I made an introduction the other day between two founders…
One is in Latin America and has built a company doing a few million dollars a year.
The other is in the U.S. and has raised tens of millions at a valuation approaching $200 million.
I joined their call…
And within about 10 minutes, the difference in mentality was obvious.
Guys competing at high levels in the United States go fucking hard.
The speed. The size of the numbers people casually throw around. The assumption that if something is working, you should make it 10x bigger.
In the U.S. 🇺🇸…
balance and being average is for the birds.
In LATAM…
the energy is different.
Life is slower. People have time. Nobody seems quite as obsessed with turning everything into a billion-dollar company.
The call made me smile because every once in a while I get dropped back into that American world and think…
Damn… Maybe I need to go harder.
Then I remember…
This is one of the reasons I left…
Put me around that energy long enough and I’ll start competing.
And eventually, just like most Americans, I’ll become addicted to the game and forget what life is really about.
One thing I’ve come to appreciate about living in Latin America is that the culture pulls you in the other direction.
Work hard. Build things. Make money.
But go have a long lunch. Drink some really good wine. Hang with friends. Take a damn vacation.
You’re allowed to enjoy your life too…
Just don’t get so busy winning that you forget to live.