Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana O’Hara.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always been an entrepreneur. My first “business” was started at age five. I started selling paper fans in my neighborhood. You could get a plain one for 50 cents, or a personalized one for 75 cents. My parents have always encouraged me and pushed me to get the most out of life.
From elementary school to now, I’ve operated a cake decorating business, a healthy vending company, started a health & fitness organization at my Alma Mater, and I now currently run an auto brokerage.
I get asked ALL the time, “Tatiana, how in the world did you get in the car business? Well the short answer is I eventually want to start a real estate empire but didn’t have a lot of cash initially. So I asked myself, what business can I start that will teach me the basics of investing, flipping, and sales, that won’t cost much to get started. I then found myself at a public auction with my pops buying a 2005 Chevy Aveo for $500 lol. I then turned around and sold it for $1400. Later that day my dad called me and said “Hey, uh I think I want to do this car thing too… you wanna do it together?”. And thus, the father daughter business was born officially in October of 2018. My family and I are super close, and I’m a total daddy’s girl, so starting a business with my dad as my partner has been so fun.
I recently was able to resign from my 6 figure paying job to pursue this full time. While the car business is not my end goal, it’s positioned me to be able to have full control over my life.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve definitely run into my fair share of emotional battles. I think we all graduate college and expect life to just take off. We expect to find our dream job, pay off student loans, and to “live our best life”. However, for a lot of us it just doesn’t happen that way. I’ve always been an overachiever that people look up to for inspiration. Over the course of my life, I think I grew an unhealthy desire for the approval of others in the form of “Wow Tatiana I’m so proud of you” or “Tatiana you really are an inspiration”. I let impressing others cloud my thinking. When I did an internship in college that resulted in a full-time offer as a District Manager post grad, I knew how huge that was, so I didn’t think twice before accepting. The job started at nearly six figures, paid for my phone, and provided me a luxury company car.
However, I was unhappy for a very long time in the role. It was emotionally demanding, I never truly had an off day, and our performance was never enough. After about two years, I started experiencing a serious case of post grad depression. I thought I was going to have this awesome life making all this money, but really I had none of that. I had no time with my loved ones, no money because I was living above my means, and it was mentally challenging because I was just so uninspired in that environment. I woke up everyday feeling like I was not doing what God put me here to do. About a year ago I decided I wanted to get serious about my business and leave my job. So I set my date and worked hard to make it a reality. I’m so thankful for the courage to push myself to a point where I could work full time in my business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
First Generation Motors is a boutique virtual dealership. We have an office in Marietta, but we work by appointment only. Most of our cars are priced between $2000 and $4000, plus we offer INTEREST FREE financing. We also just started working with a warranty company to offer extended warranties on most of our cars. This is awesome because buying a 2008 Mazda 3 with 176,000 miles that comes with a warranty of any kind is unheard of! It’s a pretty cool gig. We are giving people the privilege to have reliable transportation for a low price. Some of the people that we finance (with no credit check) can’t get approved anywhere. Yeah, we sell cars… but we also sell opportunity. I love that we can make a difference in our community in this way.
Personally, I offer coaching services that I’m super proud of. People tend to think I have resources they don’t in order to get their ideas off the ground. I offer coaching sessions where I reveal that nothing is holding them back from doing the same thing, except themselves! In the session we discuss that one thing in your life you’ve always wanted to do. I can help whether it’s a business you want to start, Etsy store, YouTube channel, etc. I believe everyone deserves to live the life the desire and to pursue their dreams, no matter how big. We outline the mental blocks holding you back, and create a realistic game plan for the next 30 days to get you in action. We are debunking the myth that you need more time or money. You just need more action and the right attitude. Most people spend months and months researching, and never act on it. I firmly believe that to be successful and to pursue your dreams, you literally just have to act on it. I’m only taking on a small group of clients for now!You can apply at www.tatianaohara.com.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta is hands down the best place to start a business. The city is young, innovative, and really fosters the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship. There are so many resources and networking events to make you successful in whatever business you start.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firstgenerationmotors.com. www.tatianaohara.com
- Email: info@firstgenerationmotors.com info@tatianaohara.com
- Instagram: @firstgenerationmotors @_tatianaohara
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firstgenerationmotors/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatianaohara/
Image Credit:
Stefan Forbes
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