Podcast Summary
From migrant labor camp to PepsiCo executive: Determination and a pioneering spirit can help individuals overcome adversity and achieve success, even when starting from humble beginnings.
Determination and a pioneering spirit can help individuals overcome adversity and achieve success, even when faced with significant obstacles. This was exemplified by Richard Montanez, who grew up in a migrant labor camp and became a pioneer by being the first in his family to pursue a career beyond grape picking. Despite starting as a janitor at PepsiCo, Montanez saw himself as a pioneer and stayed with the company, eventually rising to executive ranks. He saw his childhood as a "fun kind of poor" because, despite their poverty, there were many children in the community, and they made their own entertainment. Montanez's story highlights the importance of staying focused on one's goals, even when faced with challenges, and the power of hard work and determination to create new opportunities.
Finding joy in simple experiences and community: Growing up in poverty, the speaker found happiness in everyday experiences and the power of determination helped him overcome adversity to change his family's legacy
Despite growing up in poverty and working from a young age, the speaker found joy and community in simple experiences. He recalls making their own entertainment and sharing meals with others in a communal kitchen. When he got the opportunity to work at Frito Lay, he saw it as a chance to change his family's legacy and improve their lives, even though he couldn't read or write well at the time. The speaker's story highlights the importance of finding happiness in everyday experiences and the power of determination to overcome adversity. Additionally, the proximity of his job to the labor camp allowed him to continue living in the community and maintaining connections with those around him.
Every job matters, make a positive impact: Through hard work and dedication, you can make a lasting impression and influence your career trajectory, regardless of your job title or initial opportunities.
No job is insignificant and that everyone has the power to make an impact through their work ethic and attitude. The speaker shares a personal story about his experiences as a janitor, where he learned the importance of taking pride in his work and making a positive impression on those around him. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, he persevered and eventually realized that his influence extended beyond his job title. The quote "you get promoted by who knows you" highlights the significance of building relationships and making a lasting impression through hard work and dedication. The story serves as a reminder that every opportunity, no matter how small, can lead to greater things.
Transformative power of criticism: Learn from criticism, seek guidance, and take initiative to grow and turn negative situations around. Humility, resilience, patience, and persistence are essential qualities for visionaries.
Setbacks and criticism can be transformative if we choose to learn from them instead of getting defensive. The speaker in this discussion was told he lacked initiative, a quality he didn't understand. Instead of getting angry, he used this feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow. He sought guidance from a mentor, Judy, and began to take on new tasks and responsibilities, eventually turning the situation around and gaining the respect of his colleagues. This experience taught him the importance of humility, resilience, and the power of taking initiative. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of patience and persistence, as a visionary often faces challenges due to being ahead of their time.
From janitor to executive: the power of learning and initiative: Learning every aspect of a job, even if it's outside your job description, can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth.
Having a hands-on approach and learning every aspect of a job, no matter the position, can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth. The speaker started as a janitor at a Dorito factory, but through initiative and curiosity, he learned every part of the production process. He discovered that he excelled at optimizing efficiency and making improvements. When an operator was absent, he begged to fill in and impressed his supervisors with his abilities. His innovative ideas were adopted plant-wide, and he went from being a janitor to an executive, who could run the entire line and make strategic decisions. This story highlights the importance of being open to learning and taking on new challenges, even if they seem beyond your job description.
Embrace your individuality and claim credit for your accomplishments: Regardless of background or achievements, everyone's story is valuable. Take ownership of your history, be indispensable, and use leverage to your advantage to claim credit for your accomplishments.
Everyone's story is valuable and worth recording, regardless of their background or accomplishments. Montanen emphasized the importance of writing down one's history and taking ownership of one's achievements. He shared his experience of not being recognized for his contributions in the past because he wasn't an engineer or a PhD holder. He encouraged young people to embrace their individuality and take charge of their careers, rather than passing the ball to others. Montanen also highlighted the importance of being indispensable and using leverage to one's advantage when facing competition or adversity. He shared an anecdote about earning his "PhD off the streets" by refusing to let others define his worth based on their perceptions of his education. Overall, Montanen's message was one of resilience, self-empowerment, and the importance of claiming credit for one's accomplishments.
Leveraging the wisdom of visionary managers: Connecting with the right people and learning from them can lead to personal growth and success. Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself with those who may judge you, but seize opportunities to learn and grow when presented.
Identifying and connecting with the right people in your life and learning from them can lead to personal growth and success. The speaker shares his experience of leveraging the knowledge of visionary managers during a time when corporate culture was more commanding and controlling. He emphasizes the importance of not revealing your thoughts and feelings to others who may hold it against you. A pivotal moment in his life came when his CEO encouraged everyone to act like owners, leading him to a revelation and eventually a revolution in his personal and professional journey. Despite facing obstacles and feeling underestimated due to his background, he broke ranks and took the opportunity to learn and grow.
Fresh eyes reveal valuable insights: Observing the world with fresh eyes can lead to valuable business opportunities and innovations. Don't overlook the obvious and be open to new experiences.
Observing the world around us with fresh eyes can lead to valuable insights and opportunities. The speaker shares an experience where he observed customers buying spices and chilies in a store, but his employer didn't offer those products. This revelation led him to create a new product - a salsa on a chip - which became successful. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not becoming too expertised to the point of overlooking the obvious. He also shares inspiration from a street vendor who ran his business with pride and vision. In terms of personal health, the speaker advocates for using technology tools like Lumen to improve metabolic flexibility and overall health. In essence, being open to new experiences and perspectives can lead to significant discoveries and innovations.
Utilizing the Best Technology for Business Growth: Shopify offers top-notch customer service, high-converting checkout pages, and AI tools, making it an all-in-one solution for businesses looking to sell online and expand internationally. Protecting personal data is essential, and DeleteMe helps eliminate personal information from data brokers and people search sites.
In today's competitive business landscape, utilizing the best technology and platforms is crucial for growth. Shopify, a global commerce platform, is recommended for businesses looking to sell online and expand internationally. With top-notch customer service, high-converting checkout pages, and AI tools, Shopify is an all-in-one solution for businesses at every stage. Additionally, protecting personal data is essential. DeleteMe helps eliminate personal information from data brokers and people search sites, ensuring privacy. Another key takeaway is the importance of taking calculated risks and persisting in the face of challenges. The story of adding chili to Cheetos and contacting a CEO demonstrates the potential rewards of bold actions.
Seizing Opportunities and Making a Connection: Every interaction, even small ones, has the potential to make a significant impact. Confidence, support from influential connections, and leadership can lead to positive outcomes.
Every interaction, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, has the potential to make a significant impact. In the story shared, a janitor named Richard reached out to his CEO after being inspired by a video about acting like an owner. Despite initial confusion, Patty, the executive assistant, recognized the potential in Richard's idea and helped him connect with the CEO. The CEO, Enrico, was impressed and agreed to visit the plant in person. Although the plant manager initially reacted negatively, the experience ultimately led to a positive outcome for Richard. This story highlights the importance of seizing opportunities, having confidence in one's abilities, and the power of influential connections. It also emphasizes the value of leadership, particularly from women, who can provide support and encouragement during challenging times.
Believe in Yourself and Overcome Obstacles: Believe in your abilities, be inspired, and persevere to overcome challenges and make a difference.
No matter who you are or where you come from, you have the power to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. The speaker drew inspiration from Kobe Bryant's quote, "Mamba mentality: You can get so good they can't stop you." He shared his experience of creating a successful marketing presentation using simple techniques and a lot of imagination, even though he was an executive and others doubted his abilities. He emphasized the importance of being inspired, encouraged, and reminded of one's value in order to conquer challenges and make a difference. Despite initial skepticism and opposition, the speaker's presentation was a success, demonstrating that everyone has unique strengths and valuable contributions to offer.
Defying Expectations and Finding Opportunities: Drawing inspiration from past experiences, fear can be overcome by a strong desire or passion, and everyone has the power to pursue their own opportunities
Sometimes in order to succeed, we must revisit our past experiences and draw inspiration from them. The speaker shared a story from his childhood where he defied expectations and got cookies from the English-speaking teachers, despite being told to stay in the Spanish-speaking line. This experience taught him that there's a "cookie" or opportunity waiting for everyone, and it's up to us to pursue it, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone. During a business presentation, the speaker made a bold move when he intentionally ignored a question from a marketing executive about market share. He did this because he wasn't prepared for that topic, and he was nervous. However, he drew parallels between his past experience and the present situation. He realized that just like he was hungry for cookies as a child, he was now hungry for success, and fear would not hold him back. The antidote to fear, according to the speaker, is hunger. When we are driven by a strong desire or passion, fear will fade away. This concept can be applied to various aspects of life, such as starting a business or pursuing a career. The speaker encouraged everyone to remember that they have the power to choose their own path and not be limited by preconceived notions or labels.
The Unconventional Journey of a Janitor Turned Entrepreneur: An uneducated janitor's courage and persistence led to the creation of a beloved snack, proving that everyone has the potential to make a significant impact, regardless of their background.
Greatness can come in unexpected and even ridiculous forms. Richard Montañez, the uneducated janitor who introduced Hot Cheetos to the world, showed that having the courage to go after your goals and not being afraid to look foolish can lead to remarkable achievements. Despite facing adversity and skepticism from those around him, Montañez persevered and never gave up on his vision. He encouraged young people to embrace themselves and their ideas, even if they come from unconventional backgrounds. Montañez's story serves as a reminder that the source of an idea doesn't determine its worth and that everyone has the potential to make a significant impact.
Persisting through challenges with courage and conviction: Courage and inner conviction help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and achieve success despite fear and setbacks. Unique intelligence and contributions of small business owners are crucial for economic growth.
Persistence and courage are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving success, even when faced with fear and setbacks. The speaker, a successful entrepreneur, shared his experiences of being the first vice president with a tattoo, fighting against food scientists to bring a project to life, and dealing with self-doubt and embarrassment. He emphasized that a calling can take you further than a career, and that it's important to have the inner conviction to keep pushing through challenges, no matter how difficult they may seem. The speaker also highlighted the importance of recognizing and appreciating the unique intelligence and contributions of entrepreneurs and small business owners, who play a crucial role in stimulating the economy.
From potential to impact: Transform potential into a usable skill set, self-educate, communicate complex ideas simply, and make a positive impact on the world.
The importance of turning potential into a usable skill set. The speaker, Richard, emphasizes the significance of utilizing one's abilities and knowledge to make a positive impact on the world. He shares his own journey of transforming his potential into a successful career as a speaker and author, despite not having an official academic title. He encourages everyone to educate themselves and find ways to communicate complex ideas in relatable terms. To stay connected with Richard and access his resources, follow him on social media under the username "Hot cheetos RPM." His book, "Flaming Hot," is highly recommended for those seeking inspiration and guidance on personal growth. Overall, this conversation underscores the power of determination, self-education, and the ability to connect with diverse audiences.
