Antonio Sustiel arrived in the United States in his early 20s with only $400 in his pocket and a strong belief in the value of hard work. With a knack for seizing lucrative opportunities, this Israeli immigrant explored sales and real estate investments before establishing his Miami-based flooring distribution business, Flooring King.
Today, with multiple store locations throughout Florida and featured appearances on CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaires, Bloomberg TV’s The American Dream, and mentions in leading media outlets such as The Miami Herald and The New York Daily News, it is evident that Sustiel’s entrepreneurial approach is one worth admiring. Here, he shares the mindset and strategies that helped him carve his path to success.
My way: Antonio Sustiel
I always start my day with…
two bottles of water and two cups of coffee!
One thing I do every day is…
make sure to walk four miles and do 15 minutes of meditating.
My mantra is…
to embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth and to always strive for excellence in everything that I do.
My biggest source of inspiration is…
certainly my family—particularly my father. Raised in Israel by a family of Greek and Egyptian descent, they outworked everyone and never surrendered. I have always been motivated by their resilience and their readiness to confront challenges head-on.
One thing that’s difficult for me but that I enjoy is…
skateboarding! It demands a lot of balance, coordination, and athleticism, which are all excellent when you’re 13, but not as easy when you’re 60 and still doing it.
I handle negativity by…
by not paying attention to it and distancing myself from individuals with negative energy. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset and attitude every day.
My advice to budding entrepreneurs would be…
to never underestimate the power of perseverance. Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with ups and downs, but staying determined and persistent can make all the difference. Embrace failures as opportunities for learning and growth. Adapt to changes and keep pushing forward. Success often comes to those willing to persevere and keep going when faced with obstacles. I love the saying, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
For a jolt of energy…
I take a short break, or engage in some exercise. I go for short walks or practice deep breathing. Quality sleep is important, as is listening to your body and taking time off when needed to recharge.
The most surprising thing about me is…
that at 60 years old, I’m still skateboarding, traveling extensively, considering getting fast boats, and revisiting surfing after a 40-year hiatus from the sport!
The biggest risk I ever took was…
moving to the United States with only $400 in my pocket and starting anew.
I want people to know me for…
the positive impact I have on their lives. I aim to inspire through my actions and words, assisting others in achieving their goals. I desire to be recognized as someone who is dependable, trustworthy, and generous.
In 10 years, I hope to…
have a strong support network of friends and family who have accompanied me throughout my journey, and to maintain a happy work-life balance.
I define success as…
not solely based on accomplishments or wealth, but on achieving a healthy work-life balance and finding fulfillment in both personal and professional life. Success involves setting goals, working towards them with determination, resilience, and integrity.
