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

Hi Naomi, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success i want to say is my support group. Without my family and friends support throughout this whole process, my business would not be where it is today. My family owns a restaurant and so they know the struggle of starting a business and getting word out there about it and they taught me the fundamental principles to do so. They also help me in being supportive and motivating me to keep going and grow and not think small. My dad actually helped me start the business financially, then once it was moving i was able to pay him back. My friends sharing and talking about my business also helps me out a lot. My friends and family really are the important factor behind my success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
So, not only do i make soy candles for my small business. I am also a paramedic in the emergency room part time, since I’m in school fulltime at FIU. I started my health care journey to EMT when i was a lifeguard in 2019. I was also a water instructor, so i was about to teach a class when I heard a car accident happen rightoutside the pool, i looked at my manager with a face that said i wanna go help them and make sure they are okay, and he looked at me and said no your in uniform. Ever since then i acknowledged the instinct to help people in that emergency setting. I did EMT in fall 2019, loved it, went to work in a ER, then I did paramedics the year of 2021 and passed, passed my national and got my Florida state license. I love working in the emergency setting because i get to help people when they need it, and I get to educate them too on prevention to injury and illness. Its something one definitely has to be passionate about and I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A week long trip in southflorida of course is going to include lots of amazing food options and getting sun! Breakfast can either be at home, local, or on the way to where we are going. A typical thing i do with friends that visit is we get pastelitis and coffee at a bakery, then drive too key largo to go kayaking. Typically be done kayaking by 12-1 pm. Lunch depends if we want to eat in key largo or not, I like to go to big chill, hobos cafe, or Alabama jacks for some amazing conch fritters. If we want to wait to eat since its a 45 minute drive back to my area we would go to chefs on the run! After a late lunch, probably rest and stay in the rest of the night watching Netflix and then order sushi for dinner. If its a Friday however, the plan would be to go to Miami Brewery Co. at the Shneblys winery and go line dancing that night. Thats my typical 1-2 day plan, but if my friend stays longer if its the weekend we would go to smorgasborg which is a event where there’s lots of vendors selling different types of food, and you just spend all day eating, trying new foods and having a great time enjoying the music in wynwood. I also love any brunch places to try, love me some french toast and coffee! My friends and I are very into weight lifting so typically the plan is to work out then go stuff our faces with good food!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My aunt has been such an amazing influence in my life. She pushed me to go to school to get my AA, she pushed me to never stop growing and learning because it is a privilege to be able to go to college and learn. She taught me that when i get knocked down, its a opportunity to get back up and come back even stronger. In life we are gonna make mistakes, and that’s okay, its a part of life, and I think that was a big lesson that i learned from her. Shes the person that i go to with anything in my life, personal, school, and business. She really has been my rock in my life and she is also the owner of a business called Chefs on the Run which is a carribean gastropub that has the best meals you will ever have in your life. She works fulltime, and is a mom, wife, friend, aunt, and person to go to for advice. She is always helping those around her succeed, she is also going to business classes because in life, we can always keep learning and growing. There is always more to learn! She has taught me, and even practices as mentioned how important education is especially as a woman, when before woman where frowned upon for reading and starting in colleges back in the day. She really is an empowering individual who deserves this shoutout.

Instagram: @naomisoycandles and @_naomimartz

Other: link tree linktr.ee/_naomimart

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