“Being born poor in Cuba was my advantage,” said Mario Otero during a podcast interview, a sentiment that many on the Island might find contradictory. However, for Otero, it was the launchpad for a journey that now sees him thriving in Miami's real estate market, proudly celebrating his first million in revenue.
Born in 1989 and raised in Centro Habana, Otero shared on the YouTube channel "Conversations in the Heights" how he grew up amidst shortages, yet within a "bubble of happiness" his parents tried to maintain despite the scarcity.
He reminisced about a childhood filled with barefoot soccer games and makeshift carts on neighborhood streets, juxtaposed with a colonial home where it "rained more inside than outside," and the constant fear of a ceiling collapse.
Life took a dramatic turn at 16 when his mother passed away. This loss left him "with one hand in front and the other behind," while his father succumbed to alcoholism, thrusting Otero into adult responsibilities early, a common scenario in Cuba.
Despite these challenges, he managed to gain admission to the University of Havana. However, he quickly realized that working for the state offered no guarantee of even a "moderately decent" life.
In his candid interview, Otero spoke about a harsh reality familiar to many Cubans but hard to grasp outside the Island: "you had to steal to live." He detailed this daily survival strategy, which involved trading goods or money to make up for what state salaries couldn’t provide.
A pivotal moment came through tourism and later, Airbnb. Otero recounted his time at the private restaurant San Cristóbal—famous for hosting international figures, including Barack Obama during his Havana visit—and his role as a guide for American agencies during the "people to people" era. These opportunities led him to consider real estate.
His first investment was a small apartment on San Lázaro Street in Centro Habana. He poured his savings of around $15,000 into it, despite many calling him crazy. Without a pool or view, he focused obsessively on décor, aiming to create the "best Airbnb in Havana."
The breakthrough came with a long-term booking worth approximately $1,000. It was then he realized the potential for growth.
Over time, he began managing other people's properties and self-educating through books and courses sent by a relative from Miami. Otero reported earning between $5,000 and $10,000 a month in Cuba, figures starkly contrasting with the meager state salaries.
Yet, even with a thriving business, he concluded, “in Cuba, you have to live in hiding,” as excessive success can become a liability. Traveling abroad shattered his mental limits. “I realized I was in the wrong place,” he remarked.
Otero moved to the United States during COVID, entering as a Spanish citizen—a method no longer as accessible. In Miami, like many immigrants, he started from scratch, working as a warehouseman and later, ironically, cleaning Airbnbs after managing them in Havana.
With residency and a work permit, he decided to dive into real estate: licensing, management, processes, automation, and building a team. Contrasting Cuba, he found the U.S. offered easier access to resources and solutions without life's basics becoming a struggle.
During the conversation, Otero reflected on reaching his "first million" in revenue, describing it as a mental barrier that, once broken, changed his perspective on future endeavors.
“The first million is the hardest,” he said, likening it to learning to drive: initially daunting, but once the body "memorizes" the route, subsequent steps become inevitable.
Beyond finances, he emphasized the importance of investing in knowledge. He announced his upcoming book, Master Airbnb from Scratch, aimed at those unable to afford expensive mentorships, particularly in Latin America and Cuba.
His final message centered on perseverance. Otero claimed he wasn’t “more intelligent,” just more persistent. Reflecting on his journey from exile, he returned to the starting point and the poverty many curse, which he chose to harness as motivation.
“They took so much from us,” he asserted, “that they even took away our fear.”
Understanding Success in the Cuban Context
How did Mario Otero's upbringing in Cuba influence his success?
Otero's challenging upbringing in Cuba taught him resilience and resourcefulness, which he later applied in his business ventures, ultimately leading to his success in Miami's real estate market.
What role did Airbnb play in Mario Otero's journey?
Airbnb provided a significant opportunity for Otero, allowing him to enter the property market and eventually expand his business, which was pivotal in his path to financial success.