FINAL CONSIDERATIONS FROM LEADERSHIP - A mEssage from the captain
Our Athletic Culture
We are an athletic company, made by athletes, for athletes.
It means we have a vigorous and distinctive culture, different from any other I have ever seen in my professional life.
Far beyond muscles, we are courageous, audacious, tenacious, determined, committed, consistent, self-disciplined, competitive, passionate, positive, faithful, welcoming and helpful. Brilliant jerks, selfish and egocentric people have no space here.
We are not immune to the anxieties, frustrations or afflictions that the daily challenges impose on us, inherent to the construction of such an ambitious project. There are days where falling asleep seems impossible and others where you lack enthusiasm to get out of bed. Sometimes the routine becomes intense and we face difficult times in this sport - work. As athletes, we learn to deal with failures and turn them into motivation to face the next day. Problems or defeats are not sources of regret, but learning to do better.
The beauty of working together is that we motivate ourselves in cycles, when one gets tired, another approaches to support, we take turns to overcome the resistance, we cover each other's back. You count on your team as your cornermen. We don't give up. We challenge ourselves daily and that makes us a better version of ourselves. We cheer and celebrate our victories.
The conviction that teamwork is the only way to achieve our vision, strengthens the bonds between our teammates and brings out a vivid team spirit.
The source of our strength is our union and our sense of purpose.
We know it is not for everyone, however if it sounds great to you, you will love being one of us!
We are stronger as a Team!
We are #ScoutfySquad
"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor." - Elon Musk
Forged by Adversity
To search for a scalable and replicable business model, reach a product market fit, design and develop innovative products, break cultural and behavioral barriers and build a Company from scratch is not an easy-peasy task. Mainly in one of the most hostile business environment in the world – Brazil.
"Definitivamente isso não é para qualquer um, muito menos para aventureiros, fracos e inexperientes."
"Brazil is not a place for beginners." - Tom Jobim
Insanity is a word that has its concept updated daily in Brazil.
Even the most creative fiction scripts from Netflix and Hollywood have a hard time overcoming our reality! :)
Here we have to fight daily against a sad and harsh reality:
- Most expensive and corrupt politicians in the world - "O Sistema é Foda";
- One of the worst environments for doing business in the world;
- The largest and most complex tax burden in the world;
- One of the countries with the lowest degree of freedom in the world;
- More expensive interest in the world (until a recent past);
- Highest cost for bank loans in the world;
- The most expensive, inefficient and lenient Legislative Power in the world, which has made impunity a rule;
- One of the worst education systems in the world;
- Most expensive private schools in the world;
- The most dangerous and violent country in the world;
- Country with the highest murder rate in the world (+62K murders a year);
- Highest number of murdered policemen in the world;
- One of the countries with the highest number of rapes in the world;
- One of the worst logistics structures in the world;
- The most expensive energy in the world;
- Most expensive cars, fuel and tolls in the world;
- Unemployment in the country is the 7th largest in the world in a ranking of 51 countries;
- Since 1988, an average of 780 laws have been published per day!;
- More than 17,000 unions, and strikes of different natures every day throughout the year;
- Living permanently on a roller coaster of political and economic crises;
And the list continues among other severe problems...
Could you imagine an English, American, Canadian, Swiss, German, or Norwegian entrepreneur deciding to invest all your resources and get into debt to create a business in such a risky environment?
Uhnnn.....
We were born in the midst of this chaos, surrounded by economic and political crises that make it even harder for entrepreneurs. We learn to hunt the opportunities wherever they are, and even before harsh circumstances.
"While others cry, we sell the tissues." - Nizan Guanaes
“Quem quer faz de tudo pra dar certo, do jeito certo" - Guilherme Benchimol
We are running a global company, but we still believe that there is a lot to discover and explore in Brazil and that we are only scratching the surface.
Few entrepreneurs have the competitive advantage of knowing a market deeply with the characteristics and complexities imposed in this country, which has a population of more than 222 million people, who speak the same language, who have the same culture, and who has so many inefficiencies and problems to be solved.
We see this as a great island of opportunity, surrounded by turbulent waters and dangerous to strangers for all the reasons we have mentioned, but which we have mastered better than anyone else.
But do not misjudge this fact. We do not use this as a justification for creating a local business, but as an incentive and strength to dominate a global market. We have been global since our conception.
We have in mind that "Smooth seas don't make good sailors".
“Há pessoas que choram por saber que as rosas têm espinhos. Há outras que sorriem por saber que os espinhos têm rosas!”
- Machado de Assis
As we say, "You have to kill one lion a day, and sometimes more than one!"
What is surprising is that we still do all this with great joy, a big smile on our face, a huge passion for the purpose we advovate, and a great desire to build a legacy of a better country.
So never underestimate what a qualified, experienced and purposeful Brazilian is capable of.
Especially if it is in a friendly environment to do business.
We are Investment Grade!
“Os empreendedores brasileiros são "Investment Grade".
Eles têm a resiliência como marca, e as dificuldades sempre foram mães da invenção.
…
Acordar no Brasil, muitas vezes, é um ato de teimosia. Levantar é um ato de coragem.
Meu sono não é "investment grade", mas meu sonho é.
…
Eu não durmo à noite, eu morro. Só que às 6h45 da manhã, como fênix, eu pulo da cama.
Eu e milhões e milhões de brasileiros que colocaram o Brasil para ser "investment grade".
Somos um país tão acostumado a conviver e a superar as desvantagens que a nossa seleção olímpica que mais ganha é a seleção paralímpica. Portanto cegos, surdos, sem braços e sem mãos como a Vitória de Samotrácia exposta no Museu do Louvre, nós seguimos em frente e de maneira surpreendente cruzaremos vitoriosos a linha da chegada.
Porque somos fênix. Porque somos grandes brasileiros, a despeito e apesar dos ciclos do Brasil.
Nós somos "Investment Grade”.” - Nizan Guanaes
Creating and mastering a new game
We are not competing with anyone. Competition will make us, at best, a winner in a losing game. If we really want to scale our business we need to escape the competition, change the playing field. Don’t try to be a competitor in the wrong game. We have to invent a new game and master it.
“If you don't have a strategy, you're part of someone else's strategy.” - Alvin Toffler.
Many theories explain the phenomenon by which an innovation transforms an existing market or sector by introducing simplicity, convenience, accessibility, and affordability where complications and high cost are the status quo. It will not be different when it comes to the sports industry. Initially, a disruptive innovation is formed in a niche market that may appear unattractive or inconsequential to industry incumbents. But eventually, the new product or idea completely redefines the industry. This is how Scoutfy will impact the sports world: redefining it.
The Context can change very fast! Be alert and prepared.
Nothing lasts forever. Not the worst moments of difficulty or the best of bonanzas.
We have to take advantage of every window of opportunity.
We strong believe in the serendipity effect, after all good people doing good things attract more talents and amazing opportunities, and we should never forget that:
“Chance favors the prepared mind” - Louis Pasteur
"Luck may knock on your door, but it won't turn the knob"
Not where, but with whom.
I am often asked:
"Why did you write all this?"
"Do you believe this is necessary?"
As a high-performance athlete and as a professional forged in very competitive environments, with a lot of pressure and stress, I learned that no matter how good you are, you will depend on your team. And at this time it is essential that you know who is at your side, who you can count on and what this person is capable of doing.
I believe that all professionals interested in joining Scoutfy have the right to know the culture that will welcome them and with what kind of people they will share the trenches.
“- Who will be in the trenches next to you?
- And does it matter?
- More than the war itself. ” Ernest Hemingway
Members, Product, Company
At this point we follow this order to set our priorities.
Focus
One of the meanings of FOCUS for us is:
Follow
One
Course
Until
Succesful
Productivity mastery is not saying YES to many things and doing them simultaneously,
but knowing when to say NO and prioritizing what should be done.
“Para ser grande, sê inteiro:
nada teu exagera ou exclui.
Põe quanto és no mínimo que fazes.
Assim, em cada lago a lua toda brilha, porque alta vive.” - Fernando Pessoa
“Focus on the road, not the wall.”
I understand that taking bold decisions and make risky moves can generate fear or even paralyze you. When someone learns to drive a race car, one of the first lessons taught is that when you are going around a curve at 200 mph, do not focus on the wall; focus on the road. Running a company is like that. There are always a thousand things that can go wrong and sink the ship. If you focus too much on them, you will drive yourself nuts and likely ruin a project or crash the company.
Focus on where you are going rather than on what you hope to avoid.
Courage
We invest in courage.
I am able to live with a history full of failures,
but never in the shadow of cowardice or under the blackmail of fear. These will not be able to bend my courage, deconstruct my self and reap my dreams.
The challenges may even win me over, cowardice and fear, never.
“Courage is the first of human qualities because it guarantees all others.” - Aristotle
"La vie rétrécit ou se développe proportionnellement à son courage." - Anaïs Nin
“O correr da vida embrulha tudo,
a vida é assim: esquenta e esfria,
aperta e daí afrouxa, sossega e depois desinquieta.
O que ela quer da gente é coragem.
O que Deus quer
é ver a gente aprendendo a ser capaz
de ficar alegre a mais, no meio da alegria,
e inda mais alegre ainda no meio da tristeza!” - Guimarães Rosa
The Time is NOW
Stay at your best, doing your best, with the resources that you have, NOW.
Do not accept lethargy or remain inert, waiting for the best circumstance or the availability of all the resources that you believe are ideal to accomplish what needs to be done.
This behavior will compromise the success of our company and the possibilities of your rise as a leader and partner.
Our culture tolerates error as long as it is the result of a bold decision, based on data, good arguments or even instinct, when this is the only available resource.
What we do not tolerate are mistakes resulting from unpreparedness, lack of commitment, laziness or fear of taking risks.
Don’t complain. Overcome.
Finding excuses and justification is easy.
Be more creative, persistent and face the challenges.
"When life gives you lemons...
EAT THEM WHOLE. SERIOUSLY.
Just choke them all down...skin, pulp, seeds, and all
And don't break eye contact.
Maybe life will stop being such an asshole if you show it that you're done fucking around." - Unknown
Don’t quit!
In my experience as entrepreneur and executive, I found that the most important decisions tested my courage and my resilience far more than my intelligence.
Great leaders face the pain. They deal with the sleepless nights, the cold sweats.
You may not win every single battle, but what is important is developing a heart that is ready to fight the next one.
Move forward, always forward!
“Cowards never start. The weak never finish. Winners never quit.” - Navy SEALS
“It is impossible to win the one who never gives up.”
"From the moment you gave up attacking, you accepted defeat. Always Forward." - Brandão
This tough journey has already tested me on so many different levels, you have no idea how many obstacles I've overcome and how many tears I've shed to build this dream. For several periods "The Struggle" has become a common feeling for me.
"THE STRUGGLE
The Struggle is when you wonder why you started the company in the first place.
The Struggle is when people ask you why you don’t quit and you don’t know the answer.
The Struggle is when your employees think you are lying and you think they may be right.
The Struggle is when food loses its taste.
The Struggle is when you don’t believe you should be CEO of your company. The Struggle is when you know that you are in over your head and you know that you cannot be replaced. The Struggle is when everybody thinks you are an idiot, but nobody will fire you. The Struggle is where self-doubt becomes self-hatred.
The Struggle is when you are having a conversation with someone and you can’t hear a word that they are saying because all you can hear is The Struggle.
The Struggle is when you want the pain to stop. The Struggle is unhappiness.
The Struggle is when you go on vacation to feel better and you feel worse.
The Struggle is when you are surrounded by people and you are all alone. The Struggle has no mercy.
The Struggle is the land of broken promises and crushed dreams. The Struggle is a cold sweat. The Struggle is where your guts boil so much that you feel like you are going to spit blood.
The Struggle is not failure, but it causes failure. Especially if you are weak. Always if you are weak.
Most people are not strong enough.
Every great entrepreneur from Steve Jobs to Mark Zuckerberg went through The Struggle and struggle they did, so you are not alone.
But that does not mean that you will make it. You may not make it. That is why it is The Struggle.
The Struggle is where greatness comes from." - The Hard Thing About Hard Things - Ben Horowitz
Remember:
“The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.
On this Team, we fight for that inch
On this Team, we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch,
We claw with our fingernails for that inch,
Because we know when we add up all those inches that is gonna make the fuckin’ diference between winning and losing!
Between living and dying!…
That is a Team, gentleman!”
Plant trees you’ll never see
Invest in long-term projects whose success you won’t see realized because they are the right thing for the Organization. That’s how teams create legacy.
"Leave the jersey better than how you found it."
This spirit links the day-to-day improvements to the very long term ambitions of our Organization.
Our Consulate
I see Scoutfy as a consulate, no matter where we are, it is a territory with the capacity to bring together athletes and professionals who identify with each other, who share the same beliefs, join forces to fight for the same purpose and feel represented. People who are proud to belong.
Humans are amazing
The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire, obsessed to fulfill its purpose. We are able to create, transform and accomplish incredible things.
Let us fight with the strength of our hearts and the courage of our souls.
MY SOUL IS ON FIRE! AND YOURS?
“The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
My desire to have my own achievements, associated with the commitment to do everything with excellence, comes from a very early age.
This is my attitude towards life and consequently brought it to Scoutfy.
It is not about visibility, money or recognition.
It is about feeling of accomplishment, about the satisfaction of giving my best to what I set out to do and fulfilling the commitments I made to myself.
Whether to clean the bathroom or deliver a millionaire project, we do everything with the same dedication and commitment to do with excellence.
Because how you do anything is how you do everything.
Blank Pages Trailblazer
An entrepreneurial leader is not afraid of a blank page.
Where most people see emptiness, I see endless opportunities.
What for many is uncertainty and insecurity, for me is a guarantee of discoveries and self development.
While some need roads, I prefer to open my own trails.
While some follow scripts, I create them.
Underdog soul
Never, ever, bet against an underdog with a high standard of excellence and uncommon desire to succeed.
They were born to prove that standards are beatable and probabilities do not define the game.
We are #UnderdogAthletes
I always hunt and bite bigger bones than I can eat.
I believe in myself over everyone else. And you?
"Al final del camino sólo recuerdas una batalla,
la que libraste contigo mismo,
el verdadero enemigo;
La batalla que te hizo único." - Gran Enemigo - Adrianna Catena y Alejandro Vigil
"One day, I will make the onions cry"
“O senhor saiba: eu toda a minha vida pensei por mim, sou nascido diferente. Eu sou é eu mesmo. Diverjo de todo o mundo” - Grande Sertão: Veredas - Guimarães Rosa
We are here to be great among the greatest.
"If not us, who? If not now, when?" - Rabbi Hillel
Trust the Team
We take care of each other.
The Captain
I am the Team Captain, not the owner, not the coach, not the manager ... THE CAPTAIN!
This means that I am side by side with my teammates on the playing field, hitting and failing like everyone else, in the best moments and the most difficult circumstances, leading by example.
I can assure that you will find in me a leadership with, "RAÇA"*, courage, consistency, discipline, positiveness, tenacity, resilience, curiosity, determination, obsession, urgent but not insane, that moves aggressively and decisively without feeling emotionally culpable. Who feels comfortable in making decisions, doing it fast, and personally assuming the responsibilities and consequences.
“Yo soy yo y mi circunstancia, y si no la salvo a ella no me salvo yo.” - José Ortega y Gasset
* Portuguese jewelry. They can be translated as extreme determination, strong will, a willingness to perform, grit.
My final message is COUNT ON ME, no matter the circumstance I WILL BE HERE, to guide you, to fight with you, or even to comfort you. We will move forward inch by inch play by play until we have finished.
#ALWAYSFORWARD
