Wendy Rodriguez Crushes Any Challenge Thrown Her Way and She Reveals How She Does It

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Wendy Rodriguez has adjusted to a lot of change throughout her life from leaving her native country Guatemala and being a teen mom. She eventually went on to buy her first franchise, Curves, at just 21, run her own dance franchise Ultimate Sweat Zone, and a nonprofit, be the president of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and be a media personality. Her secret to success has been to embrace change and focus more on solutions rather than dwelling on the problems.

How did you buy your own franchise at 21, because I'm 23 and it's a struggle out here?

I was just always a big-time worker and I was with a great husband at the time and we did it together. He owned a business and I would work while going to school for nursing. We believed and prayed and things just happened. We purchased our home when the market was down, he fixed the house, got money from it and we were able to purchase the business.

So you said you went to school for nursing?

Yeah, I started, but then I just ended up buying a franchise. Everything just turned.

How did you get into dancing?

I've been a dancer all my life. Then I opened a ladies' gym and then at the ladies' gym they would say, "They don't have anything for kids." I said, "You know what, that's a great idea!" I have a lot of faith and I believe God gives you strategic ideas. It was a vision and then we put it into action.

It sounds like you've done a lot of pivoting in your life.

Yeah, it's like I was in business and then I was in sales and then the health field. But sometimes, opportunities fall in your lap and just gotta be a risk-taker. I don't like to say what if, I take it. If it doesn't work, at least I tried it.

I feel a lot of young people are often afraid when what they originally thought of doing doesn't happen, so they freak out a little bit, so it's good to know that it's okay to pivot.

It's okay to pivot. It's okay to change. Things happen randomly, and it's up to you to actually take a chance and make the difference.

When do you sleep?

I don't sleep, that's my problem (laughs). Just kidding, I think you have to organize. Time management is super imperative when you want to grow and be something.

How do you manage your time?

With a Calendar, and everything has to be timed.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?

Don't give up. If you dream it and you see it, it's because that's what you're supposed to do. You can't give up. Obstacles are gonna come your way, you're gonna see things that'll make you think, "This vision is too far away," but all it means is that you're going to have to fight even harder. You have to create a plan. I believe in writing everything down and actually envisioning it. Once you do that, you can go ahead and find your resources and execute it.

As a Latina being on Long Island, has it gotten easier or harder for you?

You know what, life equals hardship, but it's about your attitude. Your attitude determines your success. So to me, it hasn't gotten harder, it's just a life learning lesson and it comes easy then.

So you're also the president of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce. How did your make your way there?

I just do a lot of community work and they saw me and elected me. They said we want to deal with you and we want you to run it. I'm done with my two-year term. I can't run again. So I did what I could. We doubled membership, we created a lot of awareness. People know what the chamber is now. It has impacted many lives and different businesses out there. I will become the second Vice President after this, but I think I did my job.

What do you have coming up next?

I have a lot of different events coming up and 2020 is packed already. We have a youth conference coming up and the purpose is to impact and change lives and to help kids whether they're teen moms. I was a teen mom. I had my daughter when I was 15. I'm a firm believer in backing someone up. Even if you make a mistake, it's okay.