How (and Why) I Became a Locksmith in Lisbon
One of the questions I hear most — especially from women — is:
"And how did you learn this?"
Often the tone carries a little skepticism, as if being a locksmith meant I had to be a thief at some point. So let me get this out of the way: No, I was never a thief.
But I’ve always worked with my hands. I’ve always enjoyed solving problems, climbing, building, fixing things. For years I had a very stable, very comfortable job at one of the biggest social media companies in the world. And yet… I felt stuck.
I couldn’t grow. I couldn’t learn. I couldn’t help people. I had no direct impact — neither on the company nor the customer.
So I started experimenting with side gigs. After hours, during weekends — I did everything from teaching Spanish online, to fixing roofs, to helping manage and maintain Airbnbs around Lisbon. That’s when something unexpected happened that changed my life.
🚪 The Awful Experience That Sparked It All
One day, an Airbnb guest locked themselves out. The host was abroad, so they called me to solve the situation. Naturally, I called a few locksmith companies — the ones that popped up first on Google.
I ended up choosing the cheapest and fastest one.
Big mistake.
The guy arrived one hour late, didn’t say hello, didn’t smile. He looked at the door, checked some paper, and said:
"Ah, this one is harder to open. Instead of €90, it’s going to be €120."
I had to call the host again to get approval for the higher price. If he hadn’t answered, the locksmith would’ve left and charged a cancellation fee. Once I got the green light, the locksmith demanded cash upfront. I didn’t have any, so I had to run to the nearest ATM while he waited impatiently.
When I asked for a receipt to give to the Airbnb owner, he told me that would be 20% more. At that point, I gave up asking.
Out of curiosity (and to protect myself), I was recording the whole process. I wanted to see how this “hard door” would be opened.
He pulled out a long plastic sheet, jammed it in the side of the door, kicked it a few times… and in less than 1 minute, the door was open.
That was the moment it clicked.
💡 “If He Can Do This — I Can Do It Better.”
That whole experience stayed with me. I thought:
If this guy can do it like this, I can do it better — much better.
I can show up on time.
I can say good morning.
I can charge a fair, honest price.
I can accept cards, MB Way, receipts — all the basics people expect.
And most importantly: I can make people feel safe and respected.
So I went online, bought a few tools and locks, and started practicing. I studied, I trained, I failed a few times — and I kept improving.
Eventually, I launched my own locksmith business in Lisbon: Locksmith PRO.
Today, I help people every day — locals, tourists, women alone at night, Airbnb hosts in a panic, parents with kids locked inside, or people who simply lost their keys. And I do it with honesty, respect, and transparency — the way it should be.
