An “Extra”- Ordinary Life: Ryan Romero on Doing the Work and Letting Good Things Happen

Ryan Romero doesn’t think of himself or his life as extraordinary. If you ask him, he’ll say his life is fairly ordinary: routine, unplanned, even quiet. Yet that “ordinariness” has led him to a career many would call remarkable.

He’s a partner at GSE Law, co-head of the Tax Practice Group, a Certified Public Accountant, a trusted adviser to multinational corporations, and a well-traveled and financially secure individual.

Ryan insists he got here not through grand ambitions or elaborate plans, but by showing up every day and doing the work in front of him.

“I don’t really have a plan. I just want to be a notary under the mango tree,” he jokes, recalling what he used to tell his blockmates in law school.

From Science High to CPA to Lawyer

Ryan’s story doesn’t follow the usual mold of the high-achieving professional. He never chased titles or mapped out a career trajectory. Still, at every stage, excellence seemed to follow, starting with admission to a Science High School (a path requiring discipline and rigor), continuing with passing the CPA Licensure Exam in 2005, and culminating with becoming a lawyer in 2010 and later specializing in corporate law, tax advisory, mergers and acquisitions, and project finance. These milestones weren’t the product of a master plan but of a simple belief: “Put in the work. Learn from your mistakes.”

Work Without Ulterior Motives

Ryan doesn’t approach his job with hidden agendas or lofty rhetoric.

“I normally focus on my clients’ taxes and negotiate fairer deals for them. That’s where I see my contribution. I know my work affects the bigger picture, but I don’t think about it that way. It’s about solving my clients’ immediate problems. I haven’t widened my lens, so to speak. Of course, you realize the totality of it when you think about it. But the thought that you are doing this work BECAUSE of the wider impact is absent.”

Some might call this small-scale thinking. But by focusing on what he can control, Ryan ensures quality and fairness, an approach that, ironically, ripples outward to benefit colleagues, clients, and the broader economy.

Grounded in Fairness and Loyalty

When asked about his non-negotiables, Ryan doesn’t list flashy goals. Instead, he keeps it simple:

“Fight for fairness in negotiations. Do right by his wife, Jet. Live by a personal code: ‘Can I live with it?’” These values, in fluctuating priority, have guided him more than ambition ever did.

Gratitude, Not Greed

Today, Ryan and Jet enjoy financial comfort, which allows them to think about giving back. Recently, after a recent outreach by GSE Law, they have begun conversations with friends and NGOs about supporting undernourished children.

“It’s not about founding a big organization or creating a legacy project,” he claims, “it’s about quietly helping. We’re living comfortably, and we can help. Hopefully, we can start soon. It won’t be overwhelming, but if we can make some lives better, then we should.”

Contentment and Drive

Ryan admits that being content is both a blessing and a challenge.

“Satisfaction, I have. And I think that’s a problem. I remember Atty. Raul Gerodias, founding partner of GSE Law, saying he likes to hire goal-driven people. Work-wise, I try to keep the same intensity. But in life, I’m content. I have more than I ever planned for. I’m grateful. I feel I have earned it. I think these achievements are because I worked hard for them. I don’t feel undeserving. I just can’t take all the credit for it. I have people who have supported me. The partners have supported me. They gave me space to grow. My wife has a good job that allows us financial stability.”

It’s a refreshingly honest admission: hunger often fuels ambition, but contentment allows him to enjoy the life he has built without constantly chasing more.

Advice to the Next Generation

For younger lawyers and mentees, his message is straightforward:

“Invite more work so you can gain experience. Don’t make money the driving force. Just work hard, and good things will happen.”

It’s not glamorous advice, but Ryan’s life proves it works.

Ordinary, Yet More

So, is Ryan’s life ordinary? In his eyes, yes. He goes to work, does his job, lives within his means, and spends time with his wife. But from another perspective, his life is more than that.

“Because of the ordinary life I live, I was able to achieve extraordinary things,” Ryan reflects.

The lesson is clear: remarkable lives don’t always come from extraordinary ambition. Sometimes, they come from steady diligence, loyalty, and fairness, lived out every single day.

“I’m surprised that we were able to achieve what we have achieved by just doing the work. I didn’t plan for this fortunate life, but I worked hard and kept my morals. That’s what allowed me this life.”

Ryan’s life wasn’t built on chasing success but on faithfully doing what was in front of him. And when you do that, success has a way of finding you.

(Interview and write-up by: Zeus Earl Roy D. Custodio Jr.)