Made by his Design ( Isaac Castillo)

Hey, my name is Isaac. I have been doing design and web application development work for over 19 years. I enjoy solving hard problems with code and love getting the job done. I have worked with various frameworks/libraries and languages; PHP, MySQL, CSS, Sass, Vuejs, Reactjs, WordPress, WooCommerce, Laravel and Rails,  just to name a few. I consider myself a full stack web application developer and can jump into a project and get quickly rooted. I’m highly motivated, deadline-driven and love to learn more about my field daily. I’m constantly reading, watching videos and tutorials and that's what I do just for fun! I’m a husband and a father, so in terms of provision and having great work ethic, that’s very important to me. I find it very fulfilling when a project has successfully been completed or when a full-on launch has deployed glitch-free. That’s just a little bit about me, but I would love to hear more about you and your project and how we can potentially work together. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:36

And try to do things and strive for better things. And Isaac is a perfect example for that. And he is on today to let you know, you know, to educate you guys on what's going on in his world. So Isaac Castillo, I know who you are. Let him know who you are, brother.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah, so my name is Isaac. I uh y'all know that part as well. I am from Corpus Christi. Uh, you know, one of the common things that I always say whenever somebody acts uh acts a little ghetto is I'm like, your corpus is showing. Um just because that's kind of that's kind of what I feel corpus is sometimes. Uh you know, it's funny you say coming from corpus as far as uh as far as you know coming out. You know, I wasn't really like a a gangster per se, but you know, you there's no way to kind of get away from you know, sometimes the the craziness that happens down there. Um uh growing up, being a teenager, I was the guy who was uh uh with long swords, long socks, flip-flops, and a hair net, uh, kind of dressing that that lowrider style. Uh and there's nothing like somebody asking you, you know, uh as they're strapping what set you claim, that you're like, you know what, maybe I need to change the way I dress. Uh I'm like, uh, yeah, there's something wrong here. I don't know if I want to go this route. Uh but you know, I was always brought up in church at a young age, you know, we we grew up in a Baptist church. Um, you know, and I kind of made my way in and out of church just kind of depending on what was going on in my life. Uh and, you know, uh where I'm out now started, you know, believe it or not, uh when when a buddy of mine were in a uh a Christian rap group, you know, we formed a Christian rap group when I was about uh 14 or 15. Um and you know, we would go rap in in in in in uh in the juveniles and boot camps to try and get uh teenagers to change their life. Uh and there's nothing more uh challenging uh than than rapping in a boot camp or a juvenile uh and you're setting up your speakers and then you hear a voice saying, Hey, what are you doing here, cuz? Uh and you're like, What are you doing here? And I'm like, uh you see your family and you're like, Oh, okay, well I'm wrapping to my family too. Uh, you know, so it's kind of interesting. I hope they don't hear this. Oh, I got much love from. Uh but yeah, so uh what started off was my my homeboy was the one who did the beat. Uh and I was in charge of it at that time making the tape cover. Uh so the tape cover, I did my first tape cassette cover um in uh Microsoft Word, so that was my first kind of hand, you know, graphic-ish design, but you know, it's not really a design software. And then I went into uh like Corel Draw and Photoshop and then started kind of picking up some uh people who were like, Oh, you do CD covers? Oh, do you do tape covers? I mean uh uh posters, do you do business cards? So uh it started off like around 98 where I was just kind of running stuff on the side and I was doing some you know artwork for people. Um, you know, there they're while we were, you know, while we were actually actually in our own, you know, rap group too. Uh and so that that kind of made my progression into what I what I do now. So, you know, I have kind of a I talk to different web developers now, and sometimes it's like, oh yeah, I'm computer science major, I'm this major, I'm that stuff, you know. Uh I I always tell everybody, well it all started with a rap group with me. Um and you know, we were called uh soldiers of Christ, SOC. Um, but yeah, and and so that's kind of where it started. Um you know, uh fast forward a little bit, uh I went to school for um uh engineering because I thought I was gonna go do electrical engineering and and that at AM Kingsville. Uh from there, uh that's when I got asked my first, you know, oh, you do business cards, but I did like menus for a restaurant. Well, they asked, Well, do you do website stuff? And I'm like, um, yeah, I can figure it out. So, you know, I kind of launched their website and did their own website, and that was my first one. Uh, and that was like in 2002, 2003. Uh, and and then from there, it's kind of like I started teaching myself how to code from a book. Uh, because you know, Google wasn't as handy as it is now, didn't have the resources that we do now. So, you know, I was kind of book taught how to program and uh started finishing my I ended up switching majors from uh electrical engineering to uh graphic design and art. Uh and then fast forward a little bit more and I just pretty much taught myself how to program uh you know, just from books and from from you know sharing with peers and things like that, leaning on other people. Uh that you know, that's what I kind of oh that's solely what I do now is programming and in and web, you know, web web development. Um so uh it was about 2007 I got let go from a position there. Uh I worked at a mega church there in Corpus and they were having some cutbacks. Um and then that's when my wife and I kind of in a parking lot were like, well, we said we would kind of move and we're you know if if we you know if anything were to happen and that it would do business full time, and so that was in 2007. Um you know, in 2007 uh we made the decision. We moved to San Antonio, uh, and then I started business full time. So I started doing that. Um it was scary, uh, of course. Um, but you know I I was let go from the job, so it's not like I had anything, you know, to let go anymore. It was let go for me. Right. So, you know, I did that for about two years. Uh economy hit and I was trying to look for a nighttime job and uh God was knocking at my door uh, you know, to come work at this uh church here in San Antonio called Community Bible Church. Uh I said no um several times. Uh and you know, there's nothing like, you know, when God wants you to do something, uh, you know, He can close the doors on you, but it's real hard for you to close the doors on God, you know? Right. Uh it's almost like it makes life harder if you try.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

Right.

SPEAKER_01 8:18

Uh so you know, it was down to, you know, it was down to the grind of it, and I was like, you know, I I pretty much lifted my hands in the air, and and you know, my relationship with God is a little bit more candid. Um, you know, I uh long story short, like when I was let go from that other church, uh I was walking, you know, walking to the vehicle and it started raining on me. And you know, I look up and I'm like, you're gonna have a sense of humor right now. Uh it you know, so it's that kind of talk that I that I had a relationship that I have with God. So, you know, at this time when we're here in San Antonio and the in the church, it's kind of there were several people who called me from the church. It was like three people, you know, saying, Hey, we got this position. I was like, No, no, no, it's okay, no, no, no, it's okay. And then stuff was just not going my way at home, you know, financially. I just pretty much lifted my hands in the air and looked up and said, You win. Uh, and then I called the church back, and that's when I landed over at CBC. Um, so it's like I told myself I went kicking and screaming because, you know, uh I was wanting to kind of do my business, but you know, I don't think it was time for me yet. Um, and so you know, I worked at the church for about three years, uh, and you know, uh that kind of had its uh had its run. You know, there was there was uh uh a position that opened up that kind of afforded me uh some other opportunities over at ATT um and ATT Uver, so I did programming there for about nine months. Uh from there I taught programming at a uh at a uh a Cody Boot camp here in San Antonio for about three years. I was one of the lead instructors uh and did that, and then I was kind of getting that itch to jump out on my own again uh just because I was missing it. Uh it seemed to be the right time, you know. I had learned so much again. Uh, and that was in 2016 that I said, you know what, I'm I'm gonna do it, and jumped out on my own and did it, and just you know, never really looked back since. And you know, it's been a roller coaster ride, but um all in all I I wouldn't have it any other way, man. So, you know, I I I enjoy what I'm doing now, you know, it's it's not for the faint of heart, you know. Um but but you know, I hust I wake up, hustle and grind and and and and just never try to look back, you know.

SPEAKER_00 10:37

So tell me, so how did you find your passion from the beginning anyway? Like it's just the whole like the it it came from the design work from making CDs to doing what you do now. So at this point, you're owner and developer of Echo Designs, is that correct? Yeah, that's correct. So yeah, so go on.

SPEAKER_01 10:59

Go ahead. Oh, okay. So uh yeah, as far as the passion goes, it it was uh trying to find that, I guess, I guess that niche. Um what I found out you know with myself is that I'm very um you know, I can be, I guess, analytical. Um, you know, I do have somewhat of an artistic mindset, you know, it being the writing lyrics for when we were doing rap to to cr doing design work. Uh and then I really found a sweet spot in in programming because uh not too many people look at it as an art form, and I do. And um, you know, I believe that the programming side of it is an art form. Like, you know, when I put things together and make it work and make it function a certain way, it's you know, it's a masterpiece in the end. Uh and and when I treat it like that, it it gives me uh I guess it gives me pleasure. I like to learn. I like the fact that things aren't the same all the time. And I think that's where you know, when I was trying to go engineering, I I you know, I'd worked as a I I did electrical drafting at the time and and we were in an office and I was like, man, I can't see myself doing the same thing over and over again. This is not this is this is not what I want to do. Uh and and art seemed to be it, but and but I found a sweet spot in um in in in programming and development because there's there's several things that happen for me. One, nothing's ever the same, really. You know, no solution is always the same. You always gotta figure out stuff. And there's something about problem solving that I just enjoy. Um, so you know, me solving problems with code and or even solving problems within the code itself, uh, it's it's rewarding. Um and then uh uh you know, it's never like I said, like I mentioned before, it's never the same. I'm always doing something different. And then the last thing is that uh I'm I'm uh I guess a learner or student, or I try to make myself a student all the time, and I just love learning new things. Uh and and in this field, there's like an endless amount of things to learn, you know. Uh and there's so many different directions you could take it in. So I'm always, you know, either reading an article or watching a video, or you know, there's so many resources out now, like there shouldn't be any excuse. I I I learned this stuff without those resources and got around, you know. Uh so it's one of those things where it's like, you know, there's so many resources now, it's like, okay, well, I'm gonna be learning this now, or I'm gonna learn that now, and just depending on what we're doing, you know.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

Yeah, that's amazing, man. That's that's really truly an art. It is. I can say that maybe for myself because just being a creator. Um just being artistic. I just love uh the fact that it's a good idea. You know, you may not have asked the right questions. I want to have in the field of something being developed. And I may not know I may not know the right questions to ask. Um you know, as a person that's coming up and you may not you may or may not understand them. Do are you a person to try to rebuttal them so they can be able to ask the right question? Or how do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Uh yeah, I'm uh so I'll put it this way, uh there's always been some sort of mentor there for me. There's always been some sort of person that I go to for asking advice to, whether it's in my field or or or whether it's something different. So I uh I'm always open for questions, always open for advice. Because not only that, I'm learning myself too. You know, I don't ever want to put myself in a you're lower than me kind of kind of way. Um, you know, I always want to help just because there was people who didn't have to help me that did, you know, that helped me learn the things that I that I that I know now.

SPEAKER_02 15:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:00

Um and and there's still people doing that where I'm trying to put people in my corner, whether it's in my field, whether it's in business, that I can ask questions to um and and and learn things from that, you know, been there that are further along the way. And you know, and I'm hoping that I'm further along the way that I can do the same with someone else, you know.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Uh and I tend to, you know, I tend to do that um, you know, when whenever and wherever I can.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

Yes, sir. Networking is very, very instrumental in our art forms, and uh and it's such a a big um part of what we do in general. How do you feel or or actually I'm gonna ask this how much support do you have from your family family and community? How important is that to you? Uh I think it's uh I think it's very important.

SPEAKER_01 15:53

Uh, you know, one, you know, I'm married, so the the the the spouse of support is huge. Um, you know, and and one thing that I think that I I that that's great about what I have is you know, we tend to um encourage each other. Um so you know, uh one other talk you may have. I mean my wife owns her own business, and that's something that we kind of work together, and she's the one who runs that. Um and and then at the same time, you know, she's in my corner when I wanted to jump out because it did mean that there was not going to be any there might be not, you know, any finances, you know, because you just never know. You're you're you're you're you're pushing to make sure that you get paid, you're pushing that money's coming through. Um, but you know, it's always it's a gamble. Right. So, you know, I have to make sure that she's on board, uh, and she's always been on board. Uh so that's a huge, huge plus. Uh, you know, for my extended family, they've always been a good support and prayers and asking how we're doing, sometimes even helping. Uh, you know, I remember just this this will this will be encouraging. Uh I remember me having my first meeting, uh this was back in 2007, uh, and and me just trying to m you know, trying to make it work, uh, having to borrow money from my parents to buy a pair of dress shoes so I can look sporty for this uh you know, for this uh meeting with the client that I'm gonna have, man. So, you know, there there there is that struggle that's there, and and without that support, without some of those beginnings, you know, where would I be? Yeah, you know, uh, you know, with my fam. So like and and I'm telling you that all in uh all in openness, you know, it's like here we are, yeah, uh business looks great, business is good, and in in and um, you know, but there is a struggle that has to happen, you know, that that you have to understand that goes through to, you know, that you have to go through, you know, to get there. So it's not all oh oh glam, I'm I'm I'm supporting a Lambo uh right now. But you know, it was uh, well, we I was barely starting, and I had to borrow money from mom and dad to get a pair of shoes for a meeting. Uh and you know, it was one of those things where it's like I you know, I always look at at memories like that and just kind of never forget where I came from, you know.

SPEAKER_00 18:13

Yeah, man. No. Humble beginnings are always a jump, man. And uh and that and not only that, but it sparked something in you, man, knowing that you do have support coming from your friends, uh, family and and the community uh that's you know built around your vision. Uh it's hard it's hard to to get other people to see your vision sometimes. And uh you don't know if they're gonna be always on board with you or not, you know, if they're willing to invest into it.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

No, no, no, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Yeah, if they're willing to invest into you, I think it's even better.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Yeah, and you do have the uh in you know, you you talk about coming from corpus and coming from that, and you know, I love my corpus, I love my corpus peaks. Uh, but there's always the uh there's always the, you know, like you mentioned before about moving away or you mentioned about, you know, sometimes you gotta kind of come out and get get get out of that situation, you know, or get out of the the area that you're in just to kind of try something new. Um sometimes there always there's always a feeling of, you know, oh well must be nice, or or you know, you're yeah oh you're trying to do this, look how goody two shoes you are. And I'm you're like, man, I'm hustling. Like don't don't even get me wrong, man. Like it's uh it's you know, I I I I have what I have because I I I fucked the tell for it, you know.

SPEAKER_00 19:32

Yeah, man. I totally get that. That's for sure. It's crazy. It's crazy how how that mentality uh stays with the person and never uh sometimes it never goes away. But I'm hoping that it does, you know, hopefully people can see uh the work for what it is and uh and say that you know you you did grind, you know, and and you wouldn't be here without the grind. So you've done so much, man. What do you think is the best accomplishment you've you've done so far?

SPEAKER_01 20:06

Um that's uh yeah, that's a that's a huge question, man. Um and I'm gonna probably go with uh you know, my my um my son's graduating this year, uh my oldest. Uh and and he's got that kind of entrepreneurial spirit and and and want, and it's something of course I I yeah I know that we've fed into and we've talked to him about. Um he's an amazing photographer, amazing video editor. Uh, you know, his his work is very, you know, it's it's something different, you know. And I'm not just saying that because he's my son, and part of me saying that because I'm proud, part of me saying that because I know his work and I've seen it. Um, but you know, I've got to spend yesterday with him, you know, at a at a photo shoot in in green, and then today he was doing a commercial for and and shooting video for for another client, and and tomorrow he's doing some video and and pictures for our church. So uh, you know, I I want to say that that I I'm very proud and one of the biggest accomplishments is the fact that I'm kind of we we've been, you know, wife and I have been nurturing into him and feeding him, you know, because we know that he wants to go this route, and it's like, well, there was nobody there to kind of give me that advice or as much advice as I, you know, as I would have liked, and we're giving him loads of knowledge and dropping knowledge on him of anything that we know and how to handle business and how to do this, and when the client asks us for this, and and you know, I want to say that that's like a huge accompli accomplishment for us because you know we can see that that he he has that that mentality now, you know. Uh a small story of that would be um you know, when he was smaller, uh the the a neighbor came and asked him, you know, Hey, can you do uh can you do my lawn? Uh and he would cut yards, you know, because uh he he wanted a camera. And I said, Well, I'll come up with half and you come up with half of the camera. So homeboy started cutting yards, he started watching dogs, he started cleaning up cleaning up uh uh leaves and all this other stuff to come up with half of the money for the camera that he wanted to buy. Uh and that was, you know, my biggest thing is I like I'm not gonna give you a handout. I'll make you, you know, work for it, but I'm I'm here to help. Um, you know, just so that way you know you know what work is. Um and the guy came and asked him to do the yard, and the guy's oh, so how much? Yeah, and and and that's the other bigger thing, is that you know, you gotta teach your kids to speak. Um, you know, uh and and that's something we've taught him to always, you know, look somebody in the eye, and always, you know, like every time somebody would ask him something, he would look at me, and I'm like, Don't look at me, he's talking to you. You know, so it's kind of like that teaching them how to talk to people. And right away the guy's uh, uh, how about 10 for my yard? And my son thinks for a little bit and he looks back at him, he's all let's do 20. Um, and the guy goes, the guy was taken back, you know, and he's uh because I'm gonna have my brother to help and I need to pay him too. And so it was kind of one of those proud moments of, you know, he handled his biz after, you know, talks and talks and talks with him, he's just kind of handling himself. So, you know, I want to say that that's a huge, you know, accomplishment for us because you know, we couldn't be more proud.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

Yeah, man, that's the development all together. Period. And uh, you know, there's no better way to do that than to be hands-on with your with your step with your son, man. Uh with your kids, period. Um I'm currently, you know, trying to get and educate my kids daily. Um, you know, to let them know that education is important. And they don't have to go the route, you know, they don't have to try to drop out and stuff. Um, you know, let them know that there's hope, you know, if you just keep moving, keep pushing, you know, keep doing what you need to do, you know. It may seem hard right now, but the development will grow and uh and uh you'll see the the light at the other end, man. At the end of sure. What would you see the what would you see the vision for Echo designs and and how how do you see your website pushing forward?

SPEAKER_01 24:19

Yeah, so you know, I'm right now we're uh I I'm actually rebranding Echo. Um so you know, I did pay, you know, now now I'm at the I'm at the spot where it's like, okay, well, I'm gonna get a designer to kind of help me on this and what I want and see what you know as far as the logo goes. So I'm rebranding my logo. Uh, and now I got a marketer who's helping me um kind of structure, you know, the the who we are kind of deal and who we're targeting and kind of really hone in on all that. So, you know, this first, you know, since 2016 to now has been, well, I'm gonna take this project, I'm gonna take this these projects, I'm gonna do these projects, you know, because I need to. And and now I'm in a spot where you know it's like, well, I want to take these projects because I want to, and this project because I want to. So it's a flip on um what I've been doing just because, you know, first it's been a hustle and a grind. Next, you know, I think I'm uh, you know, this next few years, I'm gonna get a little bit more strategic um with you know who I'm gonna be working with uh and how we're gonna be targeting them. And that's what this whole market new marketing this year is gonna do for me. Um, you know, one of the things that I would say to any business owner is that, you know, you do business, uh, but if you're the only one grinding, if you're the only one always doing, there's never a time that the business can actually run without you. Um and that's where I that's where my next kind of uh you know three to five years want, you know, where I want to be is can this business run without me? Because then I need to, you know, I need to put it on some sort of automation, I need to put it on some sort of you know, yeah, systemized approach on how we do things so that way, oh okay, I could get this person to help me run this spot, get this person to help me this run this spot. And I'm gone for a week, things still get done, things still get paid. Um, you know, and that's kind of that's kind of my next goal and vision for Echo is to to make sure that I can, you know, make it grow to that next level of, you know, it needs to grow past beyond me, because if not, then you know it's just me doing work for people as a highly skilled worker, you know?

SPEAKER_00 26:26

Yes, sir, yes, sir. And that's good word, sir. Now tell them where they can reach you, how they can get in contact with you. Uh tell them about Echo, man.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

Yeah, yeah. So Echo Design Solutions, uh, that's that's my company. Uh we we we make solutions for any type of uh, I guess, web development need, you know, whether there's something within your current website that you don't like how it operates or works, or you just need to kind of redo your website. Uh there can also be some sort of internal workflow, you know, things with your with your uh business. It's like, okay, if you if you have everything on paper and you're losing paper, or you're having to try and track things back and forth your Excel sheet and it's just not working for you, or you're outgrowing that system, you know, we can develop a customized system that'll that'll work for you. Uh you can reach us at echo ds.com. So that's ECHO DS and Design S and Solutions.com. You can email me at Isaac I-S-A-A-C at echo ds.com, or you could hit me up at 210788-9646 uh and give me a ring.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Yes, sir. I man, I am so proud of you, bro, for your accomplishment. And it's crazy. It's been fun, man. It's building. And uh thank you for being on the pod, man. And uh, you know, we're gonna be able to do that.