Welcome to the very first spark of The Chispa. This newsletter is my way of sharing quick reflections, personal stories, and useful tips from life as a Latino creative, entrepreneur, and family man trying to build something meaningful. Think of it as a little flame you can carry into your own week, sometimes small, sometimes bright, always real. Normally, this is a weekly newsletter, but for December, I'll be sharing thoughts a little more frequently; otherwise, I'll slack.
This week, I’ve been thinking about how hard it is to call yourself an entrepreneur. A lot of us in the Latino and minority communities grow up being told to “play it safe,” get the steady job, don’t rock the boat. But sometimes the riskiest thing you can do is never take the risk at all.
Echando Leña al Fuego
As a first‑generation Mexican American, I followed the path my parents encouraged. I studied hard, got involved, earned that scholarship, and graduated from college. More than a decade later, with a family of my own, I carry a different perspective.
If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say: bet on yourself. It almost feels ironic, because my dad was an entrepreneur. He worked his 9‑5 but always had a 5‑9 or weekend hustle to provide for our family. I know I’m not alone. Maybe your mom sold tamales to neighbors, or your dad took on side projects. Those efforts weren’t luxuries; they were necessities to keep the household running.
That spark of entrepreneurship—our chispa—should never be dimmed. Even when parents encourage us to take the safe and traditional route, we can carry the gifts of education, connections, and access without losing that flame. We’re meant to learn the traditional route, apply our parents’ work ethic, and then adapt it into something brighter—something that fits us today and inspires those who come after us.
🎯 Quick Tip: Don’t wait until everything’s “ready” to launch your idea. Pick the smallest version of it and put it into the world. Feedback beats perfection every time.
Chispas en El Mundo
- 📼 Davinci Resolve nos supports ProRes Raw and continues to add new features and quality of life updates so if you haven't switched I'd highly recommend it.
- 📸 Things to checkout: New Pod
- 📚 Quote that I live by: “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost
That’s it for today's chispa. If this hit you, reply back and let me know: What’s one thing you’re working on right now that feels scary but exciting?
and if you enjoyed this email, consider sharing it with a friend.
Written with love fueled by tacos,
Danny