TEDx Talks - Visión inquebrantable: métale berraquera | Cristina González & Laura González | TEDxPoblenouWomen
The narrative begins with a personal story of financial loss due to fraud, which threatened a family business built on shared dreams and values. Despite the setback, the family chose to persevere, inspired by their father's resilience and their grandmother's advice to pursue passions fearlessly. The video highlights the entrepreneurial spirit in Colombia, where many businesses face challenges like limited access to credit and high failure rates. The key to overcoming obstacles lies in developing strong character and a sense of purpose, as supported by studies linking purpose to positive emotions. The concept of 'ikigai,' a Japanese philosophy, is introduced as a framework for finding purpose by aligning what one loves, is good at, can be paid for, and what the world needs. This philosophy has helped the family maintain their business as a shared legacy, emphasizing the importance of passion and resilience in entrepreneurship.
Key Points:
- Perseverance and purpose are crucial in overcoming entrepreneurial challenges.
- Colombian entrepreneurs face high failure rates and limited credit access.
- Strong character and purpose lead to positive emotions and resilience.
- 'Ikigai' helps align passion, skills, income, and impact for a fulfilling life.
- Family support and shared values strengthen business resilience.
Details:
1. 💔 A Devastating Loss: Dreams Shattered
- On July 16, 2020, exactly three months after the world closed due to a pandemic, the family discovered that all of their lifetime savings and the initial investment for their family business were stolen.
- The business was a family dream, born out of the need to stay connected despite the physical distance after moving to the United States.
- The stolen investment marked a significant emotional and financial loss as the family had not only invested money but also time, effort, and energy into the business.
- Family members had left successful corporate careers to pursue this shared vision, indicating the depth of their commitment and the magnitude of the setback.
- Initially, the family had planned to create a community-focused enterprise that would serve as a legacy for future generations, emphasizing sustainability and local engagement.
- This theft not only hindered their financial stability but also shattered their hopes of building a lasting family legacy and contributing to their community.
2. 🤔 Facing a Crossroad: A Tough Decision
- Colombia leads Latin America in entrepreneurial activity, ranking 28th worldwide according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2023, indicating a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
- However, 80% of small emerging businesses fail before their fifth year, with microenterprises making up 98% of these failures, highlighting survival challenges.
- Only 27% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MIPYMES) can secure loans, showcasing a significant barrier to financial growth and stability.
- A slow judicial system allows for exploitation by scammers, adding to the operational challenges for businesses.
- Entrepreneurs are at a crossroad, needing to decide between returning to the corporate sector for stability or continuing their entrepreneurial journey, despite these obstacles.
3. 👨👩👧👦 Family Legacy of Resilience
- The speaker's father, who became a key mentor and advisor, faced significant challenges from a young age, losing his father at 12 and being raised by a mother who had never worked before.
- The speaker's grandmother, despite never having worked previously, successfully raised nine children, demonstrating strong resilience and overcoming financial hardships.
- The family transitioned from needing credit at local stores in Colombia for basic needs to achieving successful careers and businesses.
- The speaker's father encountered multiple setbacks in his business ventures, including partners fleeing with capital and competitors stealing costly equipment.
- Despite these adversities, he remained a loving and supportive father, using his mother's advice as motivation: "Do what you love, but do it well and without fear."
- Their mother provided unwavering support, becoming an indispensable anchor through financial failures, demonstrating the power of partnership and shared resilience.
4. 💪 Overcoming Obstacles: The Power of Purpose
- Character is crucial for overcoming obstacles; it is formed by perseverance which leads to hope and is closely linked to one's sense of purpose.
- According to the Journal of Happiness Studies, individuals with a greater sense of purpose experience more positive emotions like enthusiasm and joy, and feel less anger and frustration.
- A strong character tied to purpose enhances the ability to navigate challenges.
- The concept of 'Ikigai,' popularized by Spanish authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, is central to finding purpose. It is the convergence of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
- The authors found that residents of Okinawa, Japan, who live longer lives, attribute their longevity to having a clear 'Ikigai' or reason for being.
- To apply 'Ikigai' or 'berraquera' in life, one must align passion, proficiency, income potential, and world impact.
- The company's 'Ikigai' is reflected in the passion and purpose shared among family members, emphasizing a shared legacy and greater sense of purpose.
5. 🔍 Finding Ikigai: Passion and Perseverance
- Despite losing our entire initial investment due to theft, giving up was never an option, demonstrating a high level of resilience and commitment.
- Entrepreneurship was pursued amidst economic uncertainty post-pandemic and in a country with challenging policies for entrepreneurs, highlighting adaptability and determination.
- Each setback is met with reflection on the initial motivation and purpose, reinforcing the importance of having a meaningful 'why' in business endeavors.
- The formula for overcoming obstacles includes finding a purpose greater than oneself, ensuring meaningful impact and legacy beyond personal happiness.
- The concept of 'Ikigai', or finding one's purpose, is emphasized as a driving force that ensures perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges.