The Market Seen from the Street: Third Quarter of 2024, “growth pain”
Time passes quickly, and unexpected twists are often inevitable.
About a year ago, I was determined to put an end to my so-called “entrepreneurial journey” – or perhaps, my “fool’s journey” – worn out by disillusionment and a profound lack of confidence. I felt cornered, facing problems beyond my control. I spent sleepless nights thinking about the consequences if certain third-party decisions turned out unfavorable. That sense of helplessness consumed me for months until I finally decided to step in and act more decisively.
Today, as I recall some conversations and reread a few emails I sent back then, I remember the advice I was given:
“André, don’t do that. You could get into trouble.”
“André, take it easy. Wait a few more months. Everything will work out.”
“André, don’t push too hard. It could backfire.”
Those words kept me awake many nights. Even knowing that these people meant well, I did what I felt had to be done. No Plan A, B, or C – no elaborate ideas – just one goal: to solve things. Anyone who has been in this position understands. When I look back, I still feel a chill, but I recognize how much I learned, and I deeply value those who supported me (and, to be honest, I also think less of those who stopped answering my calls). Today, I fully understand that it’s the difficult moments that teach us to trust – and mistrust – ourselves. Those were tough times, but they helped me grow.
Want to know the outcome? I made it through. “With one wing broken and the other twisted,” but with a “will to fly”!
Now, in the third quarter of 2024, the challenges are different, but we’re still growing steadily. We welcome the newest member of the team, young Gonçalo, who has joined us to strengthen our communication with the market and provide personalized support to clients. We’ve expanded our Consulting Project pipeline, completed others, and advanced to new stages in Real Estate Promotion projects that required strategic decisions. We responded to client requests for new services and updated our website: https://andrecasaca.pt/.
New questions arise every day: does it make sense to expand our services, increasing our human resources (and consequently, our fixed costs) while ensuring quality control? Should we rely on external partnerships and coordinate processes with them?
We don’t yet have definitive answers to these questions. However, it might be wise to consider the entry of “new partners” with complementary skills to those we currently have. In the coming weeks, we will make some crucial decisions.
In summary, this has been a positive quarter, with growth exceeding 60% compared to 2023. But as they say in football, the game isn’t over until the referee blows the whistle. We know that nothing is guaranteed and that everything can change quickly. We continue to move forward steadily, with unwavering commitment to the quality of our services and the business relationships we build with clients and partners.
Furthermore, now is the time to start preparing for 2025 with confidence – a year that will certainly be full of great opportunities where we’ll know how to choose the right path.
Additional Note: We’re making a strong commitment to real estate investment and are seeking partners with a medium-to-long-term vision. If you’re interested in being part of this project, please email us at marketing@laplace-intelligence.com.
See you soon,
André Casaca
