I come from a family that brought me up as well as they could. I’ve never lacked anything. I’ve always had everything.

I never lacked for food. I haven’t lacked luxury. I haven’t lacked comfort.

My mother is a warrior. A professional of excellence whom I have always admired for her dedication, professionalism, punctuality and spirit of sacrifice. She worked for private and public companies in various cities, with a spirit of sacrifice that hurts to hear about. In between major undertakings, Vale do Lobo was born with her. Later, she dedicated part of her life to the university cause. Recognition was inevitable. If the deadline was Monday, it had to be done today. If the deadline was at the end of the month, it had to be done today. If the deadline was tomorrow, there were no questions, it was already done. A recognized professional, who still maintains relations with all her colleagues and former co-workers. A reference. A lesson in life. My mother is love. She is affection. She’s sweetness. She’s the best mother in the world.

My father is also a professional of excellence. Clinical director of the HDF, service director, nationally recognized for everything he has done for the cause of health. A doctor like no other today. His sole focus is the patient’s well-being. He worked in the public and private sectors simultaneously. We rarely saw him at home. In the street we heard phrases, words and gestures of thanks. We were the doctor’s son. It paid off in moments that became rituals. I learned to ride a horse with his help. I spent whole days at riding centers while he devoured newspapers to the sound of the horses.

He, too, from Ribatejo, passed on values, ways of being and behaviors that came in very handy in my professional life. You just had to pay attention. The way we had “man conversations” as I call them. Those lessons between the lines that only the most astute can understand. A greeting, a look, a silence. He hasn’t been awarded the city medal yet, but I believe Faro will have a street named after him. Otherwise, the memories are really quite short.

My mother always saved money. She always taught us to live with little. But we never lacked for anything. On the contrary. I know what I’m talking about.

My father always lived like there was no tomorrow. Now, at this moment. And for those who know, “Piri-piri” was our second home. No restrictions and lots of profiteroles. (Funny to read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” today…)

Nobody taught me how to be an entrepreneur.

I studied all the way to university in an absolutely regular way. I failed two years. I had a hardcore band, skateboarded and bodyboarded. I had lots of friends and lots of girlfriends.

In academic life I tried to suck up every second, every activity, every moment. I lived alone and learned to handle money simply. Always without thinking about tomorrow. But it was at this time, namely when I was president of the academic association of the Faculty of Human Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University, that I learned that I had a knack for leading people and achieving goals.

My internship at the oriente foundation, my first jobs, my whole career was a sponge. I learned, dedicated myself and always tried to outdo myself as a professional.

I’ve worked for public and private companies in Portugal and abroad. And in 2008 I went out of business. A copy center in Loulé. And I went through some very difficult times in the periods that followed.

Then I went to Mozambique to work for multinationals, small companies and unforgettable projects.

And when I returned to Portugal, I opened B16 Unipessoal LDA.

Nobody ever taught me how to be an entrepreneur.

I try to learn every day. I talk to fellow entrepreneurs. I google a lot of things and watch a lot of videos. I’ve sought external advice. I’ve taken online courses and whenever I can I go to events that might help change something in me. I read a lot.

My journey from 2016 to today has been unforgettable, difficult but memorably good. Good things and bad, I feel like a successful entrepreneur.

I’m not focused on profit, but on people. I’m not focused on sales, but on the difference I make to my clients’ businesses. I’m not a capitalist, but I feel like a leader of this clan we’ve formed together.

The truth is that I never imagined not having working hours. I don’t. I can try to create a routine, but I don’t have a fixed schedule. I can go out whenever I want.

I can pick up my daughter when she’s sick. I can take her to the horses on Tuesday afternoons. I can choose to go to the beach with my son and my dogs. I can travel with my family and inform my team that I won’t be working on those days.

In October 2024, I spent three weeks in Indonesia and my team put me at ease so much that nothing was difficult for us. It went wonderfully. The clan is, in fact, a group of people with the same values, concerns and goals.

And I believe that part of that comes from me.

“Yesterday we hired by force, today we hire by mind and tomorrow we hire by heart” – I don’t know who said that phrase, but I believe the tense is different. Before yesterday we hired by force, yesterday we hired by mind, today we hire by heart and tomorrow I don’t know, but anything related to AI…

I care about my well-being. That’s the difference. Connecting with nature, with myself, with the place where I live.

Running a company is all about how we distance ourselves from the Self and position ourselves from the outside looking in at our 4 responsibilities: Manager, Producer, Dreamer and Investor. These 4 hats are different from each other.

I manage the company based on yesterday’s information; I produce all the executive and operational work during the day today; I imagine the company tomorrow; and, above all, I connect with my role as an investor to imagine the fruit of my journey.

There are those who think of the monetary end goal, there are those who think of the legacy, but I’m based on 3 simple principles: be happy on the path I’m on, give my all today so that the result gives me pride tomorrow and, in general, don’t lose money on this journey. The first two are easy. The third is more difficult.

But the truth is that I have a dream team. It’s not difficult to orchestrate it, they know how to play. It’s not difficult to lead it, they know where we’re going. It’s not difficult to control it, you just have to remember the kpi’s every week.

We can certainly go further. But we need to go at the same pace.

The difference between managing and leading is very big.

I may not be the best leader, but I am a leader. I may not get the best results, but together we are moving towards the right place. I may not have learned to be an entrepreneur, but the truth is only one: being an entrepreneur is in the Self. The objectives may be different, but to be an entrepreneur, you have to be.

For 2025, my focus will be on me. My well-being. My place. My health. My peace. If all this exists, the rest is easy. We have a well-defined vision, mission, values and goals. The answer lies in the path.

And my path goes through the Ria Formosa, the Serra and the Sacred Place.

It’s in the Ria Formosa, in the barrinha, on the deserted island and in the hangars that I find it: the fluidity of the sand in my fingers; the transparency of the water; the lightness of the dive.

It’s at Fonte Férrea, Monte da Menta, Cerro do Bispo and Marmelete that I find: the diversity of the vegetation; the complexity of the geology; soothing solitude; the silence of the birds.

It’s in Sagres and on the Costa Vicentina that I find: the energy of nature, of the creator and the contagious complexity; the mesmerizing sea; the sacred place; the slopes, escarpments and cliffs.

Nobody taught me how to be an entrepreneur.

No one told me that life passes quickly.

No one explained to me the best path.

I chose this one. And I believe I’m not wrong.

It’s a privilege to live here. It’s a privilege to be here. It’s a privilege to be an entrepreneur here.