Since the beginning of my career in 2015, I never saw myself as an exceptional or creative person—the kind of guy everyone in the room wants to talk to or finds entertaining. Because of that, I accepted a smaller version of my future. I thought that as long as the paycheck was good and the work was stable, I should be grateful. My goal was a straight line: work for good companies, buy a nice house, and one day have a quiet retirement in Brazil where I could watch Corinthians games in peace.
But staying in that comfort zone for too long started to feel like standing still while the world moved forward. In 2025, everything started to change.
How it started
In 2021, I landed my first international job. At the time, I wasn't expecting much because I underestimated my potential, but with every interview, I started to see my own strengths. I was very insecure about my English, but the final client meeting went smoothly.
A couple of days later, I received an offer letter with a 660% salary increase. The global market completely changed my life. I remember screaming so my wife could hear the news; we embraced and cried together.
The Turning Point
By 2025, two major things changed my perspective. First, my son was born. Suddenly, I had a much bigger reason to reach for more. I wanted to build a legacy for him.
Second, I decided to leave a stable job I really liked to join one of the world's largest crypto exchanges. It was completely out of my comfort zone, but it was the best decision I could have made. Working in the crypto world opened my eyes to finance, investments, and risk-taking. I started to see that money is not just a reward for hard work; it is a powerful tool for independence and the future.
Through this experience, I finally felt that my value as a professional was unquestionable. I realized I was ready to prove to myself that I could do things I never imagined before—and use that to impact other people.
From Engineer to Builder
This change in my mind made me see my skills differently. While I still enjoy being part of huge companies and working on big systems, I realized that being able to write code is a superpower. The same skills I use to help giant corporations can be used to build my own ideas. I don't want to just follow a list of tasks anymore; I want to be a builder of my own vision. I want to buy back my time so I can choose where my impact goes.
Key Lessons from this Journey
If you are feeling that same "itch" to do something more, here is what I've learned:
- Confidence is built, not born: I didn't wait to feel "ready" to take an international job or join a crypto giant; I took the leap, and the confidence came after the results.
- Money is a tool for freedom: Use your salary to build your foundation. Once you understand how money works, your biggest asset becomes your time.
- Family is the ultimate "Why": Having a reason bigger than yourself (like my son) makes it much easier to take risks and leave your comfort zone.
Purpose
I'll be honest: I used to be one of those people who rolled their eyes at the word "purpose." But as I look at my son and my career today, I know I need something bigger—something that could truly help people. I'm no longer waiting for a company to define my path. I'm taking control.