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Showing posts from May, 2015

When opportunities knock on your door: becoming a VoiceAmerica Radio Host!

Sometimes you can really expect the unexpected. In my case, I have had such an amazing journey over the past six years I cannot believe it somehow. It all started back in February 2009 when I went to my (back-then) boss and told him I was going to resign after being at the company for almost 7 years. If you could have been there with me, you would have seen his shocked face, as I was the CFO and GM of his group of companies. His first question was why? Immediately came his second question, what will you do? My answer was a simple one: I want to do something different. How many times have you had that thought or feeling that you want to do something different? As I was not prepared to answer exactly what I would do, so for him that conversation “never existed” ; well, at least on his mind as for me it was just a matter of time. In 2010 I went to become the CFO of a large multinational corporation - something we finance people of course like very much – only to have that thoug

It's Sunday... it must be Raining!

Spring is a beautiful time of the year; for some, the most beautiful season of all. This has been my first spring in Houston and actually, my last weekend here before heading back home; and I was expecting a beautiful season as well. But instead, we have had the worst torrential rains and floods in Harris County, Texas in over 35 years and today is Sunday, and as it has been over the past four weeks, it must be raining. We have all heard the phrase ‘ Spring Showers, May Flowers’ ; well, yes it’s true. But after April showers came May rains, thunderstorms and floods; so the flowers came and then, they drowned. I do not want to sound drastic or dramatic, but I have never seen or heard so many warnings for floods and river overflows as have this past month. So May has been a wet and rainy month. In fact, we have had an above average rain month this May and then of course our forecast for today is 100% rain with thunderstorms and now the usual flood warning; so yes indeed, it is Sunday

Is there a Future for Optimism?

I have been an optimist all my life! I have worked and strived for giving every person that I meet and have worked with, a reason to be happy, to be motivated and inspired and always to look forward to a better future. It is with hard work and determination that you make it right. And yes, it is not an easy task and I wish more and more people do and act that way, but it is something that is everybody’s responsibility. This is not a single act or someone else’s job. It is our job. But where is it all going? Will we get somewhere with this crazy and strange idea that we can all be happy and positive? I was privileged to be invited to a private screening of the new Walt Disney Pictures movie , TOMORROWLAND . For all of us who grew when you needed single tickets to ride on the monorail at Walt Disney World or needed to buy extra tickets to get on the rides again, it was an experience like no other. Yes it was during the 60’s and 70’s when many of us went for the first time to

Excellence in Entrepreneurship!

Have you ever wondered what makes an entrepreneur and their companies excellent? or for example, why do you always seem to use the same companies as examples as having the best products or services or management practices? One feature that all these companies have is that they are always looking to innovate to meet the growing and changing needs of their customers; and behind them there is always an entrepreneur who has the will to make it possible. In other words, it is the entrepreneur who always strives for excellence. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to give a lecture on strategies for growth to a small group of entrepreneurs. During the lecture I spoke about successful people, amazing companies developing new ideas and also, about transformational leaders. And always one refers to the most innovative companies. We talked about Disney and Disney Institute; on Amazon and its founder; I talked about Peter Diamandis and the X-Prize or the Zappos Culture. And we dis

Best Quotes for Entrepreneurs

I must admit I love quotes. They give you insights into other people’s minds and thoughts. So looking for quotes to motivate, inspire and teach us is something we all need to do. They can also suggest different perspectives at particular times. Recently I read Tanya Prive’s Forbes article ( @TanyaPrive1 ) on the 32 best quotes for #entrepreneurs which, with her permission, I present to you today. Use them, allow them to guide you, and learn from them. To your success, Luis Vicente Top 32 Quotes Every Entrepreneur Should Live By ( http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyaprive/2013/05/02/top-32-quotes-every-entrepreneur-should-live-by/ ) Tanya Prive CONTRIBUTOR The nature of being an entrepreneur means that you fully embrace ambiguity and are comfortable with being challenged regularly. Choosing this career path is completely irrational because the odds of succeeding are dismal, but most succeed because of their unwavering belief, laser focus on delivering and