Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another SL2M Today we have with us the iconic and leading influencer, traveler, lifestyle Yadin Guy called the Yad Guy, he's Alex Jimenez, he's going to be with us with over 1 million followers on social media to tell us everything about the Yad in industry and some of the most exciting things about being one of the leading icons on social media when it comes to this industry Amazing story on how you started the Yad Guy, which it was like a board that you were putting in there as motivation to get yourself Eventually those Yads and keep going because it's such an interesting story Exactly, it was just motivation, you know, like I said before then I'd never been on the yacht, I didn't know anybody who owned the yacht and I was just using it as a motivational board for myself Before that I had tons of magazines, bought international, you name every magazine with yachts, from 1998 I had a stack of them in my house And every day I would look at these magazines, but then our Instagram came along and I was with my brother at an event and he goes Hey, you should start putting all these photos, you got to save on your phone, put them on Instagram And this one you can use that and save the storage on your phone, and I was like that's a great idea, that's what I'm going to do So I did that, and then it started to grow, and I said man I got to think of a clever name so people could recognize me, you know, because everybody had cool names and here I was Allie Al So I was like I don't know, so I was raining that day, I'm not forgetting, I was trying to think of the name, and I said you know the Yachai, I'm not a big fan of that name, but until I come up with something really cool, I'll just use the Yachai The Yachai is such an iconic brand now because anybody that is looking for inspirational or for information or anything in regards to Yachai, they go to your page because you've been accumulating over these four years Such an incredible following, you have over 1 million followers over social media, and you use Instagram as your main platform, correct? It is my main platform, and it's been actually 10 years. 10 years, I love it. Tell me a little bit about how you transformed all that you were putting on social media and inspiring others to then eventually be the guy that is on every amazing Yachai that is helping others to promote their Yachts, how do you make that transition?
I think it's been, the goal was never to be on all these Yachts and to become an influencer, that was just something that came up passionate I had, I loved Yachts, I was not there was a problem I was doing really bad, and I said to myself, one day I'm not going to be doing really bad, I'm going to be doing really great, so you have to find a point of reference where do you want to be, and after reading some self-help books and stuff like that, they tell you, you want to dream really big, right? Don't dream of being a Yachts crew member, dream of being the Yachts owner, right? And it wasn't a take to be the Yachts owner, you have to dream about the money that it takes to own one of those, right? So there was no influencer intention, it was just me being me talking to brokers, talking to designers, talking to a bunch of people in this industry, and when I started nobody else was doing this, so I just was lucky enough to start growing connections, meeting people, and they say kindness is greatness, man, you know, you dream people well, and you meet a lot of people that are going to treat you well, and not so well, but you take it as a grain of salt, and eventually you'll get to where you want to go.
So you know, the same day, you know, create a business that fills your passion, and you end up building the Yachts as your business, so congratulations on that, and I'm sure that's a long, long, long way to go, but for now, obviously you are inspiring others, and there's something that I would like to ask you, because, you know, I see a lot of people that they want to be an influencer, they're trying, and they're doing, you know, all these postings, but what will you give them as an advice? So, as a whole, there is a full time job, it's, I mean, you can do it part time, right, if you have a business, it's easier, if you have a successful business already, and then you'll be coming in an influence on the side to help influence your already-built business, makes it a little easier. Versus, if you are working at 9-5 struggling and then going to transition to become an influencer, there's some time, that goes into it, because it takes up so much of your time, right? Full-time working right on your breaks you will be on in social media and then back to your full-time job And then when you get home back to your social media and it will absorb all your time The trick is not to get caught in this the flicking through everybody else exactly no It's very easy to do you get distracted right you will spend hours just looking at other people stuff when you should be focusing on what you need to be doing How important is the collaborations for you?
I mean engagement People are like oh well, you know your your your insights aren't as great as they should be right I know other guys who got more insight I could have a bunch of nine-year-old liking my stuff too, right? If I didn't talk dances and not to say that anything's wrong with that You're doing I want to see your dancing come on Believe me Taylor Chan is he's got me a dance a few times that I put the brakes on him But our point is what is your audience and what demographic do you want to attract right? Do you want to attract a hundred million? Teenagers great.
That's good for you for me I was always looking to attract people who are interested in yachting who like voting who enjoy the water, you know So that's been a slow growth. I mean and I'm okay with that I'm so so in regards of the yacht industry, right? We've seen a huge demand after the pandemic do people trying to stay away from crowded places and going into yards How do you see the future of the yacht industry for the upcoming years? Oh my god?
Let me tell you man the yachting industry has seen in the sense of pandemic more sales than than ever before right and I think the pandemic had made people realize On how owning a boat is a great way to escape and get away from everybody right? Because I have some clients that are very successful and one of the Experiences that they always do on the summer. I asked them like what do you have for the summer? Oh, I'm charring a yacht like well.
Yeah, how is it? No, no, I'll be like no nothing But no yachts are the best and I thought oh pandemic or space it But you know the answer it was very funny like you know besides being secure and everything I Love being on a yacht because my family cannot escape. That's where we create the best quality time But now that's awesome and of course you've been in some of the most incredible yachts. What I had that you will say oh my god Do you have a favorite or not?
I do have a favorite of all time It's my dream yacht and it's been my dream yacht from from the time that it was built And I and I just for the first time had to see photos both international just did an online article and it's eclipse Yeah, and it's really nice. I mean, but I don't know why I've had dreams of that boat I've had dreams of owning it. I've had dreams of so that boat for some reason it does something to me man Whenever I see it I get inspired and I'm like that's that's it right there That's where I need to be you know not as a guest as an owner. So for some people I mean owning a Suzuki GTR I don't know Nissan GTR or house or mention that's your goal.
That's great for me. It clips has been the if I can get that to that point I've done really well, you know what the yacht guys. I need to wait to make it happen. Come on You said it right there.
It's all about the vision and working every day consistently. I'm sure you'll make that happen Thank you You've been in all these amazing yards and surrounded by luxury, but you know luxury comes in all shapes and forms And I always ask this question. What is luxury to you luxury is peace and quiet, right? I spend my days when I'm not doing social media I garden right believe it or not.
I go bird watching I walk in the woods by myself that I just complete quiet no noise no social media Just chill on I'll go to the beach sit on the beach and just listen to the ocean and that's my definition of luxury I love it. Yeah, oh It's amazing. No, I mean I agree with you. I was actually reading a book It's called blue nine by Wallace and thinking about the benefits of being surrounded by water the sound of water So when you talk about a yacht, I mean some people get sick in the water Whatever, but you know just waking up in the morning I'm being able to see the beautiful water here in the water like I don't think of any other way of putting your mindset in the Right place.
So I mean you're lucky guy You feel yourself this life and you're inspiring others to get towards that But you said that you also found some inspiration from some books that you read some mentors Do you have any recommendations of any person or book that people should read or follow? I've read so many quotes and As for a book the book that actually changed my life, right? And for years, I thought to myself I'll never be successful because I don't know anything I can't be a real estate. I'm not a plumber.
I can't be a plumber and anything I want to do I've got to go spend years and years and years of schooling for so I have thought to myself I'm done. That's it. I'm gonna have to get a nine or five and I don't know how I'm gonna ever get anything right But then I read this book and I read this book like I said when I was on my lowest point of my life and it's called Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki everybody. Yeah And then this book he says you don't need to know everything You just need to hire the guys that know what you want to know and put them to do the job And that just blew my mind and it just opened up the world for me, right?
So it said find an each make money find something you want to do and then hire a guy who knows how to do it And there you go. I love it. I love it It just that guy just blew my mind and from that point on I felt like the world was it was I could I could do anything I could do anything I just needed to earn the amount of capital to start my own business with stuff that I do know how to do and then Frank show off hiring people who are professional and other things that I want to be involved in That's great. I love it.
No, it's a great book. I'm definitely amazing insight So from all these years of experience that you've been going through and by the way What you just shared is amazing, but for those that are currently struggling or you know It's a difficult time for some people, you know, it's you know Something that is not the norm so what will be that piece of advice or that? Inspirational phrase that you could share with the audience today And it's very very easy to say and it's really cliche But it is the honest honest truth and if anybody's watching this and if you're down on your luck and things are going bad and And and you feel like there's no out Don't my quote to you is just don't give up. I'm telling you have faith in yourself, right?
See in your mind where you want to be and I know this sounds corny. I'm telling you I've been there it works, right? When I was sleeping in my 19 I don't even want to remember what it was like 1980 something is Zuzu rodeo, right? I was back of that I would sleep every day and tell myself one day I'm gonna be in Monaco one day I'm gonna be standing on the bow of a yacht and see beautiful crystal clear work I don't know how I'm gonna get there.
I don't know anybody who owns a yacht But one day I'm going to be there and I had that faith in myself and I knew one day I was doing every day for years It doesn't happen overnight for years. I said that and then it happened It just happened it felt like it was overnight and everybody you get a lot of guys about it. What the hell this guy came out of He just came out of nowhere. I've been dreaming and manifesting this waiting for Instagram was even around So manifestation so important and believe it you will be there you will get there Wow, that's amazing.
Well, thank you so much for everything that you're sharing I don't know if we didn't touch base on anything. So if there's something that we're missing, please I know you are on the road, so I appreciate your time So is there anything else that you would like to share before we wrap this up? No, I mean, hey keep watching Thanks to everybody for following check out the YouTube channel I got some cool stuff on there you guys want to go on some tour zones and yachts Oh, we got a couple of cool tours coming up in the future with me and Taylor Chan and a few other people so thanks again amazing You are the man the young guy Alex event. Thank you again.
Please everybody follow him He's a machine when he comes to inspiration and anything related to yachts So if you want to wake up in the morning and feel inspired, please follow the guy because he's incredible So thanks again for your time and I look forward to seeing you in a yacht whether in Europe this summer or somewhere here And I'm definitely gonna see you this time in Europe. So we'll do something together for sure. I love that. All right, Alex Thank you Bye, bye.
Thank you everybody for watching bye bye And thanks again for everybody tuning in today. We hope you enjoyed it I remember embrace it's beautiful success in life. My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time