We had the good fortune of connecting with Raul Berrios and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raul, what role has risk played in your life or career?
We are taught to believe that your life and career will follow a parabolic curve, but that is rarely the case. If you learn to accept detours, maintain your curiosity and trust that you’re guided, opportunities and ideas you never imagined will come up. The willingness to embrace those opportunities, and take a first step, requires being brave. I guess that believing that I’m being presented with a chance to be brave, versus thinking that I’m taking a “risk”, has opened doors for me and taken me places I could never have imagined earlier in my career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career can be summarized in 3 parts of equal weight: designing hospitality projects; doing historic preservation; and conducting facility assessments. I didn’t plan for it to be that way, but as I opened myself to different opportunities that ended up being the result. I believe you have to trust that you’re being guided. Right now I’m exploring photography and attempting to write. I have been asked many times “when are you writing a book?”– not even sure why people do that– but I taken that as a sign and so far it has been an incredible journey.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Denver Public Library is a building that captures everyone’s imagination– love it or hate it, you’re not indifferent.

The San Luis Valley is one of my favorite areas of the state. Visiting Great Sand Dunes, continuing all the way to Pagosa Springs and then Mesa Verde delivers some of the best Colorado has to offer, and at a more relaxed pace than other regions.

I’m also partial to the Royal Gorge . First visited when I was 14 years old and still one of my favorite spots!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When the student is ready, the teacher shows up! I have been blessed to have met mentors in my life for every stage of my development. Thanking them one by one would take a full page, but my brother Dennis has always been my spiritual inspiration and compass. I believe that in the end, all endeavours and challenges in my professional and personal life have a spiritual lesson or meaning. I’m forever thankful for those that have shown me technical skills and given me encouragement, but my brother has provided wisdom to understand what all those things mean.

Instagram: Letsgoout_noexcuses

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