Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mariano Cuesta, Partner of Maax Brands, LLC., located in Doral, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are the owners of Maax Caffeine Gum, the world's strongest caffeine gum. Our customers are people who consume caffeine, whether it is in the morning to wake up, in the afternoon when you need to focus, or even at night if you have to attend an event and you're feeling tired from the day. We've seen many people use it to exercise as well because it doesn't fill up your stomach with liquid which can be a problem for many people.
Tell us about yourself
I am naturally an active person, which is exactly what led me to start this business. I love to be zoned in on things, to be alert and be alive at the moment. Whenever I feel sluggish or tired, I know I am not the best version of myself. I've relied on coffee to keep me going, but I realized that after the 3rd or 4th cup of coffee, it became very unsettling in my stomach. I started to look for alternatives (outside of energy drinks because I have never been a fan of them) and couldn't really find anything that worked well, which is what led me to experiment with chewing gum. As we started to share our product with other people, we realized that there were many others that felt the way I had felt years ago. Not only that, but we started to realize that there are so many areas in life where caffeine chewing gum is not only an alternative to consuming caffeine but the preferred method. Think about people who drive for a living or are in the medical field, are college students, or even athletes. You can't drink a cup of coffee as you are throwing a football. Remember those weird lawsuits from someone getting coffee spilled on them as they go through the drive-through? You can spill Maax Caffeine Gum, and you won't have a medical emergency.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has honestly been just being able to get to the point where we have a product that people are willing to pay for. And when that person is so excited about the product that they end up sharing it with their friends and family, I mean, that drives us to keep going.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The mind games. The self-doubt. Everyone thinks it's a fairy tale to start a business. It's hard. It's painful. It takes a long time (and it always takes longer than you imagined it would take). No one, and I means not a single person, truly understands what goes on in your mind. This is an area in entrepreneurship that doesn't get talked about enough. One morning you see sales are up, and you feel this insane shot of adrenaline. Later on, on the same exact day, some event happens, and you're like, "Damn. What in the world am I doing? What makes me think I can do this?" It's a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First and most important is to try to understand what this is going to take. Understand that things take time and that you will have pain points. It is important to truly put yourself in that moment of hurt and pain and ask yourself, "Would I be able to handle that and keep going?"
Second, when you start a business, you almost need to treat it more like a project. I've found that when you treat it like a project, you are more willing to take feedback and are more honest with yourself. You are more willing to stop and make a change contrary to your original idea of how the product should work or be applied. Remember, you are ALWAYS learning about your product. If you keep an open mind (and never feel like you know it all), you'll give yourself a better chance of succeeding.
Third, consistency. When you find something that works, keep doing it. It may become boring, but you need to embrace that boredom.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.maaxgum.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maaxgum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maaxgum/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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