Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Aguilar.
Carlos , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Arvin California to migrant farm working parents. My father was an abusive alcoholic, so after 25 years of marraige my mother finally left my dad and moved to Houston with 5 kids ranging in age from 11 to 21 I was 15. We moved to the inner city barrio into a room that my aunt let us use, all 6 of us in one room. We managed, didn’t like it, but we had no choice. My mom was a housewife who never really worked, but that all changed. She took on three jobs just to make ends meet. Eventually we rented a 2 bedroom house of our own, again it was tough but we managed. I struggled in school to get along, mostly because I didn’t get along with the locals. We came from a farm town of 6000 people to a major metroplex, talk about culture shock. I worked summer jobs and every school break we had to just to help around the house. I started working on cars at a very ealy age out of neccesity more than anything else. Houston seemed enormous and we needed cars to get around. The only thing we could afford were junkers, so that’s what we bought and fixed them up as we went along. Right out of high school I enrolled into mechanic school, knowing I was going to need a trade to make money while I went to college, my dream was to be an archietect. In my house you moved aout at 18 whether you were ready or not. I moved out and rented a small house with a friend of mine while I worked and went to school. After I graduated from UTI I got a job as a diesel mechanic for a pretty big company, and enrolled in Houston Community College. I worked as a mechanic for them about 5 years, then worked for European car shop for 7 years, then for a local BMW dealer for another 7 years. When I graduated from College I was offered a job managing a manufacturing company, which I took and did that for 11 years. My dream of becoming an archietect never came true, but a dream I never thought possible did come true and I was able to buy my own bussiness, thanks to God and his plan. I have owned Floyd’s Auto Repair for 17 years now and it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me career wise. Floyd’s stands for, Finally Living Out Youre Dream’s. God’s plans are better than your dreams could ever be. Let go and let God
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not, the biggest struggle was being poor and being made fun of in school for always wearing used clothes. I was the youngest of 4 boys so I hardly ever got new clothes, just shoes. Watching my mom struggle selling tacos working three jobs and putting up with trying to keep us out of trouble. I’m so very grateful for her, her strong will, and her work ethic.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own a mechanic and body shop. We specialize in European cars and honest work. The thing I’m most proud of would be the clientel we’ve built over the years and the truct my customers have in me.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I feel you have to take a chance on yourself. You ahve to have confidence that you can do whatever you set your mind to. I took a risk at 44 years old and my life savings to open this shop, and it paid off. Two weeks after closing on my bussiness my wife got laid off, she was my safety net. We made it happen together
Contact Info:
- Website: https://floydsautorepair.com
- Facebook: Floyds Auto Repair
