This executive is living in fear


It’s not a story of mine.

No.

The great Nassim Nicholas Taleb, in his book Antifragile compared two people: a high-level executive with a good salary, dressed in a suit and tie, and an immigrant taxi driver, self-employed, with a variable income and dressed as best he can.

​

Taleb remarked that, while the executive may seem to have a calmer, more secure life with a better salary, better suits, and nicer restaurants, deep down, he lived in immense internal fear.

He sh*t in his pants.

This fear comes from his status. Everything he now has and doesn’t want to lose.

Comfort zone or the pay check drug.

​

The executive trembles whenever company cutbacks are announced, loses sleep thinking he might be fired, and feels like his world is crumbling if his boss calls him into the office for no apparent reason.

Why?

Because the well-paid executive fears losing his lifestyle, being unable to pay the three mortgages he has, the car, and his kids’ school fees.

And he fears this because, unlike the self-employed immigrant taxi driver, he has two major problems:

  1. He is accustomed to a stable, constant, and secure income.
  2. He can’t imagine, nor does he feel capable of, living on less than his monthly salary.

​

Therefore, the taxi driver is more antifragile, which essentially means being better prepared for unexpected events, disruptions, and change.

​

The taxi driver is used to earning a lot some days and nothing on others, having good months and less favorable months, and above all, dealing with uncertainty and change.

​

Security and certainty vs. uncertainty and change.

​

But you could work this around in your favour.

​

You could simply accept that there is no greater security or certainty than knowing that life is uncertainty and change.

​

This is why personal growth, remain flexible and alert, a side business or investments, are so important to keep your pants clean.

​

If you look for help in that regard, you can click below and start working.

$999.00

Mentorship Package

Three sessions of 1 hours each where you can discuss for business or yourself any of the issues I know more about: ... Read more

​

PD 1: If you liked this email, don't keep it in secret and forward it to a friend. They will thank you enormously one day.

PD 2: If somebody has sent you this email and you want to receive emails like this yourself, visit vicentevalencia.com

PD 3: If you want unsubscribe, click the link below.

​

Vicente Valencia

I talk about Personal Growth, Management, Infrastructure and More | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇

Read more from Vicente Valencia

It happens a few weeks ago. “Tell me about Madrid and Spain, how do you do it? I heard a business case that Madrid has been able to deliver the cheapest tunnels in the world…” I did not know about that case, but my answer was simple: “Do you know how many TMBs had Madrid at the time?” Look. If you want cheap infrastructure, create a pipeline. Madrid had during more than 10 years between 7 and 8 TBMs (the machines to make tunnels in engineering slang). They are extremely costly. So, they...

A great friend of mine tells his team: “Work hard, play harder”. I can’t agree more with him. Infrastructure is a difficult business. Lots of hours of discussing, negotiating, working, arguing with people. Yes, people. Not companies, not systems. People. Along the journey you’ll have all sorts of moments. Creating all sorts of emotions. Engraving in you, amazing memories. So enjoy the journey. Don’t be a gilipollas and play harder. No matter what the contract says, if you get along well with...

Southeast Asia. Early 2020s. You’re advising on a major transport PPP. Billions on the line. A metro line so politically visible that even the Prime Minister’s dog has an opinion on it. Your consortium is ready. Equity committed. Contractors lined up. Designers caffeinated beyond medical guidelines. The agency launches the RFQ. Everyone smiles. “Finally, a flagship project done properly.” (What a beautiful illusion.) Then… the unexpected happens. A new Minister arrives. (You can already feel...