Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Today under the “Our Heroes” series we are chatting with Gregorio Palomino, the man behind – CRE8AD8. Greg has played a major part in various Fortune 5 companies in high ranking positions… In 2007, Greg launched CRE8AD8, LLC(Create-A-Date), a National Event Marketing Agency headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Let’s talk to Greg and find out more on his journey from Fortune 5 to Fortune E[ntrepreneurship]…

DD: Who are you and what kind of corporate job were you at?

GP: I am an award-winning event planner who has also recently received national attention in various print and web articles including Entrepreneur of the Quarter by the Hispanic Executive Quarterly.

DD: What made you leave the job? When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur & why?

GP: My life took a turn away from the corporate world a few years ago when I was afforded the opportunity to take care of my then girlfriend and took FMLA.  I was sitting on the couch being a stay-at-home boyfriend and it was during this time that I realized I really enjoyed managing my own time.  I liked not doing anything for an hour.  I liked working when I wanted to and how I wanted to.  I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I didn’t know how or when it would happen.  So when it was time to go back and face the “Warden” (the corporation), I said to myself “I am going to be comfortable and dress however I want. I think it makes me more productive.” I grew facial hair and started wearing jeans.  I was immediately faced by my superior (keep in mind I was making 6-figures) and he asked me why I looked like that.  When my supervisor was more worried about my appearance than my production, I knew I was in the wrong place.  So I just got up and left.  No security, no severance, nothing lined up – nothing but my bank account.

DD: How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

GP: For a month I sat around and enjoyed my much needed vacation; I had worked for 8 years straight with no breaks whatsoever.  It was time to take a month off.  My trade/skills were sales, marketing and event planning, so I took what I knew and launched my business in July of 2007.  From conception, it took about 45 days to prepare the branding and the launch event.  The first few days went smoothly and were fun and easy. I was getting everything set up and aside from the legal aspects, which were a little more challenging, I did it all by myself with a little mentoring from friends and family who had some experience in starting a business…I also read “How to Start a Business in Texas for Dummies.”  I never thought spending money and designing a brand could be so much fun!  Although there was a lot of research and decision making involved, I still enjoyed myself, and I am now more careful with where the money goes and how it goes out when it does.  Some of the challenges were fighting off all the advertising sales people – I bought from people I knew; I bought from sources I trusted; I signed checks to companies who had a reputation or were in my trade; I stayed away from industry organizations – simple as that. When I am the buyer in my industry, I can be picky on what industry/trade organizations I associate with since most vendors are just out to get their hands on more of your money.  So I found buyers at their industry events, not mine.

DD: What are your Top 5 (or more) tips for employees who want to be entrepreneurs but are hung up on something?

GP: 1) Find something you are passionate about.

2) Find something you love to do.

3) Find something that comes easy to you.

4) Find something you can invest your time in.

5) Find something that doesn’t seem like work.

6) Find something that your friends and family can support you in.

Too many entrepreneurs get into businesses that they know nothing about…and that’s fine, but as your first venture, know what you can make of it, not what it can make of you.  Franchises are tough unless you know the industry.  Plus, I hate giving away profit to carry a name I could have made on my own.

DD: How are you now? Are you still in the same business, and how do you feel?

GP: After 2.5 years, I am still in the same business/industry; however I have expanded and become more diversified.  Yes, we do Event Marketing, but now we also provide concierge services, a travel agency, event brokerage, venue management and I even dabble in some real estate due to my networking capabilities.  I have turned one business into six that all complement each other.

DD: Wow! Thank you, Gregorio, for sharing your story with me.  Your event marketing agency, CR8AD8, has been very successful and I wish you the best of luck in the future. It is so inspiring to hear about how your previous corporate experiences lead to the founding of your multifaceted agency. Congratulations.

GP: Thank you, Devesh, for sharing an interest in entrepreneurship and for understanding why some people need to literally escape from the corporate jail and be set free. I wish much success to all the people out there who get into their own businesses and go for it.  Millionaires and billionaires are made during a recession, but businesses and entrepreneurs fail due to a lack of consideration for the future. Plan for it years in advance…if we didn’t we’d be gone too!

DD: Gregorio Palomino everyone, former corporate employee turned entrepreneur and business founder. His CRE8AD8 agency is going strong and I applaud him for being yet another successful escapee of the corporate jail. Remember what he said: “Know what you can make of it, not what it can make of you.” Very well said.