I have started (again) from zero.
It’s been a while since I last wrote here.
The last post was mid April - and shortly after that, I was swept into a tornado of new goals, and a new mission.
This time, starting from zero. meant making a drastic cut with what came before.
From the second half of 2023, I have been building the Italian branch of a tech startup. What started as a bold entry into the market quickly evolved into a proper scale-up. Today, I see that company as a solid player with a defined identity and market position.
But I also had to make a choice: leave.
Leave the team that felt like - even - a family.
Leave the project I had shaped from the ground up.
Leave at the peak.
I took a few days to let it all sink in. To manage my emotions and make sure the transition was fair to everyone involved - including myself.
Because when you start from zero, emotions are part of the process.
Fear. Anxiety. Doubt. They are normal.
But here’s what I’ve learned: you can feel all of that and still move forward.
How to be drastic - and make things happen without drowning in emotion
Most people think drastic choices require cold detachment. I’ve learned the opposite.
You need to acknowledge what you feel - and act despite it.
When I made the decision to leave (and to let it go!!!) to an internal promotion, I didn’t pretend it was easy. I just didn’t let the difficulty stop me. I didn’t get stuck in guilt or nostalgia. I zoomed out, looked at the bigger picture and walked forward.
Being drastic doesn’t mean being harsh.
It means being clear.
Clear with yourself. Clear with others.
And fast enough to avoid dragging things that no longer serve you - or them.
The Frog Parabola
You’ve probably heard of the frog-in-boiling-water metaphor:
If a frog is placed in boiling water, it jumps out.
If it’s placed in lukewarm water that’s slowly heated, it stays - until it’s too late.
I don’t like the metaphor for what it says about frogs.
But I love it for what it says about humans.
When you find yourself in one of those “slow-boiling” situations - at work, but also in a relationship, in life - it’s better to consciously create some distance early on. Start stepping back while the water is still just warm. This makes it easier later, if you need to jump out entirely because you’ve already begun adjusting, emotionally and mentally. The hardest exits are the ones we try to make all at once.
Leaving at the Peak
This is the hardest part to explain.
People assume that if things are going well, you should stay.
That staying is a sign of loyalty.
That leaving is giving up.
But sometimes, leaving at the peak is the boldest move.
It’s not walking away from success - it’s walking toward the next version of it.
When I left, everything looked in good shape from the outside.
Good numbers. Great team. Momentum.
But I knew I had already contributed what I was meant to.
The curve was flattening - for me.
And I’d rather leave when I’m still full of energy and clarity, than stay too long and feel it rot from within.
I’ve started from zero again.
