Meet Andrew Flaniken
Take one look at Andrew Flaniken’s profile picture on LinkedIn and you might think you know what he is about. You’d be wrong. On any given night, you might find him listening to Nirvana, Amy Winehouse or Waylon Jennings. These days though he looks a little different, but you need to sit down with Andrew and talk with him to get a better idea of the depth within Andrew. Then, you might understand that he also likes hip-hop and Rock N’ Roll.
Andrew grew up in the working class in the Mississippi Delta area. His parents helped him understand the value of money management at an early age. “Never spend more than you make, and you will be wealthy.” Wealthy in the sense of being happy. Surround yourself with good people. Andrew feels like Memphis gave him “soul”. Growing up there really gave him a different perspective. He has been able to experience more because of that perspective. That is something he finds unique in Houston. He will always appreciate his Memphis roots, but Houston provides a different set of opportunities that he would like to pursue.
What brought Andrew to Houston is what brings lots of people to the city; a career opportunity. In 2011, he took a training and development job in Dallas, and after going through that training program in Dallas, he had an opportunity to make the bayou city the next stop on his journey. Now, he his making his way in the insurance industry while trying to make sure he leaves a lasting impact on this city. He is really driven by his upbringing. Listening to him tell stories about his mom, dad and coaches you can really understand the lessons that helped to form who the 33 year old is today.
Andrew’s mother had his brother early at 19 and was married and divorced a couple of years later. His dad grew up on a hog farm just outside of Memphis, but because of hard times, he had to move to make a living and take care of the family. Like many, there was a grind to overcome tough circumstances. Andrew felt his parents worked hard to put him in a better place and support him in reaching his goals. His dad would turn baseball games into life lessons or moments to teach him. Having a solid community around him, he had many other “dad’s” and family friends also played a part in his development.
He is now doing that for Javier, his “Little”, in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston. Andrew has been a part of Javier’s life for over 8 years, and the bond has grown into a true brotherhood. Andrew is passionate about the importance of financial wellness and understands the relationship with health, wealth and wellness. Javier goes to one of the top magnet schools in Texas, but that school – like all others - doesn’t teach financial matters to the students. He is teaching Javier everything from saving his money to investing in stocks – instead of in ear pods or video games. He is trying to cultivate his growth to help improve Javier’s path – just like Andrew’s community helped him. Why don’t schools have financial centers much like science centers (STEM)? That is something that Andrew would like to see change in youth education.
It doesn’t take long to find out that Andrew likes to learn about others. It’s like he finds another piece of his puzzle. And, I think he draws those same type of individuals to him. People are longing for stories that connect and unite us. Unbiased news stories that inform are lacking. We are living in a divided nation. There are so many conversations and stories that help others feel like someone else is like you. Those are thoughts from Andrew as you speak with him about the current Leadership Houston class project. Creating a place where you don’t feel like you are being attacked because you are different. Leaders in our communities seem as if they aren’t trying to bring people together anymore, but we very much need that in this world.
You never know what someone is going through and a “hello” or “how are you” can go along way. He tries to give a compliment to someone every day – as you never know what someone is dealing with in that moment. It’s a way to give back in a way that not monetary. Giving back in the sense of creating culture in the moment. Promoting kindness by starting with a small conversation. I have friends now where our relationship started with a simple compliment. In fact, Andrew’s current job was possible all because of a simple conversation over his University of Tennessee car decal.
One incident that had a major impact on Andrew’s life took him back to something he learned from his father. In a moment of chaos, take one second to breath. In stressful moments, the blood constricts which can lead to cloudy judgmental decisions. There was a moment in 2015 during the Memorial Day flood when this became all too real for Andrew. It was raining very heavily, and he was leaving a friend’s apartment in the Galleria area where they had been watching a Houston Rocket’s playoff game. He was in a car and his roommate was in a SUV. They were both approaching an area known for terrible flooding. Andrew made a choice to go a different route to avoid the area. He called his roommate to let him know he should avoid that area also. His roommate had hit water already and his car stalled. Andrew told him to get out of the car and he would come meet him to pick him up. Andrew went back to go check on his roommate, he wasn’t there. He tried to call his phone, no answer. When he got back to the area, he could see that the underpass that typically flooded had over 8 feet of water. Andrew walked as far as he could to see if he could spot a car in the water. He was fearful that his friend might be submerged in his car in that water. About the time he realized he couldn’t see anything, a car starts coming toward the flooded area, and Andrew attempted to get the driver’s attention so he would stop, but it was too late. The car went into the water. The driver managed to climb out of the driver side’s window. He then proceeded to climb onto the hood of the car as it started floating. The driver yelled out to Andrew that he couldn’t swim. Andrew jumped into action and assisted the driver to safety. The gentleman was panicking, but Andrew remembered what his dad taught him – Breath. Andrew found out later that his roommate was fine and that his phone had died, but Andrew’s ability to stop and breath helped him respond during that crisis. He also found out that the person he saved was the son-in-law of one of his clients.
Two years later came Harvey. “Being from the Mississippi Delta region, I used to love a good thunderstorm but not anymore.” Imagine planning for a marriage in March of 2018 and Harvey hits in August of 2017. You have 8 inches of water in your house. You were just in the first year of a new job. Your fiancé had just started a new job, and you have no family in town. You have to live upstairs as the entire downstairs is being remodeled. You are still trying to work, rebuild a house and plan a wedding. That can break relationships, but Andrew and his wife grew stronger through it all. When they think of those ten months, it reminds them that they can make it through anything together.
Be comfortable being uncomfortable is another motto that he lives by. He really loves Houston, and he has surrounded himself with people who can be mentor to his kids. He didn’t have a lot growing up, but he had community, and that is all he needed. He feels like he has been building that here in Houston for himself and his family. He wants to be able to provide his kids with experiences that he was not exposed growing up. He is working with his wife to build a legacy here in Houston. Houston embraces a mindset of go to work, pay your taxes, love your family and you will survive. Houston will be the blueprint for how to survive the “right way” and make a better tomorrow for what you are doing today.
One thing is for sure about Andrew; if he doesn’t know, he will figure it out. That might actually be something that is written on his tombstone. Andrew, however, has a lot to do while he is here. I can’t wait to see what lives he changes along the way.
