Jason Graca was five years old when he stared directly into his Dad’s videocamera and announced, “I want to be an entrepreneur when I grow up.”
Graca was born with cerebral palsy but he always looked beyond his wheelchair and was certain that a whole world of opportunity was waiting before him.
Three long years of saving, sacrifice and putting some money into the bank and Jason began to visualize his future as an entrepreneur.
“I cut back on all the fun stuff,” he says with a laugh.
After researching business opportunities, Jason bought an existing restaurant in London’s Covent Garden Market.
Honouring his Portuguese roots, Graca gave it an ethnic twist and renamed it Manito’s Rotisserie.
It quickly became a hit and now Graco is looking at franchising his business.
He has a message for anyone with an idea and the dream of being their own boss.
“Don’t give up on your dreams because you’ve got extra obstacles. I think the key is perseverance and stubbornness to be honest.
I live my life with no fear. Sometimes people think you shouldn’t do it but I just go ahead and do it anyway.”
