Meet Rina Rae | 2JZRIN; All things Automotive Influencer & Skilled Multi-Trades Woman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rina Rae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rina, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I would most definitely have to say that the most important factor behind any success that I’ve accomplished is the persistence. In fact, I believe persistence to be the most important factor in all forms of success- whether it be a regular job, or in my case with content creation, you NAME it- the key to success is most definitely and always will be persistence! I’d also like to add that it most definitely helps to be a stubborn person, because if you can channel that through to getting what and where you want to be in life you will accomplish what ever you’re after!

It sounds sort of corny to say, but persistence really is all about falling and getting back up. Not stopping trying over and over again til you achieve your goal is the only way things get done. And I know from experience believe me its much easier said than done- but you HAVE to just keep going and have the right mentality with knowing nobody is going to do it for you but YOU.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My line of work really varies on a day to day basis, some days I buy cars to fix and flip or add to my LLC’s portfolio of rental vehicles, some days I dress up and film me working on my car to create content with to upload to YouTube or Instagram, somedays I am building and working on my 1300 HP engine swapped car, some days I fabricate metal pieces for local automotive shops or my personal car projects- the list goes on!

I believe that what differentiates me from others is just that I am a woman that has a passion for learning and doing things that are typically in what is currently categorized as “male dominated trade fields”, as I don’t see many other women especially in their early twenties doing the same (but I have found a few others and absolutely LOVE to meet others!)

I’d like to say that I am definitely currently most excited about my engine swapped car finally running after close to 3 years of blood, sweat, tears and probably somewhere close to $50,000 that I have put into it over the course of time! This car is what originally sparked my mechanical automotive intuition to grow so rapidly, and my love for drifting so I am itching to get back behind the wheel of it as I am nearing the end quarter of the final countdown of completion for the run and drive date ive set for it!

Professionally, I believe that i have gotten to where I currently am because I have always enjoyed reading and learning- soaking in as much information as I possibly can much like a sponge. Ive taken it upon myself to read multitude of business works, and have learned about the professionalism of how to speak talk write, look and act in a business setting and got to really put these to use in my first sales job I had acquired. From there, ive simply implemented all of what I have learned and slowly but surely have gotten to where I currently stand. But still without a doubt, im sure there still much more to learn, so I won’t be stopping anytime soon!

Was it easy? I genuinely and audibly just laughed reading that in the questionnaire prompt! No, of course it was most definitely not easy! I believe strongly that if it weren’t of my persistence and sometimes very hard headed and what some may describe as stubborn demeanor- I most definitely would have quit for good long ago! Especially when you get the amount of hate comments and negativity on your content you put out there as I do. It’s really difficult to explain it to someone who hasn’t necessarily had the same experiences because you typically would just think “so? just ignore it and move on!” right? Well, if you’d have asked me before I was the one in these shoes, I would have agreed with you- so think of it this way; A stranger walks past you once every day and calls you stupid or ugly or something of that scope, you move on right, simple? Okay, well imagine it happening every single day from hundreds of people, not so minuscule anymore right? Putting yourself out there on social media for everyone to see can really negatively impact your mental state, but if its something you are serious about you just have to push and it will never be EASY by any means- but if you’re able to push past and keep going to get to achieving your overall goal, that is all that matters!

Overcoming challenges is something that I just like any other person with a goal has to do on a daily basis. I have however found it especially difficult to do when you are no longer bound a typical nine to five job and work for yourself. The amount of focus and self discipline it takes to actively keep yourself in check, I have found to be especially difficult when you are not focusing on one specific task or even field! It can be really draining both mentally and physically to stretch yourself to do a multitude of different specialized jobs daily. Now what I won’t do is I won’t sit here and pretend that I do overcome the challenges everyday- as actually most days I dont! And yes, it’s incredibly disheartening as someone who strives for progress and perfection, but that’s just unfortunately how things are sometimes, as they say Rome wasn’t built in a day!

As for all of the lessons I have learned along the way of overcoming the challenges I have currently, it would be too long to write them all here, but I will say however the best part about the journey is not the end, but the lessons learned in the midst of the falls and hardships you endure. That you can then take them to learn and grow from, and do better for the next time and succeed in much faster because you will then have the experience! And THAT is something that money cannot buy, therefore I believe that the value it holds is unmatched. Not only that, but it is extremely rewarding to then share your experiences in aid of others that may be going through similar things to help lift them up and help them to learn as well!

I’d like anyone who is interested in my story, or is interested in learning about anything automotive or trades-wise weather you’re a girl or a boy- it doesn’t matter, that you ARE able to do it. And I know it sounds really silly and generic to say, but when they say, “You can do anything you set your mind to” they’re right, all you need is a good mindset and to stay consistent and be persistent. Because if I could do it, YOU can too. Nothing I have was handed to me, and in fact it was quite the opposite, and I have had to fight to get to where I am day by day every step of the way here and still do! Now, again im nothing close to being a motivational speaker here, and im most definitely not trying to sound like one here, but when it really boils down here, I am human just like you- therefore there is nothing stopping you from accomplishing what I have but you!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, well ive lived here all of my life and I would honestly have to say that it really depends on what you are interested in! Our state has so many exciting experiences, and much to offer! But personally, if it were a friend of mine I would most definitely take them over to one of our drift car events at Firebird Raceway track! Also, depending on the time of year we have outdoor iceskating rinks scattered around the valley that are a really fun little experience (I may be bias as I have also been a figure skater my whole life). If you’re interested in art making crafts, we have a place down in Tempe called Tutugether where you can make your own custom rugs, there’s pottery places called as you wish that you’re able to paint and glaze pottery, there’s a glass blowing place called the Mesa Arts Center in mesa where you can learn to do some really cool glassblowing, there’s many many good mountains to climb if you enjoy outdoor exercise- however if its summer I’d reccomend goin to flaggstaff to hike because its HOT! Countless places to eat that are fantastic here, but if you enjoy Mexican food as I do- I would really recommend Oscars Taco shop (best birria quesadillas EVER!) , Barrio Queen, or Pinches Tacos for some really good authentic street tacos!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate some credit for sure to my old shop master mechanic and foreman, Karl Wehrle! Karl was the first person I’d worked and studied under at my first mechanic position at a dealership. From day one, he pushed me and believed in me and was always helping me learn and grow and pushing me. Teaching me the importance of knowledge and doing things the RIGHT way- the first time!

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catarina-kennedy-a99117331

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Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@2jzrin

Image Credits
I took them all!