Starting up

I’ve quit SAPO and will be starting a new company.

When I was hired to work at SAPO I had only a small idea of the kind of opportunities that working there would bring. As a person with a passion for the Web I had the secret wish of working there.

The last 2 years have been some of most valuable and interesting in my work life. I learned a lot while working on a couple of cool projects and much more by interacting with the people that make SAPO a reference in the Portuguese Web.

But I feel that the opportunity to start something new has come. On the practical side I have no kids, no big house to pay, no expensive car. On the business side there are so many things to do, so many problems to solve and too little time to solve them.

I don’t know if I was stuck in (what I hope to be) a local max. What I know is that I’m not the type of guy that likes to be in the comfort zone. I feel much more comfortable being a thrill seeker than a fear avoider. Seth’s is right when he says that Safe is risky - Safe is a mistake. You cannot grow without taking some risks.

What’s next
I’ll be working on the projects that I have been planning and developing. I’ll finally have more time to focus on these projects. First of all I want to finally finish Adegga and prepare it for launch. Then we’ll see what happens.

I want to go to more conferences. I’ll be at Reboot 9.0 in June. For the first time as an entrepreneur. Going to conferences like Reboot, LIFT or SHiFT has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my work life. Through this events I’ve met amazing people. People with whom I share experiences, knowledge, websites, ideas, posts, comments, links, photos, stories, wine tastings, business models and a bunch of other stuff that is essential to the way I think and work.

I’ll be starting my own company working on stuff I love. Because as Thomas said: Why the fuck you would want to work for somebody else’s passions is a really big mystery.

Update: Obrigado. Thank you all for the support! It’s good to know you all out there.

April 2, 2007 | Tags: day to day

comments

29 Responses to “Starting up”

Bruno on April 2nd, 2007

André,

Congratulations. Even for “thrill seekers” it always take some courage. I wish you luck.

Best,
Bruno
ricardo on April 3rd, 2007

Não ter medo da mudança é tudo.

Votos de sucesso!!!
Fred Oliveira on April 3rd, 2007

André,

Não ceder à tentação dos grandes e seguir as minhas próprias ideias até hoje tem sido uma das decisões que mais me deu prazer tanto a nivel profissional como pessoal (repare-se que digo isto do topo dos meus 24 anos, mas ainda assim já ando nesta vida há bastantes). Sabes quanto concordo com o facto de finalmente dares o próximo passo, portanto escusado será dizer que tanto eu como o resto da equipa @ WBS te desejamos a melhor sorte do mundo!

Força nisso!
Armando Alves on April 3rd, 2007

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision” - Peter Drucker.

Best of luck Andre !
Mª João Nogueira on April 3rd, 2007

“Why the fuck you would want to work for somebody else’s passions is a really big mystery.”

A mim pagam-me (e disponibilizam-me os recursos) para que possa trabalhar naquilo que gosto
É uma questão de perspectiva
As maiores felicidades para todos os teus projectos, e vai dando notícias
Lee LeFever on April 3rd, 2007

Congrats on the big move Andre. On the next big adventure! I can’t wait to see Adegga.
André Luís on April 3rd, 2007

Dude,

i sincerely wish you the best of luck for whatever the future has in store for you. The only thing I ask of you is… don’t leave. Portugal needs guys like you here. hehe

I haven’t had the opportunity to attend as much events as you have, but I share the your view. It’s among our pairs we learn the most and find the space to evolve.

Um abraço.
Mário Lopes on April 3rd, 2007

Great, GREAT!

This is what our country needs — entrepreneurs!
Andre Gonçalves on April 3rd, 2007

Olá,

Sou um leitor atento do teu blog, e o meu primeiro comentário é para te dar os parabéns pela decisão (que sei por experiência própria que não é fácil, especialmente quando temos casa para pagar).

Mas se pensarmos bem, e formos realmente racionais, que outra alternativa temos nesta vida que não seja seguirmos os nossos sonhos?

Como diz o Steve Jobs, stay foolish, stay hungry!

Andre Goncalves
Mark Wubben on April 3rd, 2007

Glad you made up your mind. Good luck in new endeavours!
Thomas Madsen-Mygdal on April 3rd, 2007

Did i really say that? ;).

Godspeed on your new adventures.
Bruno Pedro on April 3rd, 2007

“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” — Alexander Graham Bell

Way to go André! Look ahead but never forget to leave some open doors behind you
Ricardo Saramago on April 3rd, 2007

Congrats André,
it takes a very brave man to step outside the comfort zone, specially in our country. Best of luck to you!
Vitor Domingos on April 3rd, 2007

“On the business side there are so many things to do, so many problems to solve and too little time to solve them.”

Welcome to the club
Carlos Jorge Adnrade on April 3rd, 2007

I agree with everithyng you said, and I wish you the best of luck, but… I just have two words for you, “Shut up and Ship!”
Talking about it every week during all year won’t get it out the door.
Mind Booster Noori on April 3rd, 2007

Good luck, and keep us updated!
Jose Marques on April 4th, 2007

Parabéns pela coragem nessa decisão, gostava que daqui a algum tempo pudesse fazer algo semelhante.
Vitor on April 4th, 2007

Best of luck man!
Pedro Ângelo on April 4th, 2007

As someone who has just passed the one year mark pushing for his dream (and still doing it), I can only wish you the best of luck.

Cheers
Pedro Custódio on April 5th, 2007

André,

we’ve talked many times about it, its nice to see you jumping into the void with such a determination and assurance at the same time. It’s inspiring.

we’ve worked for sometime together, it was the best and worst of times if we look at it carefully, as I’ve told you personally and I state it again, if there’s someone without a doubt about your upcoming success its me.

For all the good times, ideas, project we shared during this co-working time, Thanks, I will remember it for years to come!

One simple phrase to sum it all:

“Unleash the Tiger”
Hugo on April 9th, 2007

Congratulations for your move. As I already told you, I think is the smarter one, to work for your own. And I think you will be very successful.
All the best.
entrepreneurdb.com » Blog Archive » Starting up on April 26th, 2007

[...] Original post by Blog.delaranja.com and software by Elliott Back [...]
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Edson Medina on November 30th, 2007

Não quero ser desmancha prazeres, mas isto parece-se com a ideia do Adegga, não?

http://www.snooth.com/
Andre on November 30th, 2007

Edson, porquê desmancha prazeres?
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