They say words hold power—but some hit different. Today, I got a message that floored me. Simple. Honest. Raw. It said:
"O sea eres un bonito ejemplo a seguir, sensible, humano, sin complejos ni egos…"
That might be the best compliment I’ve ever received. Not because it stroked my ego, but because it saw me. The real me. And it hit me in a way I didn’t expect, because for the first time in a long time—I actually believed it.
See, for the past five years I worked at a place where I gave a lot of myself. My time, my creativity, my ideas, my patience. I was all in. And while I don’t want to drag that chapter through the mud—it was quiet in a way that’s hard to explain. Like standing in a room full of people but feeling invisible.
There were no “you’re doing amazing” moments. No meaningful check-ins. No validation that the work, or I, truly mattered. Over time, that kind of silence doesn’t just stay quiet—it starts wearing you down. Not loudly, not all at once—but little by little. A chip here. A doubt there. Until suddenly, you’re second-guessing things you used to do with confidence. Until your ideas feel “meh” before they even leave your mouth. And the wildest part? I didn’t even realize how much it was affecting me… until I left.
Fast forward to now—just a few months into a new workplace—and I feel like a different version of myself. Same Tore, just… brighter. Recharged. Seen. And it’s not because the job got easier—actually, the opposite. The stakes are higher, the expectations are real, and the workload has definitely multiplied. But I feel like I can carry it all because I’m finally in an environment where I’m seen. Where my voice matters. Where who I am matters.
That message today? It wasn’t just a sweet compliment. It was a sign. The kind I’ve been asking God for quietly—some sort of confirmation that I’m where I need to be. That there’s a reason I kept believing in better.
And here’s the thing I wish more leaders understood:
Confidence isn’t built in big speeches or fancy titles—it’s built in the everyday. In the way you make someone feel when they speak up. In the space you give for others to shine. In the trust you offer before it’s been earned. That’s what changes people. That’s what allows creatives to thrive, not just survive.
To those who believe in me—truly believe in me—even when I didn’t fully believe in myself: thank you. Whether you are my wife, a mentor, a coworker, a boss, family, a friend, or just someone who took a second to say, “Hey, I see you, bro”—you have no idea the impact that had.
And to anyone reading this who feels stuck or unseen in their current space: I promise, you’re not asking for too much. You’re asking for the bare minimum. You’re asking to be treated like a human being. And that? That’s not a luxury—it’s a must.
You don’t need to shrink to fit the room you’re in. Maybe it’s time to find a new room.
The way we treat people is the real secret to life. Kindness, respect, and belief—that’s not a bonus in leadership. That’s the whole job. It’s the difference between survival and growth. Between burnout and breakthrough.
So to those who see us, hear us, and cheer us on: you’re the reason we keep showing up. You’re the reason we keep creating.
MUCHOS thank yous,
Tore