We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisabel Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marisabel, where are you from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 1976. I lived in San Francisco, California my early childhood years. When I was 6 years old, my parents moved back to Honduras for work related reasons. Then, when I was 15, my parents decided to give my siblings and I a better future, so we made the move back to the US. We sold everything, packed our bags, and arrived in Miami in December of 1992. At the time, this change felt like the end of the world to me. I was leaving behind everything I knew, literally! My closest friends, my extended family, my beloved pets, our home, and my culture. I learned to speak English at an early age. However, I never had to use it to communicate daily prior to moving back to the US. Although I was able to understand most, I was too embarrassed and insecure to speak it. This made me an easy target for the school’s bullies. Here I am in a completely foreign country, learning to be social in a language I am not comfortable using. Because of my language barrier I was placed in an ESOL program. This was my haven! I knew I had something in common with all the people in that class. We all needed help developing English skills. I learned so much, made new friends. Some of which are still my closest friends to this date. Life was not easy those first few months. I saw the struggle my parents were going through; I knew I had to find a way to help them. I got a job at Publix making $4.25 an hour. It was a great way for me to sharpen my English skills and make money along the way. When Summer came along, I got a Summer job at a factory. I worked there for 6 weeks parallel to my supermarket part-time. Those days were long and tough, all work-no fun. But they helped me set and achieve goals, they built character in me, and steered me into becoming an independent woman at a very young age. Life went on and everything seemed to be falling right into place. Fast forward to May 1995. I got married! I know, I was so young! But I did! Shortly after that in June of the following year, my first child was born. The family continued to grow and in March 2000 my daughter was born. My life was placed on hold. I was a young mom and my goal was to raise them. Motherhood brought up new challenges for me. I had to juggle being a wife, a mommy, having a full-time job, and finishing school. I am not going to lie, there were times when I wanted to throw in the towel and quit. Deep down I knew I could not. What kind of example would I be to my children if I did? So, I did what I know how to do best, I put on a positive attitude, a big smile on my face and I kept going. I did not give up. I continued to work hard, and I gave my children the best example. Not one with many words but with actions. I was able to teach them a valuable life lesson. If you have a goal you must have discipline and determination. If you do, NOTHING is impossible. Although I have been through some hard times in life, I did not allow those challenges and adversity to impact me in a negative way. On the contrary, I know they prepared me to be in the place where I am today. As an educator, I love that I can understand and help children develop language skills. I do it from the heart and with great joy. I am an advocate for children’s well-being and will always be their voice when they cannot use their own. As a businesswoman, I know I have the responsibility to be excellent at what I do. I take pride in providing a service in which my community becomes healthier from within. It is personally rewarding to know I am helping others achieve their goals every day. I can say, my own success comes from helping others be successful. Whether it is a young child or an adult, there is power in empowering others. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of a small business called “Yes2detox”. At Yes2detox we offer natural juices to detoxify your body naturally, help you lose weight, get lean results, and feel your best from within. We use the freshest seasonal fruits and vegetables that deliver the most delicious juices. We currently offer one, two, three, five, and seven day detox program. This gives you the flexibility to choose the plan that best suits your needs. What sets me apart from others is that all the juices were curated by me in an effort to implement a healthier lifestyle for me and my family. As I experimented with new blends, I began to share them with friends, extended family and co-workers. After receiving positive feedback, I realized there was a need I could fulfill. I am most proud of the personal growth and positive impact I have had, not only in my family but in my community. I am a naturally creative person, who comes from an educational background. However, business has always been within me. I attribute this to my father, who has always been a businessman. The idea of a detox program came upon because of a personal need. Although I have always juiced for my family, I had never really done it to cleanse my body but to enjoy them as part of my daily diet. The journey has not been an easy one. It’s been strenuous, navigating the roles of entrepreneurship, along with juggling all the other areas of daily life. I overcame the challenges with my faith, the continuous support of my family and the motivation I receive from the people I have come in contact with. I have learned that being a small business owner is not an easy task. It required hard work, and a lot of determination and discipline. There is a big responsibility to deliver the best of your product and it all falls on your shoulders. Organization and planning are the keys to success. I want the world to know we are here for our customers, and want each one to have a unique, one-of-a-kind experience with our amazing all natural juices. Yes2detox is here to help everyone achieve their goals. Whether it is to reset your palate, feel better, have more energy, get rid of bloat, lose weight, or kick-start a healthy and active lifestyle, Your body is your temple and it’s never too late to start taking care of it. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start with a sunrise at any of the beautiful beaches, South Point Park, Haulover, or Hollywood beach, one of my favorite spots to grab breakfast is the iconic Big Pink. The rest of the week would entail some shopping at Lincoln Road Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, and the Design District. Outdoor activities are a must while in town. We would enjoy biking, or rollerblading down ocean drive, or Hollywood boardwalk. As well as some HIIT-Cardio workouts at FIT4LYFE. We must visit some local museums, The Frost museum of Science and Perez Art Museum. As we continue exploring the beautiful city of Miami, we cannot miss visiting one of its gems, Wynwood. Here we would emerge ourselves in art and culinary experiences as well as snap a few selfies. A weekend trip to the Florida Keys is also a must. Finally, it is impossible to visit Miami and not enjoy some authentic Cuban food. So, to conclude the trip we would enjoy dinner at one of Miami’s staples, Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine.   

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many to credit for my success. First and foremost, to God for his love, wisdom, grace and favor. Second, I wouldn’t be here if my parents had not decided to move to the USA in hopes for a better future. I am glad they listened to that still, soft voice and made the move. THANK YOU, mom and dad! Third, to my husband for supporting every crazy idea and encouraging me along the way. My kids for being the energy that keeps me going. Last but not least, my customers and supporters. Your feedback and encouragement mean the world to me.

Website: https://www.yes2detox.com/
Instagram: @yes2detox