The Code To Winning - THE SYSTEMS, STRATEGY, AND MINDSET OF TOP ENTREPRENEURS || VANESSA RAMIREZ || EPISODE 075
Episode Date: January 23, 2026In this episode, I sit down with Vanessa Ramirez, founder of The Injury Law Consultants and Lien Care Providers, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to win in business and in life. With over 1...6 years of experience in personal injury law, Vanessa shares how she transitioned from being a legal expert to building scalable businesses that help law firms streamline operations, strengthen client relationships, and improve case outcomes. We break down the real challenges of entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth—especially the uncomfortable moments that often separate those who stay stuck from those who succeed. This conversation goes beyond law and business tactics. We talk about networking with intention, building powerful relationships, stepping outside your comfort zone, and developing the mindset required to scale without burning out. Vanessa also explains how Lien Care Providers is bridging the gap between law firms, healthcare providers, and injured clients—solving a problem many didn’t even realize existed. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, attorney, business owner, or someone focused on personal growth, this episode delivers real insight on discipline, strategy, and long-term success.
Transcript
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So I started in personal injury law back in, this makes me sound old, but back in 2009, so it's been 16 years now.
And during that time, I've dabbled in a couple of other things.
So a networking company where we had different businesses from all industries where we did marketing for them, help them with PR, help them get huge clients and did networking events.
So that was great.
And then started a co-working space for female entrepreneurs and business owners.
What advice would give for those that are not a currency in?
their comfort zone of not connecting and they get social anxiety and stuff like that.
And for all, even us extra rates, we still have the thing where we have to get on a comfort.
So would you agree with that?
Absolutely.
So what advice do you give for those that are just, are not connecting and have that anxiety?
Yeah, I would say, find your people, right?
Find your circle.
Find your people.
There's so many different networking things out there, whether that's in person, there's
some online.
There's different groups, different socials.
Look for what it is that you do.
industry and or other entrepreneurs or business owners.
What is it that we're struggling with?
Why on people patient today?
Well, because we have everything on our hands.
It's like you have your phone.
You want to Google something.
You want to look at this.
You want to watch a video.
You want to find something out.
Now we even have chat GPT.
That's a good to a whole other level.
So it is hard being patient.
But, you know, if you think about results and something, longevity, right?
And again, being persistent with something.
If you nourish something, you're consistent with something.
say what you do, whatever it is that you do, you're consistent with it. And then you're persistent.
So you keep going after, after, after, even clients, right? Very patient. You have to be patient.
And later in the long run, the way the world works, it always comes back to you.
The code to winning insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. If you are curious in
learning how to start a business, how to try and find loopholes and connections and various ways
to try and learn how to start upscale and better yourself, this is the,
episode for you, despite her various industries that she's very experienced in her expertise,
also lie in injury consultants as well, the company known as the injury law consultants.
Our guest today is going to talk a bit more about the varieties of ventures.
You can capitalize on the opportunities that are within our reach that we might not be
well familiar with as well at the same time.
So without further ado, our amazing guest who's joined us in the studio today, Vanessa Ramirez.
How are you doing today, ma'am?
Hi, doing great.
How are you?
I'm doing fantastic.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate you coming in the studio today.
I'm just excited to just talk a bit more.
Many people, like I told you, a lot of the audience,
solo preneers, entrepreneurs, many people that are just trying to find ways
and navigate within this pool of like just business and cutthroat north.
So I think our conversation today is going to really help a lot as well.
Yeah, perfect.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
Yes.
So, Born and,
raised here in Utah, lived here my whole life. I love traveling. I do have four children,
and so I'm really busy with like sports, between sports, children, just other activities
and business. My life's pretty, pretty busy. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. That's awesome. And did you
go to college here or what's your story? No, so I actually didn't go to college. I'm glad you bring that up
because I think that's something that even I'd love to touch.
on is I always feel like it doesn't matter what your background is, where you come from,
but when you have a passion in something or for something, go for it and don't let obstacles
like maybe that get in the way for you to create or bring your own table.
No, it's very true, especially with how the economy is working, like, especially like in the
United States.
There's so much room for growth, for variety of different fields that may not even require.
I've seen so many people that are in a field that, like, I studied that, but I'm in this field, you know.
So, of course, I think colleges obviously has its perks and stuff, but it's not the do-all and end-all where it almost like it's a cut-off, you know?
Yeah, absolutely.
So can you tell us a bit more about, like, your entrepreneurial journey?
I know you've done a lot of, like, co-spacing and all that, but, like, yeah, can you tell us a bit more of your background?
Yeah, sure.
So I started in personal injury law back in, this makes me sound old, but back in 2009, so it's been 16 years.
And during that time, I've dabbled in a couple of other things.
So a networking company where we had different businesses from all industries where we did marketing for them, help them with PR, helped them get huge clients, and did networking events.
So that was, that was great.
And then started a co-working space for female entrepreneurs and business owners in downtown Salt Lake.
I believe we were the first.
And then COVID hit.
So COVID hit and kind of shifted things.
A good thing is that I never stopped doing the personal injury side of things.
And so that's kind of what kept me afloat and sustained me throughout all these years.
And then officially in 2020 is when I started the company, the injury law consultant.
Okay.
And then for those that don't fully aren't familiar with co-working space,
can you kind of elaborate a bit more on that too?
Yes, of course.
So ours was focused on women, business owners and mothers.
And so co-working space, we had individual office space and then open space where people could come, again, business owners, entrepreneurs that maybe are looking for collaboration, are looking for community, are looking for different resources and things.
And so they would come work there, right?
Work there for the day or however long it was.
We also had childcare.
That was something different that not many places had.
nursing room for mothers because we think it's very important that, you know,
sometimes it's hard to leave your kids anywhere or to trust people and things like that.
So we wanted to make it pretty well-rounded and for them to feel supported in that way.
So they would come work there.
We'd have different events, workshops, things like that.
We'd bring in different resources.
So I think we talked about resources, right?
And how crucial they are, especially at the beginning, not even just at the beginning,
but throughout your entrepreneurship and you're learning things,
you might know a skill,
but sometimes you need to learn the back end of things, right?
Or how do I get my tax set up, the payroll set up?
How do I hire on people?
I mean, so many things as you're expanding.
And so we would partner with different organizations
like the Women's Business Center, Small Business Development Center,
those kind of things.
So, yeah, I guess that's a little bit more than you ask for there.
No, no, that's exactly.
I actually loved with you.
You elaborated a lot.
The nice thing about that is that it obviously got you a lot out your comfort zone
because these kind of stuff involved a lot of networking,
a lot of connections and leveraging for the actual relationships as well like that.
And I noticed that Utah, it's only now started to boom with that.
And you started this thing a while back.
But right now people are doing more networks.
Usually people would go out of state and like the coast to try and do that thing.
But, you know, as I was talking, I think with the previous guest that I mentioned, like, we're talking just about, like, the integration of all these, like, networks.
Because it's so important, like, yes, your network is your network eventually.
But it's also very important that people understand there's so many resources that are available, but you have to just continue to look for it.
But people don't know where to find those.
Yeah.
And how has networking helped, like, your situation in business and overall?
Yeah.
Honestly, it has been the number one component.
well, besides the brain, but to my success. And I would say, you know, when you have an authentic
relationship with people, you nourish those relationships. And it's never really, how can you,
what can you do for me? But let's get to know each other. Let's see how we can support one another.
And you never know, maybe down the road in the long run, there's something else that comes
of it where you can support one another in different ventures, right? I remember.
thinking just of one thing right now is when I started a company, the networking and membership-based
company, I didn't have funds, right? And so it's like, how am I going to do all these things that
I wanted to do? And there were so many people that I had already known for years that trusted me,
they liked me, they wanted to work with me, and they truly supported the vision and came through
and did a lot of stuff like pro bono. And years later, now they're
in a different position.
I'm like, we're in two different spaces.
How can I support you?
What can I do for you?
And how can I help you grow or bring you business or things like that, right?
So, yeah, networking is huge.
And when you do good service, you don't, I mean, your service speaks for itself and you
don't have to invest in a whole lot of marketing because your customer service speaks for
itself.
You know, which kind of perfectly segues to obviously the power of.
of relationship capital.
Obviously building those relationships,
not just contacts that end up like involving
a lot of like long term success in business as well.
I wanna touch a bit more on that.
I know yes, we speak about networking,
but how important are those specific relationships
in terms of like capital, relationship capital?
Yeah.
On like what do you're referring to?
So the people that we end up like connecting with
that can end up like context
contributing and helping us in terms of like building capital or like connecting us to the next person as well, just pretty much like the relationship of like, of those people that are where we want to be.
Yeah. I think when you when you move with like honesty and transparency and build that relationship and you're able to nourish it, I feel like they come back all the time to support you.
Right.
They support your vision.
and they see what you're doing.
They look for ways to collaborate with you
or to connect you to people
that can maybe support what you're doing.
Yeah.
And then what does obviously networking
with intention mean?
Yeah.
I would say, so it's different when it's like
we get to know each other and it's like,
oh, how's your day going?
How's the weather?
And there's like that small talk versus
how can we get to know one another?
Maybe your background, what you're up to,
what ventures you're into,
who your clients are, your target audience, and how I can support you.
We talked about your event coming up.
I said, well, who's your target audience?
If I can understand who your target audience is, then I know who to bring, who to invite,
who would be great to collaborate for sponsors and things like that.
Okay.
And yeah, I think it's, I mean, it's so important because I've noticed, I mean,
last week, the past eight days has been, by the end of the day to day,
It would be like 39 interviews in seven days.
Wow.
But it's not just the 39 interviews in seven days.
It's also two masterminds and two events along the way at four different cities and across three different states.
But it's in all of those, I've seen people that have networked with intention,
but I've also seen people that just have a business card and like, hi, my name is someone.
Yes, it's my card.
And it's like, it's not really like a very productive way.
Yes, there's ways you can give you a card, but trying to, I told myself, listen, I talk so much.
Let me try and use this time to listen more than anything, even though, like, I want to do the connection, but listening to people.
So that's what I was doing more than anything.
Maybe it's because I was also very exhausted.
Yeah.
Could be.
But I agree with that.
I think that's very important.
Very important.
And I feel like that goes a long ways when you're invested in someone else versus what can you do for me.
Like, oh, here's my card.
Okay, well, let's learn about each other.
let's get to know one another.
And again, like background, how can we support one another, visions, goals, target audience,
those kind of things.
Yeah.
So if you're talking, you won't learn those things.
Exactly.
It's not just even in Netflix and everything, dating, relationships, friends, everything.
Because we all have that one friend that can yap, yep, yep, stop, right?
We love them regardless.
Oh, wait, I'm that friend.
Like sounds a little familiar over here too.
So which kind of even perfectly segues.
I want to talk about collaboration over competition.
Oh, I love this one.
I love the topic to let us dissect it.
Yes.
Yeah, and I can see this in all the different businesses I've done.
And let's talk about even now, right?
So in the personal injury space, there's, you probably see billboards all over the freeway,
like one right after another after another after.
other Utah is getting really crazy, but even other states are way out there. And so there is a lot of
competition out there. And so what I say is, and I've always said this and I live by it, is focus on
what you're doing and be good at what you do so that the people will come to you for your service,
right? Now, let's look at gas stations. You could see a Chevron on one corner and a Maverick on the other
corner. Do you think they're like, oh, he's going to be there? Maybe I'm not coming. No, they don't care.
They're like, we know what we provide. We know what service we give and we'll get our clientele.
But for instance, in the injury space, there are times that there might be a conflict of interest, right?
And so when that happens, you want to have those relationships so you can say, hey, you know what, I'm not
able to help you because of X, Y, Z, but my neighbor across the street, he does the same thing.
that might be a good resource for you, or here's a list of resources that you might be able to go to,
and just support one another that way, right?
Or with what I do, I do consulting for different law firms,
and so in this industry, I say it should be all of us, the law firms representing the clients
against the insurance companies, right?
That's who we're against.
We're not against each other.
we should be coming together for our community,
learning the same thing, being on the same page
so that when the insurance looks at us,
they say, oh, it's a Utah firm, not, oh, it's that firm,
and they work a certain way, but so they look at us collectively the same, right?
And in order to do that, you do have to collaborate.
So it's like, hey, let's get all on the same page.
Let's do this the right way.
Let's help each other succeed,
because when you succeed, the community succeeds, and we all win.
I love that.
Yeah.
And I think, so, I mean, I think, I don't know,
I've been speaking to you in the phone a few times
and I think the last time I told you
when I figured out the feel that you were in,
obviously in injury consulting as well,
I go to Vegas at least twice a month
on like a weekend.
And like I said, because of the masterminds
and the events and usually I'm there,
I've got to capitalize on a lot of interviews.
I have like a list of people that are still scheduled as well
in Vegas.
But every time I drive in Las Vegas,
the minute it says, welcome to Nevada.
Every darn billboard is like injury, injury,
contact, injury, injury, injury.
I'm like, maybe I should be in this field.
Yeah.
What the heck is going on down here?
It's a huge.
It's a huge industry.
Why?
Yeah, and you know, a lot of those,
so I do a lot of out-of-state training and stuff in the legal industry,
And so I know a lot of those firms because when we get together, the cool thing is it's just so beautiful to see when we're all there to learn together, right?
We're there to learn to be able to help our clients.
But then we collaborate.
They have networking events.
And you see all those firms that you have seen there.
We're all there hanging out, talking about how can we help each other?
How can we be better?
How can we set things up?
And so it's just so beautiful.
That right there, you might look at it on the billboards and think, well, that sure looks like competition.
but when we come together, it is collaboration.
Yeah.
And I think it's so important.
I think you touched on it as well.
There is room for everyone.
Absolutely.
There is room for everyone to grow.
And obviously being in the podcast space,
I remember when I said, I want to start the podcast.
They're like, oh, no, it's so saturated.
I'm like, well, I show them the analytics.
I saw them the YouTube revenue.
I show them the email list of people that are requested to jump on.
I show, yes, of course, we invested like thousands of dollars every month
and ads spent and all that kind of stuff.
But there's nothing like saturation.
There's always going to be like a few people that would want to listen to what you're doing.
You know what I'm saying?
And so, and the problem as well is the fact that if people have this perception of,
oh, no, he's doing that, he's doing that.
I need to try and beat that rather than say, hey, listen, man, you're doing that thing good.
Let me learn from that.
Right.
It worked together.
And then we went together because you're not winning until the whole team is winning.
Yeah, absolutely.
Would you agree with that?
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I think it's great.
to put your ego aside.
And if you do see someone that's doing something that you love or you admire,
I always say, go for it.
Ask them like, hey, I would love to learn how you're doing this.
I'd love to pay for your time.
How can we work together?
And then you can become just as good as them, right?
Yeah.
Maybe even better sometimes.
Yeah.
No, and I agree with that.
And I think that's one thing because, like I said, with all the events you've been going,
time is such a valuable resource
that sometimes you also have to
value the person's time
that you're trying to ask a thing because
yes you get people that could do
pro bono stuff but people are still very experienced
in what they do they've accumulated all the time
and to gain that thing so it's just
at least a form of offering
say hey listen this way I'm at with that
be enough for you kind of thing
and I've learned that the hard because when you first started off
like a few years back you're like this
and I realize this person got to where they're at right
now, you know, so it's only good to try and like just utilize that a bit more.
Yeah, yeah, I love that. I've done that like so many times where I'll reach out to someone and say, hey, you know, you're doing this certain thing or I'm doing this.
I'd love to pick your brain. Let me know, you know, if you're available and what that would look like, I'm happy to pay for your time.
You have to invest in yourself and all that you do, right? I always feel like it's very important to have even a mentor, someone that can hold you accountable and help you grow, especially us being entrepreneurs.
we don't really always have someone that's telling us what to do because we are the leader.
We are the ones that are running the show.
And so it's like, who do we go to for help, for accountability, those kind of things.
So I think it's important to invest in mentorship and with people that you look up to that can help you elevate yourself.
And what advice would give for those that are not currently in their comfort zone of not connecting
and they get social anxiety and stuff like that.
And for all, even us extra rates,
we still have the thing where we have to get on our comfort.
Would you agree with that?
Absolutely.
So what advice do you give for those that are just,
are not connecting and have that anxiety?
Yeah, I would say, find your people, right?
Find your circle, find your people.
There's so many different networking things out there,
whether that's in person, there's some online.
There's different groups, different socials.
Look for what it is that you do, your industry, and or other entrepreneurs or business owners.
So in your city, there are lots of local things that are going on that you can subscribe to, you know,
newsletters, things like that and get involved.
Get out there.
I remember a very, very huge pivotal time for me in my career.
And we're coming up on the anniversary of that this coming, well, November.
there was a legal conference in Atlanta.
This was some years ago.
And I had subscribed to this trial lawyers page that I really admire.
And I got an email with an invitation to this event,
a huge event at the Mercedes Benzerina.
I mean, Arnold Schwarzenegger was going to be there.
Camille Vasquez, she was the attorney for Johnny Depp's trial.
So it was a lot of really, really big people.
And I thought, I don't know anyone.
and I had two choices and I could say, well, never mind, maybe I just won't go, but I'm like,
yeah, but I already have the ticket. I'm kind of formally invited. This seems like something huge.
So I did go and I ended up meeting so many incredible women at that conference that have truly
changed my life. Not necessarily the women, but that group of just networking, right? And what
that's grown to from then until now, how it's been huge, huge, huge, huge.
It's literally really made a huge impact in my business.
So don't be scared, you guys.
I know sometimes it's intimidating.
You know, it's especially when you're in somewhere very new.
I found that for me sometimes too.
It's a little bit easier when you're in like a sit down setting because then you're
forced to sit next to someone and you can kind of have small talk that way versus
I've been to some networking events that it's like I know not one single person and you
walk in and it's like everyone already kind of has their little click and how do you kind of
get in. It's a little bit more difficult. So yeah, it's easier to, you know, again, find what's
local to your community, whether it's business entrepreneurship or your industry specifically.
Gosh, yeah. That's absolute nuggets right there. So when we talk about consistency,
persistence and patience, obviously we know that consistency always beats talent and business
longevity. I want to make an example. Obviously, for me, the easiest thing,
thing to do to start a podcast is obviously when you are when you're famous because you can just
get all like the YouTube but in order when you're in a field and I'm making this example because
something I can relate to the best it's you have to think out the box but you have to be
consistent yeah I mean you've seen the episodes I've posted and just and we're so if I tell you
that we actually after today would be 50 plus still in terms of like you know backed up that we have
to just focus entirely on on the event
It's that consistency that shows that, hey, listen, I may not be right now a Joe Rogan audience.
And sometimes that may not be like my level of success.
Success comes in many different ways.
Yes, absolutely.
And I think what when people need to understand is the fact that, hey, listen, figure out a niche, figure out what you like,
but also be consistent on what you do because eventually in the wrong run, once you're consistent in that field,
you are bound to get a reward one way or another.
Would you agree on that?
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
When I think of consistency and I think of the gym, right?
It's like you can go to the gym once.
Nothing's going to happen.
But the more you go and you go and you go,
you'll definitely start seeing the results,
just like anything in life.
You get better and better,
the more you're consistent with it, right?
But the only problem in those three terms I mentioned,
I mentioned consistency, persistent in patience,
because of us just being such,
instinct gratification, generation, and people that are coming up.
It's a call it the TikTok generation where you see something for three seconds and they're like,
ah, I can't watch more than three.
What is it that we're struggling with?
Why aren't people patient today?
Well, because we have everything on our hands.
It's like you have your phone, you want to Google something, you want to look at this,
you want to watch a video, you want to find something out.
Now we even have chat GPT.
that took us to a whole other level so um it is hard it is hard being patient but um you know if you think
about results and something longevity right and again being persistent with something if you nourish
something you're consistent with something let's say what you do whatever it is that you do
you're consistent with it and then you're persistent so you keep going after after after even clients right
very patient you have to be patient and later in the long run
the way the world works, it always comes back to you.
It always does.
No, I love that.
I love that so much.
Yeah, we have a lot.
We're going to obviously dive in as well.
I can't believe it's like 30 seconds.
I mean, 30 minutes is already gone by.
We hardly touched question one.
What's going on?
That's a good conversation.
That's an example for that.
I know we started saying that in terms of starting something.
I want to know somebody watching out there.
what are resources that are available to us that can be accessible to anyone,
wanted to start something with limited funds?
Yes, I'm the perfect example of that.
I think I had just like maybe $5,000 to my name.
I was leaving my job, a secure job, and I'm like, you know what, I want to start something of my own.
But before I jumped into that, I was attending.
So different classes, this is local, but in your community,
there might be something similar to this.
So the Small Business Development Center,
I believe that's nationwide, if I'm not mistaken.
They do a lot of free classes.
They have mentors there that can assist you.
They'll pull up like analytics and whatever industry you're looking for.
They're so good with numbers and just kind of guiding you and mentoring you.
Not only that, but they have resources as far as once you're starting a business,
where do you go?
What does that look like?
What are the websites?
They are a huge, huge, huge.
resource and you get to network with other people that are maybe on the same page or a little bit
more advanced. So that's a great, a very, very great business or organization. There's also the
chambers. So a lot of the chambers, they offer educational training. They also do networking events,
which I say get out to those, get to know people, get to know people that are around you,
surround yourself with people that are trying to do things and elevate themselves because sometimes
it's easy to stay in our comfort zone and with our family, friends, but if you stay stuck there,
you're not really going to elevate yourself. So I would say small business development center,
your local chambers, the women's business center, that was very, very crucial and helpful for me.
And even what else? Just on there's a, I think it's
called meetup.com. There's different resources there too that you can find in your area. I think
those are good resources to get started with. Yes, I love that you mentioned that. So I want you to
give me advice. So obviously I'm going to throw the event end of the year. Yes. Not just another thing
is that we're going to do a mastermind, which is going to be like a Soho house. Yeah.
where I need people to either be in a business or to start a business because it's a thing where we're all going to be supporting each other in ways in terms of like growing and getting contacts and similar funding and all the kind of stuff.
But I also want to do something that's going to be completely free for those that just want to keep coming to regular like meetups as well.
Because the entire purpose I feel like of people that are going to be paying for the mastermind is because there is not necessarily a guarantee, but there's going to be more doors that are going to be opening.
where that payment is to try and obviously pay for the speakers that are going to be coming through
and giving the proper blueprint and stuff like that as well.
And usually if people pay for something, you value it a bit more.
Yeah, I agree.
You told me that.
You're like, KG, this thing.
I'm like, I want to do a free event.
I was like, okay, you're just going to pay for the bloody venue, Kay.
You know, it's a lot of venues, a lot of food.
I'm like, yes, I'm religious, but, you know, something has to pay.
You know, and I get that.
And at the end of the day, we're all trying to do something.
And we're all, you know, there's expenses.
We're in business.
There's things that we have to cover.
So I think that's important.
And I do feel like there is more value when you, not more value in what you're getting,
but people respect it a little bit more when you put a dollar amount because there's commitment, right?
Versus like you can sign up and say, yeah, I'm going.
Half those people might not show up because it's free.
Right.
I think it's mentality, something in the mind that something happens.
It's true. It's very, very true. And I felt situations like that as well away. It's like, oh, you invited to come through.
You're like, oh, am I tired? I don't know. Maybe I am tired. But if you pay you like, yo, I got to get my money's worth.
It's similar with the buffet. You're like, I'm not hungry, but I'm like, you know what?
Yo, I paid. I went to Caesar's Palace. So I took up me and my producers and a few other guys. And like the thing was like 80 bucks.
No, no, no, it was like 93. But I think in total for everyone was like 400.
500 so my mind like I'm like even if they aren't eating I'm like I'm gonna stuff myself
because that's a lot of my yeah yeah so yeah when you pay but if it's like a free thing at the
at a thing you're like oh let's take it I don't even like it I'm fine you know and think about your
think about who might show up to those to those events right when they're free
depending on what your goal is right so like there's these classes through the small business
Development Center and all of those other resources, those are free, which that's great. And those are
learning, teaching you how to set your business up and things like that. But if you're doing a mastermind
or something like that and you're saying it's free versus there's a ticket and it's a high ticket item,
you know those people are invested. They want to learn. They want to be there. And they're finding the
resources or the funds to make sure that they get there. So they're more, I'd feel like more,
maybe more committed to what the event is.
I love that.
Yeah.
No, I really, really do like that.
Now, obviously, when you've started a business and you're at the level of trying to upscale,
can we talk about like knowing when and how to pivot?
Okay.
Well, let's go back to the injury law, right?
So I said I started in 2009, and I was an employee at that time for many, many years.
And I think for me, what happened was I saw my value in what I was providing and how much of a
difference I was making inside of these firms for everyone else.
And I thought, well, if I can do it for them, and I seemed to be the common denominator at
these firms that's making a difference, then how can I replicate this, but for many more firms,
except on my term, right? So I think the game changes when you find the value in yourself,
and you're able to put that out there and take that leap of faith, right? And so that was my pivot,
right? It's like, okay, I can be an employee forever. And this is what it looks like. I get told
when I clock in, when I clock out, when I can take my lunch, I have to ask for vacation
in time, so many things. And I thought, well, I feel like I can still do what I'm doing and I have a
passion for, but on my terms. So you have to have that leap of faith and just kind of go for it.
However, kind of made sure I was still set up on the back end, right? Have a little bit of
financial cushion and start looking for your clientele already. Have them kind of on the back of
the mind so that when the time comes and you're ready to move, then it's go time.
Yeah.
No, I like that as well.
And I think people just, I think when you fully enter the entrepreneurial space, it's exciting
at first and you realize, darn it, you don't sleep.
Yeah.
You're on your regular 9-8-5 and stuff.
I promise you can still sleep.
you can enjoy the weekend.
There is no sleep because you can work any time of the day,
especially when you're running a business as well.
You know those better than most as well.
So it requires that.
So another advice I'd give if you want to this journey,
prelong and hard.
Oh, yeah.
Then go in.
Yeah.
Because you can't lukewarm this.
No, not at all.
Not at all.
I've seen people that they think they're ready for entrepreneurship.
They leave their, you know,
know, they're steady job and income and earning very, very well income. And they go to it. And they don't
go full force. They're not disciplined. They're not consistent. All of those things are not persistent.
And so what happens is I've seen them have to kind of backpedal and go back because they look,
they need that security. I'm like, maybe you weren't quite ready. Maybe you weren't quite ready.
And or once you were out there, you know, you have to have grit because if you don't, the world will just
eat you up.
Yeah, no, it really does.
Yeah.
And so that's the thing.
You just have to, I think what happens, most people just don't want to play the long game.
They give up too easily as well.
So it's just like, listen, it's not for everyone.
But if you want it to be for you, just, all you got to do is just show up every day.
Right.
Show up every single day, no matter how tired, no matter anything going on around you,
you have to keep showing up.
You have to do it.
And I'm glad you mentioned, you know, I mean, you, you.
you think of this job security, right? And then you're like, oh, well, I can do this. I'm going to go out
on my own. It is challenging. And I remember when I was an employee and I had my child, I thought,
well, this sucks. Like, they're telling me, I could only be with my newborn for one month and I have
to come back to work. Like, this is terrible. I can't wait until I'm my own business owner and no
one's going to tell me. And guess what? Boy, was I wrong. So wrong, because it was, I was like literally
had just given birth and I'm on the phone with clients in bed like trying to attend to my newborn
baby and I'm like I have to do this I have to take it because there's no one else around me that
can help me or support me right now this before I hired employees and so it was challenging it was
very very tough and I'm just so grateful that I was able to just stick with it and now I have my
full staff and they're so supportive and I just feel so great because of them I'm able to be here
during work hours doing this with you.
I love that.
I love that.
Your network as a growth strategy,
I think we often touched on network a lot
throughout the entire conversation,
but when we speak about growth strategy,
I think there's a lot of components
that are very important
and variables that connect all the dots together
because networking is important,
networking with intention is important,
but at the end of the day,
like one question somebody asked me yesterday,
and caught me of God's like, actually, what is your goal?
Like, you're meeting all these people.
You're doing all these stuff.
Like, what is your goal?
And yes, I usually have this answer and I keep answering and stuff.
But I went back to the hotel and I'm like, gosh, dang, I need to be very specific at what I want.
Yes.
And what's the goal for this thing?
Yes, people are learning as well.
But like, there has to be an end goal, you know?
Purpose, intention.
Journaling will help you a lot with that because it's like, think of a roadmap or you tell
me where to go. The first thing I'm going to ask is what's the address? Then once I plug the address
and it's going to tell me turn right, turn left, go straight, do this. But if you don't have a goal,
what are you doing? Where are you going? I like that. Because the car is starting, but eventually
you don't want the gas to end you. You have to get to a destination. Yes, absolutely. So what strategies
would you say are important to implement like networking towards someone's growth in business?
I would say nourishing them. So earlier you talked about like an email list, right? But being able to funnel them in and you nourish those relationships because you never know when it might turn into something. So I've been in the legal industry 16 years now. And I don't really have to do a whole lot of marketing or paid ads or anything like that because because I've already established all these relationships and have nourished them for so many years. I started doing something else within the legal industry.
and people know I'm doing it. I don't talk about it a lot, but because they know,
they automatically will call, hey, Vanessa, I have this referral for you. I have a referral.
I have a referral. And all of a sudden it turned into a second business that is just,
it's thriving on its own and it's just like on cruise control because of the networking and
the growth with that and being able to nourish those relationships. So nourish the relationships.
No, wow.
It's important. Yeah, it's important because how many times do we get the contact of
somebody that we've networked with, but we never reach out.
Right.
I mean, I harassed yesterday.
I mean, and I'm so sorry.
I was like, well, my phone was just ringing right now as you stepped out and I'm like,
I had to just say, call you back again.
I said, this person called me earlier this morning.
I had a text.
Like, I am getting back to you, I promise.
I have to calendar that.
So I've had to get better with time management because I literally have to plug in calls, payroll,
you know, meeting with an employee.
like every single thing even like getting ready school drop-offs gym dinner because i have to stay on track
i have to stay on track i have to have structure and accountability to my own self so it's been very
it's been very helpful it's new but if and it's hard to stick to it but it is helpful no no i appreciate
that i'm telling you right now you're not my my worst victim yeah i've had for worse and i think
I've mastered the art of
extreme persistent
but you've got to be careful
because it's the borderline between that and harassment
you have to understand that listen
what somebody is doing for you
it's still at the end of the day
their time and a favor that they're doing
so you have to understand yes it's a win-win
for both parties they're going to be in your platform but at the end of the
day time is such a valuable commodity
that listen they are doing something for you
by coming to this day so you have to still
be extremely cautiously respectful
but also understand that
people are busy.
So that's why if I wouldn't be persistent if they weren't busy,
but everyone is a business owner.
Everyone is making so much.
Everyone's running employees.
But so sometimes people, things are slightly a little off,
like not necessarily off,
but like they got so much they're doing that
co-twinning, as much as it's a priority for me,
I'm also trying to fit within their schedule.
Right.
So I think it's mastering that thing.
And I think, and at the point it's like, listen,
I got to push the break somewhere,
but I'm telling you I've been far worse,
so you're not my worst victim.
And I think persistency is great.
I mean, we talked about this, right?
If you're not persistent, what do they say?
Closed mouths don't get fed.
So if you're not asking for it,
you're never going to get it.
And worst case, the answer is no,
but you never find it until you keep asking.
Exactly.
So keep shooting that bloody shot.
Yes.
And maybe right now is not the time
and maybe in the future it will be.
Exactly.
You just never know.
Keep nourishing those relationships.
Keep being persistent.
I love that.
Yeah.
That's why we don't even need questions.
No, it's true.
It's true.
And I think whenever we look at the most successful people that have invested 10,000 hours
in whatever craft or workmanship or field or industry, whatever it may be,
it always comes back to those three things we spoke about,
which was consistency, persistence, and patience.
Yes.
You know, LeBron James is not LeBron James overnight.
Right.
Christiana Ronaldo was not Christian Ronaldo overnight.
Vanessa Ramirez is not Vanessa Ramirez over night.
Exactly.
So, so Dikani KG was never, you know, KG overnight.
Everyone does that craft, but everyone's got their own story,
but everyone within their story may not, you know, be LeBron James,
but they are whoever they are within their identity and like whatever craftmen
or feel that they're in.
So I like that story.
Yeah, I love that.
Do you want to add anything else on that?
No, I think it's important, as you were saying, I was thinking of Kobe, you know?
Like he if you know his story and like how often he was in the gym, how he wasn't entertaining like going to the bar doing this, doing that because he knew he had a goal, right?
He wanted to be the best and he said he was the best all the time, but he wouldn't have gotten to where he were if it were not for him again being persistent and training every single day.
Not just when the coaches would tell him.
That's something you have to do on your own.
Sometimes you have to find your own motivation and push your own self.
to beyond your limiting beliefs.
That's so powerful.
Let's talk about authenticity and brand alignment.
Can you talk a bit more about that?
Authenticity, which is what we're doing now.
This is not staged.
This is just us speaking in our natural habitat.
I think it's important to do that.
Branding consistency again.
So if I go on to your platform and maybe I want to know what is it you do,
but one day you're doing this and you're doing that and another thing,
it's going to be hard for me to determine who you are or what it is that you do.
So I think it's important to stay consistent and keep up with that branding
because sometimes your brand speaks for itself without you even having to be in the room, you know?
No, that's legit.
And I think it's very important because we know that being authentic also attracts the right connections.
Right.
Because there's only so much you can end up a facade or being a,
a little phony. Eventually it all comes down to your true self. Because people do read onto that.
Absolutely. People have got discernment. People understand. And if not, it eventually catches up to you.
So I think just being authentic and connections and getting to know people and reaching out, be very intentional.
Don't put up. I mean, I remember telling you what my budget was first. Then I told you, I got to adjust a few stuff because now I realize there's a power of utilizing.
What's it? Sponsors, all the different stuff. But I
I wasn't trying to come across like, you know, I'm some sort of, I don't know,
I don't know, multi-billionaire.
I'm like, listen, this is what we have.
That's my market.
Let's try and make it work.
And I think it's just important for people to understand and they can try.
And you're like, hey, listen, try doing this and try doing that thing.
Maybe get these people to try and do that thing, you know, revisit that thing and all this
different stuff.
And that's when you get that because now your mindset is opening like, oh, wow, that's true.
Then let me go through all the people.
And then it was like, oh yeah, sure, just get a website.
And then you're like, wow, it's that simple.
Yeah.
People are willing to do that because you see value in that.
So yet again, I was authentic in telling you like, hey, listen, this is where I'm at
the moment.
Yes, of course, we're doing well in AdSense revenue and stuff.
But we keep reinvesting so much in other different stuff that we need to know that
we cannot break ourselves.
Yeah.
Yeah, of course.
I think it's important to be authentic in everything you do, business, personal, every
single thing that's very important.
It takes you, it goes a lot further than trying, well, I know they say fake it until you make it,
but in certain situations you don't want to do that.
What's the toughest part about being an entrepreneur?
For me, it's been time management.
It's truly been time, well, time management and finding the motivation when sometimes you have to be your own motivation.
Because again, you don't have someone telling you when to clock in, when to clock out.
here's what you need to do.
So it's been challenging.
That part has been very challenging.
And then knowing how to allocate time.
And I wouldn't, for me, I wouldn't say that there is a, you know, when they say work-life balance,
I don't have a work-life balance.
I'm working sometimes in the evenings or if my kids are at sports, I might be able to hurry
up and pick up a call really quick.
But so, you know, I wouldn't say work-life balance.
but yeah, I would say time management has been difficult and motivation sometimes.
So you got to keep doing it.
You got to keep doing it whether no one else is clapping behind you.
You got to clap for yourself and push yourself, you know.
And sometimes again, back to the why it's a good idea to hire a mentor so they can hold you accountable when you can't.
No, I'm glad you touched on that because that's like what the last second topic I wanted to touch on is like how important is it?
You know, we've seen people that are successful in whatever field they may be.
There's one common denominator that everyone does have, and that's the fact that there was a mentor or a coach that helped them along the way.
How important has mentorship been for you throughout your experience and, like, journey as an entrepreneur?
Huge, huge.
I would say I have a mentor who I've worked with since, in fact, when I started in the industry since 2009, that mentor was specifically for the industry, right, and has helped me elevate it.
in that way. Going to the conferences and learning from the speakers there and people who are doing
way better than me, though I use them as mentors as well. And then personally, because if you are
not a disciplined person in general and you're not in a right state of mind and have a good
mindset, how are you going to lead your staff and the people around you? So I think it's very important,
very important. No, I love that. I think it's, yeah, it's in it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's,
important and the nice thing is that they can help you avoid the stuff that they never got
the chance to do so. Right. And so it helps you get a certain shortcut in the right way.
Yeah. Not like by stagnating or preventing your progress, but I feel like it just makes a big
difference. So I couldn't agree more. Obviously, no other time, I know you're very busy and I want
you to get back to the office in time. The last question we usually ask entrepreneurs,
because the term winning is so different for everyone else.
The coat winning obviously means insights people need today to seize the world tomorrow.
For Vanessa Ramirez, throughout your journey in life and business,
what does the term winning mean for you?
Winning for me means making an impact for others,
being the voice for others when they cannot be the voice for themselves.
When I started in the industry, the legal industry,
I always did what was right.
I never looked at numbers.
I was an employee, right?
But it was always doing what's right,
making a difference in the community,
fighting for every single case and client,
like they were the only ones that ever existed.
And just feeling that reward of,
I made a difference.
I personally made a difference in this person's life.
To me, that's winning.
When someone can come to me,
and once we're done,
they're a different person than when they were,
when they came to me. So to me, that's winning. Awesome. If you could let our viewers know where to get a hold of you,
if they want to try and like get in terms of injury attorney or legal advice or consulting or in business or like any social,
obviously we'll have that all in the description section. Can you let our viewers know where to get a little of you?
Yeah, absolutely. So again, it's Vanessa Ramirez with the injury law consultants. And you can find me on Instagram and that's at the injury law consultants.
Awesome. The coat-winning insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. Vanessa Ramirez, thank you very much. Thank you so much.
