We’re looking forward to introducing you to Arlene Padilla . Check out our conversation below.
Arlene , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are pretty crazy, we still have three younger kids under our roof along with four adult children, who are not living with us, but still take up my time with phone calls or texts, questions about life, etc.
During the school year, the first 90 mins, I wake up, say a little prayer before I even get my feet off my bed and on with my day. I get myself ready for the day and check my emails or texts, making sure nobody is calling in. I respond to catering requests or work related emails.
Then I usually come downstairs and kiss my husband good morning. I don’t drink coffee, so I save a little time there. The kids come downstairs, I am make sure they are dressed appropriately, showered, hair done, teeth brushed, fed. I make sure homework is done, lunch and snacks are packed, make sure they have money if needed, make sure if they will need a ride after school or not or if they’ll be attending their extra curricular activities. Then on the bus they go. I then clean up from breakfast, do a load of laundry since there’s usually one load, tidy up the house before heading out to run errands and then go prep.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I run a New Mexican takeout restaurant. I serve New Mexican cuisine like stacked, green chile chicken enchiladas, red chile sauce that is specifically unique to this type of cuisine. I feel that my restaurant is special and unique because I was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM by Mexican parents who taught me how to incorporate their Mexican culture and cuisine with mine.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My then, immigrant mother and father taught me most about work. They entered the USA in 1970, way before I was born and they both worked hard. They obtained their citizenship and worked for ABQ Public schools. My dad became a Lead Custodian, my mom did as well and later on, they opened up their own cleaning business. They bought and paid off their first house and continued to succeed. They’re now successfully retired and just recently moved to Colorado Springs after many decades of living in NM.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me empathy. When I was in Kindergarten, I remember both my parents working day and night to provide for three of my siblings and myself. It was hard for them. Kids in grade school had new clothes, new supplies, etc., when us four children did not. My parents could not afford such luxury.
One begins to understand the struggles in silence. I remember vividly, the pain my parents went through as well. They really wanted to provide a lot for us but they were financially strapped and could not.
Teachers often came to the rescue, during Christmas time, the district would provide meals, new coats, supplies and backpacks for me. I’ll forever be grateful. This is why I am very passionate about giving back to my community and to many organizations. Over the past nine years that we’ve been in business, we have built a strong reputation as being a business that schools, charities, youth sports programs, food banks, etc can come to and rely on.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends would say that my family, faith and reputation really matters to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I believe our customers would miss myself and my family most. We’ve built many relationships throughout the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arlenesbeans.com
- Instagram: @arlenesbeansco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EP7EdGmCz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/ytX3Wre76D
- Other: Google:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=1b131cb33424c794&hl=en-us&kgmid=%2Fg%2F11c5srfg7y&q=Arlene%27s%20Beans&shndl=30&shem=npsc3%2Csdl1pl&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3
Image Credits
The Colorado Springs Gazzette
