Stories in Motion
A monthly reflection on business, life, and the lessons gathered along the way.
Statistical Impossibility
The odds of dying in a car crash are about 1 in 95. Yet we all jump in our cars every day and go on with our lives without questioning it. The odds of dying in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million. And somehow… people are still scared to fly. The odds of winning...
They Told Me to Write a Book
I didn't start writing to become an author. I started writing to sell window shades. That's the honest truth. I needed to promote my business, and someone suggested starting a blog. So I sat down and did it. In broken English, a language that wasn't my first, in a...
What No Inheritance Can Buy
She was a teenager when she climbed into her cousin's truck and rode 3,000 miles to São Paulo. No plan. No safety net. Just a young girl leaving her home state behind, betting that anywhere had to be better than where she came from. A Childhood Built on Grit My mother...
Rush Rush and Wait
The wheels barely touched the ground. The plane was still rolling. Still fast, still loud, the engines throwing everything into reverse to slow us down. And somewhere behind me: click. Somebody's seatbelt. First one off. Then another. Then five more. By the time we're...
Nineteen Years of Tuesdays
Before we put the World Cup on a shelf for the next four years, I want to bring you back to one scene. Monday, June 15. Cape Verde against Spain—the opening match of their group. Nobody scored. Nobody won. And the Cape Verde goalkeeper, Vozinha, is face down on the...
I Got Fired for Doing a Good Job
I always wanted to have my own business. Since I was a kid. But the fear of trading security for "maybe" always spoke louder. Then, one day, life decided for me… I was working full time as a truck driver. Good pay. Health insurance. Three weeks vacation. Stable. Safe....
Born With an Advantage Is a Disadvantage
I was born Brazilian. that came with a jersey I never asked for. Nobody sits you down and teaches you to love soccer. When you arrive home the first time from the hospital, there is a jersey already waiting for you in the crib. By the time you're five, you know the...
Universal Language: There Is Always Room for One More
In celebration of the 250th Anniversary of The United States, I want to share a real experience—one that says more about this country's spirit than any speech could. Happy birthday, America! The Universal Language in Tampa Last month, I watched Pitbull perform in...
Human Touch in Customer Service: Why Friction Kills
I had a large drapery installation in Orlando this week. I knew it was going to take at least two days to complete. Usually in a situation like this, I don't reserve a hotel in advance. I'm old school. I prefer to drive around first, see what's nearby: restaurants,...
Nobody Tells You How To Change a Diaper Either
When you step into fatherhood for the first time, you have no idea how to change a diaper. You take a deep breath, make a few faces, and somehow the job gets done. Eventually. Then your kid starts growing, while you feed them. Not just food, but education, wisdom, and...
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Doing everything right… and still feeling stuck?
Yeah—I’ve been there.
No fluff. Just real stories.
Get the chapter + Stories in Motion —my monthly reflections.