My family came from Russia when I was 12 years old. My father is a barber and mother is a nurse. Their goal was to offer their kids a better life. Education was a number one priority in our family. Being an immigrant, you learn to help your parents, family, and friends translating things and the helping solve some of the basic problems. That lead to wanting to help others and I realized that being an attorney is something that I want to do. Shortly after graduating from law school I founded my firm: Mekhtiyev Law Firm, P.C. located in New York City. The firm specializes in residential and commercial real estate, as well as business law and startups. I had an honor of being elected as a Rising star in 2018 by Super Lawyers and a member of the Forbes New York Business Council.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle was repeated clients. In my field, once the transaction is done, the client will not come back for a number of years. I was able to utilize my relationship with each client to create a referral base. I started sponsoring real estate related events and educating real estate brokers and potential clients on real estate law, business law, and startups. They were happing in learning something new that will help them to make the right decisions.
What books are you currently reading? And your recommendation for entrepreneurs to read?
I am finishing Gary Vaynerchuk’s Crushing It. This book I highly recommend. It talks about creating a personal brand and utilizing free resources to do it.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits? How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
I must say I was lucky in that sense. My family and friends are my biggest supporters.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
The single most influential factor in your business success is the circle of friends/colleagues that I created to help me grow. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals that will help you get to the next level.
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
Today I know how hard it is to hire a right team. I wish I have known that when I got started and make certain changes in my business structure to prevent certain mistakes from happening. Everything is a learning curve.
What advice would you give to an upcoming entrepreneur locally and internationally?
While attending a Tony Robbins seminar I was told by him that “proximity is power.” My advice is to surround yourself with individuals that will help you learn and help you grow. Stay on top of any changes, news and updated in your industry. Stay informed and make mistakes.
