La Primera experiencia es la base para un buen profesional | Edwin Montaña | TEDxUIS

Quick Overview

Edwin Montaña concludes that the foundation for becoming a good professional, whether in engineering or entrepreneurship, lies in embracing the inherent difficulty and risks of the journey, a realization solidified by the demanding schedule he maintained while caring for his newborn daughter.

Key Points: Montaña worked as a plant operator for many years, simultaneously studying engineering at night to advance his career. The speaker took a significant financial risk, investing his savings and going into debt to start his own business after the birth of his daughter. He faced initial rejection when seeking support, as no entity financially backed his venture due to his lack of experience in the market. His strong motivation was driven by the need to provide for his family, including his daughter, and keep his promise to her. During the challenging period (2016-2020), he worked intensely, juggling studies, work, and caring for his newborn, often sleeping only 2-3 hours a night. The speaker emphasizes that the biggest risk is choosing not to take risks, highlighting the importance of perseverance through difficulties. By 2021, his persistence led to professional recognition, with companies actively seeking him out, and he and his team transitioned into roles as engineers and entrepreneurs.

Context: This TEDx talk, delivered by Edwin Montaña at TEDxUIS (Universidad Industrial de Santander), is a personal narrative about overcoming significant professional and personal challenges, particularly balancing demanding work and studies with the responsibility of fatherhood, to achieve entrepreneurial success and professional recognition. The core message revolves around the idea that early struggles and risks are essential for long-term professional development.

Detailed Analysis

Edwin Montaña shares his personal journey, starting as a plant operator who studied engineering at night for years, driven by the desire to advance. He recounts the immense difficulty of this period (2016-2020), which included the birth of his daughter and the need to secure a better financial future for his family. This necessity fueled a major risk: investing everything he had, going into debt, and starting his own business even when established entities wouldn't support him due to his lack of market experience. He describes working grueling hours—studying late and waking up early to care for his baby—because he felt he had promised his daughter he would succeed. A key turning point came when he realized the greatest risk was not taking risks at all. He decided to actively seek opportunities, approaching clients in cities like Bucaramanga, San Gil, and Socorro, selling acrylics and signage, and funding his education. By 2020/2021, as the pandemic hit, his company was established enough to be recognized, and he and his team, now composed of engineers and entrepreneurs, were being sought after by other organizations. He concludes by stressing that life teaches you to enjoy the process, even when things are difficult, and that his hard-won experience was the true foundation for his success.