Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ricardo Arroyo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ricardo, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

For the most part of my adult life. I have been asking myself the same questions everyone else asks themselves. “What is my purpose? What am I meant to do? Should I do something I hate for money to then use that money to do what I love? Wrapping your mind around those questions could send you down a spiral that most likely will end in disappointment for some, and pride for others. In my case; I always did what I had to do. I consider myself a hustler or a Jack of all suits. When people asked me “What do you do?” I would often reply with “what do you need done?”
Being this Jack of all trades to me was a double edge sword; Yes, being fearless allowed me to take on multiple unique projects simply because I was not afraid of failure. But, on the other hand I was internally being stressed because I did not have a title or a direct occupation.
I thought that going to college would clear my mind and prepare me to face the world so I can find a great job, work, get paid an eventually retire; Well, that was not the case for me. Going to college left me in debt and confused so it added more to my already existing dilemma.
I decided to put my college degree to good use so I started looking for jobs. That’s when I got hired by a large corporation to perform duties as a production manager. I spent a whole year working for this company. Things were great and the pay was descent so I did what most people would do in a situation like this; I got comfortable. I set my drive mode to cruise control and watch it al happen. I was working thirteen-hour days over nights and weekends. I finally was getting a good enough paycheck very month. Which I thought it was “job security”. I was tire; I was no longer the hunting wolf I once was. For the most part I was either sleeping or working. I quit playing soccer, disconnected from my wife and kids and for a while I saw it as a worth sacrifice that will pay in the end, but when does it end?
I felt trapped, often telling my colleagues I was ready to quit, but out of fear of losing my steady income I wouldn’t do it. Human rights activist Segun Awosanya once said; “Salary is the bribe life throws at you so you can forget your dreams” When I heard this quote it really got to me in a way that made me feel like I was wasting my time with a dead-end job.
Just when I was not prepared; Life dealt yet another devastating blow to my existence. I got terminated from my employment. Receiving a separation of employment letter was definitely not something I was expecting. I felt on total depression and hit rock bottom. The job security and steady income were gone just like that.
After the above mentioned experienced, I decided to change my mentality. I started reading and listening to podcast about different money freedom theories. But I had to start with one question. What do I desire?
I started to focus first on what I needed for me and my family and forget about what I wanted. Separating those two is not easy as we all love to indulge on the sweet thing’s life has to offer. Certainly, living a financial limited life is not anyone’s dream. We all want to have that extra cash in our bank accounts, that stack of bills in our closet that we call “extra money”, but the one thing I was not accounting for other than money was time.
Time is the one resource we can never get back. See, money comes and goes; In fact, it has been here longer than we have and it will be here longer after we are gone. So why do we continue to give our time away, or at least; why don’t we value it for its uniqueness?
In an effort to decontaminate my brain from the trade-time-for-money idea; I decided to reject all standing jobs offers I had received and focus on activities that will generate the same or less pay as when I was trading time for money.
At the moment with the mentorship of very close friends; I am starting to submerge myself in the construction business. A project that is on its very early stages, but is already paying off in both kinds of currencies, time and money. I am not a millionaire, nor I am looking to become one. I am simply looking to find that point in the bell curve that will meet my financial needs and satisfy the time I want to dedicate to my family.
Success comes in many forms, but one thing is for sure; To be successful one must be resilient. Some might feel working a nine to five job is what gives them purpose in life. Some might feel having their own business is the secret. What ever you are questioning begin with this simple questions. What do I need? and what do I want? Only then you can begin your journey.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Residential Home Remodeling; That is the name of the game for me. My good friend Israel and I share something in common. Our number one priority is our family. Under his mentorship, I am beginning to learn the ins and outs of residential remodeling and renovating. We focus on Luxury engineered vinyl flooring, but I am considering other areas where I can gain some experience. A few weeks ago; I took on a project at a home where the kitchen did not have a pantry. After careful planning and coordinating I was able to subcontract a licensed carpenter to complete the job. After a few days of hard work, our customer was satisfied with the new addition to their home. The functionality of their daily lives was improved by the precise coordination of me and the remodeling team. The look on a client’s face when the job is done has no price and knowing I played a role in the process definitely feels rewarding.
Every day I continue to learn and change peoples’ lives by offering a makeover to their homes. Each project allows me to earn experience points and helps me get a step closer to my final goal.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Starting a business on your own is not easy. There aren’t any managers or bosses telling you what to do. There is only research and application of knowledge. With time you will begin to gain experience and learn how to overcome obstacles. I do not have a team so I have to speak for myself only. To keep my morale high I often focus on this. If I was able to arrive early and stay late for someone else’s company, why cant I not do it for myself?

I pressure myself to have discipline and follow the same routine daily. Wake up, gym, meet potential clients the do some marketing and networking in the afternoon.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The third circle theory is a book that opened up my mind to feel the way I feel now. It has made me understand that seeking one’s purpose in life is not always tied to money.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: caliber.performance
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricjarroyo/