One of the most common things I hear from people in developing countries is that there is a lack of hope – or a lack of belief that they can succeed because of ____ [insert reason]. (you name the excuse, and I’ve heard it)
Seeing examples of people who are incredibly resourceful, regardless of the odds, is helpful.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Gerardo de Nicolas, CEO of a Mexican home builder, Homex, who was one of the most inspiring parts of the recent Ultimate Business Mastery Summit. 
The accomplishments of Homex are impressive (one of 16 Mexican companies traded on the NYSE, building 200 homes a day, expanding into India and Brazil, etc) – but even more impressive is the mentality and attitude of its founder, Gerardo de Nicolas (who was awarded ‘CEO of the Year’ by Latin Trade Magazine).
Gerardo said he realizes that much of the success of Homex came simply because they had a vision greater than themselves, that they didn’t know they couldn’t do what had never been done before, and he also realizes that the only major obstacle keeping Homex from growing are the limitations they place on themselves.
He has also focused so much of the success of their company back into the building of homes for those who can not afford it.
As Gerardo says in this video – the poor are not the problem, the poor are the solution. The way Homex is using home building technology in helping the poor to help themselves is interesting.
It is obvious that Gerardo has tapped into something he is passionate about and talented in.
Here are a couple of my favorite questions I would like you to answer (for everyone to see):
* If you didn’t have to worry about money, money was no obstacle, what would you do? (e.g. how would you spend your time, energy, focus?)
* What are some of your unique talents/gifts that you would focus on sharing with the world? (Is it any different than what you do now? If so, why?)
Interesting video and questions raised…though difficult to answer them…
so really what is true success?
http://ted.org/index.php/talks/john_wooden_on_the_difference_between_winning_and_success.html
Who really knows what they are capable of?
You ask another one of my favorite questions, Vasilis: What really is “success”?
Each person seems to answer it so differently, and something about sorting through your answer to that question seems like a very important thing to do as well.
Thanks for the link to that TED video.
Excellent interview. Now I understand why you stay up at night after listening to such insightful and motivating people. I will check Homex out and learn a little more about Gerardo after this.
An interesting thing for me though, I had just been reflecting about our weekly group question on what it is development. I think that appreciation of where one is and where they want to go is paramount and was surprised to hear similar sentiments in this clip.
thanks for the video clint,
“the poor are not the problem, the poor are the solution” is what i always believed in. It is the main focus that i always try to put in front, trying to get solution from their problem rather than finding completely different solution in that case.
Well, it feels like again being a kid when i am answering for this question. As for me, if i wouldn’t have to worry about the money, First, i would like to make a “free education for all” system to my country. I think, Education is the background of all the other possible form of development. Most of the people cant afford to go to schools and also because some don’t know the real importance of education. Many other possibility are there when people are educated.
Second, is to support the “go to school to have food” campaign. This is a very good initiative to attract students and parents to give them another reason to send their children to school. School takes care of their daily food while also providing education to them in rural areas. This can really solve one of the issue of ignorance of the poor people towards the education to some extend and have been success in many part of the world.
Great Barun!
A few words about my previous comments and TED video…
As we were all asked to answer the above questions (and not only)and answer them in the best possible way that nobody did before, I was thinking how this can be done, how to successfully answer this questions in the way that nobody did before? What is success? As Clint mentions “..Each person seems to answer it so differently..” so instead of answers, I have more questions, essentially watching the TED video..my questions are:
Who really knows what we are capable of?
How do you know we’ve done our best?
Is this what is all about, to do your best or to contribute from the heart? and this will reflect to your answers and ideas..
Just some thoughts I wanted to share with you…
I believe this thoughts are closely related to the video that Clint shared with us!More food for thoughts!
Thank Clint!!
Thank you Clint, I like the questions. Gerardo’s message came at the right time to me. I also really liked Vasilis’ follow-up (and the charming coach), so I want to start from there if that’s okay:
One thing that I’m certain of is that success is not about getting what you want (that would be being very skilled, empowered, or just lucky. And I hesitate calling it being blessed). Successful, that refers to meaning. It’s achieving meaning in your life, the experience that what you do counts, to you, and that you’re in the right place. (Touché, Ali!)
Barun, I like your focus on education – Pierre Bourdieu, the great French sociologist, pointed out many times that practising abstract thinking, like in science, and like what we do here connects to, is a luxury (that demands leisure) that most don’t have. He believed it was very important to universalize that privilege if society was to become more just, and dare we say, developed. Making education work sounds like the greatest idea: development to me then turns out to be about empowerment, within one’s context.
So many good ideas here and so much to ponder.
Very interesting comments Soren!
More on the above questions….
Maybe the possible answers are as simple as in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0M0EZ8T5J8
maybe…
If I didn’t have to worry about money I would like to finish my degree and travel while doing some volunteering work around the world. I think I would also consider studying more.
Success for me is being happy with the way I live my life and sharing the happiness with others. I believe that who shares wins.
I found a quote which I think answers the question “what is success” pretty well:
“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” Zig Ziglar.
So fun to read everyone’s thoughts on this! Cool, powerful stuff.
After watching the videos that Vasilis posted, it reminded me of another thing that Gerardo said which impressed me.
When seeking for help in improving his organization, they warned him that when they started digging deep things might not be as good as they look on the surface. His instant reply was, “I don’t want to look good. I want to be good.”