Name of Business: Love Chocolates: “Sweeten Your Life”
Business Type: Confectionery
Location: Colombia
Love Chocolates was born from the desire to be able to earn an income and not leave my three children alone or in the care of someone who would charge me more than I could afford. My husband always supports my every idea, and he has also offered chocolates at his workplace (I think his belief in me has given me the drive to keep going).
We began our business in 2017 but stopped during the pandemic because I was studying confectionery techniques, including chocolate. At that point, I discovered real chocolate, its temperatures, shine, and more. We restarted our business in 2022 with full force, which was a challenge since we lived in a different municipality and didn’t know many people, and the few I did know all stopped eating chocolate because of the fitness era.
In 2023, I discovered the Academy for Creating Enterprise. Without hesitation, I said, “I want to learn and participate.” Upon learning the 25 Rules of Thumb, I found many flaws in how I ran my business, such as “Do not eat from your business.” It seems obvious, but when making chocolate with three children, it’s not easy to resist. Other vital rules include “Separate household income from AGI” and “Sell what the market will buy.” Sometimes we think that because we don’t like a product, no one will (inspect more, assume less), but it turns out that many people love it. Real chocolate has a very different market than people who love milk chocolate.
In August 2023, the Academy Awards were held, and I signed up with a pencil in hand, keeping track of my daily accounts, applying another golden rule: “Work 10 hours a day.” I thought, “If you can do that for a minimum wage, why not do it for my own dream, for the legacy I want to leave my children?” (Write down goals.) Dreaming is free, visualizing is also free, and we are free to imagine our venture as a large, job-creating company. The awards were between Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia, and I took second place in the EMPRENDE YA JUNIOR category. This award motivated me, and I participated in a departmental-level competition where I was one of the beneficiaries, receiving appliances for the venture.
I found different suppliers with better prices, and it has been a wonderful growth process, not only for the business but for me as a person. In October 2024, there was a call for rural women cocoa growers as mentors, and out of 222, I was selected. I earned my extensionist certification, which trained me to learn about cocoa from seed to harvest.
I currently volunteer to teach classes to children, young people, and women so they can learn about bean-to-bar, opening their minds to the possibility of cultivating and transforming not only cacao but also their minds, embracing our talent and divine nature.
I am grateful to the Academy for teaching me how to have “Focus, focus, focus,” differentiate my business and make compelling sales, add value to my clients, and make me a better professional, a better human being, a better daughter of God. I know that our Heavenly Father wants the best for his sons and daughters, and this is a way to develop our potential.