The Forty-Ninth Floor of the Tower

Back from a business trip, I've been unpacking: Passport, badges, a book, my harmonica, meds, water, a paper notebook, a speaker pass, coins from different countries, power adapter, receipts. Badges from past events at Google and Volvo, some business cards were forgotten in a pocket, on my bag pack. Looking at that, it made me think about this year and all places I've been.

That was a time rich of experiences, and material for a book. On the days when that doesn't seems preposterous, I keep writing on paper notepads I've got everywhere. Sometimes I write on paper napkins, waiting for a flight. Maybe one day it will come to be published, but that's now for my own pure entertainment. Here's something jotted down for the three final chapters, with a few key points.

Chapter Forty-seven, the Traveler

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that a passion for travelling and meeting new cultures got me where I am. To boldly go where no man has gone before! From the time when I used to watch Star Trek on a black and white TV and left the beautiful beaches in the north-eastern coast of my continent, passing to cities in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and England until Poland appeared on my horizon.

1. There's no Road, you make your own Path

There's a quote which I really like, by Antonio Machado:

“Traveler, your footprints are the only road, nothing else. Traveler, there is no road; you make your own path as you walk. As you walk, you make your own road, and when you look back you see the path you will never travel again. Traveler, there is no road; only a ship’s wake on the sea." - Antonio Cipriano José María y Francisco de Santa Ana Machado y Ruiz (26 July 1875 – 22 February 1939)

I was born in the middle of a dictatorship, my generation in Brazil used to listen Joy Division and at same time songs from Violeta Parra, Mercedes Sosa, and Joan Manuel Serrat in Spanish because they spoke of what happened around us. During the 1970s and 80s, eight military dictatorships jointly plotted the cross-border kidnap, torture, rape and murder of hundreds of their political opponents . Here's the original quote that became so popular for people dreaming of freedom in South America: "Caminante, son tus huellas el camino y nada más; Caminante, no hay camino,se hace camino al andar. Al andar se hace el camino,y al volver la vista atrásse ve la senda que nuncase ha de volver a pisar. Caminante, no hay caminosino estelas en la mar.”

2. Well, how did I get here?

Some time ago, I had a short stint at as a Business Consultant at EY and saw everywhere "The better the question, the better the answer". That's so much like that song, Once in a Lifetime. Hold on, I will tell you in a minute.

Chapter Forty-eight, the Phantom and the Keeper

Comparing your professional life to a skyscraper, I've worked at MTV Brasil and Washington Olivetto 's online agency in Brazil. That was ground floor, and travelling expanded my horizons. That led me to other Countries and Companies, with big lessons learnt along the way. Backpacking in Europe was one thing, running with the wolves was another entirely different.

1. The Phantom

First HP , then 瑞信 , IBM , DXC Technology , where I organized two TEDx events, then EY and 3M 公司 . A few floors later, I became a Chapter Lead to ABSL Digital Technology and Transformation Club in Wroc?aw. We organized events at Coventry University Wroc?aw , 凯捷咨询 , Solventum and Kyndryl . Only a few days ago I was at a conference in London, organized by The Hackett Group Inc. - I am grateful for all the experiences and people I met. However at certain times, it felt much like a racing, on very competitive environments.

2. The Keeper

"The Traveler, the Phantom and the Keeper " was an opening speech I had at one of the TEDx events which I produced and organized in 2021, and it is not only about looking back, but looking further. I started to realize very late in my professional career that there's other important things in life, rather then getting to the top.

That's about making meaningful connections, and taking care of a herd, but above all empowering people to achieve their potential. During one of the events we organized I've met with dr Joanna Kubicka who is not only a very accomplished professional but also a Rock climber. She was the one that told me: "If you want to go to the top, you need to stop and take rest". So it is not only about green pastures, but the heights that we can all reach to.

Chapter forty-nine, the Tower

I've been running up to the forty-ninth floor of Sky Tower in Wroc?aw. Tower Running is something new for me, it started two years ago in Kraków , apart from the benefits of the training, it always brings thoughts about life in general, for instance:

1. It's not a competition.

That sounds crazy, but it is not. Being surrounded by professional athletes didn't make me go any faster then I knew I could, although I was there to get to where I set my goal. How is that any different then being on a business environment? People can sometimes become very competitive, that's not just how I see things happening.

2. Get ready for the unexpected, and get with yourself just what you need.

A shirt to change, other pair of socks, my glasses. The last minutes before running were spent with things I did not plan at all. Sometimes the unexpected does not mean anything bad, just get you to adapt and move to what's next.

Some people got to run with headphones, and all sorts of things from head to toe. That's just not my thing, and I am sure that leaving what I did not need behind helped in many situations, not just moving up trough staircases.

3. Appreciate other's efforts and learn to get help

There was a guy moving slowly with support, he had probably a stroke at certain point in his life but that did not stop him to get there. There were people way older then me, others breathing with difficulty but all of them made it to the top. I loved to see that.

Halfway trough, one of volunteers offered me water. I toke that as a time to stop, look at them, smile and move on. Getting help from others is the most difficult thing for go-getters, but it is right there, and you don't need to be a lonely wolf all the time.

4. Empower Others

Close to the fourteen-fifth floor, one faster runner saw me and said "just a bit more!" - he had a big smile, and while he darted to the top that gave me some extra stamina to continue. That's something I aimed to do in my professional life, and with my kids. And I am so glad to be surrounded by people that are empowering others, from Fundacja IT Girls to WrOpenUp , from Geek Girls Carrots to #Womentogether and many other initiatives led by ABSL.

5. Be kind to Yourself and be close to those you love.

Just before running, so many things went wrong. I had to buy a shirt, socks, and didn't check the time. My plan was to sit at my favorite coffee shop, order a winter tea and drink calmly and relaxed, until I realized it was already time to run. I've had tea to take away, and left at the gym desk, where the changing room was. I've promised to pick it up in no-time (well, it toke a bit longer), when I came back, someone looked at me and said: "that's still warm!"

After running, my family came back to meet me, and celebrate. What could be better? Life is a short trip, and there's no point to waste your time and energy with trolls and bigots.

In his book Everyday Dharma, author Suneel Gupta shares an idea that resonates deeply: where you want to go — that’s not a final destination. A map provides fixed directions, but a compass helps you navigate each step toward where you truly want to go. Choosing a compass over a rigid map fosters resilience, allowing you to grow and align with your authentic path.