111: "Are You Taking Your Infrastructure For Granted?" (lessons from Victor Almeida)
🧠 Erik’s Take
In this follow-up to his interview with Victor Almeida, Erik zooms out to reflect on what building a digital business really looks like in Latin America—and what North American entrepreneurs often take for granted. From basic infrastructure challenges to deep-rooted cultural wisdom, this episode is a powerful reminder that hardship often breeds the greatest human capital. And behind Victor’s startup dream is a deeper calling: to create opportunity where access has long been limited.
🎯 Top Insights from the Interview
- Family wisdom is foundational: Victor’s uncle and mother passed down principles that shaped his view of life, work, and risk.
- Resilience is forged in scarcity: Political instability and economic fragility have created people who are hyper-adaptable, cross-functional, and entrepreneurial by necessity.
- Digital access is not universal: Things like Google Maps, reviews, or reliable Wi-Fi are luxuries in many parts of the world—and that has ripple effects on what businesses can be built.
- Latin America’s human capital is underutilized: Erik highlights the scrappy, multi-skilled digital talent he’s worked with—and how that edge is forged in environments of uncertainty.
- Building a platform is harder when no one’s online: Victor’s challenge isn’t technical—it’s cultural and infrastructural.
🧩 The Personal Layer
Erik’s reflection is rooted in humility—he acknowledges how much he’s taken for granted living and building in the U.S. The conversation made him reevaluate the assumptions baked into the startup ecosystem: bandwidth, funding, listing infrastructure, even social trust around digital tools. He draws a powerful connection between Victor’s “desert power” analogy (from Dune) and the strength of communities forged through challenge.
Erik also shares a deep appreciation for the emotional backbone of Victor’s journey: his mom’s push to “go outside and take risks,” and his uncle’s mantra to “plant a tree, write a book, build a business, and have a kid.”
🧰 From Insight to Action
- Ask yourself: What am I taking for granted in my business infrastructure?
- Seek out and collaborate with underrepresented digital talent—they often bring unmatched versatility.
- Reflect on the wisdom that shaped your worldview—what life scripts are you still following?
- Remember that policy environments matter—support leaders and founders working to shift systemic barriers.
- Lead with humility when building in or with other cultures. Ask more, assume less.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
“Plant a tree. Write a book. Build a business. Have a kid. That’s a life well lived.” — Erik, reflecting on Victor’s uncle’s wisdom
“Scarcity breeds resilience—and that’s what creates the best human capital.” — Erik Berglund
“Most of us assume access to digital tools is universal. It’s not. That assumption is a privilege.” — Erik Berglund
“Victor’s not just building a startup—he’s building infrastructure where none exists.” — Erik Berglund
“You only need one win—and your life changes completely.” — Victor Almeida
🔗 Links & Resources
