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Ruben Alvarez l Brand Shark

@iamrubenalvarez

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Founder @themarketinghunters
Author of The Black Book of Branding
Ted ❌ Speaker / Ft in Forbes
El Paso ↔️ Orange County🌴

POSTS STORIES REELS

Pre-order is now open for my new book.

This one talks about what it really takes to make it in branding.

The psychological tactics.

The mind games. The deceptions.

And all the big brands did it. Coke, AirBnB, Ford.

I’ve been waiting year to put this one out. Pre-orders for the first $20 people in the USA are only $9.99. Link is in my bio.

The price will then go up to $14.99. At launch it will be $19.99. Don’t miss out. Get a first edition copy signed by me. 🦈

#branding #brandingstrategy #brandingsecrets #marketingtipsforbusiness #personalbranding #elpasobusiness by @iamrubenalvarez

Forbes has been a major dream for me.

Today I get to announce I made it to Forbes!

Our company goals are shifting.

We are helping more people.

I am now able to change my personal direction.

I am able to start speaking to my people. The Latino community.

I make a promise today to everyone that I will help those in need.

I will be a voice for those who feel down, and need the help to keep going.

This season is called stepping into what I’m meant to be.

Link in my story. 🇲🇽

#sisepuede #mexicano #publicspeaker #motivación #motivacional #motivacionpersonal #migente #forbes #habladores by @iamrubenalvarez

Win a free box of 24 chocolates! 🍫

To enter:

Tag who you would share the box with in the comments!

Must be following @iamrubenalvarez and @ixcacaoartisanalchocolate to win. Must be 18 and over. This give away is not associated with Instagram.

The Mexican Willy Wonka is back, and this time he’s putting AVOCADO inside chocolate.

Somehow, that’s not even his weirdest flavor.

Ixcacao in El Paso has built a reputation for turning Mexican childhood favorites into handcrafted chocolates that taste nothing like the ordinary stuff you find at the store.

We’re talking Pica Fresa, Mazapán, Café de Olla, Churro Cajeta, and even MOLE.

But the new seasonal flavors are where things get interesting.

The avocado chocolate has this silky white chocolate coating, a creamy center, and a little burst of lime that makes you question what you’re tasting.

The pumpkin caramel has that warm, buttery sweetness with just a hint of pumpkin spice, while the cranberry caramel practically explodes with tangy, fruity flavor the second you bite into it.

And if you’ve never had their Pica Fresa chocolate, imagine that familiar spicy, fruity candy flavor wrapped inside a delicate chocolate shell that cracks before melting in your mouth.

They also have vegan options and assorted chocolates that would make a pretty ridiculous holiday gift.

Because handing someone a box of avocado and mole chocolates is definitely one way to start a conversation.

#chocolate #elpasobusiness #elpaso #elpasosmallbusiness #chocolates by @iamrubenalvarez

There’s a place in Arizona where you can turn your pet, your favorite cartoon character, or almost any picture into a fluffy custom rug in less than three hours.

At Smile333 in Mesa, you get to make the entire thing yourself using a rug tufting gun that shoots thick, colorful yarn straight through fabric. And watching your design come to life is ridiculously satisfying.

You send them your picture, they project the design onto the fabric, and walk you through the process. No experience needed.

They also offer ceramic painting and paint pouring, where you can drip, swirl, and mix colorful paint into your own messy masterpiece.

If you’ve been looking for a date idea that doesn’t involve another restaurant or movie theater, this is a pretty cool alternative.

And the best part is leaving with something you actually made instead of another receipt.

📍 Smile333
251 W Main St, Suite 4, Mesa, AZ

Book at Smile333.com.

#phoenix #phoenixaz #mesa #mesaarizona #rugs by @iamrubenalvarez

This hidden gem in Northeast El Paso is grinding multiple cuts of steak into one ridiculously beefy burger.

GA Steakburger Northeast uses cuts like ribeye, sirloin, filet, and New York strip in its burger blend, so even before the toppings hit, the patty already has that deep steakhouse flavor.

Then they pile on brisket, sausage links, and barbecue sauce for their three-meat burger.

Smoky. Juicy. Salty. Messy enough that you should probably stop pretending you’re eating this with one hand.

But the biggest surprise was actually the smoked salmon.

They smoke it in-house and serve it with their creamy dill sauce, and I genuinely did not expect a steakhouse in Northeast El Paso to have one of the better salmon appetizers I’ve tried in the city.

And if you want to keep it classic, their one-pound sirloin is big enough to split, with a baked potato on the side that you can load up with butter and sour cream.

Almost 50 years of Great American history, except this location is doing its own thing.

📍 11400 Sean Haggerty Dr 101
El Paso, TX 79934

#elpasobusiness #elpaso #elpasosmallbusiness #steakhouse #steak by @iamrubenalvarez

FIRST SPEAKER REVEALED. 🔥

Ruben Alvarez is joining Thrive in 2027 as our first announced speaker.

Thrive in 2027 is coming November 19.

Before the new year begins, give your next chapter a head start. Join Thrive In Your City for a seminar for business owners and entrepreneurs ready to start preparing for 2027.

Clarity now. Momentum next.

🎤 Meet Ruben Alvarez, and follow along for more speaker announcements.

📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026
🕚 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MST
📍 La Bang Bang
414 E. San Antonio Ave, El Paso, TX 79901

Food is included with your ticket.

Save this post. Add the date to your calendar. Send it to the business owner who needs to be in the room with you.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite. Search “Thrive in 2027” or scan the QR code on the final slide.

#ThriveIn2027 #ThriveInYourCity #ElPasoBusiness #ElPasoEntrepreneurs #ElPasoEvents by @iamrubenalvarez

A 12-inch wiener, homemade chili beans, and enough spicy toreados to make you question your decisions.

Chihuahua Dogs is a tiny cart in Far East El Paso carrying on a family tradition that started with Marco’s grandma selling hot dogs in Juárez.

📍Montwood Dr & Rich Beem Blvd Intersection

The chili beans are homemade with ground beef and a secret family recipe he was absolutely not about to give us on camera.

The bacon comes chopped on top instead of wrapped around the dog, so every bite gets those salty, crispy little pieces instead of all the bacon disappearing in the first two bites.

Then the toreados come through smoky, spicy, and just aggressive enough to keep things interesting.

And somehow they got me to enjoy mustard.

That alone should tell you how serious this wiener is.

It’s messy, loaded, spicy, crunchy, savory, and definitely not something you’re eating politely.

Chihuahua Dogs is open Thursday through Sunday from 6 to 10 PM near Montwood and Rich Beem.

And on October 24, they’re hosting DJ & Dogs. Come dressed in costume, buy something, and get a free soda.

Come for the 12 inches.

Stay because the beans are actually fire. by @iamrubenalvarez

Need weekend plans downtown? Check out these gems💎

@thebarrelroom.pdn
@la.bang.bang
@oakandantlertavern
@the_house_coffee_shop
@pearldiversep
@thereaganep
@lotussocialhouse

Have you been to any of these yet? What are you favorites spots in downtown?

#elpasotx #elpaso #elpasobusiness #elpasosmallbusiness #downtownelpaso by @iamrubenalvarez

$5 martinis, giant dinner portions, and a warm blondie sundae big enough to split might be one of East El Paso’s best-kept date night secrets.

Well Made Kitchen & Bar runs a Friday happy hour from 4 to 7 PM with $5 martinis and $5 fries, but the dinner menu is where things get serious.

The charred ribeye comes topped with caramelized onions prepped with lemon olive juice and lemon oil, giving the steak this smoky, citrusy, almost carne asada-style bite.

Then there’s the crispy coconut shrimp piled over fries with habanero, Fresno chile, and a sweet heat that creeps in after a few bites.

Their espresso martini swaps the usual vodka for tequila, so you get that bitter coffee punch with a smoother agave finish.

And they even have a matcha martini that actually tastes heavily like matcha instead of just looking green for the picture.

Save room for the Well Made Blondie Sundae, because this thing is massive. Warm blondie underneath, cold ice cream melting into every crack, and enough on the plate that calling it a “sundae” almost feels disrespectful.

Add the outdoor fireplace and suddenly Well Made feels like a date night people should probably stop keeping secret.

📍 East El Paso

#elpasobusiness #elpaso #elpasosmallbusiness #elpasotx #datenight by @iamrubenalvarez

Two full Mexican breakfasts for about $10 sounds fake in 2026, but this east side spot is actually doing it.

Don Jose runs a two-for-one breakfast special Monday through Thursday, and the plates come loaded with fluffy scrambled eggs, saucy red or green chilaquiles, and creamy refried beans made with real pork lard.

Even the tortillas are made with manteca de puerco, so they come out soft, rich, and just a little greasy in the best way.

If you like heat, the green chilaquiles have that sharp, spicy kick that hits fast. If you want something more mellow, go red.

They also have a breakfast buffet, comida corrida, and Taco Tuesday with 10 tacos for $10, including carne asada, pastor, buche, and alambre.

The other thing you notice here is how many people are regulars. Some come in for breakfast and are back again later the same day.

For the price, the portions, and that real homemade Mexican breakfast feel, Don Jose is doing a lot right.

#elpasobusiness #elpaso #elpasosmallbusiness #mexicanfood #chilaquiles by @iamrubenalvarez