Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Rodriguez
Hi Angel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After 23 years in a career in public child welfare, I felt like I was just getting started and like I was ready to be done all at the same time. I know it sounds crazy. If you’ve been in a career that long, you might understand what I’m talking about. It takes a toll on you – mentally, physically, spiritually. When you add a global pandemic into the mix, it really changes things. I knew I was ready to turn the page and write the next chapter of my life. Honestly, I thought I was ready to write a whole new book! That’s where becoming an entrepreneur began. I never thought that was in the cards for me. In my field, I saw consultants and I thought it seemed like a “nice” job but I never thought it was something I would ever do. It just never crossed my mind. As I thought about what I would do after a career in government service, I really thought I would continue to work for someone else – maybe in a non-profit agency or in a philanthropic organization. None of those jobs actually came to fruition, so I started to consider what I could actually do with my skills. That’s when I seriously considered being an entrepreneur.
My wife and I sat down and weighed the pros and cons of what this would mean for our family. In the end, it really made the most sense. So, as I do with most things, I jumped in with both feet. I learned as I went along and made mistakes. I got comfortable with being uncomfortable. It was wild. My goal was to approach the public child welfare community from the perspective of prevention. As someone who had worked inside the system, most of my work focused on intervention. Now, I could focus on prevention efforts and call attention to the system from a different perspective.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say there have been peaks and valleys. Being an entrepreneur is a beautiful thing but it’s also not for the faint of heart, especially as you are starting up. I can dictate my own schedule and decide when I work for the most part. The flip side of that is I need to find clients and take into consideration their timelines too. Sometimes I will hear from a potential client but they aren’t ready to begin working right away. I have to balance that with taking on a new client right away and letting that other potential client know that I may not have availability when they are ready to get started. It’s a juggling act.
Being a CEO is fantastic. It’s rewarding to see a project come together and see how happy a client is as the project progresses and comes to a close. While I am doing CEO work, there’s also other things that need to be done – social media, handling invoices, reviewing contracts, daily operations, marketing, networking to find new collaborations, staying up to date on the latest research in my field, and so many other things that keep me busy.
It can be a challenge to decide when to delegate work. Sometimes it isn’t about being able to decide when, but making sure I have the capital to hire someone and ensuring I have the right person on board.
As you know, we’re big fans of rfc21. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At rfc21, our mission is to drive meaningful change in communities of color and advance the realm of public child welfare. We are dedicated to pursuing organizational transformation, championing excellence, and pioneering innovative solutions. Our aim is to ensure effective leadership and resource utilization that ultimately delivers optimal outcomes for all communities involved.
You might be wondering what that means and how we do it. Well … we provide 4 key services – curriculum development, leadership coaching, grant management services, and expert witness work for law firms litigating cases in child abuse and neglect. We have engaged in some other projects that have been a good fit but only after having a consultation with a potential client. It’s important to us to make sure that our vision aligns with our potential client’s vision.
When you hire us, you will find that we have decades of experience in the largest counties in the country – Los Angeles and San Bernardino. We have a vast network of connections, and we have worked on some of the most high profile and unique projects. We are fully committed to our clients’ success and I am really proud of the work that we have been able to do so far. When you get to know us, you will find that we are personable, resourceful, and trustworthy individuals that are committed to the work we do.
When we sit down to work with our clients, we ensure that the experience is curated for each agency and organization. That being said, we put together a package that makes the most sense based on what the potential client needs. We don’t have any box models here.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Wow….where do I begin?? I love using Insight Timer at night to relax and drift off to sleep. Having some sound bowls really puts me in a meditative state. It’s free unless you want to pay more for the Plus version. I also like Substack for staying up to date on articles. In terms of books, I have so many! I am usually reading 3 or 4 at the same time. Right now, I am re-reading The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. It is the 10th Anniversary edition and I am re-visiting what Brené calls the Guideposts to Wholehearted Living on my continuous journey to embracing imperfection and making sure I stay committed to a growth mindset, both personally and professionally. It’s really a deep book. Another book I am reading is Get Rooted by Robyn Moreno. It’s about Robyn’s spiritual journey after experiencing burnout to find her roots in her culture. If you want to talk about podcasts that list is LONG! There are so many that I enjoy – some for educational purposes, some to laugh and enjoy myself. Some of my fellow entrepreneurs have started their own podcasts and I love listening to theirs. I also love listening to music to give my brain a break during the day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rfc21.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rfconsult21/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RFConsulting21
- Other: https://www.rfc21.com/links
Image Credits
Orit Harpaz
Kita Zuleta
Jade Blair
