By Miles Aiello
As a young adult trying to make sense of a loud, chaotic world, I launched two businesses—one at 19 and another at 24. Both had promise but ultimately failed. In my late twenties, I poured my energy into activism and community organizing. That work was powerful—and, more importantly, felt meaningful. I was helping create real change, or so I thought.
There were high points: leading a union against a city employer trying to cut health clinics, organizing women’s marches in support of abortion rights, and rallying protests against offshore oil drilling after a devastating spill in Huntington Beach. My team and I even restored a baby grand piano and donated it to my old elementary school in La Mirada. All of it felt amazing.
But there was one major problem—I was broke.
As I neared thirty, I was still just getting by. After earning my Master’s in Climate Science and Policy in 2022 (amid the COVID years), I found the job market unpredictable and discouraging. I returned to serving and bartending, the same work that helped me through school. But even as I continued organizing and protesting, I reached a breaking point. I was going broke trying to fix a broken system.
That’s when the realization hit me: in this country, stability requires income—and lots of it. Maybe it took me longer than most to figure that out. I’d spent so much time focused on helping others that I never built a solid foundation for myself. Disillusioned with the job market, I started brainstorming again. The entrepreneurial fire returned.
While bartending, I began noticing the rising demand for private bartending services. It was a high-income, low-overhead business with room to scale. I crunched the numbers, ran the scenarios—and then came the fun part: branding. I’d taken Intro to Entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley, and I knew the power of a great name. I thought back to my childhood. I’ve always loved animals—especially toucans. And just like that, Tipsy Toucan Private Bartending was born.
Starting wasn’t easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I struggled at first, so I brought in my good friend Arturo as a partner. Together, we pulled in support from industry friends—Matt, Asher, and my brother A.J.—who rallied behind us and made a huge difference. My friend from Berkeley, Daniel, designed a logo that was simple, classy, and full of personality: a colorful toucan perched on a branch, with pops of black, yellow, baby blue, and green.
In July 2023, we launched the business with a 75-person party. We built a custom two-person African Mahogany bar and debuted 10 signature cocktails—all made with fresh juices and purees. The drinks were a hit. People couldn’t get enough.
After some restructuring, I became the sole owner. It was rocky for a few months until early 2024, when I brought Daniel back on a monthly retainer. By May, everything clicked. We launched a sleek website, implemented a CRM system, and leaned into full branding. Once we started running Yelp ads, the business took off. We went from four events a month to an average of six, with each event bringing in around $500. Tipsy Toucan hit its peak in December 2024 with a staggering 19 events.
Here’s what I’ve learned: true financial independence rarely comes from a 9–5 job. Despite its flaws, this country is built in a way that rewards business ownership. So—start one. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. If you can identify a need, offer value, and work hard, there’s no cap on your potential.
Owning your own business brings freedom, flexibility, and growth. It teaches discipline, builds resilience, and unlocks income potential that most salaried positions can’t match. A mentor once told me, “Success is when preparation and hard work meet a little luck.” That’s proven true for me.
And perhaps most importantly—a little extra money gives you the power to make change. It gives you the freedom to decide how to spend your time and where to direct your energy. If you’ve ever thought about starting something, now is the time. Take the risk. Bet on yourself. Because without that leap, there’s only slow progress—and in this world, we don’t have time to wait.
