Profiting from the Pains of Personal Defeat: The Advantages of Accepting Mistakes.
Kickin' It Old School: Messi's Quick Climb to the Top and My Decade-Long Startup Saga
Who doesn't recognize Leo Messi, one of the soccer world's legends? He once quipped, "I didn't become an overnight sensation; it took me 17 years and 114 days." That rings a bell, doesn't it? Well, when I decided to take the leap from Silicon Valley's tech giant, Google to my own startup, the tale of a 10-year journey casually popped up. Nope, my younger, less-grey self thought it'd be a cakewalk - but ten years down the line thanks to August 2022, I was proved wrong.
Back in 2012, I parted ways with the Googleplex and its fancy free lunches to embark on a new venture.
Now, just like Leo, Leo's journey from joining Barcelona's youth team at 13 to his competitive debut as a senior player at 17, speaks volumes. By the age of 22 (2008–09), he became the key player in Barcelona's history-making treble, consisting of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League titles. This pivotal season launch his winning streak with four successive Ballon d'Or titles from 2009 to 2012[1].
Fast forward to today, Leo's continued to set records, break them, all while reclaiming top form and captaining his team, winning his sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019[3].
Now, I'm no Messi, and let me be perfectly clear, my journey's been more of a 10-year struggle marathon than a sprint. But hey, we can't all be soccer superstars now, can we?
[1] As cited in Kasepu, M., (2021, December 9). Messi's incredible career through statistics. ESPN. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.espn.com/soccer/football/story/4363574/lionel-messi-career-statistics
[3] Goal. (n.d.). Lionel Messi. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.goal.com/players/lionel-messi/250
Just like Leo Messi, who started with Barcelona's youth team at 13 and won four consecutive Ballon d'Or titles from 2009 to 2012, my journey from leaving Google in 2012 to today has been a lengthy journey filled with challenges. Yet, just as Messi continues to set records and break them in the world of football, I too strive to make my mark in the startup world, albeit in a different league.
