January 11, 2025 • 25 mins
Estrella's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of inspiring, and in this episode, she opens up about her transition from the corporate world to launching her innovative platform, Lastfarewells.com. Discover how a chance encounter at Art Basel transformed her path, leading to an unexpected opportunity with the Players Impact Fund. Estrella emphasizes the significance of user feedback in the beta phase of her platform, offering both free and premium versions to cater to different needs. As a testament to her networking prowess, she shares how participating in a female founders accelerator in New York helped her refine her business skills and build meaningful relationships, ultimately highlighting the power of authentic networking.
Estrella Quiroz
- Email: estrella@lastfarewells.com
- Website: http://www.lastfarewells.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estrellaquiroz
Beyond business, Estrella's story is a testament to the impact of embracing chaos and serendipity in life. She discusses the balance between masculine and feminine energies, advocating for leading with nurturing joy in both personal and professional realms. Her personal anecdotes, from supporting a terminally ill individual through Last Farewells to forming a connection at a "Coffee with a Cop" event, underscore the profound effects of genuine interactions. This episode illustrates how personal growth is often found through selfless acts and community service, reminding us that true fulfillment often lies in unexpected places.
Join us as we support The Goabroad Foundation this month!
Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stay Wild!
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsfromwildplaces
- Website: https://friendsfromwildplaces.buzzsprout.com/
- Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-from-wild-places/id1619076023
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FFWP_podcast
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendsfromwildplacespodcast
Leave a review!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Voiceover (00:03):
Tales from the wild, stories from the heart.
A journey into the mind andsoul of fired up business
professionals, where they sharetheir vision for the future and
hear from a different non-profitorganization every month as
they create awareness of theirgoals and their needs.
Dive into a world of untamedpassion as we join our host,
(00:27):
Shireen Botha, for this month'sepisode of Friends from Wild
Places.
Tanya Scotece (00:37):
Estrella, I really appreciate it If our
listeners are interested in.
I guess is it like putting onetogether for themselves.
How do they go about that, forexample, like, is it something
that they contact you directly,or you know what does that look
like to put it in action?
Estrella Quiroz (00:54):
Well, I'm so excited to say that our beta
version just went live yesterday, so right now you can go to
lastwellscom and create anaccount.
And there may be some bugs, butfor the most part I've tested it
and have had some people testit as well.
So right now we're justgathering feedback.
So you can go to the site.
(01:14):
There's a free account.
There's also an option forpremium version, which is still
very accessible.
No subscriptions.
I'm trying to keep it one-timefee because I really don't want
to alienate all thesegenerations of people who I
don't know when I'm going topass away.
I don't want to pay even.
I don't even want to pay 10cents a year because I don't
know when I'm gonna pass away.
Um, so, yeah, it's justone-time fee or the free account
(01:36):
.
But yeah, people can actuallyjust go to lastfirewallscom and
try it out and please email meyour thoughts, comment, send me
a voicemail.
It's good, it's something.
I just want to gather as muchfeedback as on as I can yeah,
and I love your shirt.
Tanya Scotece (01:52):
Can we support you on your shirt?
Can?
Is that for, uh, you know?
Can people get one?
I like that.
Estrella Quiroz (01:57):
Your phone number website no, no, that's so
funny.
You're the third person to askme if I'm selling these.
No, I bought a shirt on Amazonand in Nicaragua I helped my
cousin start a t-shirt business,so I bought her a printer.
So when I go back to Nicaragua,I bring her the shirt I want
and I'm like, hey, can you putthis logo on it?
And she did and it came out sogood.
It's a crop top too, so it'slike I can wear high waisted
(02:19):
pants with it.
But, but I got you, I'm gonnago to Nicaragua next month.
I'll bring you back one, notfor sale though.
Tanya Scotece (02:26):
Yeah, awesome, awesome.
I love that thank you umEstrella.
Shireen Botha (02:31):
Could you just share one of the biggest lessons
you've learned on this journeyas a business owner?
Estrella Quiroz (02:37):
yes, I came in with no entrepreneurship journey
, just a lot of, a lot of, and Iwas called naive and in the
best way, to be honest, they'relike, hey, cause when you're
naive you see things differently.
And I realized at the beginning, tanya, when I, when I was,
when I first spoke to you, I wasa month full time and I had
just quit my, my very nicecorporate job that had great
(03:00):
benefits, um, and I took thatrisk because I really believed
in it and I was so lost.
I was so lost for the first fewmonths because I was trying to
like, literally, google how doyou be a CEO, how do you do this
?
How do you set up these guides?
But I realized I wasn't tappinginto my own superpower, my own
magic.
I love people, I loveconnecting and finally, a few
(03:21):
months later, I joined a femalefounders accelerator, and that
in New York, and because of thatit just kind of skyrocketed
aspects of collaboration or howquick it is, how quick things
move when you're in person withpeople.
I realize I'm like I need anetwork.
If my superpower is beingoutside and connecting and just
talking to people as a friend,that then I need to tap into
(03:43):
that because it's not going tobe.
I promise you it's not going tobe me on Google docs trying to
figure out like all these things.
I don't know because I don'tknow.
But when you talk to people,when you're networking, when
you're surrounded by founderswho are steps above you, who are
also very passionate, you askquestions.
You say what did you use, howdid you do this?
Like, what was your unique?
And for me it happened to be Ilove, I just love connecting and
(04:14):
I love I love the slow burn.
I didn't want to go into placesand be like here, I need this,
this and that and make it verybusinessy, because I don't know
how to do that and maybe one dayI'll be more of a shark, but
for now I'm like no, no, I wantto create a friendship, be it in
the long run, and then, ifthere's any time we can support
each other, then I'm there andthat's been the coolest thing.
And I'll tell you a story ofsome magic that happened two
(04:35):
weeks ago at Art Basel.
I somehow ended up on thebecause of the networking.
I ended up on this list forfounders who were making
millions.
I was, I was in the room.
I was like whoa, I don't thinkI'm supposed to be here, but I
ended up meeting Selena Gomez'smother and spot speaking about
last farewells because she's aCEO of a mental health platform
(04:55):
and I also met this person whowere get in the breakfast line.
He has three pieces of fruit onhis plate and I have fruit and I
grab a pastry and he looks atme.
He's like I'll be livingthrough you while you eat that
and I was like you should justgrab it, like we're going to die
one day.
And then I'm like I need toenjoy it now.
It looks so good.
And so we started talking aboutdeath.
He tells me I tell him aboutlast four rolls.
(05:16):
He tells me that his dad diedright before his wedding and he
wished he had something like it.
And then fast forward.
Eight hours later he finds meand he's like hey, is your
company a wellness company?
And I was like you know what?
Yes, as last four roles isemotionally wellness, because it
helps you with grief, it helpsyou reflect.
And so he's like here, quick,they're looking for people to do
this pitch competition tomorrowfor a lot of pro athletes in
(05:38):
the NFL or Olympians, um, andthey're looking to fill some
last minute spots.
So I go up to he introduces meto the guy and the next day I'm
doing this pitch competition forthe Players Impact Fund, which
is an investment fund for proathletes, and I'm just I'm
wearing the shirt and I'mthinking like, wow, how did that
all spark from just oneconversation?
(05:59):
So my biggest advice is likedouble down on your strength,
but also be open to not knowinghow things are going to happen,
because like I could have donethat same thing, like one person
flew in from Hong Kong.
I could have like jumpedthrough hoops to be in the same
position.
But I think sometimes, when youjust don't even question things
anymore and you just allow themagic to come in, like the
serendipity of life, I thinkit's so beautiful.
(06:21):
So I've also been working a loton my spiritual practices of
just making sure that I'm comingfrom creating this from a place
of joy, because when I elicitjoy, like I attract things and
things move way quicker than ifI was ever trying to like Google
how to do this or that, ormaybe this is a bright person to
email.
So, yeah, that's my advice.
(06:42):
I love that.
Tanya Scotece (06:44):
It's magical.
Shireen Botha (06:46):
I love that.
I love it.
Let me pop in here, okay, witha little bit of a Buzzsprout
blurb.
You know, because we loveBuzzsprout here at Friends From
Wild Places, simply because youknow this is a safe space for
business owners andentrepreneurs to share their
stories and their wild hearts.
(07:06):
It is a safe space to showsupport for them.
To show support for them, we dofeature non-profits every month
, as you all know, to try make adifference and to give a
helpline to someone in need.
So I think my question goes backto you.
If you have a message you wantto share with the world, or
(07:28):
maybe you just think it'll befun to have your own talk show.
Podcasting is a very easy andinexpensive and fun way to
spread and expand your reachonline, to start your own
podcast.
Why don't you follow the linkin the show notes?
(07:48):
That lets Buzzsprout know thatwe sent you and it does help the
show.
But, most importantly, the teamat buzzsprout is passionate
about helping you succeed.
So go down to buzzsprout andstart your podcast today.
All right, astrea, let's getback with you.
One of the things that I wantedto find out from you is what
(08:10):
are some of the ways, and youtouched on it now.
You said you spend somespiritual time just getting
yourself in the right space sothat you can attract the right
attention.
So I'm going to ask you rightnow, you know, can you elaborate
and tell us and share with usways that you refill your tank
(08:31):
to stay motivated?
Estrella Quiroz (08:32):
yeah, absolutely so.
I'll tell you the personal andthe professional ways.
Um, professional it's I'm not,I was non-technical, so I was
really hard because I'm tryingto learn all these systems and
trying to learn how to not dothese things correctly.
Um, and I, I realize I, when Isee the impact I make, it just,
(08:53):
oh my God, it fills the tank athousand percent.
And one example is in theprocess of testing for Last
Farewells, we got connected to aperson who was 38 with terminal
cancer, out of nowhere, fromlike April to now, like they got
diagnosed and now they'renavigating right, this ending,
(09:14):
and I could have sent them thevirtual link, the beta link.
I could have said, yeah, here'sour testing link.
But I felt called, I was likeno, I need to see them.
And so I flew to Texas and Icreated this experience for them
and it was almost like acelebration in life experience.
I got their favorite breakfastfoods, we talked for an hour, I
brought cacao, we did ameditation and then I helped
(09:34):
them ground and we created theirlast messages.
And he created a video for his13-year-old son to watch at his
future wedding, a video for hiswife on her birthday and the
anniversary, and we just createdall these messages and tried to
make it a bit more not asjoyful but, you know, a bit more
like lighthearted.
He put on his suit, he got acandle, like we made it a bit
(09:55):
more exciting.
And then I got his favoritecake and we ended it like a
birthday party.
I got his favorite musicplaying and then I had the NASA
space.
I was able to get the NASASpace Center to sponsor his
bucket list item of seeing aspace launch through my
connections in the travelindustry, and so that was all
serendipitous.
It was all so last minute.
But, being seeing thatexperience and they were so
(10:18):
grateful, I did it.
I paid out of pocket, but Ithey were, they allowed me to
take the content.
So now I'm going to put it intothis like TikTok style
storytelling of like flying hereand doing this and meet these
people, right, but doing thatjust, oh my gosh.
It was so uplifting because,like I see the future, I might,
I can't, like I'm want to createthose moments where one
somebody already going throughsuch a sad place and like I was
(10:40):
all constantly around peoplecrying, I told him I was like
you're not going to see me cry,I'm going to bring you energy.
I'm going to bring you what Ihave for at least this moment,
and I think that really justkind of like fuels me up.
So I want to do more of thoseexperiences and ideally get life
insurance or like othercompanies to sponsor them,
because they really fill my tankprofessionally.
It's kind of just helpingcreate.
(11:01):
Even last month, I went toNicaragua and my grandma
recorded her last video messagefor me to play at my future
wedding, because she's 93 and Idon't know when I'm going to get
married and I took her to theexact place I want to get
married at, um in Nicaragua, andshe recorded it there.
So those little things like isactually seeing the process of
people create a last message,and it's just so fulfilling to
(11:23):
me professionally personally.
Oh my gosh.
Hey, I just I realized I maycall it chaos.
I I'm embracing the word chaos.
I am totally chaotic and I loveit.
I love the way my mind works,um, and I just love having fun
and I've I've created just suchum.
I've decided to just create somany more fun moments in my life
.
Even right here there's astreet where there's a whole
(11:44):
salsa street.
I now just go out and dancerandomly for 20 minutes and when
I'm feeling, if I'm feelingdown, like let me just go to the
salsa bar, let me just dance alittle bit.
So, personally, like I movement, the movement, the dancing, but
also just the real randomnessof life, like I was going to
give my friends a tour of thestreet and I mean I could have,
(12:05):
I have to show y'all this.
But just like, hey guys, I'mgoing to give you a tour of this
street.
But I made a poster I'm kiddingFake Estrella's Gallocho, miami
Magic Tour and I printed itlike tour guides do, and I held
it up on Gallocho and I was likeall right, everybody we're
(12:25):
going to have the best tour ever, and so those are little things
I don't have to do.
They put me in a state of like.
They helped me tap into mycreativity.
This took like 30 minutes.
Cvs did same day printing.
It was nothing in a way, but itwas everything, because it just
adds to the joy.
So I think I've really realizedmy magic of like.
(12:45):
You know, you can turn anymoment and make it magic, and
that's the theme of what thenext year is going to be, which
is this has magic on it, andit's kind of like not just
waiting for it to happen, buthow do you create more of it.
And then that itself puts me ina state of joy where I talk
about last four hours and then Iget connected to people that
want to help me move, move itforward or or something happens,
(13:08):
and so, yeah, that's that's howI find personal joy.
I just sometimes you make ityourself and it's so fun.
Tanya Scotece (13:15):
Wow, so straight walk me through the process of
creating that poster.
What is it actually?
Is it a picture Like what Imean?
I see it, but how did you do it?
Estrella Quiroz (13:25):
So this I made on Canva, so okay, so yeah, I
love this.
So I'm not, I don't, I'm not,you know, I'm savvy, I'm
resourceful, I'm not an artist.
But what I did was I went toChachi PT and I asked Chachi PT
to make make me an image ofCalle Ocho, which is Shireen.
It's this street here in Miamiand it's it's 8th street, but
there's a Brewsters and andpeople, cubans playing dominoes
(13:48):
and salsa bars and it's almostlike a little, a little part of
Cuba in Miami.
But it's so fun and I live nearit and it's just my favorite
street in Miami so I lovewalking people through it.
So yeah, so I asked ChachiBTmake this image and then I love
the image they created.
So I put it on Canva and I havea Canva premium, so I was able
to stretch the image and then Ijust added my own letters and
(14:09):
myself here and then I went tothe dollar store and I had they
found, I found this littlepaddle and then um, cvs did same
day printing for $7.
So this was a a sticker poster Ipost.
I put it on a piece of foamboard and I put this little
paddle and, like I said, theprocess probably took me an hour
, like it was a lot quicker thanone would think.
I didn't put in too much moreeffort.
(14:29):
Uh, it was a Saturday morningtoo.
I was like, yeah, this is how Ichoose to do my Saturday.
But my friends, just they hadsuch a blast and I even created
little agreements.
I'm like you're signing that,you're going to be open hearted
today, you're going to have timefor some magic.
You're going to compliment onestranger.
This tour is free, but you gotto compliment someone and I had
them sign off on these littleagreements.
(14:53):
So it's kind of like how do Itake this in my personal life
and then add it to LastFarewells?
Because sometimes LastFarewells it feels like it's not
a corporate thing, but justit's a more serious thing and I
want to remember no, this is astartup, I'm guiding it.
This is the most time I'll havefreedom in this company.
So how do I incorporate thisand then do it with this?
And so, yeah, I've.
I've been inspired recently andand I just want to you know, I
(15:18):
don't want to do things by thebook, because the book stresses
me out and turns me into aperson who's just anxious and
like constantly worried andfeeling guilty.
Like am I doing this right?
Oh my God, I'm going to get introuble.
By who?
Tanya Scotece (15:26):
That's wild, though Amazing, your verb.
If I asked you what is itcreate, is your verb create what
you say?
Do you live by creating?
Estrella Quiroz (15:39):
I guess, can you?
How do I make magic a verb I'vebeen literally making maybe,
yeah, creating, well, shifting,maybe, shifting, shifting, okay,
okay, that's cool, I likeshifting, yeah, yeah.
Voiceover (15:51):
Yeah, because.
Estrella Quiroz (15:52):
I'm not like this all the time.
I could have told you I wasspiraling two days ago because I
was.
I was just on my laptop of.
I have very similar traits asyou.
Shireen Botha (16:20):
I do like to serve the community, and a while
back.
I haven't done it for a whileand you're making me just remind
me that I actually should getback into it, because that's
what makes me happy, um, andmakes other people happy, and I
get to spread love and joy.
(16:41):
Um, but I used to do like littleweird fundraising things where
I dress myself in an inflatablecostume, whether it be a unicorn
or a t-rex or whatever, and itwould you know, I'd pick a
non-profit that I absolutelylove, that I know is doing
amazing work, and I go aroundthe estate that I was and I
(17:04):
don't live there anymore.
I'm literally packed upeverything, put it in storage
and bought my little sofa, houseand wheels.
But, um, I used to run aroundthe estate with buckets
collecting funds and fundraising, but in the same breath, I was
bringing laughter and joy andpeople were coming out on the
(17:28):
road with their kids just tocome and say hello, and I had.
I was standing by the circledoing funny little dances, just
because I was just, you know, inmy element, I feel, in a way um
, oh yeah, I could see, I couldsee that there was a um, oh man,
(17:56):
what do you call the firstresponders?
he was coming, he obviouslylived in the estate and he was
coming home from as you know,they work really long hours and
he turned on his lights on inhis little ambulance car and it
wasn't really a bus, you knowthat.
You see, when you see ambulance, it was more an emergency
(18:18):
vehicle, like more bucky, and hethrew his lights on and he like
stuck his head out the thewindow and he's like you've just
made my day and uh, yeah, hedoes a lot of I mean, it's hard
work to be an emergency firstresponder and a paramedic.
So that's what he was paramedic, um, and so you?
(18:43):
Just, I haven't done it for along time, australia, I haven't
been doing that and I've beenvery serious running a business
and being enveloped in theseriousness of being a business
owner and running a business andthe stresses of having to try
and grow and get more clientsand financial struggles comes
(19:05):
with that and the burdens thatcome with all of that.
It has really taken strain and,tanya knows, and that includes
a whole lot of family stuff aswell.
That's on over and above thatand I haven't done any of those
things and nothing, for I thinkthis is the second year where I
haven't done it and you've justfired me because it's reminding
(19:30):
me.
Shireen, that's what you do,that's exactly what you enjoy in
doing, and bringing smiles onother people's faces and
attracting those kind ofenergies towards you.
Um.
So thank you, australia.
That was because of you and Ireally got to try and put that
into place again.
(19:50):
I don't know how.
Living out of a vehicle, Idon't know how.
I don't know how.
Living in and out of myparents's house, there's lots of
movement going on.
Not sure how long there mightbe downsizing to a retirement
place, so there's lots happeningin this little world of mine.
So I have to try and figure outhow I'm going to do that.
(20:12):
So I'm sorry I went off on atangent, but thank you, est
thank you, estrella, no, don't,no.
Estrella Quiroz (20:17):
Thank you for sharing and honestly like.
Something I've learned also inthis journey is I'm very big on
the masculine and feminineenergies within us and I want to
lead more with my feminineenergy and the feminine energies
that play the, nurture the joy,and a lot of the times business
puts us in that masculineenergy where we have to lead and
we have to, like you know, findand create and all these things
(20:37):
and and but I've realized, gosh, I've had some amazing business
deals happen because I was inmy feminine and even just last
week I went to get a freakingcup of coffee at the place.
They were having an event withcops coffee with a cop.
I've been scared of cops Causemy dad was arrested.
I've always been scared ofauthority.
I've never liked talking tocops and I was like no, today
(20:58):
I'm going to challenge myself.
And I went up there and I waslike oh, how did you get
inspired by this?
Are you guys always on it?
And whatever.
I ended up becoming best friendswith the chief of police
officer and he's like he's like,yeah, here, whatever you need.
He gives me his business card,I'm telling him about last four
walls, and then he, and thenwe're just so funny, we take a
group picture, we're just havingso much fun.
I forget how last four wallscould be incorporated with cops.
(21:20):
And he's like, oh you know, inmy line of work they're
constantly risking their lives.
We don't like to think aboutthis, but this is very
interesting and it totallyremembered.
Oh yeah, last girls could helpyou guys.
But I think when you do thingswith no expectation, because you
just want to, I want tosurround myself with people who
do things just to do things.
Like you don't have to, youdon't have to dress up, you
don't have to do any of that.
(21:41):
But what?
Like I love when people dothings just to do things.
Those are my favorite type ofpeople.
But also, like it's also abusiness needle mover, because
then I got the chief policeofficer.
I even emailed him a proposalto do an activation for new cops
and how, last farewell, I couldcome in and, you know, prepare
their new officers while they'rein training and and imagine
what, how many other steps wouldI have to take?
(22:02):
I would have to go onto thewebsite, email the secretary,
send this proposal, try.
How.
How many steps would I have totake to actually get to the
chief, rather than, when I cameto a coffee coffee cop, I
decided to get out of my comfortzone, have coffee cup.
I decided to get out of mycomfort zone, have a
conversation with these copsthat I didn't, I didn't
necessarily want to have, end upleaving laughing like all buddy
buddy, taking selfies with thechief and everybody's like, yeah
(22:23):
, I even like, yeah, I adopted acop today and you're my
coffee's.
Like, yeah, you picked theright one anyways.
That it was a business mover,but just in a different way, in
a way that's not necessarilyformal or natural, but it's, I
promise you.
Promise you, it's going to moveme light years ahead than me
trying to be here on my laptop,miserable, thinking like all
right, chief of police, what'shis name?
I don't know.
So, yeah, I mean, I really hopethat you find a way.
(22:45):
And sometimes it's not evenabout like trying to figure out
the how.
It's just.
It's just like, even if it's assimple as you go into a coffee
shop and putting on yourinflatable costume and and just
people asking you, coming up toyou and asking questions, and
then you have theseconversations that are so
enlightening and it only justtakes one person right To make
move things Like.
Those people could becomefuture clients, they could
recommend you in the future, butbut the the point is like you
(23:07):
don't do things with theexpectation of the outcome, of
like, oh yeah, I'm going to dothis, I expect to get, but no,
you're doing it because you knowwhat Hell?
yeah, I need to have fun.
Life has been so stressful,life has been potentially shitty
, right, but like, what am Igoing to do for myself Because
that's the most?
Sometimes, being selfish issometimes the most.
I do a lot of selfish things.
They look selfless and they'renot Even going to the person
(23:28):
with terminal cancer.
Yeah, that could be.
Oh no, but that's selfish in away, because I knew it was going
to fulfill me.
I knew that seeing someone thatI could help was going to bring
me joy, and that is thedefinition of right selfish.
I'm doing things because it'sfor me, but that's how we need
to.
Honestly, people need to livelike that in business because,
yeah, this is an environment wewant to create for ourselves.
(23:49):
I don't think you, as abusiness owner, you have such a
bright spirit and so when youtold me you were in bookkeeping
the first time, I was like whoadynamic, but you have many
special gifts I can see it fromzoom.
Shireen Botha (24:01):
Thank you, I appreciate that, estrella.
Um, you know what I want to say.
I don't feel like that.
I think and agree with me ordisagree with me, but I feel
like there should be a differentword and, instead of selfish, I
feel like that's something else, what you're describing.
I wish we could.
I don't think there is a word,I just wish there was another
(24:22):
word we could use incircumstances like that.
Estrella Quiroz (24:26):
Um, because, I feel, yeah, yeah, I'll think
about it, you're right, you'reright.
Well, yeah, words are important.
I guess I've only I've heard itin the team.
But hey, we have selfish goalsand we have selfless goals, but
the selfish goals are equally asimportant as a selfless,
because it's you got to fillyour own tank and if we're
constantly doing for others, atsome points our energy burns out
.
Shireen Botha (24:46):
Tune in next week for part three of Friends from
Wild Places.
Voiceover (24:52):
You've been listening to Friends from Wild Places
with Shireen Botha.
You've been listening tofriends from wild places with
Shireen Botha.
Be sure to subscribe to thepodcast from the links to catch
every episode and unleash yourpassion.
Tales from the wild, stories from the heart.
A journey into the mind andsoul of fired up business
professionals, where they sharetheir vision for the future and
hear from a different non-profitorganization every month as
they create awareness of theirgoals and their needs.
Dive into a world of untamedpassion as we join our host,
(00:27):
Shireen Botha, for this month'sepisode of Friends from Wild
Places.
Tanya Scotece (00:37):
Estrella, I really appreciate it If our
listeners are interested in.
I guess is it like putting onetogether for themselves.
How do they go about that, forexample, like, is it something
that they contact you directly,or you know what does that look
like to put it in action?
Estrella Quiroz (00:54):
Well, I'm so excited to say that our beta
version just went live yesterday, so right now you can go to
lastwellscom and create anaccount.
And there may be some bugs, butfor the most part I've tested it
and have had some people testit as well.
So right now we're justgathering feedback.
So you can go to the site.
(01:14):
There's a free account.
There's also an option forpremium version, which is still
very accessible.
No subscriptions.
I'm trying to keep it one-timefee because I really don't want
to alienate all thesegenerations of people who I
don't know when I'm going topass away.
I don't want to pay even.
I don't even want to pay 10cents a year because I don't
know when I'm gonna pass away.
Um, so, yeah, it's justone-time fee or the free account
(01:36):
.
But yeah, people can actuallyjust go to lastfirewallscom and
try it out and please email meyour thoughts, comment, send me
a voicemail.
It's good, it's something.
I just want to gather as muchfeedback as on as I can yeah,
and I love your shirt.
Tanya Scotece (01:52):
Can we support you on your shirt?
Can?
Is that for, uh, you know?
Can people get one?
I like that.
Estrella Quiroz (01:57):
Your phone number website no, no, that's so
funny.
You're the third person to askme if I'm selling these.
No, I bought a shirt on Amazonand in Nicaragua I helped my
cousin start a t-shirt business,so I bought her a printer.
So when I go back to Nicaragua,I bring her the shirt I want
and I'm like, hey, can you putthis logo on it?
And she did and it came out sogood.
It's a crop top too, so it'slike I can wear high waisted
(02:19):
pants with it.
But, but I got you, I'm gonnago to Nicaragua next month.
I'll bring you back one, notfor sale though.
Tanya Scotece (02:26):
Yeah, awesome, awesome.
I love that thank you umEstrella.
Shireen Botha (02:31):
Could you just share one of the biggest lessons
you've learned on this journeyas a business owner?
Estrella Quiroz (02:37):
yes, I came in with no entrepreneurship journey
, just a lot of, a lot of, and Iwas called naive and in the
best way, to be honest, they'relike, hey, cause when you're
naive you see things differently.
And I realized at the beginning, tanya, when I, when I was,
when I first spoke to you, I wasa month full time and I had
just quit my, my very nicecorporate job that had great
(03:00):
benefits, um, and I took thatrisk because I really believed
in it and I was so lost.
I was so lost for the first fewmonths because I was trying to
like, literally, google how doyou be a CEO, how do you do this
?
How do you set up these guides?
But I realized I wasn't tappinginto my own superpower, my own
magic.
I love people, I loveconnecting and finally, a few
(03:21):
months later, I joined a femalefounders accelerator, and that
in New York, and because of thatit just kind of skyrocketed
aspects of collaboration or howquick it is, how quick things
move when you're in person withpeople.
I realize I'm like I need anetwork.
If my superpower is beingoutside and connecting and just
talking to people as a friend,that then I need to tap into
(03:43):
that because it's not going tobe.
I promise you it's not going tobe me on Google docs trying to
figure out like all these things.
I don't know because I don'tknow.
But when you talk to people,when you're networking, when
you're surrounded by founderswho are steps above you, who are
also very passionate, you askquestions.
You say what did you use, howdid you do this?
Like, what was your unique?
And for me it happened to be Ilove, I just love connecting and
(04:14):
I love I love the slow burn.
I didn't want to go into placesand be like here, I need this,
this and that and make it verybusinessy, because I don't know
how to do that and maybe one dayI'll be more of a shark, but
for now I'm like no, no, I wantto create a friendship, be it in
the long run, and then, ifthere's any time we can support
each other, then I'm there andthat's been the coolest thing.
And I'll tell you a story ofsome magic that happened two
(04:35):
weeks ago at Art Basel.
I somehow ended up on thebecause of the networking.
I ended up on this list forfounders who were making
millions.
I was, I was in the room.
I was like whoa, I don't thinkI'm supposed to be here, but I
ended up meeting Selena Gomez'smother and spot speaking about
last farewells because she's aCEO of a mental health platform
(04:55):
and I also met this person whowere get in the breakfast line.
He has three pieces of fruit onhis plate and I have fruit and I
grab a pastry and he looks atme.
He's like I'll be livingthrough you while you eat that
and I was like you should justgrab it, like we're going to die
one day.
And then I'm like I need toenjoy it now.
It looks so good.
And so we started talking aboutdeath.
He tells me I tell him aboutlast four rolls.
(05:16):
He tells me that his dad diedright before his wedding and he
wished he had something like it.
And then fast forward.
Eight hours later he finds meand he's like hey, is your
company a wellness company?
And I was like you know what?
Yes, as last four roles isemotionally wellness, because it
helps you with grief, it helpsyou reflect.
And so he's like here, quick,they're looking for people to do
this pitch competition tomorrowfor a lot of pro athletes in
(05:38):
the NFL or Olympians, um, andthey're looking to fill some
last minute spots.
So I go up to he introduces meto the guy and the next day I'm
doing this pitch competition forthe Players Impact Fund, which
is an investment fund for proathletes, and I'm just I'm
wearing the shirt and I'mthinking like, wow, how did that
all spark from just oneconversation?
(05:59):
So my biggest advice is likedouble down on your strength,
but also be open to not knowinghow things are going to happen,
because like I could have donethat same thing, like one person
flew in from Hong Kong.
I could have like jumpedthrough hoops to be in the same
position.
But I think sometimes, when youjust don't even question things
anymore and you just allow themagic to come in, like the
serendipity of life, I thinkit's so beautiful.
(06:21):
So I've also been working a loton my spiritual practices of
just making sure that I'm comingfrom creating this from a place
of joy, because when I elicitjoy, like I attract things and
things move way quicker than ifI was ever trying to like Google
how to do this or that, ormaybe this is a bright person to
email.
So, yeah, that's my advice.
(06:42):
I love that.
Tanya Scotece (06:44):
It's magical.
Shireen Botha (06:46):
I love that.
I love it.
Let me pop in here, okay, witha little bit of a Buzzsprout
blurb.
You know, because we loveBuzzsprout here at Friends From
Wild Places, simply because youknow this is a safe space for
business owners andentrepreneurs to share their
stories and their wild hearts.
(07:06):
It is a safe space to showsupport for them.
To show support for them, we dofeature non-profits every month
, as you all know, to try make adifference and to give a
helpline to someone in need.
So I think my question goes backto you.
If you have a message you wantto share with the world, or
(07:28):
maybe you just think it'll befun to have your own talk show.
Podcasting is a very easy andinexpensive and fun way to
spread and expand your reachonline, to start your own
podcast.
Why don't you follow the linkin the show notes?
(07:48):
That lets Buzzsprout know thatwe sent you and it does help the
show.
But, most importantly, the teamat buzzsprout is passionate
about helping you succeed.
So go down to buzzsprout andstart your podcast today.
All right, astrea, let's getback with you.
One of the things that I wantedto find out from you is what
(08:10):
are some of the ways, and youtouched on it now.
You said you spend somespiritual time just getting
yourself in the right space sothat you can attract the right
attention.
So I'm going to ask you rightnow, you know, can you elaborate
and tell us and share with usways that you refill your tank
(08:31):
to stay motivated?
Estrella Quiroz (08:32):
yeah, absolutely so.
I'll tell you the personal andthe professional ways.
Um, professional it's I'm not,I was non-technical, so I was
really hard because I'm tryingto learn all these systems and
trying to learn how to not dothese things correctly.
Um, and I, I realize I, when Isee the impact I make, it just,
(08:53):
oh my God, it fills the tank athousand percent.
And one example is in theprocess of testing for Last
Farewells, we got connected to aperson who was 38 with terminal
cancer, out of nowhere, fromlike April to now, like they got
diagnosed and now they'renavigating right, this ending,
(09:14):
and I could have sent them thevirtual link, the beta link.
I could have said, yeah, here'sour testing link.
But I felt called, I was likeno, I need to see them.
And so I flew to Texas and Icreated this experience for them
and it was almost like acelebration in life experience.
I got their favorite breakfastfoods, we talked for an hour, I
brought cacao, we did ameditation and then I helped
(09:34):
them ground and we created theirlast messages.
And he created a video for his13-year-old son to watch at his
future wedding, a video for hiswife on her birthday and the
anniversary, and we just createdall these messages and tried to
make it a bit more not asjoyful but, you know, a bit more
like lighthearted.
He put on his suit, he got acandle, like we made it a bit
(09:55):
more exciting.
And then I got his favoritecake and we ended it like a
birthday party.
I got his favorite musicplaying and then I had the NASA
space.
I was able to get the NASASpace Center to sponsor his
bucket list item of seeing aspace launch through my
connections in the travelindustry, and so that was all
serendipitous.
It was all so last minute.
But, being seeing thatexperience and they were so
(10:18):
grateful, I did it.
I paid out of pocket, but Ithey were, they allowed me to
take the content.
So now I'm going to put it intothis like TikTok style
storytelling of like flying hereand doing this and meet these
people, right, but doing thatjust, oh my gosh.
It was so uplifting because,like I see the future, I might,
I can't, like I'm want to createthose moments where one
somebody already going throughsuch a sad place and like I was
(10:40):
all constantly around peoplecrying, I told him I was like
you're not going to see me cry,I'm going to bring you energy.
I'm going to bring you what Ihave for at least this moment,
and I think that really justkind of like fuels me up.
So I want to do more of thoseexperiences and ideally get life
insurance or like othercompanies to sponsor them,
because they really fill my tankprofessionally.
It's kind of just helpingcreate.
(11:01):
Even last month, I went toNicaragua and my grandma
recorded her last video messagefor me to play at my future
wedding, because she's 93 and Idon't know when I'm going to get
married and I took her to theexact place I want to get
married at, um in Nicaragua, andshe recorded it there.
So those little things like isactually seeing the process of
people create a last message,and it's just so fulfilling to
(11:23):
me professionally personally.
Oh my gosh.
Hey, I just I realized I maycall it chaos.
I I'm embracing the word chaos.
I am totally chaotic and I loveit.
I love the way my mind works,um, and I just love having fun
and I've I've created just suchum.
I've decided to just create somany more fun moments in my life
.
Even right here there's astreet where there's a whole
(11:44):
salsa street.
I now just go out and dancerandomly for 20 minutes and when
I'm feeling, if I'm feelingdown, like let me just go to the
salsa bar, let me just dance alittle bit.
So, personally, like I movement, the movement, the dancing, but
also just the real randomnessof life, like I was going to
give my friends a tour of thestreet and I mean I could have,
(12:05):
I have to show y'all this.
But just like, hey guys, I'mgoing to give you a tour of this
street.
But I made a poster I'm kiddingFake Estrella's Gallocho, miami
Magic Tour and I printed itlike tour guides do, and I held
it up on Gallocho and I was likeall right, everybody we're
(12:25):
going to have the best tour ever, and so those are little things
I don't have to do.
They put me in a state of like.
They helped me tap into mycreativity.
This took like 30 minutes.
Cvs did same day printing.
It was nothing in a way, but itwas everything, because it just
adds to the joy.
So I think I've really realizedmy magic of like.
(12:45):
You know, you can turn anymoment and make it magic, and
that's the theme of what thenext year is going to be, which
is this has magic on it, andit's kind of like not just
waiting for it to happen, buthow do you create more of it.
And then that itself puts me ina state of joy where I talk
about last four hours and then Iget connected to people that
want to help me move, move itforward or or something happens,
(13:08):
and so, yeah, that's that's howI find personal joy.
I just sometimes you make ityourself and it's so fun.
Tanya Scotece (13:15):
Wow, so straight walk me through the process of
creating that poster.
What is it actually?
Is it a picture Like what Imean?
I see it, but how did you do it?
Estrella Quiroz (13:25):
So this I made on Canva, so okay, so yeah, I
love this.
So I'm not, I don't, I'm not,you know, I'm savvy, I'm
resourceful, I'm not an artist.
But what I did was I went toChachi PT and I asked Chachi PT
to make make me an image ofCalle Ocho, which is Shireen.
It's this street here in Miamiand it's it's 8th street, but
there's a Brewsters and andpeople, cubans playing dominoes
(13:48):
and salsa bars and it's almostlike a little, a little part of
Cuba in Miami.
But it's so fun and I live nearit and it's just my favorite
street in Miami so I lovewalking people through it.
So yeah, so I asked ChachiBTmake this image and then I love
the image they created.
So I put it on Canva and I havea Canva premium, so I was able
to stretch the image and then Ijust added my own letters and
(14:09):
myself here and then I went tothe dollar store and I had they
found, I found this littlepaddle and then um, cvs did same
day printing for $7.
So this was a a sticker poster Ipost.
I put it on a piece of foamboard and I put this little
paddle and, like I said, theprocess probably took me an hour
, like it was a lot quicker thanone would think.
I didn't put in too much moreeffort.
(14:29):
Uh, it was a Saturday morningtoo.
I was like, yeah, this is how Ichoose to do my Saturday.
But my friends, just they hadsuch a blast and I even created
little agreements.
I'm like you're signing that,you're going to be open hearted
today, you're going to have timefor some magic.
You're going to compliment onestranger.
This tour is free, but you gotto compliment someone and I had
them sign off on these littleagreements.
(14:53):
So it's kind of like how do Itake this in my personal life
and then add it to LastFarewells?
Because sometimes LastFarewells it feels like it's not
a corporate thing, but justit's a more serious thing and I
want to remember no, this is astartup, I'm guiding it.
This is the most time I'll havefreedom in this company.
So how do I incorporate thisand then do it with this?
And so, yeah, I've.
I've been inspired recently andand I just want to you know, I
(15:18):
don't want to do things by thebook, because the book stresses
me out and turns me into aperson who's just anxious and
like constantly worried andfeeling guilty.
Like am I doing this right?
Oh my God, I'm going to get introuble.
By who?
Tanya Scotece (15:26):
That's wild, though Amazing, your verb.
If I asked you what is itcreate, is your verb create what
you say?
Do you live by creating?
Estrella Quiroz (15:39):
I guess, can you?
How do I make magic a verb I'vebeen literally making maybe,
yeah, creating, well, shifting,maybe, shifting, shifting, okay,
okay, that's cool, I likeshifting, yeah, yeah.
Voiceover (15:51):
Yeah, because.
Estrella Quiroz (15:52):
I'm not like this all the time.
I could have told you I wasspiraling two days ago because I
was.
I was just on my laptop of.
I have very similar traits asyou.
Shireen Botha (16:20):
I do like to serve the community, and a while
back.
I haven't done it for a whileand you're making me just remind
me that I actually should getback into it, because that's
what makes me happy, um, andmakes other people happy, and I
get to spread love and joy.
(16:41):
Um, but I used to do like littleweird fundraising things where
I dress myself in an inflatablecostume, whether it be a unicorn
or a t-rex or whatever, and itwould you know, I'd pick a
non-profit that I absolutelylove, that I know is doing
amazing work, and I go aroundthe estate that I was and I
(17:04):
don't live there anymore.
I'm literally packed upeverything, put it in storage
and bought my little sofa, houseand wheels.
But, um, I used to run aroundthe estate with buckets
collecting funds and fundraising, but in the same breath, I was
bringing laughter and joy andpeople were coming out on the
(17:28):
road with their kids just tocome and say hello, and I had.
I was standing by the circledoing funny little dances, just
because I was just, you know, inmy element, I feel, in a way um
, oh yeah, I could see, I couldsee that there was a um, oh man,
(17:56):
what do you call the firstresponders?
he was coming, he obviouslylived in the estate and he was
coming home from as you know,they work really long hours and
he turned on his lights on inhis little ambulance car and it
wasn't really a bus, you knowthat.
You see, when you see ambulance, it was more an emergency
(18:18):
vehicle, like more bucky, and hethrew his lights on and he like
stuck his head out the thewindow and he's like you've just
made my day and uh, yeah, hedoes a lot of I mean, it's hard
work to be an emergency firstresponder and a paramedic.
So that's what he was paramedic, um, and so you?
(18:43):
Just, I haven't done it for along time, australia, I haven't
been doing that and I've beenvery serious running a business
and being enveloped in theseriousness of being a business
owner and running a business andthe stresses of having to try
and grow and get more clientsand financial struggles comes
(19:05):
with that and the burdens thatcome with all of that.
It has really taken strain and,tanya knows, and that includes
a whole lot of family stuff aswell.
That's on over and above thatand I haven't done any of those
things and nothing, for I thinkthis is the second year where I
haven't done it and you've justfired me because it's reminding
(19:30):
me.
Shireen, that's what you do,that's exactly what you enjoy in
doing, and bringing smiles onother people's faces and
attracting those kind ofenergies towards you.
Um.
So thank you, australia.
That was because of you and Ireally got to try and put that
into place again.
(19:50):
I don't know how.
Living out of a vehicle, Idon't know how.
I don't know how.
Living in and out of myparents's house, there's lots of
movement going on.
Not sure how long there mightbe downsizing to a retirement
place, so there's lots happeningin this little world of mine.
So I have to try and figure outhow I'm going to do that.
(20:12):
So I'm sorry I went off on atangent, but thank you, est
thank you, estrella, no, don't,no.
Estrella Quiroz (20:17):
Thank you for sharing and honestly like.
Something I've learned also inthis journey is I'm very big on
the masculine and feminineenergies within us and I want to
lead more with my feminineenergy and the feminine energies
that play the, nurture the joy,and a lot of the times business
puts us in that masculineenergy where we have to lead and
we have to, like you know, findand create and all these things
(20:37):
and and but I've realized, gosh, I've had some amazing business
deals happen because I was inmy feminine and even just last
week I went to get a freakingcup of coffee at the place.
They were having an event withcops coffee with a cop.
I've been scared of cops Causemy dad was arrested.
I've always been scared ofauthority.
I've never liked talking tocops and I was like no, today
(20:58):
I'm going to challenge myself.
And I went up there and I waslike oh, how did you get
inspired by this?
Are you guys always on it?
And whatever.
I ended up becoming best friendswith the chief of police
officer and he's like he's like,yeah, here, whatever you need.
He gives me his business card,I'm telling him about last four
walls, and then he, and thenwe're just so funny, we take a
group picture, we're just havingso much fun.
I forget how last four wallscould be incorporated with cops.
(21:20):
And he's like, oh you know, inmy line of work they're
constantly risking their lives.
We don't like to think aboutthis, but this is very
interesting and it totallyremembered.
Oh yeah, last girls could helpyou guys.
But I think when you do thingswith no expectation, because you
just want to, I want tosurround myself with people who
do things just to do things.
Like you don't have to, youdon't have to dress up, you
don't have to do any of that.
(21:41):
But what?
Like I love when people dothings just to do things.
Those are my favorite type ofpeople.
But also, like it's also abusiness needle mover, because
then I got the chief policeofficer.
I even emailed him a proposalto do an activation for new cops
and how, last farewell, I couldcome in and, you know, prepare
their new officers while they'rein training and and imagine
what, how many other steps wouldI have to take?
(22:02):
I would have to go onto thewebsite, email the secretary,
send this proposal, try.
How.
How many steps would I have totake to actually get to the
chief, rather than, when I cameto a coffee coffee cop, I
decided to get out of my comfortzone, have coffee cup.
I decided to get out of mycomfort zone, have a
conversation with these copsthat I didn't, I didn't
necessarily want to have, end upleaving laughing like all buddy
buddy, taking selfies with thechief and everybody's like, yeah
(22:23):
, I even like, yeah, I adopted acop today and you're my
coffee's.
Like, yeah, you picked theright one anyways.
That it was a business mover,but just in a different way, in
a way that's not necessarilyformal or natural, but it's, I
promise you.
Promise you, it's going to moveme light years ahead than me
trying to be here on my laptop,miserable, thinking like all
right, chief of police, what'shis name?
I don't know.
So, yeah, I mean, I really hopethat you find a way.
(22:45):
And sometimes it's not evenabout like trying to figure out
the how.
It's just.
It's just like, even if it's assimple as you go into a coffee
shop and putting on yourinflatable costume and and just
people asking you, coming up toyou and asking questions, and
then you have theseconversations that are so
enlightening and it only justtakes one person right To make
move things Like.
Those people could becomefuture clients, they could
recommend you in the future, butbut the the point is like you
(23:07):
don't do things with theexpectation of the outcome, of
like, oh yeah, I'm going to dothis, I expect to get, but no,
you're doing it because you knowwhat Hell?
yeah, I need to have fun.
Life has been so stressful,life has been potentially shitty
, right, but like, what am Igoing to do for myself Because
that's the most?
Sometimes, being selfish issometimes the most.
I do a lot of selfish things.
They look selfless and they'renot Even going to the person
(23:28):
with terminal cancer.
Yeah, that could be.
Oh no, but that's selfish in away, because I knew it was going
to fulfill me.
I knew that seeing someone thatI could help was going to bring
me joy, and that is thedefinition of right selfish.
I'm doing things because it'sfor me, but that's how we need
to.
Honestly, people need to livelike that in business because,
yeah, this is an environment wewant to create for ourselves.
(23:49):
I don't think you, as abusiness owner, you have such a
bright spirit and so when youtold me you were in bookkeeping
the first time, I was like whoadynamic, but you have many
special gifts I can see it fromzoom.
Shireen Botha (24:01):
Thank you, I appreciate that, estrella.
Um, you know what I want to say.
I don't feel like that.
I think and agree with me ordisagree with me, but I feel
like there should be a differentword and, instead of selfish, I
feel like that's something else, what you're describing.
I wish we could.
I don't think there is a word,I just wish there was another
(24:22):
word we could use incircumstances like that.
Estrella Quiroz (24:26):
Um, because, I feel, yeah, yeah, I'll think
about it, you're right, you'reright.
Well, yeah, words are important.
I guess I've only I've heard itin the team.
But hey, we have selfish goalsand we have selfless goals, but
the selfish goals are equally asimportant as a selfless,
because it's you got to fillyour own tank and if we're
constantly doing for others, atsome points our energy burns out
.
Shireen Botha (24:46):
Tune in next week for part three of Friends from
Wild Places.
Voiceover (24:52):
You've been listening to Friends from Wild Places
with Shireen Botha.
You've been listening tofriends from wild places with
Shireen Botha.
Be sure to subscribe to thepodcast from the links to catch
every episode and unleash yourpassion.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.