“Failure is temporary, quitting makes it permanent.” – Carlos Vargas
Gem story was written by: BOBO Marketing Services
Carlos Vargas will tell you he’s in the business of people—that is, the business of helping people! In his career as a professional salesman, he has developed a deep passion for assisting his clients, his community, and the environment. It’s this driving passion that has led him to create his very own solar panel company!
Looking Into the Future
In light of his own extensive research, Carlos estimates that in the next 10 to 20 years, solar power will be the world’s primary source of energy, especially right here in Florida. And as Carlos will tell you, the benefits of going solar for any homeowner are too vast to ignore! This will not only help people to save on electricity and related power costs but will also be good for the entire planet. Ever the outgoing business owner, Carlos truly enjoys educating people about the benefits of solar energy.
In the near future, Carlos has plans to extend the reach of his company across the state of Florida by hiring new team members, which would enable him to organize and dispatch multiple teams simultaneously. And as long as the business continues to prosper, Carlos plans to continue putting money back into the local community. In fact, fueled by his love of basketball and tennis, Carlos is fully invested in helping children in the Central Florida area by supporting their local sporting events. As a long-term goal, he would love to see his business grow to become a national household name in the solar energy arena, a company renowned for its positive impact on the community and the world.
Growing Communities Together
What sets Carlos’ company apart from others is what lies at its foundation: a sincere willingness to be open and honest with all clients, ensuring that they fully understand what they’re purchasing as well as the ins and outs of the installation process. “Transparency is all the way in the back. [It] really should be one of the main things you should discuss with your clients,” he said, stating his observations about other small businesses. Carlos prides himself on integrity and doing his best with each job. In harmony with these values, Spectrum Solar has partnered with one of the largest installers in the country that offers the best in everything from equipment to warranties. They work together to bring high-quality service to each client, giving them the peace of mind of knowing that their investment will last for the next 30 to 40 years!
Carlos is also a customer service expert, another reason why he is so good with his clients. While he does maintain an online presence, he is still an advocate for the traditional brick-and-mortar approach to networking.
“We just show our faces. We’re the ones that are going to help our community locally, not big companies,”
he reiterates. By going out and knocking on doors, and showing a true interest in helping the guy next door, Carlos has been able to establish great referral systems, not just for himself, but for other small business owners. He believes that “it’s a big pot and there’s enough for everyone.” His clients have a part in giving back as well; he gives them the option to donate to any charity of their choosing after purchasing any Spectrum Solar product.
Trials & Tribulations
Like all of us, Carlos is no stranger to hardship. He moved here on his own from Puerto Rico at the age of 18 with barely any money to his name. He had to sleep on floors because he couldn’t afford furniture, and he had to take food home from the restaurants he worked at to be able to eat. Despite these challenges, he was able to develop a solid understanding of the English language from his schooling through daily practice. One of his methods included picking a random word from the dictionary and using it throughout the day in order to increase his vocabulary. Learning to adapt and survive very quickly is where his hunger to succeed began. “It’s how I got into sales. You get paid for exactly what you do. How bad do you want it?” he explains. Later in life, he found himself starting from ground zero again after an investment turned south. It took him about a year and a half to get back on his feet. His guiding principle that helped carry him through?
“Failure is temporary, quitting makes it permanent.”
Getting and Staying Ahead
The initial challenge of starting over in a new industry is sifting through advice from individuals who are only interested in making a profit, rather than growing their businesses the right way. Carlos quickly realized that the solar power industry could be fertile ground for success if he played his cards right. Before his dreams became a reality, he had to conquer the daily trials and tribulations of building a company from tiff ground up. Thankfully, Carlos was able to keep the drive alive by putting in countless early mornings, creating a solid foundation for the company, following through on phone calls, and getting enough sleep. However, when raising a toddler was added to the mix, it threatened to throw off the work-life balance. His solution? As a personable extrovert, he found that staying active, moving constantly, and being social helps keep him sane. It’s also vital to have a strong supporting cast; for Carlos, his Mom, and Grammy are at the top of the list!
Other than running Spectrum Solar, Carlos enjoys music. He went to college for music where he studied percussion and drums, and today he still finds time to play in live shows and record his own music. He invites children in the community to attend free 30-minute music lessons.
This solar-powered Gem is on the rise, and he plans to reach new heights as he continues to expand across the sunny state of Florida. So be sure to stay tuned and follow Carlos and Spectrum Solar on Instagram @spectrumsolarfl and let him bring the energy of the sun right into your home!
Rate us and Write a Review
