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Oskar Rivera Discusses Staying Strong Through the Present Adversities

Oskar Rivera is a long-time friend and partner of VIVA GLAM Magazine. He’s the most fashionable man we know, and when it comes to public relations, he is an absolute pro. We know that we can trust his brand, Rivera Productions, with all of our PR needs. But even more than that, we see Oskar as a well-rounded person we can all look up to. He’s health conscious and knows how to stay fit, he’s extremely social, and he’s very knowledgeable when it comes to marketing and management. It’s been a while since we sat down with Oskar, so we were thrilled to check in with him and talk more about his business, his lifestyle, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

VGM: Oskar, it’s so good to hear from you after this crazy year. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about some tough times for everyone. How did the lockdown affect your public relations business, Rivera Productions?

Oskar: As you might know, public relations is all about socializing and working directly with people, so my business was 100% affected by the pandemic. For one year, I did very little business which made me transition into new industries. My primary business was producing events for my clients, and all that got cancelled due to Covid-19. It was really tough for a person like me who is continuously working on my business, as I was forced to stop doing what I love, which is producing events, socializing and connecting with people.

What did you learn about yourself and your business while being stuck in quarantine?

I learned a lot. I learned that when you are alone, and no one is around you, that you find answers through silence. For one moment I stopped, and I started to worry about my income. That’s when I started exploring other revenues that were thriving during quarantine. I found out that online businesses such as digital marketing were doing very well during this time. I learned that I’m a natural go-getter, and I was open minded enough to add digital marketing as a service inside my company. I realized that everyone was stuck inside alone on their computers and cellphones, spending hours a day on social media. This is why I started offering and selling the service of setting up Instagram shopping and content creation for e-commerce businesses. I also learned the value of spending time with family members and being present in the moment because when the world is open, everyone is busy doing their own thing. But during the pandemic, I learned to enjoy time with those who matter the most. 

How were you able to stay fit during the quarantine period? You seem to have stayed in shape while many others gained the “Quarantine 15”.

Fitness has always been a priority in my life, and that did not stop during the pandemic. I was forced to explore outdoor workouts when the gyms were closed (such as hiking, running on the beach, running hills, and using the equipment I had at my house to keep lifting weights). I was blessed to have a family member let me borrow their gym. I prioritized working out 5 days a week for 2 hours a day. Diet is also key to staying in shape, and I am strict with eating right and staying away from sugar and high-calorie foods. I also found myself doing more cardio, ab workouts, resistant bands and other home workouts.

During quarantine, most people dropped the ball on their fashion game, too, and wound up wearing only sweats. Do you have any fashion or lifestyle tips to keep people motivated to stay stylish during this time?

I hate wearing lazy types of clothing because it doesn’t help my spirit or my soul. The first fashion tip I would recommend is to get your clothing tailored to your body type. The reason is because it forces you to stay in shape and to be able to keep wearing the same clothes. My second tip is to wake up and get dressed like it’s a normal day, even if you don’t go out of the house; it will help your mood and make you feel more productive. As a brand agent, I still had to create content for the brands I represent, and that demands me being presentable for the photography I post on my social media platforms daily.

What are your fashion tips for people coming out of quarantine and getting back to their daily lives?

Wear colors! Colors are very important. Stay away from wearing all black clothing or boring patterns too often. Colors make you look more confident, make you feel more alive, and can help you be happier. After being in lockdown for about a year, I’m sure people are anxious to get dressed up and go places. Make sure you have good accessories to add to your looks; this will make you more noticeable. For example, if you’re wearing a suit, add a nice handkerchief or a colorful pair of loafers that will make you feel comfortable but keep your fashion game strong. Don’t be afraid to put down an investment and buy new clothes. Invest in your wardrobe. Get rid of clothes that don’t give you a great feeling anymore and replace them with new pieces. And if you’re the type of person who likes to stay home, I would suggest getting yourself some silk pajamas to feel more fun and playful in.

Do you have any other advice or insights for everyone as we emerge from quarantine and get back to our normal lives?

I encourage you all to be grateful and to be kind. Focus on what matters, and take care of yourself, your family and those around you. Incorporate a regular workout routine into your life and take care of yourself, especially to avoid getting sick. Wear a mask, be responsible and considerate when socializing, but still try to get back to your normal life and incorporate activities into your schedule that you like to do.  This was a hard time for all of us, and it really taught us how to be present in the moment and to appreciate life and health even more. It taught us who the real people we can count on are. Most importantly, it taught us that life is fragile and that we should enjoy it and appreciate it while we are here.

That’s very insightful! Let’s jump subjects just a bit and talk about the diversity of your clients. Can you talk about your clientele in public relations and how you’re able to take on such a diverse group? Is it difficult having such a broad range of clients? Or does PR come naturally to you?

PR definitely comes naturally to me because I am a people person. It is just part of my personality and who I am because of my great skills in communication and persuasion. The diversity in my clients can range from producing private label champagne for a hotel or a restaurant to representing a plastic surgeon. These two industries are completely different from each other, and that’s what I like about my job. The diversity makes me come alive and makes me look forward to working the next day. One of my expertise is to always go the extra mile for my clients and to make sure I fulfil their expectations and needs using the resources I have in my network. I don’t find it difficult to have a diverse group of clients because of the connections I have that make my job easy. I’ve been in this industry for so long that I have connections in each niche industry to make my job run smoothly, for the most part.

I heard that your Instagram got hacked and deleted. I’m so sorry. How did that affect your business, and how are you bouncing back from this?

Yes, unfortunately my account got hacked and deleted. I would go into more detail on how this happened, but I don’t want to give those con artists any power or attention. I don’t think this will affect me too much because I have strong business partnerships that I’ve made over the last 12 years. The only issue I’m worried about is reaching those who are new to working with me or the people that don’t know me well. I’m taking this time as a rebirth to reconsider who I want to have business relationships with and who I want to give my time and attention to. I feel frustrated with Instagram and their lack of customer service. They had no way for me to report what happened, and I think they should take better care of their users, especially if they use Instagram as a business tool. I do recommend for everyone to be very careful who you respond to online and to set up two-factor authentication for extra security. You can follow the new account I just created at @riveraxproductions.

I hope we were able to give you a daily dose of inspiration through Oskar’s perseverance during this hard time. Despite the challenges COVID-19 threw his way, he was able to adapt and stay strong physically and mentally. And he was able to change and grow Rivera Productions throughout these strange times. Be sure to keep up with Oskar on his new Instagram, @riveraxproductions.

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