’d get a season five.
Netflix
By horror movie rules, you might not need insurance because you won’t live long enough to make a claim. But in reality, having the right insurance could make all the difference in a horror scenario.
This article originally appeared on Finder.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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