Committed to Service and Leadership
Maria Teresa Castelan, Executive Consultant
Working Double to Stay Afloat
Choosing a profession in life can be tough and getting to that point can be even tougher. For Maria Castelan and many others just like her, the beginning of a journey into one’s career can become fraught with struggles and challenges. Maria was a mainstay in the service industry for a decade. “Prior to Ambit, I had worked as a restaurant manager from 2009 to 2020 working around 55 hours a week. On multiple occasions throughout this period, I had to work separate jobs as a waiter to afford to raise my two younger sons on my own without any other form of income assistance,” she says.
This experience was not only highly stressful, but heartbreaking as well. Maria continues, “As a result, I had very little time to be as present as I would’ve liked in my children’s lives. I lost the opportunity to make many valuable memories throughout their childhood.” It was time for an immediate change, and that change would come very soon.
The Ambit Opportunity Arises
“I first heard of Ambit in 2019 when my sister, Idalia Castelan, approached me with the opportunity to become an Ambit Energy customer. A few months later, she offered me the opportunity to become an Ambit consultant. I spent a couple months considering it until I finally decided to give it a shot in February of 2020,” she says.
Indeed, the Ambit Opportunity always has a funny way of popping up on a future consultant’s radar when they’re in a tough spot in their lives. The Ambit Opportunity didn’t just fall into her lap, however. “I had always been on the lookout for other opportunities that would provide me more flexibility with my schedule in order to be able to spend more time with my family.”
Proving Loved Ones Wrong
Maria’s situation was unique because she was already well established in her position as a restaurant manager. “Some of my friends and family were critical of my decision to start my Ambit business as they believed it was better to stay in my current position as a restaurant manager. However, due to the long hours and strict schedule, I was eager for a better opportunity,” she says.
The road started out rather rocky as well. In addition to the regular challenges that face consultants while starting out, Maria had trouble balancing her primary job and her Ambit business. She slowly began spending more time on her Ambit business and acclimating to the different atmosphere of starting her own business. Interestingly, she was offered a manager position with better pay and a flexible schedule a year later and she accepted it. She soon realized, however, that it was the same experience as the last with long hours and false promises. She began to work her Ambit business again in January of 2022 and hasn’t looked back.
Since then, Maria has learned a lot about herself. “One of my hidden strengths I’ve discovered while on this journey is the ability to form genuine relationships and change the lives of other families for the better,” she says. By helping others, she is also helping her own business. She’s always available to help other consultants and does so enthusiastically. One of Maria’s big goals is to “have enough time to explore the world with my family.”
Five EC Pieces
My/our “Why”?
To spend more time with my family.
Time spent working my Ambit Business:
I’ve worked hard at my Ambit business for two years.
What was your single most-effecting Success Tool, factor or influence for growing your business?
Building genuine relationships helped take my business to the next level.
Name your favorite thing about AMBITION:
Meeting other consultants who have benefited from being a part of Ambit Energy.
Thanks to the five SCs who helped me reach EC:
Omar Delgado, Yuridia Molina Arrellano, Diego Tobon, Carlos Gonzales, Yunimar Arellan