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Dennis Berry's avatar

Great story. Besides the business lessons, it was a lesson in resilience and consistent effort.

Most people would have quit 20 years earlier. And that’s why only the 1% make it to the top 🔥

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Juan Salas-Romer's avatar

Thank you Dennis. Grit > Smart to get to the end. Jensen (NVIDIA CEO) talks about this

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPQj5auCAlR/?igsh=enhicHQ4ZjVxOWxy

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Passport Inspiration's avatar

appreciate the vulnerability, one of us was just getting into the financial business after the Great Recession, what a crazy time to get in. You never know what types of lessons you will learn and what challenges will lead to triumphs.

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Juan Salas-Romer's avatar

You never know when tough turns into gold. It’s about been persistent + adaptable + doing what you said you were going to do + focus + meaningful relationships

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James Barringer's avatar

Your story made me think of someone tripping over a root on a forest path and realising they’ve discovered a whole new trail.

E — Encourage

I appreciate the warmth in the way you tell it. There’s no pressure to have a perfect plan, just an honest reminder that growth often starts with small, unplanned steps.

Through the 5 Voices lens, accidental paths make perfect sense:

Nurturers step into roles because someone needs them.

Guardians shift when the work requires steadiness.

Creatives wander toward what sparks interest.

Connectors follow the energy of people and possibility.

Pioneers run toward the next challenge.

When we understand this mix, “accidental” starts to look a lot more like alignment in disguise.

Your takeaway is spot on. The best way forward is often to stay curious, keep listening, and trust that the path reveals itself while you’re walking it, not before.

what was the quiet moment that told you this path was becoming more than a detour?

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Nazanin Bigdeli's avatar

Your journey shows exactly why systems and clarity matter more than optimism alone.

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