Navigating Full-Time Work and a Side Hustle with Leydi Montoya

On this episode, we’re thrilled to host an entrepreneurial powerhouse, Leydi Montoya, the driving force behind RSP Translation Services. Over the past decade, Leydi has been bridging language gaps, providing top-tier, certified translation services from English to Spanish in Central Florida and beyond.

She's more than just a translator; Leydi is a proficient Public Notary, a Bilingual Wedding Officiant, a Day of Wedding Coordinator, and a Resume Consultant, truly embodying the spirit of a multifaceted entrepreneur. But how does Leydi manage her burgeoning business alongside a demanding 9-5 career? In a revealing chat, she offers invaluable advice for freelancers trying to balance their side hustles with their full-time work.

About Our Guest
Leydi Montoya, founder of RSP Translation Services, has been providing high-quality translation services in Central Florida and nationwide for over 10 years. With quick turnaround times for Certified Translations from English to Spanish, including documents like Birth Certificates and Marriage Certificates, she is also a skilled Public Notary who offers additional services like Bilingual Wedding Officiant, Day of Wedding Coordinator, and Resume Consultations.

Connect with Leydi
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Full show notes here. 

Chapters

• 2:58 Why Leydi created her translation company
• 4:59 Nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing
• 8:33 How Leydi manages her business while working a 9-5
• 11:05 Leydi’s biggest lessons in business
• 14:04 Advice for making sure your side hustle doesn’t affect your full-time work
• 15:55 Leydi’s memorable business experiences

Transcript

Ashley Mejia: 0:08

Hello and welcome everyone to another episode of the talk freelance to me podcast. I'm your host Ashley snows mahiya Welcome, welcome. Today you are in for an amazing shout out to me and amazing, super talented, super busy super businesslike woman, Lady Montoya. Welcome to the show.

Leydi Montoya: 0:30

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Ashley Mejia: 0:32

I'm so excited to have you on here and your experience, both just doing everything under the sun and HR and then but but then also having a lot of entrepreneurship things that you've been working on for years is super cool. I think our audience is really going to learn a lot from your experience and your perspective on this whole world. So freelance fam, you're in for an awesome, awesome treat, because lady really can see things, perspectives, working in HR for a huge company, but then also having your own business. So I'm going to read a little bit from her bio, so that you can learn more about Lady introducing the founder of RSP translation services, an entrepreneur who has been providing high quality translation services and centers nationwide for over 10 years. With quick turnaround times for certified translations from English to Spanish, including documents like birth certificates and marriage certificates. Lady is a skilled public notary she also offers additional services, like bilingual wedding officiant, a of wedding coordinator services and resume consultations. Lady is an active member of various professional organizations in the Central Florida community. She demonstrates her commitment to supporting others and giving back in addition to running her successful business, she also has a real dynamic background, earning a master's in business administration from Florida International University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. She has previously worked as an executive assistant to the director for the Department of Justice and Washington, DC. And she also TIES coordinator for the Ninth Circuit Court when she's not working lady enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her husband. We are so thrilled to have her share insights and expertise on the podcast today. So lady, welcome, welcome. Welcome. Thank you. Awesome. So I know I read from your like amazing bio, you've done so many cool things. You're super smart. You got degrees here and there. And you know, just so much education. So lady, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Tell us more about your translation company and how it got started. Yes, of course.

Leydi Montoya: 3:00

So it's already 10 years ago, I was working as a paralegal for a law firm. And then I noticed that a lot of the work weren't able to be completely wasn't scannable. And then I was like, I can do it, I can make it better. And then I also noticed the cost that they were charging people in the community, and I was like, Alright, so then I negotiated and then one attorney started telling another attorney. And then my first year, I had about five, six different law firms I was working for. And that's how it's been going. And then I took a pause during my wedding last year, and then it has been re launched it a month ago.

Ashley Mejia: 3:37

That's amazing. Congratulations. You have this company. You've had it for a long time. And then you also have a day job. You also have a really great day job doing HR, right for a huge company. Is that right?

Leydi Montoya: 3:50

Yes, I'm a relationship manager where I work with CEOs and CFOs with strategy. And yeah, that's my nine to five. And then my RSP translation, it's my job that I really enjoy doing.

Ashley Mejia: 4:04

That's so cool. And I know you mentioned a couple like breaks here and there like for these big life changes like your wedding. Congratulations, you're still in your honeymoon. Beautiful face. I love that. I love that. So you imagine you had and you reverse across the scene 10 years ago. And then now you're kind of ramping things up a bit. Again, now that your wedding you've been married for a bit. Can you tell us more about how you've gone about branding and marketing your company to make sure that people know about it in the

Leydi Montoya: 4:36

community? Yeah, so even through the last 10 years, I've been part of a lot of professional organizations, such as lambda theta alpha Alliance already, and then our Hispanic Bar Association or association, and personick that really helped me and remind them that I'm back here and word of mouth also like My mom would cook some wine or from someone in our third job, or a neighbor would tell another neighbor, but how to do word of mouth. That and networking.

Ashley Mejia: 5:10

That's so cool. And you know that I feel like word of mouth, that's like the best. That's like what everybody wants, right, instead of having to spend less. Although I know there's a place for advertising, but being able having your work be so good that it speaks for itself, and that people share about you and your services to other people. That's really great. I mean, I think that's like the gold stamp. Really? That's awesome.

Leydi Montoya: 5:37

Yeah, it's unique is that personal stories and that personal touch of, you know, someone's personal document?

Ashley Mejia: 5:45

Yeah, I mean, especially like, I was thinking, when I had my marketing agency, we would work with translators a lot for like, you know, marketing and ads, really, to the translation of some of the copy and things like that. But and I know you can do that as well. Quickly, like your expertise, working as a paralegal and your knowledge of the business community. I mean, the types of documents that you're working on, are really official in nature, and they've got to be correct, because you know, the stakes are higher. So that's really, really special, that you've been able to do that and help so many people. And I truly enjoy it. That's so cool. So you mentioned that you've are very involved, and I know you have been a leader in community organizations, for years, for years, you have your finger really on the pulse of what's happening in the community. And so I know you've been involved in so many different organizations. And on the boards, you've been a leader within a lot of organizations, can you tell us some more about how networking has impacted your business and your success?

Leydi Montoya: 6:50

Yes, definitely, by networking, it had put my name out there. And then they were to network with their colleagues or clients that network the community out there, and has really brought growth. Sometimes they even have two or three contractors. But there's a lot for me,

Ashley Mejia: 7:07

that's great. That's great. You know, a lot of times, I think that we put a lot of emphasis on online things, right, like social media, and blogs, and a website and all that. So I think in the day and age that we're in, but there's something special about talking to people about seeing people. And I think especially since we're coming out of the pandemic, I think we value that more. And we're kind of even learning how to connect with people again, and how to make small talk. And I think having those really great connections is something that you've always really done great, always admired about you is that you've always been a leader in the community, and you know, lots of people and you're easy to talk to. And so I think, you know, our listeners will really benefit by knowing that getting out there and being involved is still a great way to grow. Super cool. So you also, we talked a little bit about your nine to five that you actually you do what a lot of people want to do. There's a lot of people that I talked to that they're thinking about starting a side hustle, but they're not sure how it's going to impact their nine to five job and they're one to do both. And you've been able to do that. Can you give us some ideas on how have you been able to manage both your nine to five job, which was a really big job, too. And then also your business?

Leydi Montoya: 8:33

Yes, definitely having a nine to five job and despite abilities can be very demanding even our family obligations, I think time management. So managing the United Party, nowadays, nine to five can be nine to seven, the weekend. I think it's all about that going time, and the way someone wants to get into freelancing and what I tell my colleagues and friends, sit down and have a list. Start, brainstorm, sit down for an hour or two, start thinking, what is it that people come to you for? What is it that they ask you for? But this is a you're ready to infer inquiry can turn that into your business? And what are people always coming to me with an upsell? Is that a resume writing? Is a writing assistant tutoring is as simple as math. Is that helping transportation maybe delivering no other than Uber taking place in the airport, that's also a business event coordinating? What is the Balloon Art? Or that out? That brainstorming that? And then if you can really come up with ideas to lead with four or five, call your mom or your dad or your sister or your friends or your co workers? What is it that they're coming to you outside of work hours, requests, and that is a skill that you're going to bring and others are going to value.

Ashley Mejia: 9:51

So good. Thank you so much for that advice, Freelance Fam. I hope you were listening to Leydi's advice. They're both about the two And then also thinking about what people come to you for what are you known Are you the go to person for blank, and then fill in the blank, whatever that is, because that really might be your secret power, your superpower your opportunity for business. And you know, a lot of people are talking about AI Knology, and what it's going to mean for our jobs, both, you know, and kind of what I do with writing, but then also other jobs. But one of those things, when you think about when you mentioned, like food, and you mentioned things that require people right, like, Day of coordinating, which we'll talk about in a moment, food preparation, those kinds of services, there's always going to be a need, people are always going to need those services. And computers can only do so much. So I think there's a wide open opportunities, a wide open landscape still for people. That's really cool. So I know you've been in business a long time, and you've been also in the corporate world for a long time. Can you share with us about that you've learned since starting your company,

Leydi Montoya: 11:06

don't be shy to ask, if you think it's going to take 30 minutes, and you're only charging the same $40. But then those 30 minutes is actually going to be an hour, don't be afraid to ask that extra, that's your time, your time is valuable. And then if they know that your work is good, they're going to recompense no less than this time.

Ashley Mejia: 11:28

To recommend, yeah,

Leydi Montoya: 11:30

there's going to compensate you, they're going to recommend that cause they're going to note only that hours I spent is valuable. So I think for me, my lesson learned was maybe I thought it was gonna take 30 minutes, but it took me an hour. And then I will contact my client and let them know, Hey, doctor, we're going to take you an hour. And we really pay because they know that it's a work in process. Call.

Unknown: 11:52

I love that. I love that not setting yourself short. And like you said the work speaks for itself. So communication and talking to the client and letting them know, you know, the time that things take. I think people value that open dialog and they're okay with it. They're really want the output to be perfect, and especially the type of documents that you're translating. So that's really great advice. Not setting ourselves short as well, because of all the work. So maybe you can translate a document in 30 minutes or you know, an hour. But it's because you've been doing this so long, because you speak in your case, excellent Spanish, and you've been certified and you've been to school for all these years work experience. So it doesn't take you that long now. But it's because of all the time and effort that you put into it. And that's worth something that's worth a lot actually.

Leydi Montoya: 12:52

Yes. Oh, and another lesson learn with cod 2023 Prices have gone up. So envelope cost is up. I want to import all the stamp is not 45 done. It's not like abolish all the costs of charging, basically.

Ashley Mejia: 13:10

Oh, that's so good. Yes. It's can be scary, I think sometimes to raise your prices. And some people know they won't bat an eyelash about raising their prices. I think hard. Because we know that inflation is a real thing. We know that it's hitting all of us in our pockets. But you're right, if we want to have a sustainable business that last that lasts through this recession, if that's what we're in, we have to charge accordingly. For our expenses. It's really good. So for other people that are listening to this, that maybe they have a nine to five, maybe they are excited to do kind of what you said that brainstorming session, they want to start a side hustle, they might even want to scale it to diversify their revenue, their income. What else should they do to kind of balance that so that don't do anything to harm their nine to five job

Leydi Montoya: 14:05

or store, delegate and know when to pick apart? Not everything has to be go go go that I had to do my nine to five myself? No, it's okay. If you want to recall something was typed out because they need to focus on the nine to five that they're preparing. So and then if your side job is making a lot of your time, find a contractor. There's plenty of websites or maybe other friends in our similar in your industry can take over your project or client that week. That way you're not overwhelmed. And your nine to five is suffering. I think the most important thing is knowing when to slow down and when to take a break and recognizing that your nine to five is your priority and then your site they'll be there to help you there and let me know if your project is like 5pm Today, letting your client know if of course the head no I have an extra two hours or more. If I understand,

Ashley Mejia: 15:07

that's so good, that's so good. And even adopting that mindset that your business and that doesn't just have to be you doing it like leaning into this contractors, those professional folks that you find through network, the work that you're doing in the community that's really, really smart. It doesn't always have to be our fingers. Doing it, we can have someone else a colleague help. That's so good. I also I forgot to ask it wanted to ask you specifically, I know that you have done a variety of things and translation we've talked about. But you've also officiated weddings. And you've also done this cool day of wedding coordinator work? Can you tell us some memorable experiences or maybe some examples of some of that day of wedding coordinator services that you've done?

Leydi Montoya: 15:55

Yeah. So I recently married I started realizing I really enjoy following the events, making sure that the brides are satisfied that the groom, but everything is in order. So this past weekend, I had the privilege to be a geo wedding coordinator over in Merritt Island. And it felt like it was family that do that do the pre mortem there. And it was just an experience that preparation, you know, following that schedule, being prepared and also breathing, taking a pause. And when everyone so hello. And then that also is an opportunity for people that attended to keep networking and putting their business out there. So don't be afraid to network to let people know what services you offer to do wedding coordinators. Primarily, because translation company, and someone asked me as someone that can do it is my budget, or would you be interested? And I said, Yeah, that's so cool.

Ashley Mejia: 17:01

That being open to other services and lines of business is really great. I mean, that's being open to things is half the battle, right? You know, being open and being receptive to that feedback when someone spots your potential, and it says, Hey, you would be great at this. Will you help me? That's awesome. Very cool.

Leydi Montoya: 17:20

So it was a beautiful, successful wedding.

Ashley Mejia: 17:23

That's awesome. Very, very cool. You're a woman of many gifts and many talents, for sure. So when people listen to this, I know they're going to be amazed. They probably know someone right now listening to this, that they need your translation services, or they need you to look at their resume. perspective. How can people connect with you if they want to get to know you more and learn about your services?

Leydi Montoya: 17:47

Yeah, so you can follow me on FaceTime and Farsi translation services, or an Instagram RSP translated,

Ashley Mejia: 17:56

awesome, lady, thank you so much for being here. I'd pass I know people are going to be really inspired by your success, your ability to excel in your corporate career and grow this amazing company to have it for 10 years. That's not an easy thing. So congratulations to you.

Leydi Montoya: 18:16

Thank you. Thank you for having me. I so glad to share my story with others. Awesome, thank

Ashley Mejia: 18:22

you. And with that, we've come to the end of another episode. Please make sure you hit subscribe if you haven't already done so. And give me a five star review on Apple. This will help out a lot and getting the word out about this brand new podcast. I invite you to check out the show notes and also grab my free niches get riches, freelance writing worksheet to brainstorm the best niches for your writing business. If you're not a writer, you can still use it to get business ideas. And until next time, this is Ashley at Talk Freelance to Me. Don't forget, we all get this one precious life. Don't constrain yourself to a box that you were never meant to fit in. It is your right to profit from your own creative gifts. This podcast was created by Ashley Cisneros Mejia. Our music was composed by Donna Raphael of World Instrumentals. Talk Freelance to Me is a product of Fenix Creative Studio.