Startup Fortune, July 7, 2020: The excitement and ambition in Marcello Cantu’s voice is apparent and contagious and also perfectly understandable when you consider that the young entrepreneur went from reading books on business over a high school summer, getting a degree in marketing from professors who have never actually owned a business, and starting and ending a few companies before finding his niche, to eventually meeting up with his business partner at a birthday party – an event that would lead the two entrepreneurs to forming an international company that now employs more than 50 people and generates a seven-figure revenue.
When did you know you found the right idea and how did you capitalize on it?
You don’t really know until that first bit of revenue starts trickling in, then things just explode from there. I had a good feeling about Project WiFi – the e-commerce and drop-shipping business was growing and we had a strong team working with us. It’s only when we started hitting that $100,000 in sales per month consistently that I knew “right, this is it, let’s go”. We capitalized on it by employing trained, dedicated staff.
What are the biggest challenges when starting a business?
Being consistent is so important. I’ve tried other ventures before, but I wasn’t putting in the time and even when I was, it was sporadic. With Project WiFi, I realized that putting in 4 – 6 hours a day, six days a week is better than putting in 10 hour days two or three days a week. That momentum that comes with consistency makes you stronger.
What keeps you going when times get tough?
Tough times are inevitable but I’ve developed laser focus. If things are chaotic, I try to remember the small wins, I focus on that and then keep pushing ahead. I also develop a strategy to learn from these tough times and it helps me solve the problem.
Is creating a team important? How do you assemble your team?
Building the right team is incredibly important. Finding the right mix of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses within the workplace creates unity. I’d rather hire someone who is 75% qualified and who can get along with everyone than someone is 100% qualified but can’t work in a team. Our team is our foundation, and we’re aiming to build a skyscraper, so our foundation has to be strong.
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