747. An Immigrant “Dreamer” Is Living His American Dream

Diego Corzo

“One of the things I’m working on now is teaching millennials. I feel that once people hear my story, I’ve gotten a lot of American friends and also dreamers like myself who tell me, ‘Hey Diego, I want to learn what you are doing because if you can do it as an undocumented immigrant, I can also do that as an American.’ So I’m working on those projects where I can help other people achieve their own version of the American dream.”

Diego Corzo is a 28-year-old entrepreneur, born in Peru and now living in Austin, TX. He started working in corporate America and soon discovered that he was destined for more. After realizing that corporate life was not for him, he pursued a career in real estate. Now, he is a realtor for Keller Williams alongside an incredible team, and currently owns 12 rental properties. Diego is on a path to financial freedom and aspires to help others, especially millennials, become financially free and reach their full potential.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

Having moved to the U.S. with his parents when he was nine, “I found out at 16 that I could not get my driver’s license because I was an undocumented immigrant. I decided that if my lack of documents was going to be an obstacle to accomplishing my life and career goals, I would put all of my efforts into my education in the hope that I would get recognized enough to have a good life and achieve the American Dream. So, I graduated number three in my class with an International High School Diploma and went on to graduate in the top 1% of my class at Florida State University.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“In 2012 President Obama passed an executive order called DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This program allows so called ‘dreamers’ like me, who came to the United States with their parents, to apply for a work permit, get a driver’s license and have social security. Undocumented immigrants can create a company, so this is how I was able to pay my way through college as a contractor doing websites for other small businesses or nonprofits. I was fortunate to graduate in the top 1% of my class at Florida State University, with two bachelor degrees, in less than 4 years, without any financial debt.”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“I learned the power of hard work at a very young age from both my parents and my grandparents. My mother worked her way up to being a branch manager of a bank and my father had the tenacity to start a couple of businesses. Both of my grandfathers had started their own businesses as well. This powerful work ethic served me well throughout my education from high school, where my mathematic skills helped me to excel, through university at FSU where I earned two degrees in 4 years, and into my entrepreneurial career now as real estate broker and investor.”

Steps to Success from Diego Corzo

1. First, master your personal finances. You have to absolutely know your financial status so that you can make vital decisions based on a solid financial base.

2. Invest in your personal growth and development from an early age from the myriad sources available today: books, seminars, podcasts, etc.

3. Find mentors or influential people in the occupations or professions you are interested in, and pick their brains to learn from their insights and experiences.

4. Never hesitate to step outside of your comfort zone, to explore the endless opportunities and options available to you.