Empathy

conversation turn taking

8- I think I am good in both finding the timing when is my time to talk and let others speak their minds out

My family is extremely talkative and extrovert, in a way I was the most introvert, thanks to that I learnt to listen, but as I grew up had to learn the skill to find the correct timing to express a thought without let everyone feeling like you hijacked the conversation.

disconfirm own beliefs

8- If facts are presented, then, is time to shift your paradigms. I think this is an ever growing skill

During 2016 my boss told me he was moving all his saving to BTC, he tried to explain why, but I was too sceptic to even listen. And well, here I am, working at a crypto project, had to disconfirm quite a few own beliefs to get here.

self-aware & articulate

7- I like to understand why I enjoy certain things and most importantly understand what I don’t like or want to do.

This is a skill I learned from my therapist, she once told me Diego you are very vocal when you like or want something, however, what is that you don’t like? I went speechless and with time I figured that bit was even more important. Now I can say “Cheese burger with lettuce” … ok no ..

share a drink

9- what a better way to bond than with a drink.

I discovered I like crafted beers after hanging out with some colleagues who were so into that world

spend 10 hours daily together

7- Looking at someone else’s code is a way to spend time together

If there is something I miss about going to the office is spending time with colleagues.

nurture & mentor

8- Mentoring is a great way to measure your own progress and to leave a fingerprint in someone else’s life

I remember the first time I was assigned the role of Buddy, which was nothing else than mentoring a new-joiner in his/her engineering path in the company. I was quite nervous thinking I wouldn’t make the cut, however, I realised how much of a progress I’ve done. I think we did a good job since we are still in contact with all the guys I mentored, they still send me WhatsApps sharing their life milestones, as if they were proud to share that with me.

make everyone shine

9- Being a good team-member means celebrating your colleagues successes

I’ve been lucky enough to share my path with teams where this kind of behaviour flows so naturally

people over process

9- At the end of the day is people who makes processes work

I’ve noticed that when I become more creative is when I work in environments where I don’t feel I am another pawn with little say in how things could go

dare to disagree

8- Diversity of opinion is key to find creative solutions, however, is important to share your thoughts empathically

There is a quote I like: “To every problem there are always three solutions, yours, mine and the correct one”

Passion

long-time craftsmanship

8- I’m not a disciplined person but I’m devoted and that makes a big difference

I love building, and I can spend countless hours thinking, reading and getting my hands dirty. When I was a child I used to break my toys because I wanted to find out how did they work, my father was so pissed every time haha

obsess over details

8- I can spend quite a lot of time iterating on solutions I’ve worked on, just because I find points of improvement every time

At my first job I used to spend tons of time refining solutions, till my boss Abraham once told me “hey Diego, it works fine just leave it, find something else to do”

hungry & foolish

9- I get hungry about the future of tech and my part on it and foolishness comes as a result of that hunger

I started my tech journey as an electronic engineer, from there I went to become a FullStack, then a backend, then Infrastructure, and here I am in the Blockchain industry as motivated as my first work

share the mission

9- Crypto is a generational opportunity, I’m more than happy to help building towards a more scalable Harmony

Ever since I learned about crypto I realised how much I wanted to start building and help to build that decentralise future we all need. Just this week I tried to send money from my Danish account to my German account, since both accounts run in different currencies, my bank block the transaction, I had to call them, and after a long chat they released my funds

optimistic about flying off a cliff

8- I find this specially appealing when I’m in a comfort zone

I moved from Mexico to Poland with once suit case and my backpack, then when I got comfortable in Poland, moved to Denmark and now I’m doing the same to Spain. I probably should settle soon

your 50-year dream

8- Peacefull and fullfiling

I like the story of Steve Wozniak that after having a main role in the foundation of Apple and the creation of personal computers. He spent his next years teaching and sharing. Greatness and humbleness conveying in a single lifetime.

consistent with own actions

8- I like to spend time asking myself what I don’t like/want and I find that helps me to build consistency and integrity

I think this is one of those things in life where you keep growing at

make tough decisions

7- Hard but so necessary if is for the better

I like the quote: “Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually” I think this same concept can be applied to virtually any situation in life, it means sacrificing the short-term in favor the long-term

admit mistakes

8- Mistakes a the best part of the cake, since is where you actually learn, in some cases touch rock bottom, that is one of the most powerful motivators.

Fail fast, fail often and fail forward, a popular quote used by many, but it encloses a fundamental truth, that growth happens in great measure when you fail.

Excellence

top 1% superstar

6- Constant improvement is key, but becoming a superstart is not a goal since is always open for interpretation

The idea of become the top 1% is such a broad concept, keep improving in live while keeping a balance is way more rewarding.

effective tooling

8- Like to automate repetitive tasks and research about tools that will make mi everyday life easier

There is dignity in simplicity, if something can be simplified then why not.

relevant to our needs

9- Harmony strives for scalability and I happen to have experience on that

When i got the offer from Harmony I was so happy, I’m thrilled to apply my knowledge into this novel industry while at the same time I keep learning

10x growth

8- I have growth both as a professional and person, but this is an ongoing journey.

quote I like: “I haven’t come this far just to come this far”

voracious learner

8- One of the things of start working in this industry is that I’m forced to learn at a full speed and the best part is that I love it

Tech is evolving at an unmeasurable speed you can not afford to sit idle thinking you already learnt enough, if you are passionate the learning process becomes a part of your life.

contrarian thinker

7- Like to understand and being understood as well

Understand before making yourself understood

accomplish important work

8- I like the feeling of getting things done, and even more when I hit important milestones

When I am passionate about something is not work, it becomes a goal I put all my skills to get done.

activity < productivity

8- I think is better to work smart rather than hard

You can run all day in circles and not going anywhere

thrive in chaos

9- Love chaos, is where best ideas are brewed.

When you are submerged in chaos you can not afford to sit still, you’ve got the fundamental need to think creatively.