GV #011 - Crescer dói...

What’s up, GV? How are you doing? Well, you’ve realized this video we’re doing is in a different format from those of last year.

There was more editing, more production then. I’m shooting this straight from my webcam. At this very moment, I am in Beijing, China, on a mission to expand my business into the Chinese market.

Of course, when a company’s expanding, when you’re taking part in as many meetings as I have here, with Chinese, English businessmen, here in Beijing, I’ve decided to share with you a theme I’m sure you’re interested in: growing. Let me ask you a question: do you want to grow? I mean, professionally, in your business, as a man, as a woman, in society.

I am sure this video, which will be viewed by hundreds of thousands of people, most people will tell themselves, “I want to grow, I do”. Everybody wants to grow, everybody dreams of making it happen, breaking through, everyone believes that their time will come. I’m sure, and I’ve been dealing with people for many years, for more than 20 years managing people, and what I’ve always heard from all of them is that they want to grow.

I’m sure you do, too. Now it’s important to be aware of growing pains. It hurts to grow.

It hurts in many ways. If you look at it from a biological standpoint, when a child is growing, it is common for her to wake up with leg pain. Why?

Because her bones are growing and that hurts. Now, when someone is growing professionally, that metaphor fits perfectly. Growing hurts, too.

Because you’ll have to stop doing what you command, what you’re used to, to take on new challenges. That causes discomfort; it causes a certain amount of pain. You’ll have to deal with routines and situations you’re not used to.

That causes discomfort. Growing pains. The issue here is that you have to be sure this discomfort, this pain you experience as you decide to grow, when you’re willing to grow, this pain is worth it, because later on, when you’re in command of the new tasks, the new routines, that which was, initially, a challenge, soon won’t be.

You’ll start to enjoy this new moment, this growth, in a different way. The issue here is: growing hurts, but growing is worth it. That pain is worth it.

This discomfort is worth it. Another path, chosen by many, is one of not taking on challenges, not taking on uncomfortable situations, not plunging into the unknown, not willing to change. Sometimes people choose to be comfortable, stagnated, still, and it’s a fact: these people, stagnated, still, let’s say, “enjoying life”, these people do not get uncomfortable, they do not feel this pain that growing causes.

But the big question is: is it all worth it? Is it going to pay in the future? The answer is clear: of course it’s not worth it.

Obviously if you don’t care about anything, if you just sit there, stagnated, afraid to take on new challenges, running away from new challenges, in the future you’ll stop feeling good and you’ll experience regret. Why regret? Because you can’t turn back.

You can’t turn back time you wasted. The clock only moves forward, not backwards. If you’ve wasted your time and sowed nothing, you’ll regret it one day.

Therefore, I can guarantee you growing pains, the discomfort of growth; it’s all worth it, because one day you’ll enjoy the fruits of your dedication, of your sowing, one day you’ll reap it. A lot of people ask me, “Flavio, I’m afraid of what’s new, I’m afraid to dare, to take risks. I want to grow, but I’m scared”.

Let me tell you something: you’re not the only one who’s afraid. I’m afraid, too. Everyone is.

Every human being is afraid. Fear is human nature; we have it as an instinct of preservation, survival. Thus fear is not a bad thing.

People are afraid, everyone is. I’ve come to China now, it gives you butterflies. What’s it going to be like?

How will I adapt to their culture? What about the language? Will we be able to communicate and, after all, will we be able to do business?

I’m leaving, I’m going back to the US, where I live, with an extraordinary feeling of accomplishment. That initial fear is not fear anymore. It’s turned into accomplishment.

So I tell you, everyone’s afraid. The thing is, some people, in the face of fear, face it, while others run away, chicken out. That’s the thing.

So, in the face of your fear, I tell you, face it, face the situation. Face the challenge. Because one day it will have been worth it.

Will it cause discomfort? It will. It will hurt.

Why? Because growing hurts, buddy. And if growing hurts and you’re afraid to take on this challenge, the issue is, don’t chicken out, like many do.

Many chicken out and, for fear of losing, never win. Por cierto, quien tiene miedo de perder nunca gana. Fear will come and you have to face it.

That’s the best choice you can make and, by facing your challenges, you’ll one day be able to reap what you sow. If you chicken out and run away, then one day you’ll be just another face in the crowd, and that is certainly not worth it. All right, everyone?

Growing hurts. Will you be afraid? You will.

You can chicken out or you can face it. My suggestion is, face it. That’s it, folks.

See you next time and have a happy 2012!