Camilo, I relate so much to this! And I love the way you wrote it.
I do have conviction now but it's so recent. (thank you for the shoutout!!) I lacked conviction for most of my life! I can remember being in a similar place as you are now. It took fours years of weekly publishing to figure out what the heck I was doing, where I was going. But during those four years I really, truly followed the fun. I wrote about my struggles, I read books that lit me up, I watched documentaries that made me cry, I listened to endless podcasts. I didn't know where I was going but I believed in the direction I was going.... and I was having fun, waking up each morning, eager to get to my laptop and write.
For me, I also had to cut myself a lot of slack. I had nothing to show my family and friends during this time. Nothing to prove my worth as far as "being successful." I think the best thing I did during that time was just allow myself to learn. To be curious and excited about learning. To know that the conviction would come, eventually.
Conviction will come for you, too. You just have to keep moving. <3
Thank you, Charlie. One of the gifts or reading your story has been seeing your journey and if anything, it's made me appreciate more who you are and what you bring to the world.
I think you hit it on the nail with this: "I had nothing to show my family and friends during this time." Yea, this and the financial aspect are what weigh on me. Thank you for your support!
This is one of the best ways to describe authenticity I have seen. “authenticity made evident by the lack of tension between what you are doing and what you want to do.” I’m guessing it would be bad karma to steal your definition of authenticity and pass it off as my own. Though I’m pretty confident, I could do it without any tension.
Rick, please know that any mention of authenticity is inevitably colored by the conversation we had last year. The way you defined authenticity has stayed with me even as it has evolved. So please "steal away" this is your as much as it is mine.
Wow. This is so good and beautifully written. I felt like you were writing my soul away.
I know you will get your conviction. Why? Because if there is one thing I know about you and that is how GREAT you are. It takes time to see the greatness others see in you. Keep moving forward Camilo, you will find your way.
I can strongly relate so much to your words and mind.
As I navigate the world of solopreneurship, and the sometimes long timelines of business development, I keep noticing myself wondering how to distinguish between a moment that needs the conviction to keep going or the flexibility to pivot.
Is no feedback a sign that I am still walking towards the right people, or that I am walking in the wrong direction?
The thing about conviction that I find interesting is harnessing it in a way that it shows up in the form of resilience and flexibility towards that vision or purpose.
What I mean is: it's perhaps more in the "how" than the "what". How we problem solve, how we learn from new information (both from the environment as well as from ourselves), we keep walking, we allow for new directions that still align to our vision/purpose (whatever we want to call it) to come up and show us new possibilities.
Not in the "following a plan to a T" and "not veering off course no matter what", as that is when conviction may turn into inflexibility and prevent us from doing better when we know better. And better here just means in alignment with ourselves.
I think your point on conviction as the "how" is what I think I w as trying to say in this piece. And then, the piece that frankly I'm struggling with is how do you have enough clarity so that you know where you are going and how people can help you, but to your point, not becoming obsessed about following a plant to a T.
Still trying to figure that out. But I'm glad you enjoyed this and resonated!
Camilo - I’m with Charlie in the relatedness camp. I especially resonated with this: “We are drawn to those who live with conviction. They speak passionately about their interests—not as hobbies, but as vessels for expression and purpose. They lean into their quirks and compulsions, not caring for the opinions of others.”
There’s a grace when this internal intention comes from purpose, it’s like the result doesn’t matter, what matters is the expression.
I love it when your thoughts and words show up in my inbox. 🙏
Camilo, I relate so much to this! And I love the way you wrote it.
I do have conviction now but it's so recent. (thank you for the shoutout!!) I lacked conviction for most of my life! I can remember being in a similar place as you are now. It took fours years of weekly publishing to figure out what the heck I was doing, where I was going. But during those four years I really, truly followed the fun. I wrote about my struggles, I read books that lit me up, I watched documentaries that made me cry, I listened to endless podcasts. I didn't know where I was going but I believed in the direction I was going.... and I was having fun, waking up each morning, eager to get to my laptop and write.
For me, I also had to cut myself a lot of slack. I had nothing to show my family and friends during this time. Nothing to prove my worth as far as "being successful." I think the best thing I did during that time was just allow myself to learn. To be curious and excited about learning. To know that the conviction would come, eventually.
Conviction will come for you, too. You just have to keep moving. <3
Thank you, Charlie. One of the gifts or reading your story has been seeing your journey and if anything, it's made me appreciate more who you are and what you bring to the world.
I think you hit it on the nail with this: "I had nothing to show my family and friends during this time." Yea, this and the financial aspect are what weigh on me. Thank you for your support!
Camilo, I've been so in the weeds of writing my book that I didn't even think how you'd be getting to know me and my past by reading it lol.
I'm here for you!
"I don't know where I'm going, but I know exactly how to get there." -Boyd Varty
Ugh Boyd Varty. Such a perfect quote.
This is one of the best ways to describe authenticity I have seen. “authenticity made evident by the lack of tension between what you are doing and what you want to do.” I’m guessing it would be bad karma to steal your definition of authenticity and pass it off as my own. Though I’m pretty confident, I could do it without any tension.
Rick, please know that any mention of authenticity is inevitably colored by the conversation we had last year. The way you defined authenticity has stayed with me even as it has evolved. So please "steal away" this is your as much as it is mine.
Wow. This is so good and beautifully written. I felt like you were writing my soul away.
I know you will get your conviction. Why? Because if there is one thing I know about you and that is how GREAT you are. It takes time to see the greatness others see in you. Keep moving forward Camilo, you will find your way.
I still owe you a longer response (sorry!), but I'm eternally grateful to have you in my corner Suad. You've always seen the best in me. What a gift.
Camilo, you've done the same for me and more! I am always here for you!
I love this piece, Camilo.
I can strongly relate so much to your words and mind.
As I navigate the world of solopreneurship, and the sometimes long timelines of business development, I keep noticing myself wondering how to distinguish between a moment that needs the conviction to keep going or the flexibility to pivot.
Is no feedback a sign that I am still walking towards the right people, or that I am walking in the wrong direction?
The thing about conviction that I find interesting is harnessing it in a way that it shows up in the form of resilience and flexibility towards that vision or purpose.
What I mean is: it's perhaps more in the "how" than the "what". How we problem solve, how we learn from new information (both from the environment as well as from ourselves), we keep walking, we allow for new directions that still align to our vision/purpose (whatever we want to call it) to come up and show us new possibilities.
Not in the "following a plan to a T" and "not veering off course no matter what", as that is when conviction may turn into inflexibility and prevent us from doing better when we know better. And better here just means in alignment with ourselves.
I think your point on conviction as the "how" is what I think I w as trying to say in this piece. And then, the piece that frankly I'm struggling with is how do you have enough clarity so that you know where you are going and how people can help you, but to your point, not becoming obsessed about following a plant to a T.
Still trying to figure that out. But I'm glad you enjoyed this and resonated!
I am too - I guess we're on this journey together :)
Camilo - I’m with Charlie in the relatedness camp. I especially resonated with this: “We are drawn to those who live with conviction. They speak passionately about their interests—not as hobbies, but as vessels for expression and purpose. They lean into their quirks and compulsions, not caring for the opinions of others.”
There’s a grace when this internal intention comes from purpose, it’s like the result doesn’t matter, what matters is the expression.
I love it when your thoughts and words show up in my inbox. 🙏
Thank you, James. Your support has kept me afloat in my pursuit of conviction. And your exemplary purpose-filled live is a wonderful reference point.
Well, for what it's worth: this is quite beautiful writing, my friend.
Thank you, friend. Coming from you, I take your compliment to heart.