Ruiz - The sweet life: find passion, embrace fear, and create success on your own terms

Introduction

H i, guys! I cant even begin to tell you how excited I am to share this book with all of you. Whether youve stuck by me from day onewhen I was still in the military, posting shaky YouTube videos out of my tiny bedroomor recently became a part of my online community or simply picked up this book because you were intrigued by the cover (its pretty cute, huh?), I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for embarking on this journey with me.

Dulce Candythe name my very imaginative parents gave metranslates to sweet candy in Spanish. Sure, it gets a few giggles now and again, but I wouldnt change it for the world. I consider my name a constant reminder to never ever lose sight of the sweet things in my life. One of the absolute sweetest is the support of the viewers who keep coming back to my YouTube channel day after day. Its all the proof I need that my whirlwind of a life has taken me exactly where I need to be.

Heres whats weird: Though Ive loved everything about makeupthe dizzying spectrum of colors, the pretty packages, that instantly recognizable scentlong before YouTube was invented, I never actually planned on becoming a vlogger, or a beauty guru for that matter. In fact, for a long time I didnt think Id become much of anything. Just like so many of us, I went through some tough times, the toughest of which were in high school. As youll soon find out, joining the military after graduating was a transformative experience. It set me on a path that would eventually shape me into the woman I am today. A woman who knows her strengths yet learns from her weaknesses. A woman who is her own boss yet still understands the power of teamwork. A woman who came out on top despite the odds.

My job has given me opportunities to work with incredible brands like LOral, CoverGirl, and Virgin America. My work has been recognized by major publications (thanks, Womens Wear Daily and People StyleWatch!) and I was even chosen as one of Latina magazines Latinas of the Year in 2013. I still have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure its all real.

But lets get something straight: The Sweet Life is a book about you. Sure, my name may be on it, and theres lots of personal stuff about me and the lessons Ive learned over the course of my life within its pages, but I wrote this book to help you find happiness and success. My goal is not only to give you real-life tools for tackling the roadblocks youre bound to encounter on your journey but also to help you see that the strength you need to get through them in one piece has been inside you all along. And Im here to help you tap into it.

So how do I plan on doing this? Well, by being totally, unabashedly honest about the mistakes that taught me valuable lessons, the failures that led to unforeseen opportunities, and, of course, the wins (both big and small) that gave me the motivation to keep at it. With each chapter well dive into some really juicy stuff, like the importance of knowing your self-worth, the magic that comes with discovering your passion, and the value in embracing fear. Ill also throw out suggestions for steps you can start taking toward success pretty much right away. Lets get started!

Chapter 1

My Not-So-Sweet Early Years

I n the past few years, I have achieved success far beyond what I ever imagined was possible. I have a great career doing what I love most. I get to travel the world and meet the amazing people who watch my videos on YouTube. I have a beautiful house in a beautiful neighborhood that I share with my sweet husband, Jesse, and my son, Izek. I wont lieits a pretty great life. A sweet life, in fact. But that wasnt always the case.

If youve watched my channel, you know a little about my pastI was born in Mexico, immigrated to the United States with my family when I was little, grew up in California, served in the military, and then launched my YouTube channel to wild success. Thats the gist of it, but its far from the whole story.

In reality, nothing is that simple in lifeespecially not in mine. Ive been blessed with so muchan amazing, tight-knit family being the most importantbut there were a lot of disappointments and failures, too, and I could have easily ended up on a very different path. Ultimately, Im going to spend most of this book sharing my secrets for success, and I hope my story inspires you to do what you love, challenge yourself, and reach your full potential. But before we launch into that, I want to share a bit about my beginnings, so if youre out there struggling, wondering if youll ever have the opportunities you hope for, or thinking about giving up completely, youll learn that no matter how dark things get, there is hope.

Coming to America

I was born in the summer of 1987 in Michoacn, a western state in Mexico where the majority of the population made their living in agriculture, fishing, or crafts. My father, Jaime Tejeda, was one of eight kids born to a poor family from a tiny rural town outside Michoacn. He never went to college but was able to get a respectable job as a banker, allowing him to support my mom, Maria Teresa, me, and my sisters, Cynthia Lizbeth and Ivette Paulina, in a modest yet comfortable and happy home.