3 Lessons an International Move Taught Me as an Entrepreneur
A few months ago, I moved to another country—a decision that involved much more than just a change of address. Leaving behind a life built with dedication, friendships, routines, and a familiar environment was a deep challenge, both personally and professionally. This transition, though well-planned and deeply desired, shook some of my certainties, pushed me to reinvent myself, and, above all, allowed me to rediscover myself as an entrepreneur. In this article, I share the 3 most valuable lessons this international move taught me as an entrepreneur.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Moving to another country is not just about packing bags. It’s about packing an entire life, closing chapters, opening new ones, letting go of the familiar, and jumping into a void that promises something new—but not always something clear. It’s an experience that can profoundly transform not only the person, but also the entrepreneur within.
In this article, I want to share three major lessons that came from changing countries, and how those experiences directly relate to the entrepreneurial journey. Because entrepreneurship is also about moving: moving mindsets, environments, and comfort zones. And because every external change—whether geographic, professional, or emotional—starts with an internal decision.
1. Sometimes you have to leave something good behind… to build something better
Leaving behind something that works, something familiar, something that gave you security, is not easy. Maybe you had a strong network, a loyal market, a routine that produced results. And yet, you felt something wasn’t quite right. That growth was no longer possible in that space. That your entrepreneurial soul was asking for more.
Changing countries—just like launching a new project, closing a business stage, or shifting direction—means voluntary loss. We’re not always escaping something bad; often, we’re walking away from something that still works… but no longer represents us. Comfort can be a trap when it turns into sterile routine.
In my case, that “something good” was a solid career, a community that knew my work, a reputation built over years. And yet, I chose to let it go to begin a new chapter. Because “something better” is not always guaranteed in material terms, but it often is in alignment.
This first lesson helped me understand that entrepreneurship—like moving—is an act of faith. Not blind faith, but deep trust in one’s ability to adapt, in the values that guide us, and in the intuition that moves us. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our business—and our life—is to allow change to happen, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
Ask yourself: What part of your business are you still holding on to just because it “works”? What opportunity are you denying yourself out of fear of leaving the familiar?
2. Chaos is not the enemy: it’s part of the process
Moving disrupts everything. The tangible (boxes, paperwork, logistics), but especially the intangible: identity, routine, sense of belonging. For weeks or months, everything is in transition. There are no certainties. No solid structures. Just discomfort, disorientation, and often, emotional exhaustion.
But in the middle of that apparent chaos, something starts to reorganize. Without realizing it, new abilities emerge: resilience, flexibility, creativity. We learn to improvise, to find solutions in uncertain scenarios, to live in the present moment because there is no other option.
This is exactly what entrepreneurs go through every time they face a major shift in their business. A new model, a financial crisis, a forced reinvention… every transformation comes with a certain level of disorder.
The lesson here is that chaos is not the enemy. It’s a sign that something is moving—that there is life.
Resilience and adaptation are born precisely in the middle of disorder.
Learning to move with the waves instead of fighting them is key. When you accept that uncertainty is part of the process, you free yourself from frustration and exhaustion.
This applies not only to moving countries but to any major entrepreneurial shift. The ability to embrace chaos as a creative force is one of the most valuable skills for any entrepreneur.
3. There is no reboot without a pause
A move doesn’t end the day the boxes are unpacked. There’s a subtler process that follows—an internal adaptation. The body may arrive first, but the soul needs time. Time to be silent, to observe, to process everything that’s been experienced.
In the entrepreneurial world, this pause is often underestimated. We live at such a fast pace, so focused on "producing," that we forget major restarts require space. Changing countries forced me to slow down. To look inward. To rediscover myself. And it was in that silence that I found clarity.
Taking time to integrate what’s been lived is not wasting time. It’s nourishing the future path with meaning. Instead of rushing to fill spaces or cover up emptiness, we can allow ourselves to dwell in the “in-between” without guilt. That’s often where inspiration shows up.
For entrepreneurs, these pauses are strategic. After a launch, an intense phase, or an important decision… stopping to hear your own voice is what allows you to move forward with direction, not just momentum.
I invite you to reflect: Are you giving yourself permission to pause? Or are you filling your calendar to avoid the emptiness that change brings?
When the place changes, you change too
Moving to another country—just like entrepreneurship—is a path of self-discovery. It forces you to rediscover your strengths, reexamine your beliefs, and put your adaptability into action. It’s not just a logistical experience: it’s deeply emotional and psychological.
In my case, this change confronted me with old fears, pulled me out of my usual role, and exposed me to the vulnerability of starting “from scratch.” But it also reconnected me with my purpose. It reminded me why I do what I do, who I do it for, and where I do it from.
Today, I feel more aligned than ever with my mission to support entrepreneurs in their own processes of change. Because I know from experience that every external movement begins with an internal decision. And that every entrepreneur, deep down, is a nomad—of ideas, of forms, of paths.
And you? What lesson is your current process teaching you?
If you’re going through a change—whether geographic, professional, or emotional—I want to tell you something: you’re not alone.
It’s normal to feel uncertain. It’s natural to miss what’s familiar. But it’s also deeply human to aspire to something more authentic, more personal, more true.
Give yourself permission for the process. Embrace the chaos. Make space for the pause.
And remember: you’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience.