Adolescence, a time of intense emotional fluctuations, presents challenges that go beyond the physical, confronting the young person with situations that transform them in unexpected ways. At the age of 13, Leo learned to turn these emotional difficulties into valuable growth opportunities. It was during this period that he began to follow in the footsteps of his godfather, Ramón Jardines, his father's cousin, a businessman and owner of a successful textile factory in the city of Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico.

Leo thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his godfather. Despite his young age, his mind was fully focused on learning every detail about how to manage a business. Instead of getting lost in the distractions typical of his youth, Leo dedicated his time to observing and understanding the workings of the textile industry, with the firm intention of one day having his own business. He always adopted a positive and proactive attitude, seeking every opportunity to learn, whether it was helping to sell clothes at the markets in the State of Mexico or actively participating in the day-to-day operations of the family business.

At the age of 14, Leo began to learn to drive, a skill his godfather encouraged with great enthusiasm. In addition, the money Leo earned from helping sell clothes was carefully saved with the goal of growing his wealth. It was then that he came up with a brilliant idea: to buy small sheep, feed them, and, once they were grown, sell them. This new business began to prosper, and with the help of his younger siblings, who took care of the animals, Leo continued working tirelessly to make his dream of becoming a textile entrepreneur a reality.

His mother, always supportive of his initiatives, helped him sell the sheep in the surrounding area. Together, they would travel by cargo buses to the city of Tulancingo, where they sold the animals. The money they earned allowed them to move forward, but the greatest satisfaction for Leo came when, with the savings from these small businesses, he was able to buy his first car, a Datsun in poor condition. Although the vehicle was almost falling apart, it represented a tremendous achievement for Leo, a tangible symbol of his effort and perseverance.

Leo fondly remembers a special day when his mother was waiting for the cargo bus to sell the sheep. At that moment, he drove by in his car, excited, telling her to get in, as he would drive her. That moment became engraved in his heart, as he was able to transport his mother in his own car. He recalls how the dust from the dirt roads entered through the bottom of the vehicle, creating clouds that made it difficult to see, but even so, that journey meant so much to him.

It was then that his mother, seeing Leo's effort and determination, lovingly said, "Son, one day you will have a brand-new car." These words became a mantra for Leo, who, despite the challenges, remained steadfast in his resolve to achieve his dream.

His desire to own his own textile factory continued to grow stronger. One day, his uncle Refugio Flores returned from the United States and visited Leo's parents. After hearing his uncle's success stories, Leo thought that if he traveled to the United States for a few years and worked with the same dedication, he could save up enough money to make his dream of owning a textile factory come true.