When describing ambition, we often refer to someone as “on fire” or a “flame.” If you’re looking to inspire, you need only “stoke the fire” or “ignite passion.”
But why? Why is fire such a helpful comparison when describing ambition?
Take Edgar, for example.
Like an inviting campfire, Edgar’s leadership has brought his team together. With his friendly approach to people, he has been a source of inspiration, helping his peers catch the spark of inspiration one at a time.
With such a burning desire to do right, Edgar will continue to blaze new trails and allow his light to show the way to success for his family and team members.
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Edgar started as a recruiter for C.R. England in 2019. After transitioning to England Logistics as a fuel account manager, he was rapidly promoted to a data entry supervisor in April of 2021 and then progressed through the ranks of the Queretaro office to become a portfolio manager in April of 2022.
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EL: Edgar, thanks again for joining us. You’re a high performer professionally, but you’re also renowned for being a top cultural contributor. To come to this point, what has been your journey here at England Logistics?
Edgar: I’ve been with EL for over four years. I started as a fuel account manager when I joined the Queretaro team in the second wave of new recruits. I was there for about eight months, and I even hit Elite Club a few times there. Soon I saw the position open for a data entry supervisor, which was really the step I wanted to go for. I took that step and, thankfully, I got it. That was the first time I was introduced to factoring.
A few months after that, I officially saw that there was going to be a portfolio manager position available, and I went for it! It’s brought out the best in me.
EL: I think your career progression, firstly, shows your ambition and willingness to take on new challenges, but you also talked about the appeal of being challenged. With some of those attributes that you possess, they extend outside of just your professional circumstances. Outside of work, what are some of your passions?
Edgar: Well, I do have a family. I have a beautiful, three-year-old baby girl and a beautiful wife back at home. That’s something that really pushes me. I used to be pretty much in a position where I’m the underdog, where all the odds are against me. I think that really pushes me to prove to my daughter that it doesn’t matter where you come from, or no matter what you’ve done in the past…
…if you’re always hungry or you have the ambition to get somewhere, you can always get it.
EL: That’s wonderful. It sounds like there’s obviously a lot of pride that you take in your family and that they are a priority for you.
And given that you’ve got this pride for them, what is your proudest accomplishment outside of work?
Edgar: That would still be my family! But also, making a home for them is one of my biggest accomplishments right now. It really makes me proud in every sense of the word. It’s easy for me to get the job done because I have someone waiting at home.
To put my family in a better position, I take a lot of pride in that.
EL: I’m vicariously proud of you. But then it sounds like there was also so much work to put in to even make it to that point.
So, tell me about a professionally defining experience you’ve had?
Edgar: Because I moved here from the US about 12 years ago, this obviously wasn’t my first job. In every job that I worked on before, I wanted to be the best at it. I wanted to push my goals and reach to accomplish them. Right now, one of the things that makes me really proud is being able to be part of a team. Their growth has been one of my biggest sources of pride.
I’ve had many team members grow and become promoted. I think that’s one of my biggest goals right now: I want to have a lot of people promoted and to keep climbing the ladder. I want them to know they can grow.
So, pushing my team members to accomplish their personal goals is one of my biggest accomplishments.
EL: That’s a wonderful answer, and I think it’s one that speaks to your compatibility with the culture here. I can feel that you have strong ambition. Can you tell me why?
Edgar: I think it goes back to being the underdog. When you go to high school, I think it’s a very tough moment for everyone. A lot of people have told me, “Hey, you’re never gonna be this good. You’re never gonna be good enough to accomplish what you want.” But I always knew I could do what I put my mind to.
My dad and my family always said, “Hey, I want you to be better than myself.” Telling them my story of how I moved to the US and worked so hard really inspires them. I’m able to accomplish a lot and then I inspire others to do the same. I think that’s really what pushes me.
I love being the underdog in every situation because people don’t expect me to overcome. Whenever I accomplish any goal with my team, it makes it worth it.
EL: I love the idea of not only elevating yourself but lifting others to rise with you. And really, that’s what our core values are all about.
When are you happiest? What are those moments like to you?
Edgar: It’s funny that you ask that. I came in just last week and one of my team members, this was around 8:00 o’clock my time, said, “Hey, I have a question for you. Why are you always so happy? It’s 8:00 AM on a Monday!” I think a lot of that is just because I’m able to walk out of my home and have a decent job where I can say, “Hey, I have a reason to wake up.”
I’ve been on the other side where I’ve also been jobless. It’s tough out there. So, for me to have an opportunity like this to work with a company brings a lot of joy.
I will say that I am the happiest when I’m at home with my family just hanging out, or when we’re seeing the goals getting achieved. That just brings the best out of me when we have goals and then we achieve them. I think that’s just the best feeling that I’ve had so far in the company, right where I feel comfortable.
It brings a lot of motivation, so I think that that’s where I feel most comfortable with a lot of pressure and having deadlines.
EL: I’m hearing that you enjoy what you do. You find it hugely fulfilling when you are able to accomplish something that you put your mind to, and ample opportunities are afforded in this environment for something like that.
Segueing into a lighthearted note, is there something that most people don’t know about you you’d like to share here?
Edgar: I think one thing a lot of people do not know about me is that they think I am younger, but I am actually 27. Another is that I also get very sentimental. I get attached to a lot of my team members. Once they get to know me, they know that they have more than just another coworker: they have a friend!
I really push everyone to do their best and I really care about what other people achieve.
EL: Well, those people are fortunate to have such a peer because everybody benefits from that relationship. It’s symbiotic.
Given your care for people, do you have some kind of mantra or motto for your life for what you want to accomplish?
Edgar: “Yesterday you said tomorrow.” That’s my motto. Every single day, every single day. It pushes me to stop leaving things in limbo. That’s gold for me right there.
EL: Huge fan of that, especially the emphasis that it lends to accountability to being sincere, to be genuine, to be executing.
And now, conclusively, where do you go from here? What’s your future plan?
Edgar: I want to be here. That’s my main goal. I want to stay within the company. But for me to take the next step, I’d like to eventually see myself being either a director or something similar.
I just want to have more responsibility and continue to elevate the company. We already are a high level, but I want to make a direct contribution. Right now, I want to gain as much experience as I can as a portfolio manager to really know the ins and outs of that position. I’ve been through a few of the divisions and I feel like it has brought a lot of value to my background.
EL: There is a lot of power in being specific with what you want to accomplish and given your enthusiasm, given your skill and background, I think that you’ve got definitely the trajectory or the make if somebody that can perform at that level.
We’re on the search for more senior account managers. If this interview resonated with you, apply at this link: https://www.englandlogistics.com/search-all-available-jobs/