Self-Advocacy: Why Head Down,Working Hard Is Not Enough

As an immigrant child, I remember seeing my parents working long hours and striving for the American dream. They sacrificed so much to give me and my siblings opportunities that we never would have had in México. They would say, “in this country, give it all that you have, and you will be rewarded.” Later in life, I discovered that it also meant that you need to be creative and engage with the world around you in order to find success. For example, once I started advocating for myself, higher levels of recognition and success followed.

The world is constantly changing, and what worked in the past may not work now. To be successful you need to have an adaptable attitude that’s willing try new things – so rather than keeping your head down to be recognized, look up more often!

Have you been advocating for yourself?

A Support Network is Essential for Success in Life

It’s been a little over a year since being appointed as President & CEO of the Employees Club of California and I have been reflecting on the journey that arrived to this point in my life. I cannot help but think of the all the people that supported me along the way.

In my experience, the people who have been most instrumental in my success story are not just supportive family, friends, and mentors but also those that give me honest feedback and encouragement when I am feeling discouraged. Without their help this is undoubtedly true for myself as well-I would never be able to do anything on any level of life without them.

Who are the people that you rely on for support and encouragement?

Who are the people that have helped you to be your best self?

From a Mexican Immigrant to an American CEO

I’m an immigrant person born in Pihuamo, México then raised on an avocado and citrus farming community in San Diego County. My parents risked everything to give me a better life. As a one-year-old, they carried me in their arms across the treacherous Mexican border into America, where new challenges waited for me the next 46 years. As a young immigrant boy, my journey in America started in 1976 in Pauma Valley, California where I dreamt of being successful and having a meaningful life. Education played a significant part in my journey; I earned a B.A. in Spanish Literature & Linguistics with a minor in Business Administration at the University of Southern California in 1997 and an executive M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2014. I set a goal to build a successful career that would result in achieving my childhood dream of leading an organization. Now, as President & CEO of the Employees Club of California, I lead a highly dedicated and talented team who work vigorously to celebrate the lives and work of city, county and state government employees by honoring, recognizing, thanking, and expressing gratitude for serving their American communities.

From a Mexican immigrant to an American CEO, I learned the power of overcoming struggle, and I want to share that with you in the hopes that the lessons I learned from my journey can help you find your inner strength, personal growth, and your definition of success.

Give It All That You Have, And You Will Be Rewarded

As an immigrant child, I remember seeing my parents working long hours and striving for the American dream. They sacrificed so much to give me and my siblings opportunities that we never would have had in México. They would say, “In this country, give it all that you have, and you will be rewarded.” Later in life, I discovered that it also meant that you need to be creative and engage with the world around you in order to find success. For example, once I started advocating for myself, higher levels of recognition and success followed.

Once I started advocating for myself, higher levels of recognition and success followed.

-Robert Lariós

The world is constantly changing, and what worked in the past may not work now. To be successful you need to have an adaptable attitude that’s willing try new things – so rather than keeping your head down to be recognized, look up more often!

The American Dream

My parents risked everything to give me a better life. As a one year old, they carried me in their arms across the treacherous Mexican border into America, where I was raised in an environment of opportunity – the American dream.

They were not born into privilege and had to work extremely hard to provide for our growing family. I am eternally grateful for their sacrifices and everything they have done for our family, community, and as impactful members of our American society.

As a Mexican American, I am proud to celebrate my heritage and culture. 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 is the perfect time of year for us all (and of any ethnicity) to reflect on what makes us unique in this world while recognizing those who have gone before us so that they might continue their vision forward through our success stories today!

I encourage other first, second, and third generation Americans, employees, students, and immigrants of all ethnicities to do the same. Let’s continue working hard and achieving success. We can make a difference in our American communities and empower others along the way.

America: Where the impossible becomes possible.

Rafael Larios: “It was a long and arduous journey, but we finally made it to the United States. We had risked everything to come here, fleeing our home in search of a better life. Crossing the border was only the beginning – now we had to start from scratch in a new country, learn a new language, and find ways to support ourselves. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re determined to make the most of this opportunity and give our children a brighter future. Thank you, America, for giving us a chance.”

These sentiments from my Dad are translated from Spanish. He and my Mother crossed the Mexican-United States border in 1976 – holding in their arms a 20 month old baby – me.

Hello! My name is Robert Larios

Leadership is a journey, not a destination. It’s a role that we step into, and often it’s a role that we’re forced into. We don’t always choose to be leaders, but when we are, it’s our responsibility to lead with integrity and authenticity. I am a Mexican immigrant on an American leadership journey. I didn’t always want to be a leader, but my journey has taught me some valuable lessons about what it takes to be successful. First and foremost, leadership is about growth. It’s not about being the best or the most famous. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself and inspiring others to do the same. Second, leadership is about struggle. It’s not always easy, and there will be times when you want to give up. But if you’re willing to persevere, you will find that the rewards are worth the effort. Finally, leadership is about success. Not everyone will achieve the same level of success, but everyone can achieve something great if they set their mind to it. These are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned on my journey as a Mexican-American . I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire others to pursue their own dreams and reach their full potential.