For seven years, Esteban Barrientos worked as an oilfield salesman, and that's all he did. The job was all-consuming, leaving no time for him to be a husband to his wife, a dad to his kids, or even a friend to his neighbors. The job was high-paying, but the price Esteban was paying personally was higher.
He says it felt like he was losing part of his soul.
"I felt like my identity was completely wrapped up in being that oilfield guy. Whatever that required, day or night, weekends, or holidays, I would be at work."
Esteban knows he's fortunate to have a wife who understood what he was doing was to better their situation and make sure she and their kids had everything they needed. "But in reality," he said, "the main thing they needed was ME."
In 2017, while he and his wife were buying a home through Betenbough Homes, Esteban noticed that every single person he dealt with loved their job.
"I'd never been anywhere where every person had the same answer to the question, 'do you like your job?'" he said. "I told my wife that I'd really like to be part of that culture, and I feel blessed and fortunate that now I am!"
"It's about inspiring people and making them feel welcome."
Hired in February 2021, Esteban serves as a new home specialist for Betenbough Homes, helping sell homes to customers. He doesn't feel like he's a salesman, though. If anything, he says, he's getting the opportunity to make an impact on people's lives by helping walk them through one of the biggest and most complex financial decisions they'll ever make.
"It's about inspiring people and making them feel welcome," Esteban says, about not only customers but his coworkers too. "I always greet them, shake their hand, or hug them. I feel like I've become part of the fabric and culture of Betenbough."
Part of that culture, too, is praying for others. Esteban recounts the story of his team praying for a coworker whose daughter was having medical challenges. "We actually took time out of our day to pray for her and her child! At first, admittedly, I thought it was weird, but now, looking back on it, it was just awesome! Taking time to let her know that she's important to us, and we care about her and her family – it was an amazing experience," he said.
Betenbough has influenced Esteban's relationships outside of work too. He was too busy working at his old job to get to know the people around him, but that's not the case anymore. Since starting his career at Betenbough, he's become good friends with his across-the-street neighbor.
"He always has a smile on his face, even if he's delivering bad news or has had a rough day, he's always smiling," Donavon, Esteban’s leader, said. "He was a great guy when he came here, but it's cool to see what an even better person he is now."
Esteban credits that personal growth to Betenbough, its culture, and the work/life balance it's given him. "This place has made my heart tender. It's given me so much. The time I lost with my family previously – I've gained back so much more just in the short time I've worked here."
Esteban Barrientos at home with his family