Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Martinez.
Hi Megan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My journey is definitely not a fairytale, I have hit more downs than ups, but my love and perseverance for what I do by far outweighs the tough times! I started about 8 years ago. Just doing party setups for my 2 boys. I posted my pictures on my personal Facebook page, and one after another friends and family wanted me to create setups for their parties. I did a couple of them, and everyone really seemed to love the creations. Word spread pretty quickly of me doing balloons and party setups, and people were messaging me left and right, but when it came to starting my own business, I was a coward. I was too afraid of the judgment and criticism of other people. I didn’t know the first thing about how to price people or how to talk to people on a professional level. I had so much fear and doubt is was crippling at times. But my husband had a different view. He saw something in me and my work that I just couldn’t see. He saw the beauty in it, and he encouraged and argued (he didn’t see failure he saw talent) with me on just how talented I was. So, it took some convincing for sure and lots of prayers and worries, but I decided to take the leap of faith, and that’s how my business was born. I learned from the bottom up what all comes with starting your own business. Now my journey begins.
Financially it was draining; I put a lot of my own money into buying inventory and not really knowing how to price point my work. So, I was struggling with undercharging for my work and not making any type of profit. Always self-conscious about my work. Didn’t know if I did the right thing, and if I failed then I just wasted all that money for nothing. When I say the fear was real it was real. But as the years went by it became easier, and I gained a lot of confidence in myself and my work. Things were taking off, and I was loving it. Business was booming, and I thought I really found my calling.
Six years went by, and I was doing amazing lots of clients lots of bookings, I truly felt blessed.
But it all came crashing down when I became ill out of nowhere. Completely side-railed me. My illness came on unannounced and rapidly took over my life. I was having uncontrollable seizures and fainting out of nowhere. We saw doctor after doctor and countless neurologists. My world was crumbling down, and no one and no amount of money could determine what was wrong with me.
So, I had to shut everything down so abruptly and had to cancel pending parties, and I literally thought I was going to die. I was mad and sad and scared and just downright hopeless. I wasn’t able to drive, much less stand for a long period of time. I was devastated, I had worked so hard to build my business up, and this was completely out of my control. I felt I let my clients down.
I battled my sickness for about a year not knowing when my last day was gonna be. Praying countless prayers and crying rivers and oceans. Till this day no one has been able to diagnose me or tell me why or what was going on.
Eventually, everything just sort of stopped. Little by little, I regained my strength, and I was finally starting to feel like myself again. But for the longest, I was so scared that it would just happen again, and I just couldn’t do it a second time.
Two years past by, and I was feeling amazing, and my fear slowly went away, so much so that I started doing a few setups here and there for my friends and family again. I was so happy, and it felt so good to create again. Then about a year later, I got an itch to start back up professionally.
Let me tell you, it is so hard to start back over again. I lost so many clients and followings. I was starting from the bottom up again. But I was determined to come back better and stronger. A lot has changed new props backgrounds and design levels. So, I was learning what was in and new. Took a lot of work and due diligence, but I wanted this more than anything.
I have felt like giving up so many times because of how hard it is to get my name back out there. Especially with all the new social media outlets to learn. But when I tell you I have gained so many new clients and I appreciate them so much, I really mean that. I may not be as big as I once was just YET, but with what I went thru and overcame with my sickness, I know that giving up is nothing short of the enemy.
There are so many talented balloon artist out there to choose from. So, I am extremely grateful when you look at my work and choose me. I add so much love and time to each setup I do. No matter what inspiration photo is sent to me, I always add so much more to it. My setups are meant to be WOW factors, and I truly believe that they are. Not only from what my clients tell me but just looking back at all my work from the beginning till now, I have come such a long way. I want the world to know just how much I love creating, and if you have an inkling of something you want to do then go for it. Cause let me tell you, fear will always be there no matter what you do. You just have to choose whether or not you’re going to listen to it or not.
What I’ve learned in my experience is we all have one life to live, and if your heart is leading you somewhere, then just go for it, no matter how scary it is. Nothing easy is worth having, and everything worth having is Not easy. What if your “what if” becomes a success?
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It in no way has been smooth sailing. So many trail and errors and sickness and just plain out fear. But you learn from your mistakes and improve your technique. You persevere thru the hard times and kick fear in the you know what.
Doing something you love and turning it into something big takes time and a lot of patience. There are days where you may make one sell or none at all and days where you make 5 or 6 sales. And each one is done with the same patience and detail as the next. Struggle will happen no matter what you do in this life, so why not do something you love?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a balloon artist/party planner specializing in balloon creations. My setups are known for being WOW factors/statement pieces. I love any challenge that is thrown my way. The harder the better for me. I love to grow, so I will try just about any creation you throw my way. I am very honest up front, and if I haven’t done something before, I will let you know but will never back down from an order. I will practice until I get it down-packed. I think that’s what sets me apart from others. I never copy an inspiration picture. I add my own twist to anything I do. I’ve had so many clients tell me that my setups look so much better than the picture, and that warms my heart so much. I love balloons, and I feel like they can make or break a party, so attention to detail is very big with me.
I think what I’m most proud of would have to be my back story. I could have easily folded and just gave up, let my struggles overpower me, but I didn’t. I used them to make me who I am today. But I am still human and bad days happen no matter what. I just choose to not let those days determine my success.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how diverse our city is. You meet all types of people wherever you go, and that’s how you learn about different cultures and to interact with different people.
What I like least is the traffic…oh the traffic is horrendous!!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: megans_poptacular_balloons
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganspoptacularballoons
- Other: TikTok: @meganspoptacularballoons
