The Alimond Show

From Humble Beginnings to Business Leader: Tina Fill's Inspiring Story

Alimond Studio

Imagine starting your entrepreneurial journey by selling chocolates as a young child to support your family. On this episode, we're joined by Tina Fill, a business consultant and entrepreneur who has turned her early challenges into a remarkable career. Tina's story is one of resilience and determination, evolving from her first business at 18 to a significant role in banking, and now leading her own business planning company in the U.S. Her dedication shines through her commitment to giving back, as she shares her journey of helping underprivileged children and fostering community development.

Tina highlights the power of personal connections and the role they play in building a successful business. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing client relationships over the long haul, and how setting boundaries is key to maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. Tina also offers insights into managing a remote team in the Philippines, illustrating the significance of a solid business structure and the impact of cultural heritage in shaping business values and ethos. Her passion for community welfare is evident through her support of the Care, Share, Fill Foundation, demonstrating how business success can be aligned with social impact.

Our conversation also touches on the transformative power of empowering others through thoughtful hiring practices and creating opportunities for growth. Tina shares heartwarming stories of individuals whose lives have been changed through her mentorship and leadership, including a former manager's rise to a director role despite personal hardships. This episode celebrates the ripple effect of compassion and support in business, showcasing how Tina is leading with empathy and making a lasting difference in the lives of her employees and community. Join us for an inspiring exploration of how business can be a force for positive change.

Speaker 1:

So my full name is Tina Phil. My business is actually creative business planning. What I do, I'm actually a business consultant. Not only that, I have an umbrella. Basically, the umbrella has business development, business staffing and also bookkeeping, social media, website development and also logo creation. So I am the umbrella of all those business.

Speaker 2:

That is incredible. I'd like to know a little bit of a background on your story about how you got started, your life in general and how it's led you to where you are today.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so as a young age I came here in the US from the Philippines at age seven I was seven years old at that time. You know, my mom was a single mom, brought us here in US working three jobs. You know, working three jobs and not only working three jobs, but she was supporting for me and my brother, but she was supporting for me and my brother. Basically I came from not, you know, I came from somewhere, but I wasn't rich. Basically we came from poverty and I made it happen for my family At a really young age. My mom would give me like a dollar allowance every day and that would be my food for the whole day, but we had food also at home. So I would save that money and I would buy chocolate at costco and sell them at young age and that's how I started selling stuff, because sometimes I won't even have outfits for the whole year until, like you know, my mom will give me like Christmas gifts and that's the money that I have to spend. So I live very frugal and so, basically, just you know, being where I came from, I've learned the value of money. I learned the value of sales. I learned a lot of from what I have done in my whole life. Yeah, and not only that. I started my own business at age 18. Wow, I manufacture uniforms for hospital for Kaiser, and that was my first business at 18. I manufactured clothes for Kaiser and also manufactured clothes for DaVita one, davita in California, okay. So I did that for about nine years and you know what I did very well. Didn't have a lot of background in sales but you know, overall I knew how to like take care of the people, what they want and what they need and basically that customer service. I've learned a lot. And after that I got into. After my separation, after nine years I divorced so I needed a job and so, after you know, getting that job, basically I got into banking. I became a teller. I started as a teller back in 2000. And guess what? Until now I'm actually in the corporate world. Now I'm a business banker. I develop a lot of business client how they can start their business from beginning to the end and how to establish their business. And that's how I started. And just last year, you know, with COVID that is happening.

Speaker 1:

I've been thinking I love what I do. I love helping a lot of my clients. You know from all my failure, from all my failure that I did. You know, I want to make sure that people don't fail and I love helping people and I want to make sure that you know they grow and they're actually they're going to be successful, because if they're successful, I'm successful. And so, basically, that's what I did, and I thought about it like the last couple of years. I'm like you know what I need to do? Something I really love. I really need to do something I love. And so I finally thought about it. I'm very creative, I'm a good business planner and I'm. I thought about it. I'm like, hey, creative business planning, and that's how I created my own business. I love this story. It's so inspiring.

Speaker 1:

Yes, thank you. So that's how I created my business and, to be honest with you, I'm helping a lot of people and I'm back in the Philippines. I have a staff. I started with one staff. Now I have a staff of seven.

Speaker 1:

Holy moly Congratulations, thank you, and so I'm growing and I'm helping a lot of business clients and finally, 10% of our proceed of our sales. Actually, on my way here, I just signed a first contract for web development. Okay, wow, congratulations, thank you, thank you, thank you. So I was so excited coming here Basically with that one 10% of our proceed will help unfortunate kids. That means like homeless kids, they don't have food. 10% of that is going to them of our proceed. Yeah, yeah, 10% of that is going to them of our proceed. Yeah, yeah, so, and a lot of my staff, you know they all have stories and basically they're like my babies, so I want to take care of them. Yeah, I've been there. Yeah, I've been there, so I know how it feels.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yes, yes, I was going to say that I feel like your story and your experiences that you've had personally have definitely shaped and impacted your perspective and how you look at the world, and your love for wanting to give back to the community and your people is very inspiring and just. I'm sure you know, like you said, you know the struggle, so you know what it's like when maybe you didn't have that help and you want to be that person that can make that difference. Yeah, so I think that is such a powerful resource that you are giving to people.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and, to be honest with you, I got into banking is because when I was doing I was doing like a lot of cash, I was doing a lot of tracks I didn't have a business banker that was helping me how to figure things out. I had to do it on my own. So that was some of the failure that I did when I was younger. But you know what, when I became a business banker, I'm like I teach them that someone didn't guide me. They educated me and I start educating a lot of my business clients of what to do, the right way to do it, yeah, and so I'm just really proud and I want to keep going, I want to move forward and I want to go out there and help other business clients.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love that, I'm rooting for you.

Speaker 2:

I'd like to know the particular services that you offer um for any entrepreneurs or people looking for help with their business. Tell me the little details, sure.

Speaker 1:

Sure, so basically I'm a staffing company. Um, what I provide is we have a website coming in. Actually, our website's almost done, so hopefully, within the end of this month, we're going to launch our website. Bookkeeping not only bookkeeping. I provide creating LLC for S corporation and I have a set of. I have a department for bookkeeping and for you know, bookkeeping, not only that. I have a department for social media and I also have a department for website development.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and logos, beautiful, so everything you could think about it's all underneath my umbrella, yeah, and when you say staffing, like it's a staffing company, you help people find like the right it's like the virtual virtual companies.

Speaker 1:

Ah, gotcha, okay, yes, yes. So that's what we're basically doing, okay.

Speaker 2:

I love it and what have been some of the struggles that business owners or people in general have come to you for and that you've helped them solve.

Speaker 1:

So basically a lot of them, they'll come to me, they'll let me know, like hey, tina, you know I don't have a good bookkeeper. I'm looking for someone who's very good, who could actually do that. I've seen it. I used to be like I said you know, I was in payroll for a big bank and actually I helped them. I see their struggle because they're good at what they're doing. The problem is they don't have the admin behind it. It's like there's no backbone of their business. So when I saw that, I was like you know what I'm going to be their backbone and I know that they're not going to struggle when they have the right people.

Speaker 2:

Behind them, yeah, behind them.

Speaker 1:

That's supporting them and giving them all the resources.

Speaker 2:

Right, that's right.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Thank you.

Speaker 2:

I love what you're doing and you can totally see the passion like in your eyes and the way you talk. Oh, my goodness, I love that. Thank you, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I just I love it, Every single thing that I do it shows.

Speaker 2:

Thank you. I'd like to ask you for marketing. I know you have a department for that, but could you maybe share maybe some secrets or tips for any entrepreneurs who maybe are struggling right now with marketing or social media? Or what do you like to do, too, to market yourself and share people the incredible things you're doing within the community and with the business?

Speaker 1:

Well, me being here, this is a great way of advertisement and I appreciate you guys bringing me in, so that, right, there is one of the best way of marketing partnering with small communities, social media, facebook, family networking with people, and so those are my niche. Since I was in banking, I was already doing outside marketing and so basically that's helping me a lot. You know, from what I've learned from back then to now, I want to put that to work. Yeah, and just being here and word of mouth is the number one thing, to be honest with you, and if you take care of someone, it's a word of mouth that per that person is going to follow you and look for you.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

And I still have clients that 25 years ago in California. They still contact me.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh. Yes, you're keeping that connection with them, you must have had a great impact.

Speaker 1:

I do, I do. I would say yes.

Speaker 2:

I hope I do. Yeah, no, I'm sure. And then, um, where do you see yourself in the next five years within your business and with yourself as a person.

Speaker 1:

Like I said, um, it's not always about me. I'm always wanting to help other people. It's always about other people. You know. I feel good if I know that I help someone. At the end of the day, it's enough for me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, my goodness, you have such a big heart. I'm like going to hug you after this. You got me these little, your shiny eyes. I'm just like I need to hug her.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, so love you, thank you.

Speaker 2:

Thank you.

Speaker 1:

I just you know, my number one thing is I, I enjoy it. I could work 15 hours a day and not even feel it. My husband, actually, he was telling me the other day he's like it was like two o'clock. He's like, babe, let's go to bed. I'm like, no, I have to do something real quick. I have to do something real quick. And then I went to bed at three o'clock.

Speaker 2:

Oh girl, oh my goodness. I'd like to ask you about that, like how do you set boundaries for yourself? Maybe you don't, I. I like hearing different perspectives and experiences that all entrepreneurs have and that they can offer and give insight to, so talk to me about that so my, my husband, have to like take my computer away from me.

Speaker 1:

Like I'm a little child, I'm not kidding you. He has to take my computer away and my friend, actually my close friend, did that actually a few days ago. She's like no, I'm taking your computer away. One day we need to go out and just eat and eat and eat all our favorite restaurants and eat a bunch of cakes I love that love a good cake.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that is my way of just getting out of the house, yeah, yeah because it's important to do these things, because you don't want to burn yourself out, right? I know people are like, no, I don't need to, I can sleep on four hours of sleep. I've tried that and I'm like you must be a superhuman because I can't. Like, my head will hurt, my eyes are red, I can't focus as much. So that is right. Right, so that's what I do. Yeah, good, no, I love it, thank you. And then, um, you said you have your team in the philippines. It's seven people. How does that work? Like? How do you manage, like for, maybe, people who are thinking I would like to make my business and maybe in another country and be here, talk to me about that?

Speaker 1:

so I actually created a business structure oh, talk to me about that an assistant for her, because I want to make sure that she's able to delegate those and she's not overloaded. Yeah, yeah. So create, having that business structure is the number one thing, because you know it's like, yeah, you have a business, but if you don't have a right structure for your business, everything is going to fall. And that's the number one. I want to have a foundation. Yeah, and having that foundation lets me do what I love to do. Yeah, I don't want to fail.

Speaker 2:

No, we don't want that I have no room to fail. I have people I have to feed. Yeah, oh, my goodness, that is a very strong way to look at it, but it's true at the end of the day, right, it's true.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, all my staffing, they all have stories and I want to get to know them like my own family yeah, oh my goodness, you have such a big heart.

Speaker 2:

Oh my god, be careful out there, because I know sometimes you can give so much. I know it can be scary right, it could be scary.

Speaker 1:

I've learned that I mean I had partners in business before. Yeah, I've learned that I mean I had family partners, I had friends partners. I've learned so much in this business and I know for a fact that as long as I keep moving forward and I do the right thing, god will always provide Period. Love it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, thank you, yeah, absolutely, period, love it. Yeah, thank you, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Is there anything maybe that I am not touching on, that you would like to definitely use this platform to share about yourself or your business, or any stories or anything? Yeah, actually, like I said, our foundation it's called Care, share, fill Foundation 10% of our proceeds is going to help a lot of unfortunate kids out there. Like I said, you know I have a roof under us when I was young, but I know where that everybody came from. I know where I came from, so I want to make sure I'm able to help, so I want everyone to help us and so that way I could help others too.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, love it and.

Speaker 1:

I know that you're Filipina.

Speaker 2:

Can you share maybe, what that means to you and how that has inspired and shaped the person you are as a business owner?

Speaker 1:

As a Filipina I grew up in the Philippines my mom would take me back home. I saw, you know, some people sometimes they don't have food to eat and I saw that as a young kid and I always, you know, I was always a giver, even when I was a kid. Even today I'm still a giver. If I don't have anything, I would still provide. You know, I love sharing, I don't have a problem sharing, and so for me that I just had that, I guess that came from my whole, from my family, that you know they like to help other people. Even with my mom, her last bread she would give it to someone. Yeah, so you know, I've learned a lot from my mother and so, being a Filipina, I'm so proud and I'm able to help others too, not just being a Filipino, but everybody, everybody, everyone, everyone I touch at work, so I just enjoy it. You know Again, everyone I touch at work, so I just enjoy it.

Speaker 2:

You know no again, like I said, it truly does show like thank you. No and thank you. I would also like to know what do you hope that your impact in the community can be? Like that you can make for other, make a difference for other people and maybe other business owners with their businesses.

Speaker 1:

So basically having that structure for their business, and that's what I want to do help them with the right structure, having the right employee. Especially, you know, cbp offers that staffing, that staffing company that I have I personally do the interview myself. Wow, yes, yes. So I have that background also. I have that background. Also, I have management background, so I'm able to basically I know who's going to be the right person for that right, you know, position or position that's correct.

Speaker 2:

I'd like to know what do you think are some of the common misconceptions right now in the industry with hiring? Like that people are missing or they're not. They're like no, I don't think that that's a good fit, but in reality, like, actually, that is a good fit. Talk to me about that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So, um, I was doing this testing and some of the people of that you know doing the test gorilla actually some of them they weren't passing that, but I was like you know what? That's just a testing. Let's, let me do the interview, let me get to know them as a person and look what I built. I built a great staffing, a great department. Um, I have people who is actually doing videos and they're very creative and I never thought in my life they're going to create that. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing what this kids could do. Yeah, and they're 19, 20, 21. Oh my god. Now they're going to create that. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing what this kids could do. Yeah, and they're 19, 20, 21. Oh my goodness.

Speaker 2:

Now they're able to help their family and their siblings oh yeah, it's like you help one person and then it helps the rest.

Speaker 1:

Yes, yes, beautiful it's the impact that you, I, you could create for people absolutely no, yeah, no.

Speaker 2:

I love the whole, I guess story behind you and your company. Like you want to help business owners, but also giving back, it just goes back to that. I feel like this whole conversation is definitely like the main takeaway from here is showing compassion, care, love and giving back, but it's just incredible what you're doing. Thank you, no, absolutely yeah. Thank you, no, absolutely yeah, thank you. And then, um, have you had any inspiring quotes or mantras that have inspired you in any way in your life and would you mind sharing that? Um, can you elaborate a little bit about that?

Speaker 2:

yeah like do you have something that maybe somebody told you that stands out and has inspired you? Like maybe like, don't give up, keep going. Like obviously that's a basic one, but something that you like to live your life by, that somebody maybe told you or that you saw in a book or a magazine, that you're like that's a good quote. I'm gonna keep that in my mind.

Speaker 1:

Actually my staff tell me yeah, so it's actually my staffing a lot of them they have. They all have different stories of their lives and so you know it makes me want to do more. It's because of them. I have my niece who's working for me. Her mom passed away recently, so sorry to hear that.

Speaker 2:

And she has siblings.

Speaker 1:

And I kind of want to bring them here from the Philippines to here. And so, you know, she's going to school. Actually, the crazy part, you know, I was starting my business last year and finally she called me. I called her. Actually I was like, hey, how's it living where you're at right now? She's like, oh, I like it. You know, I love it here. But the problem is that you know my aunt, she has, you know, kids and I'm kind of struggling with, you know, with college. I really can't afford it right now. And so I was like, hey, you know what, why don't you? I'm starting a company, why don't you come in and work for me? And you know what? She's been working for me since what?

Speaker 1:

May of this year, going on five months, wow, and this girl is like an angel to me. How she creates the videos and social media, she's amazing. I could not even believe she did an awesome job. And every day I make sure because, you know, her mom is gone. Her mom is like my close friend. Yeah, you know, we're family still, even though we're not blood To me, they're family still. Even though we're not blood to me, they're family, yes, and I want to make sure I take care of her chosen family, yeah, so basically I'm taking care of her. Now she's taking care of her siblings and now she gets to go to college I love that.

Speaker 2:

I kind of relate to that story. Yeah, that I probably will tell you after. But yeah, this isn't about me, so I don't want to make it about me. That's so beautiful, and the fact that you've been able to help her so she can help her family, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And my director. You know, her mom is really sick and basically she couldn't find a job and now she has. She's my director, she was my manager, but now I give her as a director. She oversees all of our staff, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's incredible. Thank you so much for being on the podcast.

Speaker 1:

I really appreciate you being here and sharing your stories and the impact that you're able to do with your business by helping other people and your staff. Yes, so please stay tuned. Yes, thank you absolutely.