A few months ago I had the opportunity to start working at Platzi, an online education startup. After working at many traditional companies, this was my first time at a startup. Today was my last day with them, and I think the best way to leave an education startup is by telling you what I learned.
You Can’t Build Anything That Truly Changes Lives on Your Own
This is really important. Behind Platzi there’s an incredible team — people who truly believe that education changes lives. This happens at any startup you know and admire.
To build products that reach millions, you need to work with a team, with good people that you admire and who always want more.
Look for a team — people who share your beliefs — and build something you’re proud of.
Everything Really Changes When You Believe in the Company’s Vision
Education should be online by default. We should all have the same opportunities to learn, no matter where we are. This is what got me out of bed every morning during my time at Platzi.
Work at a company where you believe in what they’re trying to achieve. Don’t just work for a paycheck — I know that if you’re in a tough situation, thinking differently is hard. But if you give yourself the chance to work at a place where you feel connected to and believe in what they do, it’ll change your definition of work forever.
Surrounding Yourself with People Better Than You Will Change You
Many times you might feel stuck professionally, or like you’re not growing at the pace you want. Perhaps the most important thing I learned is that surrounding yourself with professionals who are better than you will make you grow 10x.
At Platzi I met perhaps the best professionals and the best people in my life. They’re incredible people who give everything so their students can have better lives.
If you feel like you’re stuck, maybe it’s time to look for a new team and become the person you haven’t even imagined yet.
Nothing Replaces Hard Work and Focus
Having a thousand things to do and a thousand objectives isn’t the best way to move forward. Nothing replaces focusing on a few things and finishing them as well as possible.
The dedication required to finish things that take you one step further, and doing them the best you can, will take you to new places. Maybe a single objective is all you need to change your life.
If you feel like you’re doing a thousand things but not really getting much done, take a moment and narrow it down to just a few — the ones you feel will take you to the next level.
You Should Work on Something That Excites You
At the first companies I worked for, I was really just in it for the paycheck at the end of the month. At Platzi, I discovered something different: working on something you truly care about means that even when the work is hard, you do it with love.
Working on something that excites you, with people you admire, will make work never feel the same again. Allow yourself to discover that, and tell me about your experience.
At the end of my time working at Platzi, all I have left is gratitude for Freddy, Christian, and the entire team that makes Platzi an incredible startup.
In these months working alongside the whole team, I’ve grown a ton, and today I’m a different person and a different professional than when I started. There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for that.