Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon R. Vargas.
Hi Brandon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
A high school dropout making many bad decisions, I sought change in Corpus Christi at 18, only to continue down a negative path for two more years. However, life took an unexpected turn at 20 when I learned I was about to become a father. This revelation served as a wake-up call, compelling me to reshape my life for myself and the little one on the way. To make ends meet, I took a job at the refineries, a challenging role paying a mere $10.00 an hour with limited hours. Though far from ideal, it marked a humble beginning. Fate, however, had different plans for me. Through my Facebook group, “361 Fishing,” I connected with a Sales Manager from a dealership. What started as a conversation about fishing tips became a life-changing question – “What does a car salesman get paid?” Surprisingly, he offered me a job, and within 30 days, I earned my first paycheck exceeding $10,000. The potential in sales captivated me, prompting a shift in my life’s trajectory. Since then, my journey has been one of transformation. I stand today as a Finance Manager in San Antonio, Texas. My role involves:
- Securing funding for the dealership
- Ensuring that all legal and financial documents are accurately completed and signed
- Helping clients secure optimal financing terms
Additionally, I ensure customers know all the options to safeguard their new investments. Reflecting on my past (which I have yet to go into detail), I acknowledge the incomparable depth from which I had to climb. Life isn’t a fair race – we all start from different points. Some have a head start, while others are miles behind. Despite being programmed with the worst information, experiences, and habits, I broke free to recreate myself. And the best part is that this is just the beginning.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. My journey to success has been an intense roller-coaster ride. One of my significant challenges was replacing old destructive habits and ideas with new, productive ones. Changing habits isn’t easy; it requires work, discipline, and unwavering commitment to reshape your habitual frame. Throughout my ascent to where I stand now, I faced jail time, fines, heartbreak, hunger, homelessness, repossessions, and more. Failure and frustration were inevitable components of my growth. While I made substantial progress, my past still gripped me, even as I headed in the right direction.
I’ll emphasize this: “Wins lead to more wins, just as losses lead to more losses—similar to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.” As I accumulated wins, I built up momentum, transforming my pace from barely moving the needle to pushing it past its limit. Opportunities began pouring in, and to this day, they show no signs of stopping. Stack wins, build momentum, and even amid adversity, you will inevitably meet success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us more about your work.
As a Finance & Insurance Manager at a dealership, I oversee the financial aspects of vehicle transactions. My role involves:
- Guiding customers through financing options
- Explaining insurance coverage
- Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations
I work to secure favorable financing terms, optimize insurance packages, and contribute to the overall efficiency of the sales process, providing customers with a seamless and satisfactory experience. In addition to my role as a Finance & Insurance Manager at a dealership, I specialize in marketing and personal branding. I established one of the first buy-sell-trade car spaces in Corpus Christ (361 Cars for SALE), growing it to over 70,000 members. This innovative platform generated 30-50 leads daily, showcasing my ability to leverage digital spaces for business. Recognizing market shifts, I strategically sold the group to a dealership once I noticed changes like the introduction of Facebook Marketplace. My expertise effectively merges entrepreneurial ventures with market dynamics to drive successful outcomes.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I am deeply fascinated by history, and San Antonio, with its rich historical background, provides a consistently exciting environment for learning and discovering new things. Considering the city’s substantial size and population, it’s an ideal place for aspiring entrepreneurs. While San Antonio boasts a rich culture and traditions, it may be behind compared to larger cities like Austin, Houston, and Dallas. However, this uniqueness sets the city apart—it has a distinctive vibe and offers ample room for growth and opportunities for everyone!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonrvargas?igsh=YWQ5Z2RxN3o1a2Vq&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/xMmZPh8QiKrakSPM/?mibextid=WC7FNe
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonrvargas
