TES Insights
Career Ownership Coach™ Success Story: Paco Beltran and the American Dream
On December 31, 2010, in the middle of a blizzard, Paco Beltran and his family arrived at a new chapter of their lives. He had spent years commuting back and forth from his corporate job in Dallas, Texas and his hometown in Mexico, and wanted more for his family. After receiving a job offer in Michigan, Paco and his wife Nydia sold everything they owned, including their home and land, setting off in their packed car with their two young sons and dog for a new life. “We left everything behind. We were determined to make it no matter what. There was no turning back!” explains Paco.
Coming from Mazatlan, a beach town in Mexico to snowy Michigan was a tremendous adjustment, one for which the Beltrans found themselves quite unprepared. “I didn’t know how to drive in the snow. We didn’t even have the right winter clothes. Friends loaned us thicker bed covers and taught me how to drive in the snow,” recalls Paco. “It was truly because of the support we received from our new community that we were able to make it and start building our life in the United States. They became our family.”
As the Beltrans became fully immersed in the American way of life, their next step became clear to them. “As life went on, we realized we wanted more than just living the American way, we wanted to belong. This was when we decided to begin the process of becoming U.S. Citizens.”
The process to become a U.S. citizen is long and filled with endless bureaucratic red tape, with one of the beginning steps is obtaining a Green Card, “Peninsula Plastics, the company I was working for at the time was instrumental in helping us get our Green Cards. Without their support it wouldn’t have happened,” says Paco.
In 2015, as happens in many corporate careers, the company’s plans and Paco’s plans were no longer in alignment and they parted ways. This situation is not unlike that of countless other corporate employees’ experience. Many are finding the false sense of financial stability and security of a corporate job can no longer be counted on.
For so long, “The American Dream” was synonymous with corporate America. Climbing the corporate ladder was viewed as the primary path to success. However, in recent years, a significant shift has taken place. More and more individuals are becoming dissatisfied with the limitations and uncertainties associated with a corporate career. The dynamics of the workforce are evolving, and business ownership is emerging as the new gateway to achieving the American Dream.
Gone are the days when individuals aspired to spend their entire careers climbing the ranks of corporations. Business ownership, on the other hand, opens the doors to financial freedom and wealth creation. Entrepreneurs have the ability to leverage their skills, ideas, and hard work to build something of value, which can ultimately generate substantial wealth and long-term financial security. And with that a new American Dream is emerging, the one of business ownership.
But as Paco quickly found out, going into business without the support of a proven system is wrought with roadblocks and failures. “After leaving Peninsula Plastics, I decided to try to make it on my own. I created my own company and failed dramatically.”
While the company is still in existence today, Paco says he considers it a failure based on size and his goals for the business. He points to the whiteboard by him. There, in large numbers, is written a big size number that he prefers not to make public on this article. “That is how much money I lost in the first year! I keep that number up there as a constant reminder of how hard it is to do it on your own. You need help!”
After suffering such a significant setback, Paco began to search for a new job. “Even though I had a solid resume, I wasn’t getting any calls back. I was 48 at the time, and the jobs were all going to 35-year-olds. Age was definitely an issue. Our goal was to be not just Americans, but successful Americans and yet I couldn’t even find a job.”
Finally, after months of discouragement, Paco received a phone call that would set him on a new path. “For some reason, I picked it up on speaker phone, something I never usually do. The person on the other side asked me if I had ever thought about business ownership and I just started laughing. I thought, ‘yeah and see how that worked for me!’ But my wife heard it from the other room and wisely said, ‘What do you have to lose?’ to which I replied, ‘True’.”
Paco began the process of evaluating business opportunities with his The Entrepreneur’s Source® Career Ownership Coach™. “TES really appealed to me,” he says, “While my background wasn’t in coaching people, I found the business model to align with my goals.”
“I wanted more time with my family. I wanted to make a good income in a virtual business, one that would allow me the flexibility to be able to visit my family in Mexico. Most importantly, I wanted my family to become U.S. citizens. The Entrepreneur’s Source® turned out to be the perfect business to help me reach those goals.”
While considering the decision ahead of him, Paco and his wife decided to take a family road trip to New York. While packing the last of their luggage into the car, Paco’s decision became a little harder. He received a phone call with an offer for a job that seemed like a great fit. “I was so happy. I had finally found a job! I was thinking this is awesome! I was to take over the Latin American operations of the company. The salary was good but there would be a lot of travel involved,” he recalls.
While the job did seem like a good fit for Paco, his wife was unsure. “Nydia said there will be so much travel that would take me away from the family. Even though I would be making lots of money she reminded me that I wouldn’t have a lot of time to enjoy it. She could see this job didn’t align with my goals and urged me to take some more time to think about it.”
With a difficult decision to make, the Beltrans set off on their road trip. “After an hour of driving, we came upon the exit that would take me to my new office and I excitedly said, ‘Here, here, here! This is where the office is. Let’s go took at the office!’ Nydia just looked at me and said, ‘Are you kidding me? It took an entire hour just to get here! And that was with no traffic on a Saturday, and you will have to travel a lot as well!’ That was my moment of clarity. I realized that this job wouldn’t take me to my goals,” remembers Paco.
On March 1, 2017, Paco began his journey as a TES Career Ownership Coach™ saying, “I will admit I was scared. It was difficult at first. I was using a new set of skills and I was very resistant to learning. I wanted to do it my way and it just wasn’t working. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of TES. They took me by the hand and really guided me.”
Soon things began to fall into place for Paco and the placements came. His list of accolades as a coach is long, including Coach of the Year in 2019 and several top performing awards. He also made a very special placement, helping his wife find her own path and becoming a franchise business owner.
Through business ownership with TES, Paco has been able to reach his goals. “Business ownership gave me control over my destiny. I am living the American Dream. My wife and I love to travel, and we have that flexibility because I can work from anywhere. I make a good living and didn’t have to compromise time with my family to do it.”
And the goal of becoming U.S. citizens became a reality on November 14, 2022. After a long and arduous process, filled with endless paperwork, interviews and occasional setbacks, the Beltrans truly feel as if they belong saying, “The road here was not easy and we do not take it for granted. We are very proud of what this country has to offer and cannot wait to devote ourselves to being great Americans.”
Paco represents the new American Dream in many ways. From leaving everything behind and immigrating to this country to make a new life with his family, to stepping off the corporate ladder in pursuit of controlling his own destiny through business ownership, Paco’s story is one of determination and hope in what this country has to offer.
Like Paco, more and more individuals are recognizing the limitations of a corporate career and are turning towards entrepreneurship. They are seeking financial freedom, the ability to create wealth, and the opportunity to lead a balanced and fulfilling life. All with the support of a brand with a proven system.
If you’ve been feeling dissatisfied with the constraints of corporate life, perhaps it’s time to explore the possibilities of business ownership. The American Dream is evolving and owning a business can be your pathway to success. With determination, hard work, and the right support, you can create a future that aligns with your aspirations and offers you the fulfillment and freedom you desire.
The Entrepreneur’s Source® is here to guide you on your journey towards business ownership. We provide expert advice, resources, and coaching to help you explore opportunities, evaluate your options, and make informed decisions. Together, we can navigate the path to entrepreneurship and help you achieve your version of the American Dream.
Are you ready to embrace business ownership and embark on a new adventure? Click here to start your new adventure!