Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Castrillón Gómez.
Alexandra, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Colombia, where I studied Systems Engineering and worked as a Project Manager and in Digital Advertising for almost 20 years. From an early age, Literature was an important part of my life. Although I did some postgraduate studies on the subject and attended writing and reading groups, I always had a fear of showing my work. When I moved with my husband to Miami in January 2018 was when becoming a full-time writer started to become a possibility. I just needed to surpass my biggest obstacle: myself.
I’ve been always obsessed with productivity and how to achieve a better version of myself. In 2017, when I took a gap year to travel around the world, I changed my relationship with my body by introducing a new lifestyle. My goal was to eat in a more conscious way and to work out every day. In 2018, I made a plan for my husband and I to retire before I turn 50 (I am 42 now). In 2019, I wrote and published my first novel “Me muero por vivir”, hitting Amazon’s bestseller lists during the launch and again in March 2020. The first edition was sold-out in Colombia in less than three months and it was selected as one of the 20 self-published books to be displayed on the next International Book Fair in Bogota (FILBo).
Today I combine being a writer, productivity coach, travel blogger, and have started a company with my book’s editor focused on helping other people to write and publish their work. I’m living my ideal life by balancing all the things I love to do while sharing my knowledge with others and showing them that it’s possible to do so.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The hardest part is always to believe in myself and this is something I have to work on every day. I look constantly for new challenges but in my head, there is always a voice telling me they are not going to work or how disappointed I am going to be after I fail. Everything else is manageable. If I need to reach out to someone, I will find the way. If I need to get the money to fund my projects, I will find the way. If I have to do something that scares me, I will find the way. Once I quiet the self-criticism voice, I always find the way.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I have a lot of businesses running, and in all of them I keep true to myself by creating and sharing content and knowledge, my motto always is “I give my best to uplift everyone else lives”.
As a writer, I study, read and write every day, no matter what. My readers deserve someone who cares about the craft and I am committed to learn and try harder in each book I write. Now, I am working in my second novel and I give my audience content to keep them engaged with my books like side stories.
I compiled all the tools I use to be highly productive in a methodology called “Infinitum”, useful for anyone who wants to achieve their goals. It’s a five-step process focused on long-term vision and short-term results. I shared the basics of the methodology in a free e-book and for those who subscribed, I did a complete series of videos explaining in detail and sharing my own experience. In the upcoming months, “Infinitum” will become an online program for those really committed to a better version of themselves.
Natalia Hernández, my book’s editor and I created a project called “Escribo y Publico” (Write and Publish) with it. We help anyone interested in writing and publishing their books making them a reality. We work with potential writers approaching their book as a project, with milestones and weekly reviews. We also help them build their community and create a marketing plan for launching and selling their books. We offer both learning resources and one to one coaching, based on individual requirements.
I also keep writing for viajaliviano.com, the travel blog my husband and I started in 2011. In total, we have visited 75 countries and hope to give readers tips and insightful information into becoming independent travelers. Even though I do a lot of things, I am not a multitasker. I plan my day to fit all my projects in, focusing my mind and resources in one of them at a time and leaving some space in my schedule for the unexpected.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I receive with gratitude anything that comes into my life. Good luck or bad luck is a matter of attitude and I always get something valuable for every experience 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexandracastrillon.com/
- Phone: 3055421821
- Email: alexandra@alexandracastrillon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acastrillon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/acastrillon/
Image Credit:
Alexandra Castrillón by Daniel Mordzinski 01
Alexandra Castrillón by Daniel Mordzinski 02
Alexandra Castrillón by Emilia Peña 01
Alexandra Castrillón by Emilia Peña 02
Alexandra Castrillón by Emilia Peña 03
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