Flamin' Hot

The Incredible True Story of One Man's Rise from Janitor to Top Executive

By: Richard Montanez

Narrated by: Steven Montañez, Richard Montanez

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Listen to the story everyone is talking about: how a janitor struggling to put food on the table invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in a secret test kitchen, breaking barriers and becoming the first Latino frontline worker promoted to executive at Frito-Lay.

Richard Montañez is a man who made a science out of walking through closed doors, and his success story is an empowerment manual for anyone stuck in a dead-end job or facing a system stacked against them.

Having taken a job mopping floors at Frito-Lay's California factory to support his family, Montañez took his future into his own hands and created the world’s hottest snack food: Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. This bold move not only disrupted the food industry with some much-needed spice, but also shook up a corporate culture in which everyone stayed in their lane. When a top food scientist at Frito-Lay sent out a memo telling sales and marketing to kill the new product before it made it to the store shelves - jealous that someone with no formal education beyond the sixth grade could do his job - Montañez was forced to go rogue once again to save his idea. Through creative thinking, community building, and a few powerful mindset shifts, he outsmarted the naysayers who tried to get in his way.

Flamin' Hot proves that you can break out of your career rut and that your present circumstances don't have to dictate your future.

©2021 Richard Montanez (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“From the moment I heard Richard Montañez’s amazing story, I knew it had to be shared with the world. His journey will inspire you to never give up on your dreams, no matter who you are and no matter where you’re from. The invaluable wisdom he shares in this book makes Flamin’ Hot a must read for everyone looking to succeed.” (Eva Longoria, actor, producer, and director)

“The power of Richard’s story is unprecedented. His ability to inspire and engage our employees is remarkable.” (Brian Cornell, CEO of Target)

“Richard Montañez is a living legend. His story has inspired me from the moment I heard about it, and I have no doubt the wisdom he shares in Flamin’ Hot will inspire millions of readers around the world! Richard Montañez is the ultimate dream catcher and this is a must read for anyone chasing a dream!” (DeVon Franklin, producer of the Flamin’ Hot movie and New York Times best-selling author)

very inspiring

I listened to this in one sitting! loved every word! I definitely recommend it!!

What If…

Richard’s story resonates with millions of Latinos seeking the American dream. From his humble beginnings to his adventures at the White House. His story will inspire you to ask the question what if? What if I can do the same, what if my life doesn’t have end here, what if there’s more for me. Go purchase this book and begin working in your what if story.

Very motivational book.

Nice story, very simple but powerful ideas. Easy to understand ideas, narrator is great.

DOPEST STORY EVER

this book was an amazing story of the life of Richard Montenez. Don't pass it up

Great book, the power of a growth mindset

Richard illustrates time and time again what it takes to conquer your dreams and go after your goals with relentless passion. Just the simple fact that he started as a janitor and almost lost that job because he didn’t display enough “initiative” then the simple fact that he went home, asked his wife what the word meant and they had to go to the local library to look it up, so that he could then do exactly that. This is a powerful rags to riches story and filled with dozens of gold nuggets for transformation.

Very inspiring

I loved Richard’s story and the Netflix show. Truly inspiring, and encouraging. I love Hot Cheetos and regular Cheetos and Pepsi.

Such an inspiring story!

This book reads somewhat like a novel. It keeps you entertained and wondering where it will lead you to. I think that Richard Montanez is a living example of the American dream and shows that no matter where you’re from, it’s your mindset that counts, because you can do anything you want to do in life if you put in the work and never quit.

Great read!

This book is many things, a rags to riches story, a guide to self improvement, an inside look at the snack food industry, an autobiography of an influential business man... Above all else it is a story of empowerment! As a bluecollar worker I was inspired.

For the little guys working their way up

This is a crazy story where a janitor creates a multi-billion dollar product, writes a book on efficiency, and rises above his humble roots to lead his company (Frito Lay) out of decline and into success. Montanez is a character; he has style and humor and many lessons from his struggles. From the mop closet to the board room he worked hard, owned his work, learned what it is to take initiative, and made connections with many of the leaders who believed in him. He teaches younger workers how to take pride in their work. He exemplifies the idea of acting like an owner. Montanez watched a video from the CEO asking for every employee to create ideas for growing the company and took it to heart. He and his family saw an opportunity to expand chips into a wide-open market- there weren’t any snacks for the Latin families who liked things with extra spices. Seeing this huge gap in the market, Montanez invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Then he went way out on a limb and called up the CEO with his idea. Everyone wanted to watch the janitor get fired for calling the CEO directly, but instead, he got the chance to pitch his idea to the CEO and many other executives. Montanez didn’t know how to pitch, so he went to the library and checked out some books, and developed a pitch. Everyone held their breath as he got ready for his presentation, but he still didn’t get fired. He nailed it. But the business wasn’t ready for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to go big. They started small, so Montanez took his family out to the LA shops that were selling a few bags here and there and bought them all up and convinced the owners of the shops to buy more. Orders increased, and eventually, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos became a billion-dollar product. Don’t be afraid to look ridiculous. Don’t stop at “what if?”, keep going through “Why not?”, and work your way through the “What then?” questions that will lead your dream to challenge the status quo. Finally, study your words. Know what they mean. Chose them carefully. They have power. Words define our realities. Speak words of power into your dreams and your families. I love this story. It’s a grander version of my own story (which is not quite as far along).

This book is for the little guy who needs a boost, the brave, and the leaders yet to breakthrough.

Inspiring

This book is a must read or heard for all entrepreneurs and leaders. Faith it until you make it.