I am Andres Felipe Barrios Tovar
Emerald / Colombia
Your success depends on you. You can't expect others to do it for you
My life before b:hip
I graduated in International Business Administration at the university and was recognized as the best international business administrator in Colombia. So, I thought that obviously, that was going to leave the doors open for future jobs.
But unfortunately, that’s not what happened. So, that´s when my wife and I, at that time my girlfriend, started to get busy working as entrepreneurs. We tried to carry out many businesses, such as selling clothes and sneakers online. We made cards for special dates, for example for Mother’s and Father’s Day. We used to prepare desserts, and everything that could made us earn money informally.
And the last thing we did before joining b:hip was selling sandwiches. We did it at a sports unit where people go to play sports during the weekends. Then, we received the invitation to join b:hip and decided to start, and from there on, our lives changed completely.
My beginnings in b:hip
I was recovering from an anxiety and depression crisis because of all the things I had tried to achieve but had no results. The degrees I obtained, going through college, all that kind of stuff and not having a remuneration.
That´s why I decided to move from Ibagué to the city of Medellín to make a change and get a job.
When my wife told me about this new opportunity, I felt very comfortable, too good and I felt like I was myself again. I felt happy again. I had a purpose to get up in the morning, because I didn’t even feel like getting up at that time. I didn’t feel like doing anything, absolutely nothing. But upon learning about this business, I felt a new motivation. And even better I felt with the friendship we started with Dani Vazquez, with Pipe Arias, Lina and Juanca Medellín.
The first result we obtained was when we were in the first leadership rank, and we were able to buy a vehicle. It was not a great brand car. It was a normal Chevrolet Aveo, but for us it was already a great result and a very big difference since we changed from riding a bike to a car!
And that first achievement was what made me believe the most in this business, obviously beyond what I already had as a vision.
My challenges in b:hip
I worked on the project full time. The challenges started to arise when for example the family started being very skeptical with the type of business I was in.
Being something different, people feel fear, like a certain uncertainty about whether you´re going to do well or not. But in reality, I felt very confident because I always understood that success depended on me and thus there would be no failure.
That was like the biggest challenge during the first year and when I started to have results, I was able to start to shut people´s mouths. When I managed to obtain results, my wife’s family told us that they thought it was good and that they were very proud of us, because even though we had not had their support initially, we had continued forward without giving up.
Today, we are obtaining great results and in fact we financially help my in-laws and my wife’s family a lot.
What characteristics a b:hip leader has?
I believe that resilience and vision are what most characterize a leader in b:hip. A leader sticks to its vision even during the most difficult times. But I mean that type of resilience for when doubts arise, mainly when other people ask you things like: “Do you think that you are going to be able to make it? Do you think that you can handle this?”
These types of questions arise because this company is different. We can manage our own time. The money will depend on what you do, so it´s very fluctuating.
So, vision is what makes a person resist in those difficult moments to move forward, despite what they may say. That’s why I think resilience and vision complement each other.
Support for my team at b:hip
I think that one of the main reasons why our organization has been successful is because we’ve always tried to lead by example with my wife, to be with them and show them the way.
One thing is to know how to speak and do it in a great way, because you learn about this in this business, but that’s not what it’s all about. Once you get off the stage, you have to continue working. And in this way people realize that what I preach I also apply, and that pulls more than anything. Otherwise, it is very difficult for people to follow me.
Is b:hip a pyramid scheme?
When I ask people, “What does a pyramid scheme mean to you?” Then they respond: “A pyramid is about getting people in,” so I ask them again: why do you think that is for? And they answer: “Because you say that we have to create teams to work”, So I tell them, yes, but let’s say in the mayor’s office, in the governor’s office or in the presidency, people are also needed for the business to work, so; does that mean it´s also a pyramid?
So with that type of questions and answers, people simply run out of arguments, because no one really understands what a pyramid scheme is, or what a Ponzi scheme it is. Then, I explain to them what we are about, and what we are not.
In addition, we have product line, regardless of the people who join the work team or not, so we can continue making money regardless. And that´s because we have real products, products that work and when people take them they notice a difference, they provide them energy, they improve the appearance of their skin, they obtain many benefits from the products.
This business is about dropshipping, e-commerce and distribution through social networks.
My greatest satisfaction in b:hip
Professionally speaking, my satisfaction has been to fulfill what I wanted. The course of studies I chose was strictly connected to the fact that I wanted to travel among other things. And nowadays, this business allows me to do it all over the world.
Personally speaking, it was the family that I have been able to create, because I feel that b:hip not only gives you an income, but also forms you in an integral way: you personally need to grow in order to earn more money.
I feel that I spiritually and mentally grew a lot and that led us to be able to have a very nice family and to be able to know how to raise our children in a good way.
Ikigai: I found my life purpose
Also, working for b:hip doesn’t feel like a job and I think that happens when you find a purpose in life, what people call “Ikigai”.
Ikigai is knowing what you are good at, what you can get paid for, and on what you spend your time doing things without realizing it. So when you find where that happens to you, you know what your life purpose is. And at b:hip I found that, because I love helping and talking to people and teaching them about the business, which in reality for me is not just a business, but a way of living.
For me, being at an office with our work team is not a sacrifice. Traveling to other cities to go visit other offices is a joy for me. It´s very cool that we can go and take care of this person, who arrived without any money and now can earn a lot. That’s why I always tell people that I never see myself doing anything else other than this. Why? Because it´s the only thing I feel I like doing, I feel fulfilled and I enjoy it, it´s part of my life.
My future goals in b:hip
On a closer and personal level, an upcoming goal would be to be able to buy two apartments on the same floor where we live, to be able to make it bigger and have a giant one. A bigger car, and some other material things like a estate somewhere else in the future.
And on a professional level, in Medellín we´re trying to develop a leader school within our type of work, to train them and be able to open other markets.
We´re training a team to open the Brazil market for everything; to know how to organize events, how to do the staff part, the logistics, how to talk to people better, that is, how to do the step-by-step. The idea is to help them reach a result, a range of leaders, something that they can sustain to generate a greater autonomy while they are there. So, we have in mind Brazil and we also Chile.
And I see myself opening other markets with my team, so that together with my wife we´ll travel and visit each of those places, but for us, we love Medellín. Later, one will change later when the children grow up and all that, but for now it´s Medellín, and constantly visiting the other markets.
b:hip Global Conventions and Promotions
Promotions and conventions have helped us stick more to the vision we have. The promotion that impacted me the most was in the Maldives in 2019 and for me that was something I had never experienced, that promotion was the best. The place was unbelievable, and we landed right there. Still, I always feel that they go overboard, exceeding expectations.
What I like most about working at b:hip
I don’t need to be dressed in a suit and tie to show that I make a lot of money. At b:hip, I can be myself.
I really enjoy time flexibility. For example, here in Medellín we are in a place where there´s surveillance 24 hours a day, so the office can be open for use. There´s no set schedule.
It´s a co-working type of modality, you arrive at the time you prefer and we as leaders, as mentors or the people in charge are here constantly to be able to give the necessary support to people. But everyone manages their own schedule, working in the morning or in the afternoon.
This job motivates me to stay updated, so I listen to podcasts, watch videos, I constantly get updated with positive and healthy habits.
We like to listen to audiobooks in the office daily while we are working, as it´s something useful and interesting. Sometimes we also play music. We do all this in order to continue growing personally and keep moving forward.