The Yoga Rocks the Park Movement

Entrepreneurs at heart, Arizona residents Will Zecco and Wayne Hoffman have been involved with many different business endeavors for over 40 years. Their most recent project is the launch of their new company, YogEvents, LLC, aligned with the purchase of the license for a popular, national summer event called Yoga Rocks the Park (YRP).

As yoga enthusiasts and supporters – Zecco is a yoga instructor and Hoffman manages the Spirit of Yoga Studio, an auxiliary classroom of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts (SWIHA), where Zecco also holds a full time position – the launch of YogEvents, LLC and the purchase of the YRP license was a perfect fit for both of them. Read on to learn about Zecco and Hoffman’s passion for entrepreneurism, their journey towards business ownership, and what’s in store for the future.

Will and Wayne

Will and Wayne

 

First off, what inspired you both to become entrepreneurs?

Zecco: Being an entrepreneur is a very exciting and at the same time scary journey to be on. I find being the person to call the shots and manifest my dream or vision is very empowering. It gives me a great sense of pride and confidence when I see a thought begin to take root and grow; it is even better when it becomes greater than I could possibly imagine.

Hoffman: My inspiration comes from the desire to run my own business. I knew that with my experience working for others, I could successfully produce a business the same or better for myself.

What businesses have you launched and built?

Hoffman: I started my first business in 1972. One of my most successful businesses was a service brokerage company in Denver, Colorado.

Zecco: I started by very first business; it was my own hair and skin care salon, which was very successful for eight years.  I then worked in a corporate environment for 15 years in Boston where I’m originally from. When I moved to Phoenix from Boston, I was working as a Spa Director and handling all of the marketing for a small business in Chandler. I helped build and grow that business. At the same time I had a consulting business the does design consulting for commercial and residential property called Alternative Designs AZ, and I have a Mobile Hair design business that does hair for print and advertising, as well as bridal and special events. That business has been operating for 11 years.

Hoffman: We are currently getting ready to launch a line of men’s yoga clothing in the Fall of 2015 called YogaManwear, and we just recently purchased the branding and trademark for a business called Yoga Rocks the Park, in addition to launching our event company, YogEvents, specializes in the conception and creation of yoga related events, and provides mentoring expertise to those who would like to get their event noticed.

Can you talk more about Yoga Rocks the Park? What is it, and how has your background and current work prepared you to take on this large event?

Zecco: Yoga Rocks the Park was founded in order to try to create a conscious community through the practice of yoga, locally and globally. Erik Vienneau, who founded the event, was in the position to sell, and fortunately for us, the opportunity practically fell in our laps and we couldn’t pass it up!

We both work at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, which is one of the national sponsors for the event; Wayne manages the yoga studio and I coach graduates on how to start a business. Our involvement with SWIHA is beneficial to our latest projects because it has given us more tools to be a solid entrepreneur and business owner.

Hoffman: My 40 years in business management and involvement in many special events doesn’t hurt, either!

Please describe any challenges you have overcome to get to where you are currently.

Zecco: The biggest challenge we have to overcome with Yoga Rocks the Park is that we are taking on a pre-existing business, which we have never done before. It all happened so fast! A door opened and we stepped through it. I compare it to going into someone else’s kitchen and trying to cook a meal. You don’t know where all the ingredients are. So we have to keep focused on the process and trust it will all work out.

I have to let go of my need to know all the answers and that it all will not be perfect from the beginning. So instead of focusing on the beginning and the end, I stay in the present and work through all of the stuff and stay present on what is happening on the journey to get what we want to manifest YRP into.

Hoffman: We are very excited and are building the big picture, which is to have 50 Yoga Rocks the Park events across the country within five years, so staying present and focusing on the first step can definitely be challenging at times.

What advice can you share with aspiring entrepreneurs who hope to launch their own business one day?

Zecco: The best possible advice I can offer is this: You have to believe in you and your idea. There needs to be passion and drive behind whatever it is you want to manifest. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it takes a team to make big things happen. Do something every single day that pertains to the business, that keeps the momentum going.

Find yourself a mentor or a coach that you can go to when things begin to overwhelm you. My mentor told me just recently, “Let go of the word OVERWHELMED and change it to EXCITED.” Trust that the universe has everything under control and that the bumps in the road are there for a reason. Look at each as just a part of the journey and there is a valuable lesson to be learned.

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