UndocuStartup Weekly #9: My First Time Firing Someone,and What It Taught Me About Leadership | Ep 83

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 powerful lessons from going all the way (no half-stepping), to booking meetings that almost fell through, to hiring smarter and thinking long-term — I get real about what it’s like to build the #1 entrepreneurship program for undocumented students, one program at a time.

This episode is for anyone who’s growing something meaningful — and refuses to quit.

🔑 Key Lessons Covered:

• Don’t stop until they say no — follow up until you get a clear answer

• Plan with the end in mind — set big goals, but break them down

• Go wide, then go narrow — test many ideas, then go all in on what works

• Don’t sacrifice everything to build — make room for life too

• Raise your standards — have hard conversations when needed

• Say yes to visibility — brand growth starts with showing up

• Make the decision — then go all the way with it

• Create scenarios — ask “what if” questions to think bigger

• Repetition builds greatness — you don’t get better without doing more

• You only need one yes — that one yes can change everything

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📣 Who This Episode Is For:

• Undocumented students dreaming of starting a business

• First-gen founders ready to get serious about their goals

• Anyone building something with heart, mission, and hustle

• College allies, Dream Center staff, and directors exploring new programs

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🚀 12 Ways to Connect With Me:

1. Join my FREE newsletter → ⁠https://shorturl.at/mpzLO⁠

2. Work with me → ⁠https://www.undocustartup.com⁠

3. Business Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/undocustartup/⁠

4. Personal Website → ⁠https://www.jmayahern.com⁠

5. TikTok → ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern⁠

6. LinkedIn → ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/⁠

7. LinkedIn Newsletter → ⁠https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/⁠

8. Reddit Community → ⁠https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/⁠

9. Personal Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jmayahe/⁠

10. Threads → ⁠https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern⁠

11. Email me → ⁠[email protected]⁠

12. Listen to the podcast → ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez⁠

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📢 Are you a college ally or Undocumented Student Center director?
Let’s bring the UndocuStartup™ Bootcamp to your campus.
We’ve worked with different colleges across California — and we’re expanding now.

📆 Get in touch at → ⁠https://www.undocustartup.com⁠

🧠 Be motivated. Stay motivated.
📍 Hosted by Juan Maya Hernandez, founder of UndocuStartup™