Jasmin Ortega was diagnosed with a rare condition on 2014. Severe dizziness and vertigo knocked her down. She lost control of her balance and couldn’t function on her own. Afraid that she might lose her balance once more, she suffered from panic attacks. This illness took the hearing of her left ear. During the confusion and darkness in her life, she gained her strength back from her family, friends, and even strangers who helped her get through the challenge. She was so inspired by her supporters and kindness from strangers that she decided to create a social media platform to serve as a platform to highlight the world’s unsung heroes. Read our interview with the lovely Jasmin below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I was diagnosed with a rare condition on 2014. During that period of my struggle, I had my family, friends, and even strangers who stood by me and helped me in that journey. I was a pretty active person until that illness struck me. It was quite a devastating ordeal. As a business owner, it was hard for me not to be able to work a hundred percent on the things that I loved and still love, and not to be able to oversee the businesses that I put up. I decided to sell one of my ventures, and kept the other one for my mom to maintain.
In the last couple of years, what kept my mind busy was my project I named Tnxgiving. It helped me keep my mind focused and away from thinking too much about my condition. That’s when I realized the importance of health, a support system, and the beauty of life. What makes this life beautiful is that in the moment of darkness, you realize how many wonderful people are willing to light up the way for you.
This gave me an inspiration to create a platform for those people. A platform that aims to highlight the goodness. To give those amazing people the acknowledgement they deserve, and to show them gratitude and appreciation for the love and kindness they have shown themselves. The stage doesn’t belong only to those who are famous. The spotlight should be given to those who have left an enormous print and have made a great impression on us.
I truly believe that despite the crazy things that happen in our world everyday, there are still wonderful people out there that would make them balance and calm. It’s not always during the happy times that we can show our appreciation. At the end of the day, there is always something to be thankful for – even in our worse times.
This social media platform is something we want to bring in our global community for people to use. That maybe, through their stories, we can help spread the love and positivity. Let’s highlight the amazing contribution of our everyday heroes – teachers, firemen, leaders, volunteers, innovators, family, friends, or even strangers. There are so many ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things everyday. This platform is about them and their generosity.
Tell us about your business.
It’s social media platform that aims to highlight those who made a great impression on us.
Where is your business based?
Illinois, USA.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I’ve done tons of research. It took two years of work before we finally launched it.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Social media is helpful, and also word of mouth. People found out about us from their co-workers, friends, family members, and other business organizations.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
The painstaking process of creating the project. Having to learn about this work that is different from my field.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Reading and learning more about it. Attending networking events that focused specifically in this industry. Talking to people with great knowledge and experience about this field.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I have great passion for everything that I do in life. I always give my hundred percent when I work. If at the end of the day it doesn’t work the way I want it to, at least, I know I’ve done everything I could. And also, I have a great support system who are there to cheer me on, specially my significant other, Joel.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
With so many negativities in social media right now, our platform is uniquely different in a way that our goal is all about positivity. This way we can inject a platform where people’s interaction is about sharing inspiring stories, and through this, we are hoping it could bring positive result. We hope we can help spread love, kindness, and bring different people with common interest, which is to make positivity the trend we need, specially nowadays.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
If you have an idea in mind, go and share it to the world. You never know who you can touch, and what life you can change.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Give your all, that’s the least we can do. If it’s not good enough, make that as a motivation to find out what we have missed, and take that failure as an opportunity to learn more things that you have not known before.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
My passion and determination.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Website www.tnxgiving.com
Email hello@tnxgiving.com
Facebook @tnxgiving
Instagram @
Twitter @tnxgiving
Hashtags #tnxgiving #spreadthelove
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“Change Your Thinking – Change Your Life”.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m learning that it is possible to have a platform that is purely positive. I’ve learned more about the beauty of humanity by reading the inspiring stories of people. I’m hoping to have more people would know about our platform, so we have more inspiring stories to read. This way we can be the catalyst that sparks positivity in our community and around the world.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Our goal is to make this platform be known as a tool that engages people in a positive way. And hopefully people around the globe will find out about the website and its purpose. We are looking forward to more interaction between people with their amazing stories, and looking forward to spreading more love and positivity.