WE ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF OUR OWN LIFE
Javier García Iza
CEO
IOS OFFICES
“Victory awaits him who has everything in order, luck some people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.” — Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole, Dec. 14, 1911.
Amundsen's quote is one of my favorites as it reveals to us that victory or failure is in our hands, reminding us that it is not a question of good or bad luck, it’s a question of how well we prepare ourselves in the pursuit of victory.
Throughout my life, I have had the fortune of living many enriching experiences where I have learned great lessons, from great people, and that have made me reflect on the work I do at IOS OFFICES every day. From such experiences, I have come up with these nine precepts that have guided me throughout the years and have helped me become the architect of my own life.
1. Embrace your life
Embrace your life; it's your pillar. We can't really choose where, when or how we were born, but we can take it as our starting point, and make it a point for it to play in our favor. Live with tenacity, focus, determination and perseverance, don’t give up, and during hard times, be resilient. For every “no” you get, find a “yes.” As long as you commit to yourself and your community, you will be able to see no limits and find resources that will help you achieve what you set yourself up to do.
2. Take calculated risks
Take the initiative and be daring, but make a good plan today, so that you can perfect it tomorrow. Be pragmatic, with the understanding that so-called “perfect people” and “perfection” don’t really exist. Plan with analysis, emotional intelligence and a positive attitude, choose your best option and commit to making it happen. But remember not to blame yourself if you don't get the expected results. Acknowledge that what you decided at that moment, was the best decision you could make. And remind yourself that it's always better to make mistakes than to make nothing.
3. Fail fast, fail often. Learn. Improve.
It's all about the process. Start with something small and work on perfecting it during the process. In the end, an incremental, solid change is better than an instant one that might not prevail. Be creative, innovate, be disruptive, trust your instincts and dare to live through the process with all its challenges. Avoid the idea of winning or losing; just play to keep yourself invested in the game. Look at life in the years to come, if you fail today, tomorrow is always waiting. The only constant in life is change, and those who survive the process are those who adapt. Don't waste time on what is said to be good or bad, focus on steady progress, the music never stops playing.
4. Tough love
The best thing you can give to someone is not only love, but also the aspiration of greatness. As people, we need to believe in greatness. When someone pressures us to get better, they are truly giving us a lot. Trust in others, work as a team, be empathetic, tolerate, respect and be patient. Remember that the day lasts the same 24 hours for everyone; make the most of your time, break through your mental barriers, not only worrying about the result, but focusing on what you can do while giving your very best.
5. There are no shortcuts to the top
Making things work from the beginning while maintaining quality, a good attitude, and a smile on your face is always harder and more time-consuming than most people think; but it is absolutely worth it. Every step we take, makes us better and gets us closer to the top. The journey might be longer, but as we advance, we learn, we become better people and we get closer to greatness.
6. Be humble
Learning is an ongoing, never-ending process. Those who know this are humble enough to understand that there is a long way to go in order to reach greatness. Be honest, loyal, and sincere; have solidarity and focus on living a life without filters. Find yourself wanting new knowledge. Stay motivated and share what you learn. And always keep in mind that learning is a continuous process that can be hard sometimes, but it is truly rewarding.
7. What is your contribution?
What is your contribution? What are you sharing with others, with your community, with your planet? Taking care of our planet should be a priority because it is the only one we have, and we should strive to develop an integral culture that promotes well-being for everyone in our community. It is also important to be supportive of people in need and to give back. Whenever you can, offer a helping hand, share your advice and give support. Being a good leader reflects in our actions that should inspire others to be responsible and committed within our community, leading to the idea of making the world a better place for everyone.
8. Passion and preparation
Giving your very best in the field is important, but so is preparation and training. These habits should coexist in a continuous manner, otherwise even the most energetic effort will never truly be enough. Persevere in being a leader with a good attitude, always showing up with a “good face” independently of the situation at hand. Seek long-term relationships with associates and clients, and remember that a bad deal is always better than a good fight. And when things don't go your way, reflect and figure out what you actually won.
9. Words move, but example drives
Walk your talk. There is no better way to achieve something than living the change you want in the world, as Gandhi implied. Living at peace with ourselves is important, and achieving this requires commitment and discipline. Being congruent with yourself, your work, your contributions and your relationship with others will make you a source of inspiration for others.
Throughout my career and active participation in the entrepreneurial community, I have realized that people are just people. If your project, your company, your product, is congruent with how you act, this will generate a circle of inertia that builds a force and drives true evolution and transformation for an organization. This not only reflects in well-established processes and high standards, but also in the influence of your personality as a leader. For me, being a passionate leader translates into being capable of maintaining something longer than others, and leading with passion is a responsibility that should remind us to be more committed, more inspiring, more human.
At IOS OFFICES, I have the fortune to collaborate daily with a great group of people who have the opportunity to assist some of the most influential companies in Mexico and from different parts of the world. All of us seek to live and share enriching experiences with all our associates while sharing our inspiring philosophy that has distinguished us for years, focusing on aiding every company in their multiple needs, and becoming an instrument for their success.
This article was published in Mexico Business News, a website that offers access to the most relevant information about different industries, including articles of important business leaders, amongst them, our CEO Javier García Iza, who shares his latest publication about the persuit of happiness.