It’s currently 1:05 am. I can’t sleep. I’ve been back in Panama for 1 week, enjoying time off with friends and family. But now, vacation time is done.

As I sit and write this, it’s my last night of vacation life. Tomorrow morning, I start my first day of work at Ubiqua.

It’s not my first “first day at work”. I’ve had past internships before at Copa Airlines and P&G. But these were internships. Before I even started there was already an end date. These were internship experiences that allowed me to develop myself before beginning my professional career.

Tomorrow feels different. Tomorrow marks the beginning of my career, the beginning of a new chapter in my life. It only seems fit that, I wish myself well with this new start.

—

Dear Alberto,

Congrats! You’ve done well and completed your university studies and enjoyed some well-deserved vacations. Tomorrow, you’ll be starting your first day at Ubiqua! You have quite a challenge ahead of you, but I am sure it will be an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience.

Here’s my advice to you, to bring out the best in you, in this new chapter of your life.

1. Keep an Open Mind

Take everything with an open mind. Embrace new ideas, new concepts, and new perspectives. Hold judgements and rebuttals for later. Do not let a false sense of knowledge turn you apathetic to the ideas and beliefs of others. Instead, fully immerse yourself in this new experience. Learn about the processes and the workflows. Learn about your team, their background, their motivations and their values. Learn as much as you can about everything and everyone around you. Most importantly, keep an open mind and welcome all that is new and different.

2. Be Infinitely Curious

Ask questions. Dig deeper. Ask again and ask some more. Ask yourself why things are done in a certain way. Understand how have things come to be and what conditions have influenced it. Be infinitely curious and expand your understanding of the world around you. Most importantly, ask yourself how could things be different moving forward. Use your curiosity to envision new possibilities and opportunities for yourself and your team.

3. Embrace “You”

You have been hired to the team because your colleagues saw something great in you. They see qualities and skillsets that they deemed valuable to the company. They see a person who can make a difference and be a part of building something great. Do not dampen the things that make you, you. Amplify your qualities and act in the way that best reflects your heart and mind. Allow your authentic self to bring out the best in you.

4. Enjoy the Ride

Finally, be present in this unique and precious moment that you are living in. You’ve worked hard and long to get here and this is just the beginning of your journey. There is still more to come. So buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Good Luck with your first day at Ubiqua. I wish you only the very best and am certain you will do great!

Sincerely,

Alberto

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It is now 2:07 am. Time to call it a night, and get some rest before the big day.