The last 5 years

At this time of year, it is customary to write down New Year's resolutions. However, this time I didn't want to dream the impossible, but rather retrace my steps over the last five years, understand where I come from and where I am going, and, above all, appreciate life.

To give you some context, the past decade has been absolutely crazy, full of great lessons learned. Going to college, starting my own company, receiving entrepreneurship awards, going to the MIT accelerator, raising over $1.5 million in investment, building a product with hundreds of thousands of users... and then seeing it all come crashing down when we were no longer relevant or necessary, when the competition and the way we worked were no longer aligned with our value proposition.

Add to this period a salad of dysfunctional personal relationships, and you have a few years of emotional ups and downs that have left me scarred for life. I am tremendously grateful for the lessons learned during this period, but the pain remains.

2020

New life. I started a new job at Payvision; new friends, new dynamics... And just when my life seemed to be restarting, COVID arrived, and with it, lockdown. Time. Lots of time. Time to really think about what had happened, what needed to change, what I wanted in my life and what I didn't. Time to feel guilty and forgive myself, to understand the magnitude of my mistakes and those of others. The real fresh start I needed happened by chance.

We went out again. Slowly, fearfully. But there was no fear, just a desire to rise again, to take control of my life. I became independent, with all the changes that entailed. I flew solo; I was responsible for myself down to the last hair on my head. I grew up a lot; I learned when it was worth fighting for and when to compromise. Wars are about egos, and mine was neither there nor expected.

2021

I started a new professional stage with my good friend David as CTO of the two largest Spanish social networks at the time, Peoople and 21 Buttons. Twenty-eight million users worldwide and a huge technical challenge. I was in my element.

And then Patricia came along. A simple, cheerful, humble, beautiful, brilliant girl and, above all, with a big heart. We knew from the first date that this was forever. We knew that our future lay with each other. And we started living together discovering that we were not mistaken.

2022

The Peoople adventure was over for me. We fought like beasts, we did everything we could to make it work, but the market evolves too quickly. Maybe I let him down, maybe I wasn't up to the task, but I know we are both grateful to have shared that journey.

I hit a professional bump in the road. I made a mistake in my next move. Dishonest people in the way. It was quick. A lesson learned.

Once again, it was time to think, to reset, improve, and change what wasn't working. And boy, did it change! That August, Patricia became an engaged woman. We had never been so sure of a decision.

I'm back at Capchase and, with that, new challenges, new friends... Without a doubt, that was not a place for quiet people; there was intensity. Better yet, it's the kind I like.

I was beginning to feel a new feeling: stability. My life was beginning to fall into place.

2023

The quiet year when everything changed. The big day arrived. We got married! Could we be any happier? Time only confirmed that we could. From the outside, perhaps nothing seemed to have changed, but inside us, everything took on a new dimension. We were truly one, and that's how we've always acted.

2024

Big changes came. April brought two great gifts. First, the best job change I've ever had at Archlet. I could say so many wonderful things about this place and its people... I've never felt so grateful for a job. I've never felt so good working. This is not just another job. I feel at home, surrounded by friends.

And second, the joy of knowing that a child was on the way. The wait felt like an eternity and a moment at the same time. There was Pablo, tiny, calm, happy... Once again, everything changed; everything fell into place. Priorities began to shift in a natural and healthy way.

2025

This feeling is new. This year has brought us more stability, fulfillment, and joy as a family. And professionally, of course. But I finally feel like I'm no longer just Javier, the computer scientist; I'm Javier, the husband and father. And I enjoy the little pleasures.

I enjoy watching him sleep, watching him dream.
And with him, I dream.
I dream of his future.
I dream of his happiness.
I dream of seeing him grow and explore.
I dream of his dreams.
And suddenly, he opens his eyes, looks at you tenderly, and you realize that the dream is reality.

What will the next five years bring? I don't know, but I hope they're similar to the last five.

Time. This post is an ode to you, my friend and tormentor. If I rush, you punish me. If I take my time to enjoy you, you reward me. I wish I had understood you sooner. I hope I can continue to understand you forever.