Watch this episode as Mervin discusses with Abner Murillo, founder and owner of TMT Distributors Company and Lock N’ Loaded, as he shares his journey of seizing opportunities and building two successful businesses. Learn how ambition and perseverance formed the foundation of Abner’s success in this segment of the Creative Monday Discussion Show, Season 5 Episode 7: “Becoming a Fully Locked and Loaded Business Owner”.
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About Abner Murillo
Abner’s story starts with humble beginnings in Belize and has developed into a success story of a thriving young entrepreneur. From an early age, Abner believed that once a business opportunity presents itself, it must be taken. As a budding entrepreneur, Abner has grasped every opportunity with both hands. He recalls his journey in business beginning in his early years in elementary school, where he would purchase stickers and candies, reselling them to his classmates to make a profit. This aptitude for business and entrepreneurial ambition has now evolved into the success he is today, as he is now the founder and owner of two thriving businesses. Lock N’ Loaded, his Firearms Dealership, currently has three (3) branches across Belize and is becoming a prosperous, expanding business. His second business, TMT Distributors Company, also had humble beginnings and has now flourished into a tremendous success. Along with business partners, through TMT Distributors Company Abner has been able to branch out to the smartphone industry in larger markets such as China, Dubai, and Hong Kong.
With all the success Abner is experiencing, one might assume his family origin is of a distinct business background. However, Abner has explained that neither of his parents were entrepreneurs or business owners. With that, his venture into the business world began with the trial and error phase of numerous business startups before achieving his current success. Apart from his two current business endeavors, Abner has also ventured into the music and entertainment industry as well as clothing retail. Through these startups, he gained an abundance of knowledge and experience in the process of starting up and sustaining a business.
Having relocated to the United States to pursue his dreams, Abner has learned how to handle the many hardships and victories of being a young entrepreneur. He now does his best to motivate other entrepreneurs and encourage them in their process. Throughout his journey, Abner has had his fair share of roadblocks to success but never allowed them to hold him back. Through experiences such as engaging the wrong business partners and making lifestyle choices that inhibited his success, he has gained wisdom that has not only contributed to the current success of his endeavors but has also solidified his faith. With determination and perseverance, Abner has overcome each challenge that was presented to him and believes that anyone can be the best in what they do, by taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them and having God as the ultimate guide.
Key Points from this Episode/ Take Away
- Abner Murillo introduced himself.
- Abner and Mervin discussed several of Abner’s business ventures.
- Abner shared more details of his entrepreneurial journey.
- The ability to recognize opportunities and seize them is conversed upon.
- Abner shares about his entrepreneurial journey starting at a young age.
- Various avenues of the business sector which he invested in at the onset years are discussed.
- The importance of building business character is explored.
- Abner spoke of his migration to the United States of America and his transition.
- The start of one of his businesses, TMT Distributors Company, is shared.
- Abner goes into further detail about the proper selection of a market and shares how this led to his branching out to doing business in China, Dubai, and Hong Kong.
- The importance of finding a larger, relevant market is discussed.
- The ability to detect and capitalize on business opportunities is explored.
- The importance of reaching for opportunities is highlighted.
- Abner shares more about his upbringing and notes that his parents did not have business backgrounds.
- Abner discussed and examined his learning process.
- The importance of trial and error is highlighted.
- The impact of COVID – 19 on businesses is discussed.
- Overcoming fears in business and working towards goals is discussed.
- “Business mindset” is defined.
- Abner shares about failure and starting over, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the failures as well as the triumphs.
- The significance of celebrating victories and learning from losses is discussed.
- The dangers of limiting oneself are explored.
- The Law of Attraction is discussed.
- The importance of remaining humble in success is highlighted.
- The mindset and systems essential to maintaining and subsidizing a business are discussed.
- The importance of finding a good team is emphasized.
- Abner shares how instrumental his faith and belief in God have been in attaining success in his business ventures.
- The necessity of networking is discussed.
- The role that experience plays in being a business owner is explored.
- Managing a business from overseas is discussed.
- Business marketing is discussed.
- Being the best in one’s business endeavors is discussed.
- The importance of knowing that you are your biggest competition is emphasized.
- Physical, mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual health are discussed, and their relation to personal and professional growth are examined.
- A cultural tendency towards alcoholism is discussed.
- The importance of investing in the growth and success of one’s business and financial status is discussed.
- Breaking bad habits is discussed.
- Monetary and time investments are discussed.
- The risks of investing too much time into social media are considered.
- Abner’s entrepreneurial mindset is reflected.
- The importance of self-investment is reviewed.
- Abner shares what fascinated him in his entrepreneurial journey.
- Mental health during the entrepreneurial journey is discussed.
- The importance of having various streams of income is discussed.
- Abner shares the most rewarding aspect of his journey.
- The process of becoming more efficient as a business is explored.
- Abner shares his experience as an entrepreneur and how it allowed him to meet and subsequently do business with the prominent business owner and rapper, Kanye West.
Monday Night Brain Teasers
- “There’s no such thing as failures, there’s only lessons learnt” – Abner Murillo (00:04:28 – 00:04:31).
- “If you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never go anywhere” – Abner Murillo (00:09:57 – 00:10:00).
- “If failure is going to keep you from doing anything, you’re never going to have the life you want”- Abner Murillo (00:10:01 – 00:10:07).
- “If you are comfortable where you are, you’re not going anywhere” – Abner Murillo (00:10:22 – 00:10:27).
- “If every successful person thought about the ‘What Ifs?’, they wouldn’t be successful” – Abner Murillo (00:11:57 – 00:12:04).
- “Investing in you, becoming the best version of yourself, so that you can be the best version of yourself for your company” – Abner Murillo (00:29:53 – 00:30:02).
- “You can’t be addicted and try to build a business, because that addiction will take you away from investing in that company” – Abner Murillo (00:30:11 – 00:30:20).
- “Each person has the ability to be the best at what they do” – Abner Murillo (00:35:16 – 00:35:19).
