You'll ignore the signs


It’s one of those images that were hidden.

They remained unnoticed to me until two and a half years ago… when my child was born.

Cigarette butts.

You see them on the floor on every street, on every public square, on every children playground, in Spain.

Despite signals.

Despite campaigns by the government.

Despite science.

Despite basic education.

Despite the ability to read the “smoking kills” of every package.

People are attached to old habits despite they know they are bad.

No matter what you try to persuade, they won’t change.

They are doomed.

They are condemned.

The same happens in other aspects of life, not just that unhealthy habit.

Getting attached to toxic couple.

Getting attached to toxic jobs.

Getting attached to poisonous pay checks.

Never looking for a way out… That is evident many times.

You have the signs.

The information.

The models.

And still… you won’t use that way out.

Don’t believe me?

Here you are a sign.

​Even you can make money in real estate. ​

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

Weekly insights on how to perform when it matters | High-stakes decisions. Real situations. No BS. | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇

Read more from Vicente Valencia

Look. Capital does not flow into PPPs because the project is important. Or because the Government wants it. Or because the infrastructure is badly needed. This is something many get wrong. Capital flows when the project makes sense. When revenues are clear. When risks sit with the parties best able to manage them. When governance works. When the financial model survives serious scrutiny. When the documents answer difficult questions before investors ask them. In summary, when money can...

Look. Leverage is not only what you can actually do. It is what the other side believes you can do. That matters. Especially in big infrastructure projects and SPVs. Every contractor, operator, supplier, authority and shareholder is constantly assessing two things: What can they gain? And what could they lose? Find that out, and you start negotiating properly. Not emotionally. Not aggressively. Properly. You understand what matters to them. You understand what they fear. And you use that...

Look. There are many boring industries. Infrastructure is one of them. PPPs are even worse. Long meetings. Technical reports. Risk registers. Governance papers. Contracts nobody wants to read. Very boring. Good. Boring markets are often gold mines. And you know my opinion on this too. The best PPP or major infrastructure project is usually boring too. No drama. No heroic recovery plan. No ministerial crisis. No contractor threatening to walk away. No board meeting that feels like a hostage...