Ariella Vaccarino and Theresa Ofstad interview Remy Meraz founder of Me Tyme and Zella Life. Remy learned that she is a visionary and has created several ideas for million-dollar companies. Listen to her story of how she had to pivot and created Zella Life.

Ep. 28 – Remy Meraz - Zella Life

1:00 – Your energy together is off the chain. It’s so infectious.

1:50 – Remy and Theresa met in 2017, she was a year into her first start up, Me Tyme and in an entrepreneurial program for female founders through the Valley Economic Alliance.

2:50 – It’s like the Legend of the Phoenix, it had to burn down. My whole life burnt down as I knew it and was in a deep place of healing. Building a company while rebuilding her life.

3:45 – I was the crazy lady that got laid off from my job because I discovered my purpose with the idea of Me Tyme. I had big ideas that were multibillion dollar ideas for other people. I said, “If I ever came up with another big idea I promised myself I would not quite.”

5:30 – Fast forward to 2021, after working on Me Tyme for 5 years. I was applying for funding, and they required us to talk about our competitors. One of the competitors were at 98 million raised and valued at $1.1 billion. It was very defeating and empowering that her ideas are on point as a visionary.

6:30 – Realized she had to build a new idea with a new team. Bringing on team members that operate at the same speed, have the same work ethic, and have the same drive, tenacity, and commitment as you.

7:15 – You have to get very clear on your strengths and weaknesses. You have to own it and fill the gaps with the people that fill your weaknesses.

8:45 – Her investors said they believe in her as a founder, but they were not excited about the business model anymore. They offered to back her again if she created a new idea, but she had to get rid of the team she had, and also had to make sure the new idea made money right away.

10:15 – She was driving down the freeway thinking, “what does this mean? Do I give up?” Then looked to her left and saw a billboard that said, “Never ever give up!”

11:00 - The divine journey that Remy and Theresa are both on.

13:00 – Zella Life is the new endeavor that focuses on coaching to create unity between leadership and diverse talent.

16:20 – Mindset and emotional intelligence coaching to focus on moving forward.

17:50 – FAIL means: First Attempt In Learning.

21:00 – How she learned about the Google funding.

23:24 – Remy shared a social media post that Me Tyme Failed, then she birthed Zella Life, talked about the five things people could do to help; share with others, coaching, PR, etc.

26:44 – A friend saw her post and said he just finished Googles Black founders fund, they are launching a Google Latino’s founders fund, but you have to be nominated in and I want to nominate you.

30:00 – Google offered a year long program that provides resources for their founders; networking, programs, webinars, therapy sessions, etc. Got selected for Google growth academy.

32:00 – Remy talks about her business with everyone, it’s your Why, it’s what you love, she is doing it because she wants to help millions of lives, she is living a very purpose driven life so she is going to tell everyone about it.

45:00 – How you show up in one way is how you show up in all ways.

52:00 – You have been using your single mom excuse in a lot of different ways, who would I be without that excuse. When I realized I used that excuse a lot. When I asked myself about it, that is when the universe opened up.

53:00 – People think when their kids turn 18 you are done, empty nesting. You are not done, they need you in a different way. I know you have been going through a tough time, but I just need my mom.

1:03:00 – Being a mom is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done but I can also get fulfillment in other ways.

Ways to find Remy Meraz:

https://www.zellalife.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/remy-meraz/

Some Background on the hosts!

Ariella Vaccarino-

Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of

Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.

She is also the host of the podcasts:

The Talented Magical Mommies Club

Ariella's Vocal Notes

and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:

www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo

Theresa Ofstad-

Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.

Fuller Life

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