No Swine Flu or Cartels in Los Cabos….
The swine flu didn’t scare us from flying into Cabo, unfortunately it scared just about everybody else. We shared the hotel with around 30 other guest in a hotel that normally hosts 300 guests during memorial weekend.
Tucked away in a privately-owned beach called Punta Ballena outside Cabo San Lucas, lies a very secluded and very beautiful resort called La Esperanza. That’s where Vanessa and I spent memorial weekend, enjoyed a beautiful and romantic dinner, sipped some tequila and relaxed on the sand.
We arrived at Los Cabos Airport and they had a complimentary driver waiting for us outside the airport. Hector (our driver) was telling us how bad the economy has suffered since the swine flu outbreak. Los Cabos is one of the very few places in Mexico that was not affected by the Narco Cartels media coverage. Hector says that Los Cabos and Cancun have more Americans living their than Mexicans (from the looks of it…i agree). The swine flu caused a reported 70% drop in tourism. Heck it felt like a 90% drop. We arrived at the airport and it was almost empty…the hotel was empty…and heck we went out for drinks at Cabo Wabo - the hottest bar in Cabo and also owned by Sammy Hagar - and it was half-full on the hottest traveling weekend of the year. We had it all to ourselves and we loved every minute of it.
Upon arriving at the hotel we were greeted by large security gates - the drive from the security gate to the hotel is 2 miles long (i’m not exaggerating when I say it’s secluded).
On Friday night Vanessa and I had this awesome dinner ON the beach by ourselves. The hotel brought down a dinner table and 2 chairs along with their house champagne….it’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever done.
On Saturday Vanessa asked, “what are our plans for the night?”…and I said “I was thinking we could catch the Lakers game”…that’s a great way to end the romantic weekend…..I’m learning as I go. With a stern look on her face she says “Where do you think there going to be showing the stupid game??” - ………’HOOTERS’ I reply……..i keep this up La Esperanza is going to build a special little doghouse for me overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
Make a long story short Vanessa didn’t go with me to watch the Laker game at Shooters…yes Shooters not Hooters. It’s a sports bar along the Cabo pier. Lakers won the game and I made it up to Vanessa the next day by taking her for a couples massage.
Tequila time
Los Cabos has built a reputation for being a tequila town. I love Tequila BTW. I have a collection at home of the finest blue agave tequilas that cost upwards of $150 a shot. We had a tequila-tasting night hosted by Christian, who’s a tequila connaisseur in Los Cabos…we tasted some amazing tequilas.
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia - aged 10 years, Chinaco, and Don Julio Real…..I didn’t get a shot of my favorite, Casa Noble….but I became a big fan of Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia.
If you’re turned off by the name Jose Cuervo because of the Jose Cuervo you bought at the supermarket when you were in College, I understand. I was a skeptic at first. But you’re going to miss out on one of the best tequilas ever made. Hands-down one of the best tequilas I’ve ever tasted…and own. I suggest having it with a chocolate desert or a good cigar.
Besides a romantic dinner on the beach, a great massage, tequila tasting, and hanging out at Cabo Wabo, the best part of the entire trip was relaxing by the pool. NOTHING BEATS RELAXING. It’s a state of happiness in my opinion.
Note worthy:
Swine flu caused a big scare throughout the entire world…and although we should fear the threat of a pandemic, we shouldn’t take it out on Mexico. I sat next to a man from Denver during our tequila tasting adventure, and he brought up a good point: There’s more drug-related deaths in Los Angeles than there are in all of Mexico. When you look into the root cause of the cartels drug wars, it’s the Americans. The cartels hire teenage hit-men from San Diego, which are referred as Narco-Juniors…..and the cartels are in wars over territory…the territory of shipping the drugs to its best customer: the U.S.A.
My point is don’t be a slave to fear - especially if produced by the media. Turn off the news, pull up a chair, pour a shot of tequila and light up that cigar because we’re not here for a long time…..we are here for a good time.
All the best,
John Raygoza
Last 60 days….
Here’s my 60 days in a nutshell…..Opened a new 3,000 square foot office in downtown Los Angeles…for my new company (can’t mention the name here).
Brought in $100,000 the first month the business opened with a profit margin of 60%. Tell me how many people could do that during a recession! On it’s 2nd month (April) - it brought in $130,000.
I went to New York with my fiance and met her sister for the first time. We had a great time and got to show them where the best pizza in the world is at (Una Pizza Napoletana).
Hung out with 7 of my VIP clients at my Malibu retreat. What a great success this was! I’m doing a couple more this year. Each VIP member gets his/her own room at the mansion, dinner is prepared by Hollywood celebrity chef Jack Lee, and I teach them internet marketing from my front yard overlooking the Pacific Ocean! Tell me how many people can pull that off during a recession!
Took my fiance to Las Vegas where we watched Manny Pacquiao destroy Ricky Hatton. I lost $3,000 playing blackjack and lost another $2,000 playing craps but logged on to my computer and saw that I made $9,000 online on a Sunday….like always I walked away a winner!
At home…:
We added a California closet, redid the bathroom…added a walk-in shower and steam room….yes steam room. Now I don’t have to go to the Spa so I could use the steam room.
Had Stanley Silver (bad-ass artist) oil paint a couple of portraits for me….one of them is Frank Sinatra….cost me a LOT of money…but it looks awesome!
So what’s coming up in May?
If Mexico gets its shit together then I’m heading to Cabo……if they don’t get their shit together then I’m heading to Maui.
I’m out!
Best,
John
Been very, very busy!
I’m obviously not participating in the recession.
I launched 2 new companies, added an additional 6,000 sq. feet of office space (total: 11,000), and in the processing of hiring 40 new people, for a total of 70 employees.
How’s that for 3 weeks of work!
It’s scary busy at PushTraffic and on top of that I attended Yanik’s underground event in D.C. & Mike Filsaime’s JV event in New Orleans.
I’m still scheduled to fly out to New York in a couple of weeks. I have a seminar scheduled in Cancun for May….and that’s just the first half of 09!
Like I said 3 months ago, ‘09 is ALL MINE!
John
Go Mavericks!
I just finished talking with Tim Warren, Vice President of Maverick Adventures. I joined Maverick business adventures to hang out with like-minded individuals. The group was started by Yanik Silver.
Yanik Silver is a serial Internet entrepreneur and self-made millionaire. He is recognized as one of the leading experts on web marketing even though he still considers himself a ‘techno dunce’.
Maverick Business Adventures creates unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences exclusively for entrepreneurs and CEOs. It’s for the small group of top-gun achievers who want to live life to the fullest, produce business breakthroughs and give back to young & aspiring entrepreneurs through charity and education. (I took this from their web site).
If you want to learn more about Mavericks go here: http://maverickbusinessadventures.com/
John
New Year’s resolution Checkup: 1 Month..
It’s been 1 month since I started my resolutions. Here are the updates so far.
1. Open my bar:
On hold at the moment because I have 2 other important ventures going on that are slated to open next week. I just got a new office for the new company down the street from the PushTraffic office! The bar is under negotiations with landowners….so I’ll update you guys next month on this.
2. Hiking once a month.
Haven’t started this but I have started working out 3 times a week. I vow to hike at least twice in February!
3. Learn to surf.
Most likely do this next month when the weather gets a bit warmer.
4. Attend 16 marketing seminars around the globe.
I attended 1 in Las Vegas the first week of January. I have 2 more this month! So far I’m on pace.
5. Visit the Galapagos.
My flight is already booked! I’m going with a CEO group I recently joined called Vistage. We leave to the Galapagos in October.
6. Visit a part of Mexico that I never been before.
No update. Most likely do this toward the end of the year.
7. Visit a part of the U.S.A. that I never been before.
That’s coming up on February 22nd when I visit Washington D.C. for the very first time. I’m also visiting New Orleans the week of Mardi Gras. My very first time in New Orleans, as well.
8. Read a new book every week on my Amazon Kindle. Write a blog about the book on JohnRaygoza.com
My Kindle hasn’t arrived yet…it’s on back order until March. I guess there’s a great demand for it…which just makes me want it more. Anyhow I’m in the middle of reading Outliers by Malcom Gladwell…recommended by my Vistage coach - Don Riddell.
9. Feed 1,000 people on Skid Row.
I’m going to do this on Thanksgiving day!
10. Create a membership program for underpriviliged kids in Los Angeles.
I’m working on this with my friend Kimberly Moore - owner of Echelon Society. We intend on starting this up in the very near future (like within 6 months).
11. Visit my brother in Omaha and his new baby.
Planning to visit very, very soon.
12. Create a 401K for PushTraffic employees!
Vanessa is working on it. Should be live in mid-Feb!
13. Get up each morning at 6 a.m. including weekends.
You got me! I have no excuse other than I work very late until 2 a.m. sometimes. I’m working on it!
14. Go to sleep each night at 10 p.m. including weekends.
All I can say is that it’s midnight right now and I’m typing away!
15. Buy an Aston Martin, Ferrari, or Lamborghini…Can’t decide yet….
After meeting with my CPA I discovered that I bought all 3 of them for the IRS! So I have to rethink my priorities right now…….see me in June!
BTW - I added 2 more resolutions:
16. Learn to play a guitar:
Starting taking lessons last week. I’m loving it!
17. Teach Buddy (My bulldog) how to skateboard.
He’s catching on. I predict that my June he’ll have it down!
There you have it. If you’re taking my advice I suggest you keep track on your New Year’s resolution at least once a month.
If you made resolutions like I have - feel free to share them with me.
John
What a Moment
For the first time ever in my life I watched a presidential inauguration speech from beginning to end. For the first time ever I recorded the words of a speech. I was mesmerized – Not by the words of our speaker BUT rather by the undivided attention the entire WORLD gave him for one hour. We listened. And we listened like never before.
Everyone I’ve spoken to knows at least one person who flew out to Washington D.C. to watch the inauguration in person. The timing of this event couldn’t have been written any better, with the presidential inauguration of our first black President the day following the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Obama made it clear that as he takes the oval office it will require more from us then from him. Change doesn’t come from Washington, it comes to Washington.
And he’s right. So many of us have forgotten who WE are. I’m sadden when I hear whispers of a great depression….as if we haven’t risen from this in the past. Instead of passing along strength and courage to our friends and family in these tough times, we spread the words of fear and defeat.
“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Obama is urging us to accept the challenges with open arms – it’s an enemy that we conquered in the past, the only difference is NOW we are greater in numbers, technology, and of course INTELLIGENCE.
Here is to HOPE, CHANGE, and US!
Congratulations Barack Obama and God Bless America!
John Paul Raygoza
Fisherman’s Outlet
You don’t have to travel to San Pedro or along the coastline to find best salmon. 1 mile east of Skid Row you’ll discover Fisherman’s Outlet. This fish joint attracts businessmen, laborers and soul-food goers. There are breaded and fried sand dabs, shrimp and fish, as well as charbroiled versions, including lobster, sea bass and catfish. Although the lines snake around the corner they move extremely fast.
My favorite here is the salmon and fries. The cajun sauce is the tastiest I’ve ever had!
Although it’s located in a rough area near Skid Row, the restaurant is safe and they have their own security guards there.
Soot Bull Jeep
SOOT BULL JEEP - That’s the name of this Korean BBQ place I ate at the other day. If for whatever reason you’d like to try some really good Korean BBQ - I highly recommend this place. It’s located on the corner of Catalina & 8th Street in Koreatown (Los Angeles).
They’ll bring you out beef, shrimp, and all the Korean food condiments you could ask for. They place the raw food at your table and you cook it yourself. I highly recommend this place!
Food for Thought….
This is my first of many blogs about food.
I LOVE FOOD. I’m a pizza connaisseur - that’s my specialty. I’ve tried the best pizzas around the world from New York to Roma, Italy. Surprisingly Phoenix, Arizona makes great pizza. Anyone in Phoenix would say Pizzeria Bianco is hands-down the best pizza…and I don’t blame them, Chris Bianco makes a great thin crust Margherita…but it doesn’t hold a candle when you compare it to Cibo Pizzeria. The meatballs were made by hand, the melted mozzarella was light and the crust was burnt around the edges.
In my opinion the best pizza you’ll find domestically is in New York’s East Village. It’s called Una Pizza Napoletana and if you’re ever in New York you have to stop by this place. It’s owned by Anthony Mangieri - he doesn’t give out his recipe and he doesn’t let anyone cook his pizza’s. He’s only allowed to work on such a masterpiece. The result is flawless. You have a thin-crusted pizza - about 12 inches in diameter - no slices.? He only serves 4 different pizzas - that’s it. No salads, no appetizers, no lasagna. Just marinara, with no cheese; margherita, with tomatoes, cheese and basil; bianca, with no tomato, and filetti, with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella.
But the best pizza in the world is Pizzeria Da Baffetto in Rome, Italy. I had to stand in line for 2 hours to be served this pizza that taste so good that if I ever go back to Rome it would only be for the Pizza.
In many cases it’s sad to see such a big, beautiful city like Los Angeles and not find one pizza place that could at least go on my top 10. I tried the muched talked about Pizzeria Mozza the day it opened and I was really dissappointed.
Here’s what I look for in a good pizza:
The oven is very important. My favorite pizza is made in a brick oven. I pizza dough should be soft except for the edges - which should be burnt. The sauce shouldn’t be watery - but it shouldn’t be stiff either….somewhere in between. The cheeze should be mozzarella and if you were to tilt your pizza to the side the mozzarella should drip.