08/06/2026
This little suitcase stopped me in my tracks this morning.
I walked into my room, and for some reason my eyes landed on this small suitcase.
It may not look like much, but it carries one of the biggest stories of my life.
This is the suitcase I brought with me when I came to the United States for the very first time.
That's all I had.
One small suitcase.
And $200 to my name.
No house. No business. No safety net.
Just this suitcase, $200, my courage, my fears, my hope for a brighter future, and a dream.
A dream to build something that would one day outlive me. A dream to create something I could pass on to future generations. A dream that somehow, in some way, I would be able to change someone else's life and help another family build a better future.
Over the past several years, I've poured everything I have into building Mola Foods.
The journey hasn't been easy.
There have been countless challenges trying to secure distributors, retail accounts, funding, and opportunities. There have been moments of disappointment, moments of doubt, and moments where life has a way of humbling you and making you question every decision you've made.
But through it all, one thing has never changed:
Dreams don't have an expiration date.
As long as we're blessed with another day, we still have time to make them a reality.
When I look at our products today, I don't just see spices or beverages.
I see proof that a dream can become something tangible.
Now it's simply a matter of continuing to water that dream until it takes deep roots. Even when the water seems scarce. Even when progress feels slow. Those are the moments we cannot afford to give up.
This little suitcase reminds me that great journeys rarely begin with great resources. They begin with great faith, relentless perseverance, and the courage to take the first step.
If you're reading this and wondering whether it's too late to chase your dream, it isn't.
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Keep moving forward.
Because dreams don't come with expiration dates.
And if someone who arrived with one suitcase and $200 can still believe in building a legacy, then maybe your dream is closer than you think.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Don't stop walking toward it.
LaFortune,
Founder Mola Foods
Www.molafoods.com