Stories to Remember. Humberto Esparza was doing okay in Mexico. He was selling baby clothes from the family business so that he could attend classes in veterinary science at college in Guadalajara. However, he was troubled that the graduates ahead of him could not find jobs or even start their own businesses. The job that his Godfather offered him on completion of his studies to work on the rancho felt like he would be “going back.” Humberto wanted to find something different for his life.

A visit to his friend’s wedding in California opened his eyes to new possibilities. Soon he was doing hard manual labor in the onion fields and after that he got a job installing tires and working on cars. So how did Humberto feel about these jobs? He saw them as his opportunity for a better life. He believes that “No matter what you have to do, you have to love it and enjoy it. Because the thing that you love, you enjoy, it’s easy for you.” This positive attitude and passion for work is at the core of Humberto’s character. After he came to the Seattle area in 1989, he started working three jobs: the Holiday Inn, Godfather’s Pizza, and for a third employer. It wasn’t long before he realized that he needed to get some more education. He had studied some English in Mexico, but he enrolled in some local college courses and cut his work down to one job. He knew that he would make less money, but he felt more preparation in English “ will pay off better in the future.”It did. He spent 14 years with Godfather’s and worked his way up from dishwasher to assistant manager. He also got married and had a child. Eventually he found a partner and established a Mexican restaurant in Factoria. But after only several years, he sold his half to buy a Godfather’s franchise in Everett.

2001-2002 started the worst time of his life. He hadn’t taken enough time to get basic information about the business. The sales were not good and within six months the rent had doubled. He declared bankruptcy. Additionally because he was “working, working” all the time, his marriage failed. Humberto, remarried, is presently trying to reclaim his life. He has a steady job at Panera as assistant manager/shift supervisor and he earns additional income by working a “couple nights a week at a Chinese restaurant” and doing odd jobs for a friend. Most importantly, he says, he is trying to be a more involved father. He calls his daughter, Christina, in Pasco everyday. Over the phone, she reads to him and they go through homework together. Humberto’s dream is for his daughter to get a degree and enter a profession. He wants his daughter to understand that she needs to earn what she wants and to be responsible for herself. He wants her to be proud of the Hispanic part of herself. Since he believes that “work is your second wife,” he also hopes to open another business one day.

In this 4-minute excerpt of the long interview, Humberto talks about a difficult time in his life when he had to file for banruptcy. His resilience and positive outlook on life and work shine through as he shares how he has learned from his mistakes.