Frances Carrasquillo

I would say my greatest achievement is my children. I raised them as a single mom, and they're all entrepreneurs now. Two of them got married young and are still married with children. They're kind, they're honest - that's what I'm most proud of. I was also a caregiver to my mother who had Alzheimer's, so I was in that sandwich generation where the kids are growing up and she's declining. It was one of the most difficult seasons - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Having to put your mom in a nursing home when she didn't want to be there, with zero support system, and I was only in my thirties when she was diagnosed. But I had to keep moving forward. My motto was 'you gotta do what you gotta do.' I had to be like a rhinoceros and not let anything hold me back, because if I sat there and felt sorry for myself, I'd be no good to anybody. You allow yourself to cry, let it out, then you shuffle your feathers and keep moving forward. This too shall pass - it's only a season. I learned a lot during that rough season about myself, about caregiving, about people. A lot of insight, a lot of growth. Had I not had a relationship with the Lord, I'd probably have a heart attack or be under a bridge somewhere. That season taught me that you have to die to yourself sometimes - I can't take that trip, I have to take care of mom. To be on this side of it now, that's my biggest accomplishment.

The best career advice I received was from my boss at Nationwide, my first job in this field. He would always say, 'You gotta keep plates in the air, you never know which one's gonna drop.' It was about talking to as many people about insurance and not burning bridges - you just never know who's gonna need a policy from you. That advice stuck with me because it's not only for insurance, it's applicable in life. Those plates in the air are all opportunities, and you can apply that across the board.

I would tell them that this would be a great career for you. I've dabbled in almost every aspect of insurance except bonds - I've worked for corporate, captive agents like Nationwide and State Farm, and brokers. I've done life insurance, Medicare, healthcare, and property and casualty. Some people just stick to one specialty, but there's a lot of opportunity in this field. My advice would be: if I can do it, you can do it. I've had a lot of strikes against me - single parenting and all that - but I've still achieved having my own and being a productive individual in society. I don't rely on anybody for anything except for God. I believe everybody has that opportunity. I'm very much for the underdog, and I believe in encouraging people. First of all, let's change our way of thinking - you're not gonna stay stuck forever. I haven't arrived, but I've gotten from a place where I had all the strikes against me to where I am now. So when I see someone considering this field, especially younger ones, I come in like with a cape and encourage them. Single moms, anybody - if I could do it, you could do it.