Maria Lucia & Rosangela Siqueira
“Si Vos No Aprendi in Casa Vos Aprendi in Ahora. “
If you don't learn at home, you're going to learn in the street and in prison is worse.
“It’s always better to laugh than to cry. And whoever laughs last, laughs way better.”
(Excerpt from an interview with Carlos Siqueira, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author of the book “Work like an Immigrant”)
California, USA
My dad was in a tragic car accident when I was three months old so I was raised by my mom, Rosangela, with a lot of help from my grandma, Maria Lucia. I was raised kind of in a military environment. There’s no right or left. There's only one way and that’s to go straight. When I look back at my life, that is the greatest thing that I ever learned. I learned to treat everyone with love, respect, and with integrity.
At age 10 yrs old, I was already a big guy so I’m an easy target. However, if I ever fought with my cousins or anybody out on the streets there was definitely a harsh punishment for me at home. The punishment looks like I would be outside in the backyard at 100 degree weather with pieces of corn on my knees, the hard ones that you feed chickens. That thing hurts. My grandma, Maria Lucia, always said “Si Vos No Aprendi in Casa Vos Aprendi in Ahora”, what she meant was if I don't learn at home, I’m going to learn in the street and in prison is worse. I am grateful I learned that at a young age. It helped me through all my challenging encounters with people. I was a young boy living in the hood, I had to sell bread out in the streets of Brazil to help my mom and grandma and it was rough.
When it was really tough and my mom, Rosangela, saw me struggle she would always tell me “It’s always better to laugh than to cry. Whoever laughs last, laughs way better.” This was embedded in my soul.
You see, I worked and learned in the streets of Brazil from age 7 until 18, then I came to America. I was told horrible things by wealthier people especially when I ventured in to their side of town. They told me that I don’t belong there and I was bullied and abused. People also called me the son of the Black Widow (Uva negra) like it was a form of ridicule. Out in the streets, it got dark and ugly, people I knew just tragically dying. There was a lot of crime. There was a moment I wanted to end what I thought was a hard and miserable life. It was during those times I embraced my mom’s advice, and learned how to flip the story.
There were many instances I had to do this, shift my focus, flip the story so I could continue on the straight path. Lots of hardships, close calls and dangerous temptations along the way. And I am proud to say, thanks to my mom, I certainly laugh way better today! It’s been a hell of a ride from selling bread on the streets making $0.50 a day to becoming a self-made millionaire, helping others grow their brands make money, giving back to society committed to make poverty history and make wealth and wisdom accessible to all.
I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished in just a few short years since that fateful night when my mom and I had what I consider a life changing talk. This boy who sold bread on the streets making 0.50 cents per day is now helping thousands of others all over the world realize their dreams and become Financially independent!
When everyone else doubted me, my mom and grandma believed in my potential and saw something special inside of me - something even I wasn't able to see yet. They knew one day that these struggles would only make us stronger, wiser, more determined individuals with big hearts full of passion for success - no matter how many obstacles stood in our way or how much time it took!
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart, Mom. You are so strong and wise beyond words; no amount of gratitude could ever repay everything: your courage will never go unnoticed or forgotten by those whose lives have been touched by it- especially mine!