Allan Nascimento

Cathedral Metaphor

The biggest cathedrals were built brick by brick, but the person laying the brick never sees the cathedral. I first read this line from Saint Josemaría Escrivá in a post by Matheus Bazzo on X, and it stuck with me. It talks about an imposing building made of thousands of bricks, each placed one by one by men working the same hours day after day. The idea of “small things” is what I want to focus on.

Focus on the Brick

I use the word “brick” as a metaphor for one simple action, one habit, one step you take each day, a one‑percent improvement. When I read that phrase, I thought not only about its spiritual aspect, Saint Josemaría is a Catholic saint, but also about my own goals and daily actions. I realized I was always chasing the cathedral, the whole project, and despising the brick. We need to focus on the brick, the small thing we have control over, instead of only the end result. The brick in front of us today is the most important one.

It’s also important to keep everything moving in the same direction. If we act in random directions we end up building scattered bricks, not a consistent project. Each brick counts; each one‑percent improvement each day may look like nothing, but with consistent effort it becomes a wall, then a whole building.

Applying to My Channel

My own channel is a clear example. Each video is a brick, a small step toward building my personal brand, earning money speaking in English, getting clients who pay in dollars, and achieving financial freedom. Yesterday I recorded this video on Sunday, three hours before mass. I almost skipped it, but that would have left a hole in the wall of my habit of recording 100 videos a year.

Client Outreach

I also realized I need to organize better how I get clients. This week I started reaching out to people who don’t know me, one email at a time, rather than spamming thousands. I don’t know yet if it will work, but I’ll see in about a month. Each prospect I contact is another brick, an important small thing I can do in my day.

Practical Takeaway

It’s a lot easier to think about one brick than the whole wall at once. Aim at the smallest task you can possibly think about; it makes your actions more feasible. Lay today’s brick anyway, even if you can’t see the cathedral yet. We don’t need the most popular productivity book; we just need the advice that comes from this simple metaphor.

Personal Connection

I pronounce Saint Josemaría Escrivá’s name in Portuguese, which sounds different from the English version I heard in another video. He is one of the saints who has the most influence on my daily life. I keep three of his books on my shelf and read a small passage each day. My girlfriend gifted me a rosary with his picture, and I pray about my work and becoming a better person. Thanks to his teachings, I see how my routine brings me closer to God. I also enjoy visiting Opus Dei, the community founded by Saint Josemaría, and practicing my faith with others.