Chapter 1: My Entrepreneurial Journey

At the age of 35, I embarked on my entrepreneurial path without any formal business experience. After spending 13 years in the public sector, I was eager to transition to the private sector. While I initially thought pursuing an MBA might be necessary, I realized that starting my own business would provide me with a more practical education. This opportunity materialized when I co-founded Cannúa, a luxury nature lodge located near Medellin, Colombia, along with two partners. What I anticipated would be a two-year project extended to five years, consuming more than I had ever expected.

Here are 15 invaluable lessons I learned throughout this journey:

Lesson 1: The Role of Luck

Our group consisted of travelers who had journeyed to Medellin from various backgrounds. The mere fact that we crossed paths was a stroke of luck. However, we all recognized the potential for collaboration to create something unique in Colombia.

Lesson 2: Taking Action on Opportunities

Simply dreaming about Cannúa wouldn’t have made it a reality. We acted on our vision by searching for properties, conducting research, and drafting a business plan. Each small step propelled us forward.

Lesson 3: The Unseen Path

Often, we can only perceive the next major decision or hurdle. To achieve significant goals, we must accept that the full path reveals itself only as we progress.

Lesson 4: Acknowledging Gaps in Knowledge

We were transparent with ourselves, our investors, and collaborators about our knowledge gaps. Pretending to be knowledgeable would have led to greater issues and eroded trust.

Lesson 5: Seeking Expertise

Recognizing our limitations allowed us to seek out experts in areas where we lacked knowledge or to invest in becoming proficient ourselves.

Lesson 6: Trust, But Verify

We assembled a large team for design and construction, trusting them to perform correctly. Unfortunately, some key individuals did not meet expectations, resulting in significant financial losses, delays, and stress.

Lesson 7: Understanding Your Market

Early in the process, we created detailed profiles of our ideal guests, complete with names, motivations, and imagined experiences at our hotel. These profiles guided all our decisions. When our first guests arrived, they closely resembled our avatars, and they left thrilled with their experience.

Lesson 8: The Manipulation of Projections

We constructed complex financial models for investors, striving for honesty, but it’s evident that financial models can be tailored to present desired outcomes.

Lesson 9: Unforeseen Challenges

Shortly after Cannúa's opening, we faced the unexpected disruption of Covid. Our planning had not anticipated such a significant event, highlighting the unpredictability of business.

Lesson 10: Adapting to Change

Throughout the journey, my personal life changed with marriage and parenthood, shifting my priorities and introducing challenges none of us had foreseen.

Lesson 11: The Importance of Communication

Improved communication within our team could have prevented costly errors. Better dialogue among partners might have preserved our friendship.

Lesson 12: Making Tough Decisions

If you feel the need to dismiss an employee, it’s likely the right choice. Acting quickly can save you considerable future pain.

Lesson 13: Prioritizing Health and Relationships

I pushed myself to the limit, leading to a decline in my health and relationships. I should have recognized the need to step back sooner.

Lesson 14: Redefining Success

When Cannúa opened, instead of feeling accomplished, I grappled with feelings of inadequacy due to mistakes made along the way. Over time, I learned to appreciate what we achieved.

Lesson 15: Knowing When to Move On

Cannúa closed four months post-opening due to Covid. I realized my time as a hotelier had concluded. Though it was hard to leave behind something I had invested so much in, it was the right decision.

These lessons, forged through experience, are not what one might learn in a traditional business school, but I value the hard-earned wisdom they represent.

Chapter 2: Building Cannúa

In this video, we explore the exciting journey of constructing Cannúa, an upscale nature lodge in Colombia. Learn about the challenges and triumphs faced along the way.

Chapter 3: Experiencing Unique Accommodations

This video showcases my stay at a castle hotel for just $10 a night, providing a fascinating contrast to the experiences at Cannúa and emphasizing the diverse hospitality landscape.