Substack, this is me

An unlikely success that is still on the path

I started as an IT guy—recognized globally by Microsoft, awarded a U.S. patent, and fortunate enough to have life-changing conversations with Edgar H. Schein and other leading thinkers in business management. I was born in Peru, moved to Slovenia, then New York, and eventually returned to Slovenia, where I live today.

That’s me, not long ago, in one of those essential walks that bring so much clarity.

As if all that wasn’t enough change, in 2012, I made a bold decision: to step away from IT and explore whether there was something else I could be good at. That search led me to Social Impact Entrepreneurship. Since then, I’ve founded Aurora Coworking and launched Fear & Fail, an event series where thousands of participants explored a powerful question:

Why do we keep failing at the same things?

A bit from the old times.

If you ask my friends about me, they’ll agree that I talk too much, tend to overthink, and am pretty philosophical. And they’re right. I would say that I reflect on everything that happens because, deep inside, I believe life is like a game we’re meant to master—and while we’re learning, we should share the process with others who want to listen.

My life has been amazing—I have so many stories to share. But it’s also been hard and disorienting at times. I’ve questioned the wisdom of my choices, especially when the outcomes didn’t match my plans.

Yet, with the benefit of five decades, I can say this: many failures led to success, and many successes brought unexpected failures.

In the end, when we create our path, what truly matters is our purpose, the love we share with others, and our growing capacity to enjoy the journey.

My life lessons

These are the most important lessons I can summarize from my life so far:

• Make time a friend. Your relationship with time shapes how you experience life. When it's off, it can leave you feeling powerless, anxious, or even depressed.

• Being yourself is better than being who others want you to be. But that requires knowing who you truly are.

• Understand fear. Only then can you see how your mind might be sabotaging your dreams—often without your permission.

• Know your energy. Learn how to recharge, how to use it wisely, and how to recognize the activities that drain you.

• Write a life purpose statement—in the present tense. It helps you align daily decisions with what makes you feel peaceful and productive.

• Contribute to a community. Not to gain something, but to support and be supported. A real community is a place where it’s safe to be yourself—a place to belong.

If you take even small steps in any of these directions, you’re already on the path of fearlessness. And that means… you're in for an adventure.

Why do I say I’m an unlikely success?

So many adventures, so many changes, so much fun!

Because throughout my life, I’ve often heard—from friends, family, even well-meaning mentors—that what I was doing wouldn’t end well.

I didn’t play it safe. I didn’t want to be boxed in. I rejected the standardized version of life that so many seemed to accept without question.

From early on, I stood up for myself and worked to prove that being me was also okay. I took risks. I made mistakes. I apologized when needed. And I also celebrated many moments of achievement and joy.

Humbly, I can say I’ve contributed to the lives of many others—and that means the world to me.

I’m a proud father. I have a good relationship with my family. I keep in touch with friends. I own my house. I have no debt. I love working in my orchard and caring for a small forest.

I feel very lucky.

What’s next for me?

I’d like to retire at 60—but not by stepping away from life. My goal is to build a bulletproof system that allows me to live well through activities I love: mentorship, digital content, community building, and book sales.

I also dream of seeing Aurora Coworking expand beyond Slovenia—creating spaces where people feel supported, connected, and free to grow. And I want my work as a business workflow automation consultant to evolve into a fully independent business, helping companies become more human-centered and efficient.

Most of all, I want this publication to become the foundation of a digital community—one made up of people from diverse backgrounds who are ready to play the game of life fearlessly, and with a sense of adventure.

A few more things about me:

Eating good, enjoying my dog, traveling, and nurturing friendships... success!

I love to eat. Trying local food is always my top priority when I travel.
I’m proud to say that Peruvian food is one of the best in the world.

I love living in Slovenia—it's green, safe, and the people are wonderful.
And I love being in Europe, where so many incredible cities are just a car or train ride away.

I’m into gadgets, cameras, and mics—and I still fantasize about becoming a great photographer someday.

Also... I host and edit a podcast.

🙏🏽 Thanks for reading.
If anything in my story resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you in the comments—or feel free to share this with someone who might need to read it.
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