Bala PaivaBala Paiva

I grew up in Bahia, Brazil, playing soccer on the beach, headstrong and barefoot. At 17, I signed my first professional contract with my hometown football club. A year later I got traded to another team in another state. I worked harder than anyone on the field, and nothing got past me. I was training twice a day, touring the country, making news, and getting paid to do the thing I loved most. I was living my dream. A game can be decided in a matter of seconds. One day, in a close match, I was seriously injured diving for a ball. In a flash my professional soccer career was over, but my life was just beginning. I needed to find a new challenge, a door to a new life. I left home in Brazil, and with the help of family and friends made the long and difficult journey to the U.S. I didn’t know what I would find here, but I knew I was going to work hard and give it my all. Today my passion for being the best at what I do is stronger than ever. As a goalie, I trained twice a day, and was the first one on the field and the last to leave. As a fish cutter, I’m the first to arrive every morning, and don’t leave the plant until the last order is ready to ship. Cutting fish is hard work. It’s also an art form that takes care and precision. Our customers include Michelin-star chefs, and the fish I cut will be plated in some of the best restaurants in the country. With every cut I’m honoring the fish and giving our customers the best possible product, so they can work their magic. I love what I do and hope I can inspire others who work hard to make a living, to feel proud of what they have achieved, and to challenge themselves to be their best every day.

BE HUMBLE, STAY HUNGRY, GO HOME TIRED.

Bala