What Work Teaches Me About Humility and Teamwork

I'm back at work now, but in a completely different world — the world of supply chain.
Before this, I spent years training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and that's a big shift.
Sometimes it feels like I've lost a bit of freedom, because I can't train whenever or as much as I want.
Now I carry responsibility in an environment where people count on me — to get things done on time, to think ahead, and to work well as part of a team.

It takes a lot of mental energy, in a different way than the physical intensity of jiu-jitsu.
I'm still very much in a learning phase, and probably will be for a while. But I don't mind that.
Here too, I can apply the same learning mindset I developed on the mats: keep practicing, listen, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Learning Humility Again 

In jiu-jitsu, humility comes naturally. You tap out to better opponents, and that's part of the process.
Now, at work, I'm starting again from zero. And once again, I have to put my ego aside — not in front of an opponent, but in front of colleagues, managers, and systems I don't fully understand yet.

What I've noticed is that many people with more experience are really open to sharing what they know. I value that a lot.
Continuous learning is something I deeply care about, and it only works when you respect those who know more and stay willing to listen.

A Moment of Learning

I remember recently having to process data across several Excel sheets, but I didn't fully understand what needed to be done.
I gave myself ten minutes to figure it out, but I couldn't.
In the end, I decided to be honest with my mentor and told him that I needed more help.
It wasn't easy for my pride, but it felt right to do.
And that moment reminded me again: learning begins with admitting you don't know something yet.

Same Values, Different World 

Even though I've stepped into a completely different world, I have no regrets about where I came from.
The values and discipline I built through jiu-jitsu are the same ones that guide me now at work.
Humility doesn't feel like something negative — it feels natural, a way of growing stronger in both worlds.

Maybe humility isn't something you lose as you grow, but something you need in order to keep growing. 

Some lessons don't stay on the mat. They follow you everywhere. 

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