If you’ve been following along with these posts, you know it’s been a bit of a journey just to get the right image for this blog. We’re on Version 6 now. It’s funny, isn’t it? Sometimes the world wants to give you something that looks "almost" right: like a soccer player in American football pads: but it’s not the truth. It’s not the real deal.

That’s a lot like life. There are a million distractions and a million different versions of who people think you should be. But for me, there is only one truth that keeps me grounded, whether I’m standing between the goalposts or sitting in an office helping someone find their next career move. That truth is my faith.

In this post, I want to step away from the usual recruiting talk for a second and share what actually drives me.

The View from the Goal Line

Being a goalkeeper is a unique job. You’re the last line of defense. When everyone else is beat, it’s just you, the ball, and the person trying to put it past you. It’s a position that requires a massive amount of focus, a short memory for mistakes, and a whole lot of heart.

But more than that, for me, the pitch is where I feel a direct connection to the gifts God gave me. When I’m wearing those gloves and looking out at the green grass, I’m not just playing a game. I’m practicing discipline. I’m practicing stewardship of my body and my talents.

People often ask me, "Eduardo, how do you stay so calm when a striker is sprinting at you?" The answer is simple: I know I’m not out there alone. I’ve put in the work, my family has supported me, and God has my back regardless of the scoreboard.

The Foundation: Family and Faith

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide that God was my priority. It started at home. My family has always been the bedrock of everything I do. They taught me that success isn't measured by how much money you make or how many saves you record in a season. Real success is measured by your character and how you treat the people around you.

In our house, we don't just talk about faith on Sundays. We live it. It’s in the way we support each other through the tough days at work and the way we celebrate the wins together. My parents showed me that if you keep God at the center, the rest of the pieces of the puzzle: your career, your hobbies, your friendships: eventually fall into place.

This foundation is exactly what led me to my recent confirmation.

Confirmation: More Than Just a Ceremony

A lot of people think of confirmation as just another "to-do" list item in a religious upbringing. For me, it was much more than that. It was a conscious choice. It was me standing up and saying, "I’m in."

Getting confirmed was my way of taking ownership of my spiritual life. It was a moment to reflect on my journey so far and to commit to being a man of integrity moving forward. It’s one thing to follow your parents' lead when you’re a kid, but it’s another thing entirely to step into adulthood and say that your faith is your own.

That commitment changes how you see the world. It makes you realize that you have a responsibility to lead by example. Whether I’m on the pitch or working in recruiting, I want people to see that there’s something different about the way I operate. I want them to see the peace that comes from knowing who you are and whose you are.

Why "God First" Matters in Business

You might be wondering, "Eduardo, what does this have to do with recruiting?"

Actually, it has everything to do with it. In the world of recruiting, we deal with people’s lives and livelihoods. People come to us when they are at a crossroads. They are looking for a better future for their families. That’s a big responsibility.

When you put God first, your perspective on work changes. You stop seeing people as just resumes or "placements" and start seeing them as individuals with their own God-given talents and purposes. It forces you to operate with total honesty.

At Eduardo Luna, we keep things simple. We don’t believe in overcomplicating the process or using "business-speak" to hide the truth. We believe in doing the right thing, even when it’s the harder path. That’s a direct reflection of the values I’ve learned through my faith and my family.

The Goalkeeper’s Prayer

There’s a quiet moment right before the whistle blows. The referee is checking his watch, the crowd is settling in, and the wind is hitting your face. In that moment, I usually take a second to look up.

I’m not necessarily praying for a win: though a win is always nice! I’m praying for the strength to play with honor. I’m praying that I can be a good teammate. I’m thanking God for the health and the opportunity to be out there on the pitch.

This "God first" mentality takes the pressure off. If I let a goal in, I’m disappointed, sure. I’m going to work harder to make sure it doesn't happen again. But it doesn't break me. My identity isn't wrapped up in a clean sheet; it’s wrapped up in my faith.

This is a lesson I try to share with the candidates I talk to every day. Whether you get the job or you don’t, your value doesn't change. You are more than your job title.

Keeping the Ball Round (A Note on Perspective)

Going back to the struggle we had with the AI images for this post: it’s a perfect metaphor. The AI kept trying to give us an oval ball or American football pads. It kept trying to fit "football" into a specific, localized box.

Life will do that to you, too. People will try to tell you that to be successful in business, you have to be cutthroat. They’ll tell you that you have to leave your values at the door if you want to get ahead. They’ll try to give you an "oval ball" when you know you were meant for the round one.

Don't accept the wrong version of your life. Stay true to the "Association Football" of your soul. For me, that means staying true to the Church, my family, and the game I love.

Looking Forward

As I continue to grow Eduardo Luna (the company) and my own career, I’m keeping my eyes on the sky. I want to build a legacy that my family can be proud of: not just because of the growth of the business, but because of the way we treated people along the way.

If you’re struggling to find your footing, or if you feel like the world is trying to put "shoulder pads" on you that don’t fit, I encourage you to look at your foundation. What comes first for you?

For me, it’s God. Everything else: the saves on the pitch, the successful recruits, the busy workdays: is just extra.

Thanks for sticking with me through six versions of this post. I think we finally got the image right, but more importantly, I hope I got the message across. See you on the pitch! ⚽️🙌