Show Up. Ask Questions. Repeat.

Why the smartest people in the room are the ones asking questions

It was the mid-2000s. I was still figuring out the window covering world, learning as I went. One day, I typed out a question, hit send, and watched it disappear into an email list called Window Pro.

Then I waited.

The next morning, a digest landed in my inbox—and there were my answers, written by people who had already stood exactly where I was standing. No photos. No speed. Just a slow, steady classroom that ran on one thing: curiosity.

That was the first time I understood something that has shaped everything since:

Strong businesses rarely grow in silence.

Shortening the Learning Curve

What helped me grow in this industry wasn’t just experience or persistence. It was shortening the distance between my questions and the people who already had the answers.

Early on, I realized that trying to figure everything out alone was the slowest and most expensive way to learn. So instead of grinding through trial and error by myself, I went looking for people, places, and communities where knowledge moved faster.

The result wasn’t just fewer mistakes. It brought friendships, visibility, and opportunities that never would have come my way without a network around me.

If you work in a trade, a craft, or a service business, this is the lesson I believe most deeply: a mastermind group multiplies your experience. You’re no longer just learning from your own mistakes—you’re borrowing the lessons of everyone else in the room.

Building Recognition Through Curiosity

Window Pro wasn’t perfect. The conversations moved at the speed of email. But it built a habit in me that never left: thinking out loud and learning in public.

It was also the first place people started recognizing my name.

And as you know, Roger Magalhaes isn’t exactly the easiest “American name” to forget!

At the time, I didn’t realize that would become an advantage. But because I asked so many questions, my name kept showing up in the digests.

Little by little, people connected it to curiosity, engagement, and participation. Without planning it, I was building recognition inside the community.

When you show up consistently, people remember you.

Later, I joined forums tied to trade schools, where installers and fabricators traded techniques. Those spaces expanded my vocabulary—drapery work, shades, installation methods.

Over time, I built a mental map of “who knows what.” When a challenge came up, I already had a sense of where to look.

The Shift to Social & Creating Safe Spaces

Then social media changed everything.

Facebook groups sped up the whole process. Suddenly, you could post a photo of a crooked rail, a stubborn clutch, or a tricky bay window and get a dozen practical suggestions before dinner.

I asked a lot of questions, gave back whenever I could, and people started recognizing not just my name, but my voice.

But visibility brings friction, too.

At one point, I asked a candid question about a specific product. The response—from a manufacturer and even a group administrator—made it clear that honest conversation wasn’t always welcome.

That moment pushed me to build something different: Free Speech Window Covering Pros.

The Power of Community

The idea was simple: No corporate pressure. No fear of asking hard questions. Just professionals helping each other solve real problems.

Twelve years later, that group has grown to more than 1,300 members across the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. But the size isn’t what makes it special—the culture is.

Troubleshooting Lab: Someone posts a problem, and within hours, solutions start appearing.

Real Connections: Every year at IWCE (International Window Coverings Expo), a bunch of us meet for dinner. It’s a reminder that behind every profile picture is a real human being who once helped you solve a tough job.

Mastermind Support: I’m also part of a small WhatsApp mastermind with Brazilian friends from different professions. When one of us faces a hard decision, we bring it to the room and get honest feedback. No sugarcoating. Just clarity.

Being close to thoughtful, experienced people lowers your stress and raises your standards at the same time.

Visibility, Trust, and Real Opportunity

Some people worry that sharing knowledge weakens their edge. I’ve found the exact opposite. When you share solutions, people see your expertise in action. They trust you more.

In fact, one of the largest projects I ever landed—in Turks and Caicos—came from someone who had watched me solving problems publicly in these communities.

It didn’t come from paid advertising. It came from visibility and trust.

Rethink the Lone-Wolf Mindset

So if there’s one challenge I’d leave you with, it’s this: rethink the lone-wolf mindset.

Keep your trade secrets if you want, but share your thoughts and how you think. Share your methods. Share the lessons that help a project run smoother.

• Find a group or build a group.
• Surround yourself with people willing to challenge and support you.
• Listen, contribute, and help others get better.

Because when you do, you start saving time. You start learning faster. And opportunities begin to appear—not because you were the loudest person in the room, but because you showed up and asked the right questions.

Warmly,

P.S. — Speaking of communities and showing up — I’ve been quietly building toward something bigger. My first book, Nobody Told Me That, launches September 9th. It’s the story behind the story: two decades of lessons learned in public, one newsletter at a time. Grab a free sample chapter here