I talk about Personal Growth, Management, Infrastructure and More | 👇JOIN +2k readers 👇
Your ego is costing you lots of money
|
I say it many times. People prefer to be right than making money. Successful people though have less ego and more money in their pocket. ​ Don’t believe so? ​ Let me ask you what you would do in this situation. ​ In 1997, the movie The War of Troy premiered, with a production budget of $15 million. ​ Easy… probably you never heard of it, right? ​ Well… after it was completed, it was shown in two theatres, sold $309 in tickets, and Warner Brothers pulled it. Sent it to hell. ​ Why? Why not show it in more theaters and at least try to recover part of the investment? The movie was already made, what difference would it make? ​ The reason is simple: money over ego. ​ Do you know what the most expensive part of a movie is? Advertising. ​ Warner Brothers thought the movie was a piece of sh*t and preferred to write off $15 million rather than spend another $30 or $40 million trying to save it. A $15 million loss added to the profit and loss statement, and they moved on. Easy. Fast. Next project. Let’s make more money. ​ I don’t know what you would have done, but I can imagine things like social media campaigns, big billboards, interviews on TV, complain about the economy, the algorithm, etc. ​ Instead of accepting defeat and changing course. ​ Ego over money, as I said. ​ This happens every day to billions of people out there. They keep the job they don’t like. They keep the business that does go anywhere. They keep the partner that is stealing them. They keep their position in the company that is going to hell. They keep away of investing. They keep the same bank for their mortgage. Etc. ​ You can do much better than that… ​ If you need a hand, click below.
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 👇
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...