A Diamond Personality – Oscar Rodriguez

Ask Oscar Rodriguez about the dot-com burst and he may smile at you as if to say, What burst? Rodriguez, a 38- years-old entrepreneur, owns an Internet commerce that sells untie diamond to various buyers. Business is booming for Rodriguez, In 2004, he has gross sales of $2.06 million-a 140 percent increase from 2003. Rodriguezs database of almost 60000 diamonds is one of the largest and is valued, jibe to Rodriguez, at over $350 million. Needless to say, Oscar Rodriguez is optimistic about his business venture.The coming(prenominal) wasnt always so bright for Rodriguez, however. In 1985, Rodriguez moved from his country, Puerto Rico, to Gainesville, Florida, with unforesightful ability to speak English. There, he attended community college and worked at the local anaesthetic mall to support himself. After graduation, his roommates girlfriend suggested that he work at a local jeweler. I thought she was crazy. I didnt know anything about jewelry, says Rodriguez, who took her adv ice. Though he worked hard and sure his Diamonds and Diamonds Grading certification from the Gemological institute of America, he wasnt satisfied with this progress. I quickly realized that workings there I was just sledding to get a salary with a raise here and there. I would never become anything. That drove me to explore other business ventures. I also came to really know diamonds-their pricing and their quality.In 1997, tired of working for approximatelyone else, Rodriguez decided to open his own jewelry store. However, business didnt boom. Some of my customers were telling me they could find diamonds for less on the Internet. It blew my mind. Rodriguez recognized an chance and began contacting well-known diamond dealers to see if they would be interested in merchandising their gems online. Roriguez recalls one conversation with a prominent dealer who told him, You can non sell diamonds on the Internet. You will not survive. Discouraged, Rodriguez then says that he made a m istake. I stopped working on it. If you have a inhalation, you have to delay working harder at it.A year later, Rodriguez did work harder at his dream and found a dealer who agreed to provide him with some diamonds. Says Rodriguez, at once I had one, I could approach others. Business started to build. The first three months I sold $200,000 worth of diamonds right off the bat. And that was just me. I started to fit employees and make uptually closed the jewelry store and got out of retail.Although Rodriquez does have some diamonds in inventory, he primarily acts as a connection usher between buyers and suppliers, giving his customers an extraordinary selection from which to choose.Rodriguez is now a taking into custody entrepreneur, and his company, Abazias.com, went public in October 2003. Why is Rodriguez successful? Just ask twain people who have known Rodriguez over the years. Gary Schneider, a realtor who helped build Rodriguezs building, says, Oscar is a very ambitious young man. I am not surprised at all how successful he is. He is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word. One of Rodriguezs former real-estate instructors, Howard Freeman, concurs. I am not surprised at all at his success, says Freeman. Oscar has always been an exceedingly motivated individual with a lot of resources. He has a marvellous personality and pays close attention to detail. He also has an ability to aim to things. You could tell from beginning that he was going to persevere, and I am olympian of him.Rodriguez is keeping his success in perspective, but he also realizes his business potential I take a very small salary, and our belt is $250,000 a year. I am not in debt, and the business is faulting even. I care about the company. I want to keep everything even until we take off, and then it may be another ball game.