Angie Barbero Ostojic: My Journey, My Success

Women in Leadership and Business – Angie Ostojic

At a glance: Angie Ostojic is a multi-awardee in the insurance business industry. She has 17 years of experience as a business women. She is a speaker, and a coach. She currently runs a fast-growing organization of more than 100 sales representatives.

In Elementary

First of all, I came from the Philippines. At the very young age, I had to beg my parents to send me to school. They could not afford to support my schooling. I remember going to school with no sandals, and having to walk very far. I had to fetch water for people so that they would pay me and give me money to buy some clothes to wear. I washed clothes for people in exchange for food. I did this all on my own because I couldn’t get support from my parents. This was just in elementary.

High-School Years

In high-school, my parents told me that if I wanted to go to school, I would have to support myself. So I went to school, supporting myself, studying very hard so I can get a sponsorship. I had to do it because it was the only way I could get away from poverty. Eventually, I was sponsored by a charity who supported kids with good grades. It was called CCF – Christian Children’s Fund. That’s the scholarship program that helped me. They sent money to kids who are smart. I was fortunate enough to be one of the kids they supported.

I remember coming home from school one time, and the laces of my slippers broke. I had to use a metal cap of a coke bottle to hold it in place so that I can continue to use my slippers. I was bullied in school because I was so skinny and I did not have lunch most days. Kids teased me. They’d show their candies to me to make me jealous. I took seeds from a fruit and put it in my mouth and make it look like I’m chewing on a candy so they would stop teasing me.

After school, I went to the farm field and helped my parents. I fetched our carabaos (water buffalo) and gave them water to drink. Since I was the eldest in the family, this became my responsibility. Some days I was so tired that I fell asleep on top of the carabaos. One time I fell off. To make the story short, I finished high-school and received high grades. That’s because I soaked my feet at night so I could stay up late and study. I wanted to get good grades, so I stayed up late at night after school and farm work was done. This was my high-school.

Struggle in University

During university, priest was able to get me scholarships for my education. I took Bachelor of Science in Education. I had to struggle again because the sponsorship could only pay the tuition fee. I had to work for my allowance and my boarding school. To support myself, I cleaned the washrooms at the University until 11 pm or midnight. I was teased a lot. Some students said I smell like crap. But that did not stop me. I relied on God‘s strength and mercy to keep me going.

There were days where I felt like giving up because I never experienced how it was like to grow up properly. I never got a chance to grow up like an average child or a teenager. It was a struggle from the beginning. But in all these things, I always believed that for every single suffering, there will be a reward. I envision myself as a very successful woman in my own way by inspiring thousands of individuals like me. I knew that all of my sufferings would come to an end and everything will be put in the right place. I never dreamed that I would have the life that I have now. But I envisioned a better future and this kept me alive. I took everything as a challenge, and I thank God every single day that I’m alive.

I remember some days in the University I exchanged food for doing people’s homework. I used my gifts to survive. Looking at it now, it’s incredible. One time in university, my classmates nominated me to be a secretary of a student body just to embarrass me. They knew that I was cleaning toilets and they wanted to put me in the spotlight. But one guy came up to me and encourage me. He told me that people would put me down, but I had to stand up and show that I can do it. He said he believed in me, and that I am not just a toilet cleaner. He told me that I could be better. So when it was my turn to come up and present myself, some students were yelling, “Here comes the toilet girl,” but I went up in front of everybody and spoke from the heart. I took a leap of faith. I spoke in English. Every one of them was quiet. After that, I had more votes than the student president. That experience proved to me that I could be somebody. I can be influential to women and people. And since then I’ve never look down on myself.

Going Overseas

Then I went to the Middle East and worked as a domestic helper. After three years there, I went home I got sick and almost died. My employer shipped me back home. While in the Middle East, I sent all my money to the Philippines to my family. But when I came home I got nothing because all the money I sent to them, they spent. Every single penny. I was hoping that they would build a business using the money I sent them, but they spent it all. In spite of this, one thing I never forgot to do is that every Christmas, I gave my family something. I always give gifts even though I don’t have much.

Then I went to Hong Kong. I stayed there for two and a half years. Again as a domestic helper. Then I applied to go to Canada. When I arrived, I had $50 in my pocket. I worked as a caregiver for three years. When I receive my permanent residency, I started my sales career. I made the change because I know I cannot go forward if I continue to work for someone else.

Sales Career

I started by selling vacuums. For the first two weeks, I did not have any sale. I was crying because I did not have money to pay my housing rent. And I also had no money to buy food. But I said to myself, no matter what I’m going to get a sale. Because of my persistence from morning to 10 p.m., I sold five vacuums in one day. I broke the record for the company I represented for selling five units in one day.

Then I got married and had kids. I sold Avon. I was delivering brochures every single day with my baby. I was delivering orders and staying late up at night. I never gave up. During the day I would do Avon, and at night I would work as a waitress at a restaurant. And sometimes I will go cleaning with my friend who has commercial cleaning. I also sold jewelry. All this while raising my children. Then I got into network marketing. I committed then to retire my husband. I wanted him to retire so he could help raise our kids. My husband supports me in everything I do, and I never stopped to help him put food on the table. We take our kids on holidays at least once a year because I want them to see the world. I don’t want them to suffer the way I suffered when I was young. With my strength and God’s help I never want them to experience the things that I experienced. I work hard each year to be able to take them out of the country. We’ve been to Disneyland and different places. And with my hard work, I was able to retire my husband at the age 48. It’s been four years now.

Combined Insurance

I was making a quarter of a million a year before I came to Combined. The previous company was sustaining my lifestyle. But it was not taking us to where we want to be because I was spending more than I’m making. However, I had to leave the company because it was no longer where my heart is. I felt that the leaders were no longer delivering on what they promised. I thought that I was the only one making money but all the other people underneath me were not making money. I stopped it because it was no longer something that I believe in. I believe in helping people. I believe that the success of other people is my happiness and my fulfillment. I joined Combined Insurance because they represented a win-win for the clients, for the agents, and for the company.

With Combined, I did something that has not been done in the company before. After a few months, we obtained the district leader position and doubled the volume of business in our district. We broke the record of every single manager. But it’s not about me; it’s about the people who are working with me who are hungry enough to change their lives. I am just giving them a vehicle and to hold them accountable for their success.

Advice to Others

My advice to anyone just starting out is to learn to forgive and forget. Don’t let your past hold you back. Don’t hold on to the thoughts of people who told you that it’s not possible for you to succeed. Forgive and forget. The faster you forgive and forget, the quicker you can succeed. I wish I believed in myself earlier and that I didn’t waste my time doubting.
People who succeed in life are those who make a firm decision and take action. If you cannot make a decision, then you’re stuck. To make a decision sometime is the most painful thing. But when you make a decision, you’re free. For example, if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, then make a decision not to live paycheck to paycheck. If you cannot make a decision, you cannot take proper action.

I want people to believe in themselves. And I want them to believe that everything is possible.

Vision for the Community

I want to inspire thousands of women in our community. I want to encourage them to move forward and create a ripple effect from one person to another and bring inspiration to all women. I don’t want them to use their kids, spouse, or anything else as an excuse. I want them to move forward no matter what.

I believe that a woman has the power to mold her husband. The husband could be the smartest man in the world, but if there’s a bad woman behind him, he will not go very far. That’s how I look at it. If a woman is a nagger and see all the small stuff and is always stressed, it will go down on the husband and the kids. My vision is to have thousands of women gathering together in all different walks of life, united and inspiring the world. If we can inspire women, kids will be different. They will go to a home that is inspired. Our world will be a better place. But let’s start with one person at a time. One family at a time.

I want to inspire with faith. I want to inspire with a great relationship. I want to inspire in business and leadership. No excuses. Keep moving forward. And I believe we can all make it.

This is my Journey. This is my Success.

-Angie Barbero Ostojic

This article was originally published in Success Now Magazine, 2017

Photo Credit: Armand Flores of Profolio Photography