We’re looking forward to introducing you to Danny Arguello. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Danny, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I would say a wonderful moment for me was visiting Nicaragua for the first time in 10 years recently. I got to see the FIBA AmeriCup, which is a big tournament that I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams to have taken place in the land of my family. I feel proud about being of Nicaraguan descent. What made the moment even more special was having my son there with me for the first time. Sharing that moment with him and my father is something that I will never forget. Another moment was running my 5th edition of summer basketball camp. It has grown every year thanks to my support system, we have been able to accomplish great things with each camp. I look back at how camp started 5 years ago outdoors to having it in a gym now and being to have that space for kids that want to grow in this game, I take pride in that. Once a day I just look back and remember that I used to dream about the life I live currently and it has come to fruition thanks to hard well and dedication. I am extremely proud of the life I live.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello my name is Danny “Slim” Arguello, CEO/Founder of Renaissance Basketball Training LLC. I am one of the few Nicaraguan Americans in this field and I actually was just hired by Florida National University as their Assistant Women’s Basketball coach. This makes me the first Nica-American to coach basketball at the university level in both men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. I have been training now for 5 years and I have been coaching basketball for the past 14 years. I have been able to train pros, college, and youth athletes across all of my years of experience.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Thankfully I have been blessed to be around diligent, hard workers my whole life. The two that stand out to me are my parents. My father and my mother emigrated from Nicaragua in the 80’s. I’ve seen my father and my mother work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs at a time without batting an eye. Meanwhile still raising my sister and myself. We always had everything we needed and they taught me very early that if you put in the work good things happen. Due to their hard work, we went from living in a 2 bedroom apartment, to a condo, to eventually a house. They always showed up for work and that drive is something that is ingrained in me.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to forget about doubt. Imposter syndrome is something that I have dealt with. It prevented me from taking on other opportunities in the past. I would also tell my younger self to do more research into things that I was interested in at that time. I would tell myself to take more chances and enjoy every facet of life and not just work life.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that my life was all about work and not much play. In the sense that I felt if I had too much time off or if I did not eliminate distractions that it was wrong to live that way. As I have grown older I have realized that life to me is all about balance. I enjoy what I do as much as I enjoy when I have my time off to just appreciate my wife, my son and my other hobbies outside of what I do for a living.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I believe that my legacy will be built on the fact that I am a family man and that I truly do care for others. I hope that people will say that I am of high character and what you see in front of you is what you get. I hope to be known as a lifelong learner and someone that never got complacent. I want to be seen as someone that never stopped growing and was willing to adapt to whatever life threw at me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renaissancebasketball.com/
- Instagram: _coachslim13_
Image Credits
These were taken by Camille Wildenburg Photography. IG:camillewildenburgphotography
