Dorotea Tuzon

From Rags to Business Owner. Here’s My Journey:

Hello there! My name is Dorotea Tuzon, and I want to share my inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a business owner.

Humble Beginnings

At the age of 16, I met my boyfriend who is now my husband, and by 18, we welcomed our first child. Two years later, our second child arrived.

Embracing responsibility at such a young age, my husband and I pushed ourselves to mature quickly and provide for our growing family.

Working tirelessly, we barely had time to see each other or spend quality time with our children. Our schedules were a juggling act, with my husband working early mornings and me taking afternoon and sometimes graveyard shifts, all to afford milk and diapers for our infants.

Thankfully, we had the support of my in-laws to help with babysitting.

It was during these hardships that I made a SECRET promise to myself to dedicate to my husband, and our children—a promise to create a brighter future no matter what. 

Corporate Life

I tried going to college but it was challenging, instead, I focused on my job. I have observed that in every job I undertake, I possess the ability to handle the workload of 2-3 individuals, which has consistently caught the attention of my supervisor due to my strong work ethic and dedication.

As a result, I have been rewarded with promotions that bring increased financial compensation and additional responsibilities.

However, I eventually find myself becoming bored in these elevated roles. It was during this realization that I recognized my potential to achieve even more by venturing into entrepreneurship and starting my own business.

First Investment

Initial Business Venture

While working full-time as a sales representative for a medical device company, I would head straight there after work, selling until 9 PM. It was exhausting, especially on slow days when buyers were rare.

After nine months, I had to close the business and refocus on my job. I was disappointed because I failed my first business.

Meeting and Learning from my Business Mentor

At age 27, I transitioned to a new role as a cell phone repair specialist, where I met my mentor. This remarkable person taught me invaluable lessons about running a business.

I shadowed him daily, eager to learn how he managed his enterprise. I was so dedicated to my goal of changing my family’s future that I did it without pay. I observed that for him, business consumed every aspect of his life—from waking up to dreaming at night.

He taught me that running a business is like raising a child; it requires nurturing until it can stand on its own.

Second Shot at Business

At age 30, armed with my mentor’s wisdom, I decided to give retail another shot. This time, I approached it with more wisdom. I carefully selected a location, negotiated lease agreements, and identified profitable products. I also learned to source products directly from China, arrange shipments to the US, and use a broker to navigate customs.

It was a rewarding experience, witnessing the flow of money and finally being able to save.

Besides saving some funds, I gained experience and confidence and was able to open more carts and stores.

However, in 2016, while conversing with a customer, she pulled out her phone and checked the online price for an item. At that moment, it dawned on me that retail was shifting towards online shopping.

This realization prompted me to explore alternative avenues for generating passive income. After careful consideration, I took the plunge and opened my own insurance agency. It was an exciting and novel venture, allowing me to seize the changing market dynamics and embrace the digital age.

Learning to Pivot and Succeed

In 2017, I took a leap of faith and opened my own insurance agency, even though I had no prior experience in the field. The memories of that opening day are still fresh in my mind, filled with a mix of fear and excitement.

There were days when I wasn’t feeling my best, but I pushed myself to work diligently, driven by the desire to meet both my customers’ expectations and my own ambitious goals.

To achieve this, I made sacrifices in terms of time, energy, and mental well-being, dedicating myself wholeheartedly to fulfilling the needs of my customers, representing the insurance company, and achieving personal success.

Gradually, my agency started to thrive, growing steadily and allowing me to expand by hiring a dedicated team. Presently, my agency remains stable, granting me the flexibility to manage the business remotely.

I have assembled an exceptional team that handles the day-to-day operations with the utmost care, providing me with the freedom to take time off or attend to personal matters.

Undeniably, venturing into the insurance business has proven to be an immensely rewarding journey, surpassing my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a fulfilling and challenging entrepreneurial endeavor.

Giving Back by Helping Other Entrepreneurs

But, I get uncomfortable when I’m comfortable. At this stage, I began seeking new challenges, excitement, and opportunities to help others. I want to fill these years left I have by doing extraordinary things and not wasting time.

That’s when I decided to establish an online presence and harness the power of social media platforms.

My goal is to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs, showing them that their dreams and goals are within reach if they commit their minds and hearts to achieving them.

Today is the best day to start a business, tomorrow will be too late. If you don’t do anything now, then today will be like yesterday, like doing nothing.

I will also share how involving your family can provide the support necessary to overcome obstacles, leaving no room for excuses except self-doubt.

This is how my remarkable journey unfolded, from starting with nothing to becoming a business owner.

But my journey is far from over, as my mission to assist entrepreneurs is just beginning. It’s a path paved with challenges, sacrifices, and invaluable lessons, and I am proud to share it with you.

Thank you for joining me on this inspiring journey, and I hope my story serves as a catalyst for you to pursue your dreams relentlessly and conquer any obstacles that come your way on the path to success.