The Early Days - Missouri (1983-2000)
I was given the name Alverado that many fathers on my dad’s side have had. My grandpa, Alverado, a retired Ranger, Colonel, and Vietnam Veteran used to say, “you got my name son, don’t mess it up.” As odd as it may seem, that single line may be the biggest motivator in my life yet. With a name that legends follow, I was born the oldest boy with an older sister and younger brother. As kids, we had the best childhood one could ask for. A childhood raised in the heart of Missouri by a Father that was a park ranger at the time, and a mother who loved the outdoors just as much as my father. I spent my childhood days going from Missouri State Parks to helping my dad build fence on farms to helping manage my grandfather’s 3 separate farms in Missouri and North Dakota. I lead my sister and brother through adventures Tom Sawyer would be jealous of. We were taught at a young age that nature, similar to business and even life, was full of beauty just as much as it was with danger. We learned that life was grand, and beauty can be found around any corner if looked for. As the oldest son, and with the name of my family behind me, I was responsible for my siblings at a young age. I quickly saw how responsibilities worked, and as I grew older, more and more responsibilities were put on me from my father and grandfather. I was soon in charge of changing oil in tractors, cleaning carbines, and taking my siblings on hunting adventure alone.
When I was 10, my father signed us up for a paper route in our neighborhood. At that young age, we woke up at 3:00 in the morning before school. I rolled hundreds of news papers, and then distribute them to door steps around the neighborhood. I remember helping my father trying to wake up my siblings, but, most of all, I can remember making money. I continued this for a few years; I even took on two more routes by myself, tripling my numbers. I was entrusted with great responsibilities as a young child, and flourished.
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