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The Motivated Mindset with Catalina Restrepo · Military Broadcast Radio | MBR Talk

1:03
Or want to not just learn, but want.
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But I think that. That.
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Mihente, welcome to the motor very mindset.
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I'm your host Jose Florida, a proud Latino, born in New York
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City, straight out of the Bronx, raised in Brooklyn and look,
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that New York City flavor, that hustle, that grit and shaped me,
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built me and still drive. You see what I'm saying
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everything I do today in this new chapter in my life, I wear
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different hats other than the school one.
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I'm a motivational speaker, a certified personal trainer, a
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certified media and the end of life death doula.
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But behind every title is 1 mission to serve because I know
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the struggle, what it feels like, what pain feels like and
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things that are coming your way that don't always work out
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because every day throw there. My mission is simple, to
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inspire, to uplift, to challenge, to remind me gente my
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people that no matter where you come from, no matter what life
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throws at you, Dali Dudo, you can redefine your life through
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faith, discipline, resilience, and relentless Dr. And like so
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many Latino families, my story begins long before I was born.
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My father. My father came from Puerto Rico.
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My mother came from San, from Santo Domingo in the Dominican
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Republic. They came to the United States
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chasing something bigger than themselves, opportunity,
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stability, and hope of creating a better life for their family.
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That's the story of so many Latinos in this country.
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People don't leave behind family, culture, language and
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everything they've ever known because it's easy.
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They come because they believe in possibilities.
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They come because they want their children to have better
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opportunities that they may never had.
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They come to work hard, to sacrifice, to build, to serve.
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In every single day, Latinos contribute to this nation as
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teachers, business owners, healthcare professionals, first
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responders, military experience members like me.
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Hoorah, all right. Entrepreneurs, laborers,
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community leaders and public servants.
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We don't just help build America.
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We are part of the fabric of America.
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Our culture, our values, our work ethic, our faith, and our
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commitment to family help strengthen communities across
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this nation. That immigrant spirit, that
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resilience, that determination to keep moving forward no matter
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what obstacle stands in your way, That lives in me, Tololo
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Dia every single day. And one of the reasons this park
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has exists, the motivating mindsets is where we talk about
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resilience, we talk about culture, we talk about healing,
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leadership, discipline, optimism, and the courage it
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takes to keep moving forward when life hits you hard.
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We keep it real, New York City real.
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Talk to me how you doing? You know right?
4:03
No fluff, no one thing. It's all about authentic
4:06
conversations is not to help you grow, heal and thrive.
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I'm also a combat veteran who served probably for 30 years in
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the United States. But wow, from Desert Storm to
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assignments around in Mundo, the world I've had the privilege of
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serving alongside some of the finest men and women this nation
4:24
that ever produced that experience me had.
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They taught me discipline, leadership, sacrifice, and the
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power of never quitting when the mission gets doodle.
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When it gets freaking hard. You see what I'm saying?
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Before we get rolling, I want to send a powerful salute to all my
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veterans, active duty service member, military families and
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1st responders. Get tango yando oil that are
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listening. You know what I'm saying?
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Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice
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Mucho repeto much respect. You already know Mira.
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Check this out. One last thing before I let you
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go right before we start. If you vibe what you hear today,
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if this conversation yay yay inspires you.
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If you appreciate the interviews, the energy because I
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bring it home every day and the message.
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All I ask is that you support my YouTube channel.
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All our platform hit like hit subscribe and share it with
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someone who could use a little motivation.
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Yay, yay because your support helps us continue bringing you
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powerful guests, meaningful conversations and purpose driven
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contact. You know what I'm saying?
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Me and they so you know I need you to do this.
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So now let's get ready to bring our guest on because we're going
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to bring it on because today's guest we have is an
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extraordinary guest whose story is a testament to resilience,
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reinvention and the power of believing in yourself.
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Our guest is Catania Restrepo immigrated from Colombia to the
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United States as a child and turn challenges into
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opportunities through education, determination, and an unwavering
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commitment to helping others. She is the founder of Restrepo
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Law Group, an award-winning immigration law firm that has
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helped thousands of familias of families navigate their path
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toward better future. But Catalina's journey did not
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stop there, Oh no. While building a successful
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legal career, she discovered a deeper mission helping women,
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especially at their all Dig it If we look at the box check this
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out, women transform their relationship on travel with
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money, abundance and self worth. Today, she combines her
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expertise as an immigration attorney and money mindset coach
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to empower others to take ownership of their finances,
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their decisions, and ultimately their destiny.
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You see what I'm saying? She is the author of Take
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Ownership of Your Finances and host of the inspired Parka Soy
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Pederosa. I am powerful, you know what I'm
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saying? Her story reminds us that
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success is not simply about almost say what you can achieve.
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It's about who you can become along the way.
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Catalina, we're going to welcome you the way we do everybody
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else. Let's do this the.
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Interview of the Week is brought to you by Jersey Mike's A Sum
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above. Welcome, Catalina.
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Welcome. How are you?
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Oh my gosh, that was amazing. Amazing.
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I can't believe you were talking about me.
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Wow. Wow.
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You are amazing. All you have accomplished,
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ma'am, everything absolutely. You have earned it.
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You know, it's it's awesome and and how are you today?
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How you doing? I'm good.
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I'm good. I am saying hello from Columbia,
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actually. So it's part of my life design,
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if you call it. You mentioned that I migrated
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from Columbia to the United States.
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That happened a while ago and now reconnecting with my roots
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is part of this new lifestyle that I'm leading.
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That is that is stupendous. Thank you very much.
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Get to tip your waiters and waitresses, but check this out
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before we get into the soy pay that all side the coach and all
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that We want to know Kenya, Catalina, how you know what?
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How will you raise your childhood?
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Tell us who you are. Well, like you said, my name is
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Catalina Restrepo, a very Colombian name.
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Actually. I think when I was in middle
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school, when I still lived in Colombia, there were 3 or 4
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Catalinas in my entire class. And then when I was 12 years
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old, my family migrated to the United States.
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We migrated to Minnesota, not a very common place for Colombians
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to migrate at that time. Just like your family story, my
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was looking for opportunities, was looking for different
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lifestyles. And actually my dad had an uncle
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that had migrated many, many decades before.
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And so migration pattern, you go where you know people.
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So my dad decided to take his family where his brothers lived
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at that time. My uncles had migrated first, so
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here I was, 12 years old, into a new culture, new dynamic.
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Everything was different and we migrated in December.
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Oh, my goodness, right in the middle of winter.
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But I remember being so amazed by seeing snow the very first
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time. Like I remember walking out of
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the airport and and seeing the floors come down.
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And then we stopped at this restaurant.
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Like I'll never forget walking out of the car and just putting
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my hand like in this pile of white puffy snow, like one of
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those beautiful first snows where it just looks kind of like
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powder. And I remember.
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Just my hand on top of it and just feeling and just being so
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amazed by this beautiful, new, very, very different atmosphere.
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And then that was the beginning of many, many changes to come.
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That is December. Wow.
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That is that's that is, that's cold.
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Yeah. I got a question.
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So are you what they What is the name of the football team are
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you a sports fan for? Them it's funny because, you
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know, then I started learning, you know, about the culture.
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I I learned how to throw a football.
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People ask me what a Colombian that knows how to throw a
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football. I'm like, yeah, and I know how
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to bat a baseball too. And I know how to ice skate.
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So it was the beginning of a lot of different adventures, you
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know, culture shock, to say the least, learning a new language.
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I didn't know English at the time, so I would do New Girl.
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And then I remember once I got to high school, I was the only
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Latina in my entire high school, so about 2000 students.
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And I was the only. And I was the New Girl because
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we ended up moving into a different school district.
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So it was a smaller school. It was about 2000 students and
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most of them had gone to school from kindergarten, you know,
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through night at that time. So here I was, the shiny new
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toy. And I still have very, very good
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friends from that time period, but it was very difficult.
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I didn't realize how hard it was growing up not seeing role
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models, not seeing people that look like you accomplishing
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things. And later I realized that I lost
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myself a little bit culturally, wanting to fit in, wanting to be
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like everybody else. And it wasn't until I got much
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older that I started really embodying who I was and
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embodying that Latino side that I really enjoy that beautiful
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culture and, and seeing that within that difference also,
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there's a lot of similarities. Yeah.
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Oh, no, I can relate to that simulation.
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Look, I'm from New York, and some of us can't talk English
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very well. Thank you very much.
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I'll take another one. But I remember when I joined the
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military that I had, and it was like, it was like going from it
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there, from Earth to Mars. It was a totally new culture.
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And I had to in order to fit in, I had to simulate and I mean,
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being with African Americans, you know, being with people who
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are Caucasian and learning that if I needed to function so I can
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truly understand even those who are from here, you know, that is
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that is that's a reality. And we have to fit in to we find
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and like you check this out real quick.
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I didn't learn to that salsa time.
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I went to Korea. Oh my.
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Goodness. I because I was like Koreans
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like salsa, but but because I didn't find my roots to after I
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left, because I lived in New York, it was Spanglish with you
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know, so I can truly relate. And it wasn't until I left that
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I found who I was as a Latino. So I can I can truly relate now.
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Now, what lessons, let's say, what lessons did your parents
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teach you about Mama Lisi prevalence?
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You know what? What lessons did your parents
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teach about education that still guide you today, especially
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coming here? Actually, one that I always and
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I, and I say this all the time, Estudia estudia queso nagi de
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loquita. My dad used to say that all the
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time. I'll be like, I dad, I Papa, I,
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I. But that model has really gotten
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me to where I am today. Once I got to college, then I
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focused on, OK, what is it that I want to do?
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And it was the first time I saw somebody that looked like me.
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One of my professors is a Mexican attorney.
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She actually still practices law in Minnesota.
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And I saw her and I was like, wow, when I grew up, I want to
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be like her. So that kind of sparked that
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desire to become an attorney. But then I started studying and
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then throughout my career, obviously to keep my license up
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to date, I have to keep studying.
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And then immigration law, that's something that keeps us on our
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toes. So I have to keep studying.
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But when I started practicing law back in 2011, my first boss
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at that time had been practicing longer that I had been alive.
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So I started to see his lifestyle.
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I started to see that he had been practicing for more than 30
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years and it was not the lifestyle I really wanted for
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myself. So I started looking around to
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other lifestyles and I wanted to, you know, expand into
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something else. And someone came to me and
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presented the opportunity of network marketing.
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And the very first thing that they said to me is what you have
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to study. And then it clicked, OK, well,
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what is it that I need to study? And then I started going to
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events and I started listening to audios and I started reading
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different types of material that it was like foreign to me
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because now it was, you know, learning about your personality,
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learning about yourself, and then that way you can learn
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about others. I started learning about
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finances, something nobody had ever taught me.
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You know, it, it started opening up a door to a different new
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world. And then it really clicked for
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me to see all these other people wanting other people to succeed.
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And I was like, wow, this is amazing.
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Let me keep starting. And when I started presenting
16:04
the opportunity to people to join my business as a network
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marketer at the time, a lot of people would say, well, I don't
16:13
have time and I don't have money.
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And so it just kind of like it didn't really click.
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How can you tell me where in the, you know, we're in the
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United States, the country of opportunities, and you're
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telling me you don't have time and that you don't have money?
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And when we start looking at those two concepts, we really
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start seeing that we do have time.
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We all have the same 24 hours. You know Bill Gates doesn't have
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30 hours. Or.
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We all have the same 24 hours, so we do have the time.
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We're just not organized. And then when we talk about
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money and we start really digging into what that looks
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like, I discovered that as a Latino, we tend to have all
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these negative thoughts around money.
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You know, all of these limiting beliefs like money is bad.
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Preferos ER porre peron rado. You know who heard that one?
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I'm like, well, no, but my white side, my white friends never
17:18
talked about that. They were like, oh, like, oh, if
17:22
somebody has gotten from point A to point B, that just means
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there is already a way to get there.
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And if nobody has gotten from point A to point B, that just
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means I can be the first one versus our Latino community is
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like, well, I don't know if I want to get to point B, that
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gives me possible. A lot of.
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Fear a lot of you know, and when we start looking at a social
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context of our culture, there is a lot of fear around our culture
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and it's understandable, but that doesn't mean we can keep
17:54
ourselves in that position. And I think that's where I
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started exploring other areas and that's how my book came
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about. That's how this podcast came
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about. But I went a little further
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because when we talk about money, we talk about finances
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and we see all these people talking about it.
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It's usually men talking about it, which is great.
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Thank you. But us women, we look at money
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and we look at, you know, being worthy of it from a different
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perspective. So I decided I wanted to open up
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different spaces for US women to have these conversations.
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And it's funny because from time to time I'll get people to men
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to message me like, well, why are you excluding us?
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It's not that I'm excluding you and I and I want to thank you
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men out there for being our allies.
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But look at it this way. As women, we couldn't open up a
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bank account by ourselves in the United States until 1972 or
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1973. In Colombia, we couldn't open up
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a bank account by ourselves until 1975.
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And then there's still countries out there that today, in 2026,
19:07
women cannot open up a bank account by themselves.
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So it's not that I'm excluding you.
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It's just that I'm opening, opening up spaces for US women
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to have these conversations in a safe space.
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You know, sometimes we may feel judged for making certain money
19:24
choices or, you know, and it's like, hey, let's talk about
19:31
those. No judgement from a different
19:33
perspective. And that's all I'm doing, just
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creating a different space. So definitely not exploiting my
19:38
man, but just shifting a little bit to create a different
19:43
perspective. I I can relate to that.
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Growing up it was about trust. My parents trust in the
19:49
institutions, which they didn't. You'll meet.
19:52
You'll meet her. Cuerdo and all the Aquando
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Teniam food stamp that looked like Monopoly money.
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And my dad just sent me. Hey, go get me some cigarettes.
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Hey, will you go there? Put it on my credit.
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My mom's bank was the mattress on.
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That's what they busted on. Can you know?
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So how did that affect me growing up?
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That my first years in the military was a total financial
20:13
waste. Oh, my God, I had a great time,
20:14
thank you very much. But it was, I knew nothing about
20:17
saving money. They used to pay me and I didn't
20:19
know about paying myself first. You see, we didn't understand
20:24
the concept of, you know, mutual funds or compound, blah, blah,
20:29
blah. You know, it wasn't until that
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they would talk to me and say, you know, you got to put money
20:34
away. And I'm like, well, how do you
20:36
do that? And I got a lesson.
20:38
You're absolutely correct. You know what we're going to do?
20:41
We're going to take a quick break.
20:42
And when we come back, we're going to start talking about how
20:45
you started your business and how that came about.
20:50
And then we're going to go right to this, We're going to take a
20:52
quick break and we'll be right back.
20:54
Thank you. The station where our veterans
24:22
voices are heard MBR talk. Hey, thanks.
24:27
For tuning in, welcome are those of the speakers and do not
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necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they
24:36
represent. On the web at MB radio dot.
24:40
Welcome back everybody. Who?
24:42
All right, OK, we have Catalina on, on Columbia.
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That's what I'm talking about. So we had left off and we have a
24:51
few questions. And so before we get to the
24:54
questions, we want to talk about, you know, what, what made
24:56
you, what was the inspiration to start your own law firm?
25:02
You know, it was always in the back of my mind.
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I saw my dad be an entrepreneur when we lived in Columbia.
25:08
He had a small business, a small picture framing business in
25:13
Columbia. And you know, he was the owner
25:15
of his time and, and then my uncle when we moved to the
25:19
United States, he was also small business owner.
25:21
So I, I saw entrepreneurs around me and then I didn't like the
25:28
way things were going where I was working and I didn't like
25:33
being told what to do. So I was like, I don't want to
25:39
do things this way. Let me do it my way.
25:41
So I went ahead and I borrowed, I'll never forget, I'll borrow.
25:46
I borrowed $2800 for my uncle. And I was really scared.
25:51
I was like, Oh my gosh, how am I going to pay this back at that
25:53
moment in time? This was back in 2016.
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To me, it was like something astronomical.
25:59
And, and I remember I had to buy a copier.
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I said to myself, if I have a copier, then I'll be able to
26:06
like make all that because at that time immigration law was
26:10
completely on paper. So if I had to file, for
26:13
example, on asylum application, it would be like 4 or 5 copies
26:19
of these packets. So in my mind I was like, if I
26:22
have a copier, I have a computer, then I'll be able to
26:25
work. So I remember buying this copier
26:27
for $700.00 and thinking like it was just a huge purchase at the
26:32
time. I just kept praying and I said,
26:34
God, you know, if I'm in this position, you know, to provide,
26:39
to provide us you provide. So I just kept thinking like
26:43
I'll be able to make ends meet and and I did.
26:46
I made ends meet and it's been a journey.
26:50
But when I tell every entrepreneur I got an education,
26:56
education as an attorney, so my education as an attorney is very
27:02
different than my education as a business owner.
27:05
And any person that's out there that's thinking about starting a
27:08
business, that's great. Do it.
27:10
Once you get a taste of having freedom quote, UN quote, then
27:17
you won't want to go back, but but do it in a way that you have
27:23
your ducks in a row. And what I mean by that is you
27:27
know, you have your profession and you're an excellent at your
27:30
profession. Now you're going to become a
27:32
business owner. You need to switch that mindset.
27:35
And you mentioned something very important earlier that you
27:39
didn't pay yourself first. Yes, a lot of business owners,
27:44
we make that mistake where we pay everyone else and then we're
27:48
the last ones to get paid. So I made a lot of mistakes
27:53
throughout. I don't, I don't call them
27:54
mistakes. I I learned a lot of things.
27:56
Learning. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
27:58
Throughout this journey, but the biggest thing and and I tell
28:03
people this, if you're starting your business, make sure that
28:06
you are putting yourself on that payroll.
28:11
You should be the very first person to get paid.
28:14
And it's going to be scary and it's going to be like, Oh my
28:17
gosh, what if I can't? Let me tell you something, DIOS
28:21
pro era, because if you put yourself first, then everything
28:26
else conspires to align to make sure that you're provided for.
28:31
Like you need to provide for yourself 1st.
28:34
And that means putting yourself on a payroll.
28:36
That means getting an accountant, that means learning
28:41
that your team is going to be better than you and make sure
28:47
that you pick the people that are better than you for certain
28:50
positions. For example, doing the
28:52
accounting. I knew that I wasn't an
28:55
accountant from the very beginning and I knew that Uncle
28:58
Sam needed to, to get paid. So my first hire was to make
29:02
sure I had an accountant. I didn't make very good choices
29:05
because I didn't understand how that switch was.
29:09
You know, my mindset was as an employee, I would get AW2.
29:13
Everything was already taken care of.
29:15
However, when I made that switch to being an entrepreneur, I
29:20
needed to learn and again educate myself to being an
29:25
entrepreneur. Yeah, no, I can relate to that.
29:29
Yeah. Wow.
29:29
Yeah. That's that's that's the Yeah.
29:32
Because I will tell you it was it was crazy how people who are
29:36
my age when I was younger, how do you get that card?
29:38
You know, it was like, and here I'm still taking a taxi because
29:41
I didn't pay myself first when I was working, you know,
29:44
investing. And we have a question from Rosa
29:47
from New York City. She said you lead a growing team
29:50
at Estrepo Law Group. What leadership lessons have you
29:55
have shaped the way you mentor and empower your staff?
30:00
I love that question. So I'm a firm, firm believer
30:04
that if someone's out there that already has the results I want
30:07
and I want to copy them. However, I have a team, so I
30:12
want to make sure that my team is aligned with my vision.
30:16
So I don't just educate myself. I also have my team get educated
30:23
not only on the systems and procedures for a firm, but also
30:28
on a personal level because I want them.
30:31
I'm blocking their mindset. So I'll give you an example.
30:34
Back in 2023, I did this transformational leadership
30:38
coaching program and it was like 3 steps kind of situation.
30:43
So after the first level, which was an entire weekend, I was
30:47
like, wow, this information I think everyone should have
30:50
access to and, and just kind of like started.
30:53
I started seeing things from a different perspective and at
30:57
that time I wanted our team to hit certain goals.
31:00
And every time I would talk about those goals, people would
31:03
get really scared. People would be like, Oh my
31:06
gosh, I'll be like talking about making 2530 grand a week and
31:10
they would be like what? Well, that's a lot of money to
31:13
make for an entire week. However, when you have a payroll
31:18
that's about twice that a month and you know you, the numbers
31:22
add up. So you have to have the goals to
31:24
be able to have a firm to function.
31:28
So at that moment I said what I'm giving you guys is not
31:32
inspiring. You still have, you know that
31:35
you still have these limiting beliefs.
31:38
Let's go do the mentorship. So my firm to be, you know,
31:43
employed at this office, there are certain mentorship programs
31:47
that we go through outside of the firm because I want us, I'm
31:52
blocking like the next level, you know, like when you play
31:55
Super Mario, you're off to the next level.
31:59
So, so we all get educated not just from what I, the
32:04
information that I'm receiving, but also from the mentorships I
32:07
receive. We do different mentorships as a
32:10
team. OK, no, that's, that's really
32:13
good. It's about building up your team
32:15
because truly, when I was in the military, true leader happens
32:19
when you're not there. How does the team do when you're
32:21
not there? Right, right there.
32:23
So that that's a good way to do it.
32:25
We have another question from Carlos in DC.
32:28
He says your team is bilingual and deeply community centered.
32:32
How does language, culture and trust building shape the way you
32:36
approach each case? You know, you, you asked me that
32:41
and the very first thing that comes to my mind is the word
32:44
compassion. Everyone at our firm is has
32:50
their own immigration story. None of us were born in the
32:54
United States, and we've all had different process that has LED
32:59
us to be here, right? And so our empathy, our
33:03
compassion, being able to communicate with the client when
33:09
they come in, you know, with their fears, with their
33:11
uncertainty, and just being able to tell them, hey, we've been in
33:15
your position. We've been in your situation.
33:18
We know what it's like to not know what's going to happen.
33:24
It has really, I think, created that trust component.
33:28
And definitely, honestly, I'm not there to tell people, hey,
33:33
we're going to make it happen when I know we can't because I
33:37
feel that would be giving people false hope.
33:40
And there's too much of that out there.
33:43
I prefer to be honest and tell you, hey, I can't do it.
33:48
Or hey, we can try. It's hard, maybe it will work.
33:52
But then they have realistic expectations of, you know what
33:57
can or cannot happen in their case.
34:00
Being transparent is important. Absolutely.
34:02
No, absolutely. And we have another question
34:05
from Julia from New Mexico and it says pivoting away from a a
34:08
stable legal career takes immense courage.
34:13
What mental barriers or doubts that you have to dismantle to
34:17
take that leap? You know, most people in, in
34:21
this is a conversation I have with myself sometimes that like
34:26
most people out there have people around them that don't
34:29
believe in them. And, and it's more like, oh, why
34:33
you're going to start a business.
34:34
You, you're not meant for that. On the contrary, on my family is
34:39
very supportive with all my crazy ideas.
34:42
And on that contrary, they're very like, yes, you can do it.
34:45
So my conversation at times had been, well, what if I can't?
34:51
Right. What if I fail?
34:53
So it goes back to many times having that imposter syndrome
35:02
and just being like, hey, you, you made it this far.
35:07
And so sometimes, you know, like when you announce me, hearing
35:10
you talk about me and I'm like, wow, I have done a lot.
35:15
You know, I have made progress Because sometimes when you're
35:19
here in your bubble, you can't see really how far you've come.
35:24
But sometimes it takes that outside perspective to really
35:28
kind of, hey, you, you've done good, good job and you pat
35:31
yourself on the back. You know, Catalina, I still have
35:34
those self talks with myself. I still have imposter syndrome.
35:39
Like before I get ready to talk to a crowd of people, it still
35:42
hits me. It's like, man, can I do this,
35:45
you know, so I can truly relate to that.
35:47
I I still have to have those self talks.
35:49
When you have those doubts, you know, Diablo and Angela, you
35:52
know, you can't do that. Yes, you know.
35:55
Why? Why are they going to listen and
35:56
to you, What's your experience? No, but you've done this.
35:59
Definitely, definitely. But and, and I tell people like,
36:03
we're still going to have these doubts.
36:05
We're still going to have these conversations, but it's just a
36:08
matter of how fast are you going to go through and break those
36:11
mental barriers, not keep yourself stuck in that
36:15
conversation. Because if you get stuck in that
36:17
conversation, then you're really not going to be able to give the
36:20
world all, you know, every wonderful thing that you have to
36:23
share. Absolutely.
36:25
And we have a lot to give us. Latinos, we're spicy.
36:28
I'm just putting out this. Check this out.
36:30
We have another question or this is one that says or like
36:32
Catalina, this is from Yvette from the DMV.
36:35
You shared that you were the only Latina in your school.
36:38
What guidance would you offer to anyone who finds themselves as
36:42
the only one in a room, a workplace or community?
36:47
I feel that that's an amazing place to be because that just
36:50
means that you're the first one. You're the first one to make
36:53
that impact, to make that imprint, to show people that
36:56
being different is not so bad and that you know you have all
37:01
these amazing qualities to breakthrough.
37:04
And keep in mind that you may be the first one, but there would
37:08
be a lot of people behind you, so you could be an inspiration
37:12
to somebody else. That makes perfect sense.
37:15
I know I've been in places where I'm the only bald guys.
37:18
What am I going to know? Make an impression better.
37:23
We have another question. It says your firm emphasizes
37:26
honesty, ethics, justice and respect.
37:28
How do those values guide the way you advocate for clients who
37:32
often feel unseen or unheard? Santiago from Texas.
37:36
Wow, Santiago, that's a very good question.
37:39
And I feel that those are core values, not only for my firm,
37:43
but for myself. Being transparent, being honest,
37:48
have ethics. You know, I feel like ethical is
37:52
such a loosely used word, but to me is what person are you being
37:59
when nobody else is watching? You know, it's really easy to
38:03
quote UN quote, do the right thing when you're being watched
38:05
or when there are consequences. But who are you being when
38:10
nobody's around? Because ultimately you are
38:14
having that conversation with yourself.
38:16
So to me is very important to not have that only on my friend,
38:23
but as part of my lifestyle to give the best version of myself
38:28
to others. You know, not just my clients,
38:30
but my family, my friends and and those around.
38:35
Yeah, no, that is the true definition of integrity.
38:39
Doing it when no one's looking. Doing it.
38:41
Yeah, you're absolutely correct. Wow, yeah, When I was a private
38:44
E1, I, I didn't have too much of that.
38:46
If I can get away and get over, I would.
38:48
That was that was the private in me.
38:50
Not now. But you learned.
38:53
But you learned. You live and learn.
38:55
No, you're absolutely correct. It's like, oh, OK, yeah.
38:57
After I got, I had to, you know, cut grass with scissors and it
39:01
was like an acre long. I never.
39:02
I did the right thing. From there on.
39:04
We have another question that says, what mindset shifts do you
39:07
believe every woman must take to reclaim their financial power?
39:11
Sophia from Maryland. That you're worth it, that
39:15
you're worth it, that you're worth the extra pair of shoes,
39:19
that you're worth having a race at your job, that you are worth
39:26
it and you're worth it not because of what you've
39:29
accomplished, but you're worth it just because you've won.
39:33
You're here. Think about of the millions of
39:36
experience that could have, you know, implanted into, you know,
39:41
your mom and dad coming together and this is you.
39:43
You won. And I think many times we miss
39:47
that perception that we are already winners and we are
39:50
worthy of all the wonderful things that come our way.
39:54
And sometimes I think it goes back to that Latino mindset of
39:58
like de Sotan bueno, Nolan tanto.
40:01
I hear that so much. And I'm like, no, there is Sotan
40:04
bueno. See that?
40:06
Because I am worthy of receiving all those wonderful things.
40:11
Absolutely. And Sophia, thank you for that
40:13
question. Sophia, what I want to do is get
40:15
into how people can get a hold of you and we'll, we'll keep
40:18
taking questions, but I hand it off to you, Catalina, what we
40:21
have here. Well, this is my website, my
40:25
Restrepo Law Group, which is located in South Florida, but we
40:30
represent people all over the United States and I even have
40:34
some clients overseas as well. Like mentioned before, honestly,
40:41
ethics, justice, respect, those are all part of our values.
40:46
Not like not just for a firm, but also for ourselves and for
40:51
every person on our team. You know, being ethical is very
40:54
important to us. And obviously, we're here to not
40:59
only provide people legal advice, but to teach them a
41:03
little bit about procedures, systems, you know, when we move
41:08
to a different country, learning who we can trust and we cannot
41:11
trust. I'll give you an example.
41:14
Notarios, notaries, they have a very different meaning in our
41:20
Latin American countries. They have to go to school, they
41:23
have to have certain training. There is a lot that goes behind
41:27
being a notary or a notario versus in the United States.
41:31
In the United States, you have to take take a 4 hour class and
41:34
then that's it. So the perception is very, very
41:38
different. And getting legal advice from an
41:42
accredited attorney is so, so important versus legal advice
41:48
from Latia E Primo, Senor de la Tiena and everyone and their
41:53
mother, because even though they may mean well, they're not
41:57
really experts in the field. And so I really emphasize people
42:02
to, to not only learn about getting legal advice from an
42:07
accredited person, but really pay attention.
42:09
Who's giving the advice? Absolutely.
42:12
Absolutely. We service a wide variety of
42:16
clients, family petitions, asylums, U visas, which to me
42:21
are very, very important. Those are visas for people that
42:25
have been victims of certain crimes.
42:28
I, I have to say those are my favorite.
42:31
It's really tough situations because the crimes are, are very
42:35
hard, you know, sexual assault, murder.
42:40
I had a client whose daughter was abused by her boyfriend and,
42:45
and she died from the injuries. And then we're in the process of
42:49
obtaining AU visa because she helped with the investigation.
42:54
So I feel like people in in really difficult situations that
42:58
are able to use that to, you know, get a little bit of peace
43:04
and safety in this country. Bawas people that are victims of
43:09
domestic violence. We are seeing more and more of
43:12
those because people are, you know, empowering themselves to
43:15
really speak up as to the situations that they're living
43:19
and going through. We do appeals.
43:22
We do lay the, I love those as well, People that have been in
43:27
the United States for more than 10 years and we're able to
43:30
document that and that they have either children, spouses or
43:37
parents that cannot live in any other part of the world.
43:41
Usually is related to health issues, travel permits, visa
43:47
extensions, something that's not there that we do a lot of.
43:51
And I love it. And it's involving our military
43:55
members, which I thank you for their service, for your service.
44:00
So what happens is there's something called a parole in
44:03
place. So let's say that, you know,
44:07
undocumented parents have children and then they go and
44:11
serve the military. They can ask the children can
44:15
ask for this parole for their parents to be forgiven their
44:20
illegal entry. The key point is that it can
44:23
only be one illegal entry. So if the parents have multiple
44:28
entries and there's a series of complications, but then this
44:31
parole, forgive that illegal entry, then we can do a full
44:36
petition and then they can possibly receive their green
44:41
card, their legal permanent residency inside the United
44:44
States. So it's a little, you know, a
44:49
hidden gem, I would say for for those service members.
44:54
And it works for, you know, parents or spouses.
44:58
So a lot of things. That's awesome.
44:59
Thank you for having that service.
45:00
All right. Yes, yes.
45:02
And then we have a blog. We'd like to keep people in the
45:05
loop as to what's happening. Obviously immigration law is
45:09
changing daily, I would say. So keeping people informed,
45:15
giving them reliable information, it's super
45:18
important. It's through the airport.
45:20
So now you say located this is that teaching people is to the
45:24
almost look in this absolutely, absolutely and then testimonies.
45:31
This is beautiful to see my clients when we're able to help
45:36
them, when we're able to actually.
45:39
Braulio Romero and his wife were beneficiaries of a parole in
45:44
place. They had two children, both of
45:46
them in the service. I think they were in the army.
45:50
And then we were able to get them the parole and then they
45:53
were able to get their legal permanent residency status in
45:56
the country. So beautiful to see my clients,
46:01
you know, grow. I, I, I've had cases pending for
46:05
many, many years. I, I've seen families have, you
46:09
know, children. Children have children and die
46:15
many times. I've had a couple unfortunate
46:18
situations, but seeing them, you know, build their lives in the
46:22
United States is really, really beautiful.
46:26
That is stupendous. They can contact us writing at
46:30
our e-mail, calling us, or visiting us in person.
46:36
If you're in Florida, you're more than welcome to stop by our
46:39
office. We would love to have you.
46:41
And more than welcome to if you have an immigration case, you
46:45
know, schedule a consultation or you know, a second opinion or a
46:49
third opinion. More than welcome to who?
46:53
Hey, coaching. Yes, so I discovered I, I like
46:58
to empower women. I'd like to guide them and
47:03
provide them kind of a different lens to look through because
47:08
many times when we are in difficult situations, we only
47:11
see, you know, we have that tunnel vision and, and sometimes
47:15
having somebody step away from the problem and, and guide you
47:20
because I don't, I don't, I feel like I give people answers.
47:24
I think we all have our own answers within ourselves.
47:28
And it's just a matter of having a different perspective for us
47:31
to be able to reach those answers.
47:34
And that's where I, I wanted to focus more towards, you know,
47:38
guiding people into say it's because it's, it's who you're
47:44
being in the process that's really going to get you even
47:47
further. Who beings?
47:50
Yes so then you know you can contact me through Instagram.
47:55
I focus on money mindset coach, you know, switching, making that
47:59
switch of hey, am I worthy? Is this really something that I,
48:05
I deserve? And you know, having a solid,
48:08
yes, of course you deserve it, but it's a work within and going
48:14
through that journey together is something that I like, I love
48:18
doing. I see, I see.
48:20
Absolutely. People can also reach me on
48:24
Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok. I think I have all the
48:27
platforms, but it's just to give people different avenues, you
48:32
know, to see things from a different perspective.
48:35
And then that led me into creating so so I pulled it off
48:39
another podcast. So it's, it's different being on
48:42
this side of yeah, yeah, we're. Doing good.
48:45
I'm proud of you. You're doing very good.
48:47
Thank you, thank you. And that that podcast is again,
48:52
creating those spaces to be able to talk about different things.
48:57
I've had a lot of people on my podcast different backgrounds,
49:03
you know, entrepreneurs, business owners, employer
49:08
employees, you know, I like to have a wide variety of women on
49:14
there and we talk about all sorts of issues because I feel
49:18
like it's important to, you know, have those spaces to
49:22
really connect with other women and empower us.
49:28
We are very, very powerful beings.
49:30
So, so, you know, keep telling yourself that.
49:34
I subscribe by the way. Thank you SO.
49:37
You know, I know all about the algorithms and the numbers and
49:39
everything, so I subscribe. Thank you.
49:42
Thank you Talk. About the author.
49:44
So, so you know, going through my journey, I discovered that I
49:48
wanted to put some of the things that I've learned on paper.
49:52
And this is my book. It's 6 chapters and then after
49:56
each chapter there is activities because I feel like creating
50:00
that momentum, creating that action.
50:02
And one of the things on my book, we don't talk about
50:07
financial strategy. Like I'm not going to tell you
50:10
where to invest or anything like that.
50:12
That's why we have financial advisors and we have those
50:14
professionals. But if you don't have the
50:17
mindset to be able to create those investments, if you're
50:22
going into money management out of fear, out of, you know, lack,
50:29
then it doesn't matter how much money you're going to make.
50:31
You're going to always go back into that lack mode.
50:34
So my book is just about, you know, clearing that mental path
50:40
a little bit to create that abundant life and designing the
50:44
life that you desire ultimately. Ladies and gentlemen, get your
50:48
phone out. Hit that QR code.
50:50
It will take you right to Amazon.
50:52
I know because I'm about to order me one, so I went to it.
50:55
So I'll be ordering it too, you know, So make sure you do that.
50:58
And these are the ways or yours, Katalina?
51:02
Yes. So risk Triple Law Group if you
51:05
want legal advice or if you have questions, my own personal
51:10
coaching page, if you have, you know, questions.
51:13
You want to talk about different financial money blocks that you
51:18
may be having, We're launching, we have a free course that
51:22
people can subscribe to. We also have a paid one that
51:25
goes, you know, much deeper. So we have different avenues.
51:29
Also my podcast, they invite everyone to come and listen.
51:33
If you want to ever be on my podcast, write to us.
51:36
I'm always open to hearing women stories and would love to have
51:42
you on the podcast and obviously my Instagram.
51:46
Yes. So make sure you, you know, take
51:48
froze out, take them out. I've take them all out.
51:49
They are stupendous. But there's another word that
51:52
Catalina made that I can't. I don't got that one down yet.
51:55
Fantabulous. Fantabulous.
51:58
It's fantabulous. So ladies and gentlemen, and we
52:01
have a telephone too that's going across the screen.
52:04
Make sure you you get that number.
52:06
So we got two more questions we're going to go into and then
52:09
any any last comments you may have.
52:11
So the other quote we have a question said it says what is 1
52:15
non negotiable habit in your morning routine that keeps your
52:18
mind grounded and motivate motivated for the day.
52:21
Daisy from New Orleans. I always pick something to be
52:26
grateful for. So I wake up and and you know,
52:32
my mind has a bazillion things going on, but I always, always,
52:37
every single morning something is it could be something as
52:39
simple as waking up in a new city or, you know, like the
52:46
coffee that I'm drinking. But picking something that I'm
52:49
grateful for it that has really, really, I think changed that
52:54
perspective in that mindset around the the entire day.
52:59
Gotcha. We got the last question.
53:00
It says if you could speak to your younger self, what message
53:05
would you give it? Give her from the DMV area.
53:09
Oh my gosh. I think I would tell myself to
53:15
believe more of all the things that I'm capable of doing, not
53:21
to doubt myself so much. I think it's taken me quite a
53:25
while. I think I'm 43 right now and I
53:29
feel like it took me 40 years to really embody myself and really
53:35
believe that everything that I'm doing not only has, I want to
53:41
say, a selfish purpose because I enjoy doing it, but it's also
53:46
touching the lives of somebody else.
53:47
Even though you may not see the impact that you're making in
53:51
someone else's life, that I am making an impact.
53:54
Yeah, and Yves says Abed for that any any last words or
54:00
anything you want to put out that maybe we didn't cover just
54:03
any any wisdom from the. Any wisdom?
54:06
Oh my gosh, wow, that's so OK. I would say.
54:13
I would say going back to really building the best relationship
54:18
you can with yourself. I think many times we put others
54:23
before us and we want to give others a lot of the things that
54:27
many times we're not even giving ourselves.
54:30
So whatever it is that you're doing, whatever path you're
54:34
taking, work on having the best relationship with yourself.
54:40
Thank you for that. And I want to say thank you for
54:43
being on on our podcast. You've been, it's been
54:46
stupendous looking at all your stuff and all you've
54:48
accomplished. And I know there's a little girl
54:50
watching and say I want to be like her.
54:52
Thank you. I know.
54:54
I already know it, you know. So before I let you go, let me
54:58
let me introduce you to the my followers who our next guest is
55:01
next week. And let me see.
55:03
I got a Yeah. And she is Miss Tucker Miller.
55:07
She's got she got a story, but she is a has 35 years of
55:12
experience spanning law, human resources, consulting, sales and
55:17
executive leadership. So you know, like August 29th,
55:21
5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. So make sure you join us for
55:25
that, you know, but I want to say, Catalina, thank you for for
55:29
gracing us with with everything. It's been awesome and you're
55:33
that is stupendous. I want to thank you, thank you
55:38
for this amazing space. Thank you for having me.
55:42
Thank you for all the listeners to, you know, take the time to
55:45
listen to my crazy story and, and I really do appreciate this
55:50
space and I appreciate the wonderful, amazing, stupendous
55:55
energy you're providing. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
55:58
You are welcome and everybody's saying thank you, Gracia, great
56:01
information. They really, really appreciate
56:04
it. And when you put out your next
56:06
book, make sure you contact us so we can have you on.
56:11
And if you have any events coming up, please let us know so
56:13
we can support it. Bottom line, what would you do?
56:17
So I want to say everybody, Gracia to my the followers for,
56:19
for being here and for always supporting.
56:22
And, you know, I know Columbia. The weather's nice right now,
56:24
ain't it? It's beautiful, you know, it
56:27
was, it's been raining the last couple days, so it's nice and
56:30
cool in the morning. I did have, I have to whip out
56:34
the long underwear yesterday because it was a little too
56:36
chilly for me, but it's it's been beautiful the last couple
56:40
days. That is stupendous.
56:41
Well, you have a great day and thank you again for for being
56:45
here. Gracia all.
56:46
Right. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you
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for tuning in to Military Broadcast Radio.
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As we wrap up today's show, we want to remind you that the
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podcast of today's episode will be available right after we go
57:02
off the air. So if you missed any part of the
57:05
show or want to listen again, be sure to check it out.
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And remember, we're here to support and honor our veterans.
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Your stories and experiences matter, and we are committed to
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giving you a platform to share them.
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That's right, we are here to give our veterans a voice.
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So don't forget to catch the podcast and stay connected with
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us giving our veterans a voice.