Diana Gomez left her own design studio in Monterrey, Mexico to help her husband Roberto bring handcrafted iron doors to the United States. Today she's Co-Owner and COO of Exclusive Iron Doors in San Antonio, a 25-year family business that ships custom doors nationwide through e-commerce, wholesale, and an in-person showroom. During the pandemic, the business had its best year ever. At the same time, Diana was caring for a sick husband, running the house, teaching her kids, and keeping the company moving, until she hit a wall. What came next was the hardest work of all: learning that the business is not who she is.

What you'll hear:

• What it takes to run a business and a marriage with the same person
• How a record year became Diana's breaking point
• Why "good enough" stopped sounding lame to her
• How she and Roberto split the load when one of them is running at 60%
• Why they're moving manufacturing to Texas
• Where Diana lands on the 7 Stages to Business Freedom

About Alan Melton & SBCA:
Alan Melton is the founder of Small Business Coach Associates. He's coached 1,100+ business owners on marketing, sales systems, and operational clarity. Credentials: Inc. 500 founder (#422) | SBA Small Business Person of the Year, 1994 | Florida Governor's Sterling Award, 1999 | #1 Small Business Coach, Life Coach Magazine 2026. Free strategy session: smallbusinesscoach.org | Subscribe for new episodes.

About Beyond the Owner's Trap:
Real small business owners on what it takes to grow. Hosted by Alan Melton.

Connect with Diana Gomez:
Exclusive Iron Doors: https://exclusiveirondoors.com
Living the Work Podcast: https://livingtheworkpodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-paola-gomez-davila-00712a57
San Antonio, Texas

Connect with Alan Melton:
Website: https://smallbusinesscoach.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmelton/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheOwnersTrap

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Diana's story
01:44 Leaving a design studio to join Roberto's vision
07:03 Where business ends and marriage begins
09:56 The best sales year and the crash
16:43 "The business is not me"
26:18 Moving manufacturing to Texas
32:06 Leaders, systems, and AI
39:34 Stage Check: where Diana stands

#BeyondTheOwnersTrap #FamilyBusiness #SmallBusinessOwner #WorkLifeBalance #CustomManufacturing #BusinessPartners #OwnersTrap