FLOwer power
Arango
My name is Luis Arango. I’m a current member and Team XO for the Eastsiders. I’m going to share the pickle I was in back in February. I was recently re-hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District’s IT department after a year-long layoff. My family & I had just started to get back on our feet financially when I received an email from our Human Resources Department stating that my immigration status was going to expire on 2-15-2011, and that I would be let go after that date. Needless to say I went to a deep & dark place in my head-- to the land of pain and fearsville. My wife and I were already butting heads around our finances and lack thereof. My family’s financial well-being was in question, and I didn’t have an answer. Before joining a men’s team two things would have happened; I’d get drunk and engage with my wife without thinking about the fall out, and two, I put myself in a hole for a few months by slowly paying back a loan. Thank god for the men in my life!
Being fortunate enough to be a member of a men’s team, I brought it to them and asked for support. The team gave me exactly what I needed- the inspiration to keep my head up and to shift all focus & energy to resolving the issue. At the time I was being asked to take on a division job, and after the meeting it was clear that the timing was off for me to accept. I was then faced with the task of declining the job while maintaining a clean relationship with Marc Brems & Eduardo Santana. Brems supported me in my decision with an open heart. Next came the call to the DC (Dino Cabeza). I have to admit I was expecting some resistance from him. He listened to my situation, gave me a no problem response, and then out of nowhere, drops this flash of brilliance on me; “Hey bro why don’t you offer a rose delivery service for Valentine’s Day” Genius!
So there it is, the ball started rolling, and I got into action right away! The following week I made arrangements to visit 5 teams in Full Monty. At each meeting I trusted the circle, lowered my mask & I let the men know of my pain & fear. I was not surprised by the amount of support I received at each meeting. I was able to hit my target of clients by the 3rd MTG! BOOM! Next came the fun part- enrolling my wife to create the bouquets, and gathering, arranging and delivering the flowers. Which I ingenuously incorporated into to my wife & I’s Valentine’s Day celebration. I guarantee you; she will never forget Valentine’s Day 2011. My plan was simple; Let the men into my heart & they will find a way to support me PERIOD! I was able to raise the money to cover half of the cost of my citizenship, submit my application on time, and above all I did whatever it took to ensure the future of my wife & three boys.
Being fortunate enough to be a member of a men’s team, I brought it to them and asked for support. The team gave me exactly what I needed- the inspiration to keep my head up and to shift all focus & energy to resolving the issue. At the time I was being asked to take on a division job, and after the meeting it was clear that the timing was off for me to accept. I was then faced with the task of declining the job while maintaining a clean relationship with Marc Brems & Eduardo Santana. Brems supported me in my decision with an open heart. Next came the call to the DC (Dino Cabeza). I have to admit I was expecting some resistance from him. He listened to my situation, gave me a no problem response, and then out of nowhere, drops this flash of brilliance on me; “Hey bro why don’t you offer a rose delivery service for Valentine’s Day” Genius!
So there it is, the ball started rolling, and I got into action right away! The following week I made arrangements to visit 5 teams in Full Monty. At each meeting I trusted the circle, lowered my mask & I let the men know of my pain & fear. I was not surprised by the amount of support I received at each meeting. I was able to hit my target of clients by the 3rd MTG! BOOM! Next came the fun part- enrolling my wife to create the bouquets, and gathering, arranging and delivering the flowers. Which I ingenuously incorporated into to my wife & I’s Valentine’s Day celebration. I guarantee you; she will never forget Valentine’s Day 2011. My plan was simple; Let the men into my heart & they will find a way to support me PERIOD! I was able to raise the money to cover half of the cost of my citizenship, submit my application on time, and above all I did whatever it took to ensure the future of my wife & three boys.
