This is not a story about ERP or work. It’s a human story.
Sometimes life delivers its biggest lessons not over years, but within a few startling weeks.
For Raphael Maciel, December 2023 brought two moments that could not have been more different — one defined by triumph, the other by vulnerability. Together, they reshaped how he sees life, work, and what truly matters.
A Dream at the Edge of the World
Raphael has spent more than two decades in technology and consulting, working across Latin America, Canada, the United States, and Australia. His career has spanned large transformation programs — from hands-on SAP Basis work to helping organisations modernise through automation, analytics, and AI.
But the story he shares isn’t about systems or transformation programs.
It begins in Patagonia. At the start of December 2023, Raphael achieved a long-held personal goal: completing Patagonman, one of the most extreme triathlons in the world.
In doing so, he became the first Australian male to cross its finish line — a moment that represented years of discipline, resilience, and belief in what the human body and mind are capable of enduring.
The race itself is relentless: a 3.8 km swim in the freezing waters of a Patagonian fjord, a 180 km ride along the remote Carretera Austral, and a gruelling 42 km trail run through rugged terrain.
When Everything Changes
Less than three weeks later, life changed in an instant. While visiting family in Brazil on 26 December 2023, Raphael suffered two strokes — the scariest moment of his life and, paradoxically, one of the luckiest. “In December 2023, I experienced both the highest and lowest moments of my life within less than twenty days.”
Thanks to extraordinary timing, exceptional medical care, and a great deal of fortune, Raphael underwent a successful procedure on his left carotid artery and recovered without any lasting physical effects. But something deeper had shifted.
A Different Definition of Strength
The sudden contrast between triumph and vulnerability forced a pause and reshaped his priorities. “That sudden contrast… reshaped my priorities and clarified what truly matters.”
For Raphael, the experience reframed what strength really means. It isn’t just about endurance or achievement, but about awareness — recognising when to push forward and when to step back.
“If there’s one thing this experience reinforced for me, it’s this: strength isn’t just about endurance or achievement, it’s about awareness. About knowing when to push and when to pause.”
The Human Side of ERP
In the ERP world, it’s easy to focus on deadlines, programs, deliverables, and transformation roadmaps. But Raphael’s story reminds us that behind every system, every implementation, and every line of code is a human being living a life far bigger than their role.
It also reinforces something many in the community quietly understand: most ERP challenges — like most life challenges — aren’t purely technical. They’re about people, perspective, and remembering the bigger picture.
Making Space for What Matters
Today, Raphael continues helping organisations modernise operations, improve decision-making, and explore the possibilities of AI. But the experience of December 2023 left him with a message that stretches far beyond technology.
Be kind to yourself. Be kind to the people around you. Don’t postpone joy or connection. Because life can change in an instant.
“Life can shift without warning, so make space for what truly matters while you can.”
Connect with Raphael on LinkedIn
