3 minute read
Creating AMOR Umbrella
From No Mission to Creating AMOR Umbrella
By Niurka Castaneda & Nefertiti San Miguel
Found myself to be a total hot mess with a thick Cuban accent when I transitioned from the military into the civilian world, forced to learn a new way of living unfamiliar to me, had to snap out of depression and come up with a sustainable plan. After considering my choices, decided to use my education benefits and go back to school. That was a critical moment because it gave me the opportunity to explore the world of business at a deep level and I found a way to apply my many years of experience in the field of logistics.
While attending a supply chain program, at the Miami Dade College, I turned a simple class project into a life-changing enterprise, not only for me, but for many of my peers, because I created AMOR Umbrella, a heart-centered organization dedicated to help women veterans and military families to start new businesses to improve their own economy and the quality of the communities where they live.
When I had to navigate my exit from the army, and decided to establish my own business, I experienced first-hand how the whole thing can get so confusing, challenging, frustrating and wicked expensive! That’s what prompted me to write a business guide, bringing solutions to the people facing similar situations. That same business guide, quickly, evolved into a college course. As you can see, it all comes down to informed decisions, action taking and dedication.
Now, my new mission is to inspire others to be creative and launch their own entrepreneurial ideas. The thrilling part is to facilitate the same resources and strategies that worked for me, so, more of us can become successful in the next chapter of our lives, away from the military. It lights me up bridging the gap between these 2 often divided worlds - military and civilian.
I have found it critical to take full inventory of personal talents and transferable skills along with life experiences and passions. Then, you need to craft a plan on howto provide something of value that might be missing in the market. We all have different gifts; the key is to find out how to put those gifts to service. Don’t be afraid to create your own space in the market and be a pioneer. The world needs more creative minds. I invite you to become an explorer, explore your own ideas, explore new environments, and explore new possibilities. And make it a point to have fun along the way! Foster your inner child, and play what’s called Imagined Reality, which is a neuroscience mental hack. How would it feel to make those dreams go from fantasy into real experiences?
Changes are the only constant in life, don’t be afraid of them, turn them into something big and flamboyant, be flexible and adjust course as many times as needed.
I encourage you to actively look for ways to grow, whether it is by reading a book, listening to a podcast, or taking a cooking class. The important thing is to engage into something different so you can expand your way of thinking, and expand your current vision of the world. I want for more of us to get past that PTSD we are so famous for and start living our own version of the American Dream.
- Niurka Castaneda
I invite you to send me a message and share, what’s your version of the American Dream? And what are you going to take upon yourself to bring the change you want to see in the world?
niurka@amorumbrella.com https://amorumbrella.com
Lovingly, Niurka Castaneda & Nefertiti San Miguel
