The people we surround ourselves with tend to inspire us. They influence our taste and color our opinions, often enriching our views by providing a perspective that’s unlike our own. These shared perceptions make it easy to see the great benefit of diverse relationships and how they boost our creativity both personally and professionally.
It’s more than just a feeling. The connection between our ideas and the people with whom we have relationships is real. And while the familiar may be were we’re the most comfortable, it’s when we expose ourselves to people and cultures, we don’t know that we thrive the most creatively. Studies have found that these moments where our views and experiences intersect with others help us create and think outside the box.
Diverse relationships have the power to increase your creativity- Photo Credit- Ali Yahya- Unsplash
What is the Edge Effect?
The edge effect is an ecological concept which describes a greater diversity of life in the regions where two different ecosystems overlap. Known as ecotones, these transition areas are places where species from either of the adjacent ecosystems can easily live and thrive. But is here too where new life that is completely unique to these combined environments is created. Life that can’t be found anywhere else.
A similar thing happens when we think about us and the deep connections we form with people from other cultures or, on a smaller scale, those who have different backgrounds and views than our own. These collaborations and their diversity become the perfect environment for innovation and creativity to happen. For possibilities that could only blossom as a result of those unique and diverse relationships.
Meeting of Strangers Proves Diverse Relationships Make a Difference
The cellist Yo-Yo Ma decided to answer the question by creating the Silk Road Ensemble, an “innovative experiment” involving different world-class musicians from all over the world. Silk Road “creates music that engages difference, sparking radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning for a more hopeful and inclusive world.” It achieves this by mixing sounds as different as the Galician bagpipes and the Chinese yangqin. The result is as beautiful as it is unlikely and unique.
These musicians have created a fusion of music which works as a reminder of the extraordinary things that can be found in these diverse alliances. Of all the beauty that can happen when each of their specific backgrounds and fields learn to harmonize with each other to create something new. The ensemble has seven albums, including their Grammy winning Sing Me Home.
Photo Credit- Massimo-Sartirana-Unsplash
Diverse Relationships Boost Our Creativity
Adam Galinsky, a professor of business at Columbia Business School, found that people who have been involved with someone from another country become more creative and do better in routine creativity tests that those who haven’t. According to Galinsky, “there’s something about deeply understanding and learning about another culture that’s transformative.”
Through a couple of studies, Galinsky and his colleagues found not only that intercultural romantic relationships made students more creative, but that even looking back on having had that kind of deep connection with someone from another country can spark an enhancement in their creativity. It wasn’t just about being with someone from a different culture, but their willingness to immerse themselves and truly learn about it. Casual friendships won’t do, since a deep understanding of another culture is a key part of expanding your creativity.
Long term diverse relationships have a positive impact in your creativity- Photo Credit- Christina Wocin -Unsplash
Increased Creativity at Work
Engaging with people from other cultures has a transformational effect in how we view the world, but it also impacts the way we relate to the world and our work. According to a study that surveyed people who worked in the United States between two months or three years, the more they kept in touch with their American friends and colleagues, the more ambitious and risk-taking they proved to be once they returned to their home country.
Additionally, companies are beginning to find that their more diverse teams tend to perform better. They are seeing increased creativity and innovation, better problem-solving, higher engagement and a better reputation not only for those involved in the teams, but for the companies and businesses that house them. It’s not just about our friends and partners. Diversity in our professional relationships also boost the collective creativity of a team.
These benefits are readily available in places like the United States, where one can choose to truly engage and learn from people from other cultures and nurture deep connections.
In his Podcast Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam (the host of the show who inspired this article) considers if perhaps the diversity that exists within the United States may have played a role in being home to around 60% of all Nobel laureates. He likes to think it has. If you’re interested in this and similar topics, subscribe to his amazing podcast.
With the shift to remote work that’s happened worldwide since the pandemic hit, professional women have been renegotiating gender roles at home.
We spoke to Debbie Nutt, Principal Disease Area Specialist within the hematology franchise in Novartis UK, and Sana Joudeh, from the Regulatory Affairs Department in the Middle East & Africa markets at Novartis, about what this change has been like for them and how it has affected their family dynamics.
Renegotiating gender roles is critical for everyone’s wellbeing and success- Photo Credit CDC-Unsplash
Renegotiating Gender Roles and Family Dynamics
ALINE CERDÁN – Has the shift to working remotely brought up a need for renegotiating gender roles at home?
SANA JOUDEH – Luckily, my partner is a very collaborative and considerate person who’s been supportive and involved with the house and kids since I started working. I cannot say there was a need for renegotiating gender roles. However, we definitely had to discuss the new model together and agree how to manage daily tasks related to the family. We discuss each other’s calendar and important meetings during our morning coffee so the other person will be aware in case one of the kids needs support.
DEBBIE NUTT – I wouldn’t say it did in our home. Although it is lovely to have my husband around a little more in the mornings and to help with the children’s evening activities, as he is normally out from 7am until 7pm.
Adjusting to working at home has been interesting. My children, aged 8 and 9, were home from March 20th until August 14th, so we had to home-school at the same time. It meant we had to be pretty strict between my husband and I about aligning our diaries and who was on home-school duty each day. This was not always easy – who’s meeting is more important?
Using a calendar for renegotiating gender roles can help everyone stay on top of their assignments- Photo Credit – Estee Janssens-Unsplash
A.C.– Has it brought up family dynamics and patterns that maybe you didn’t notice before constantly sharing spaces?
S.J.– Yes, it did. Not only for us but also for our kids, who are used to knowing that if we are at home, then we are available. It took them sometime to understand that we are at home, but we are working and cannot attend to their requests on the spot. As for my husband and me, we’ve seen each other’s professional personas and became aware of the differences in our work-related activities. We’ve had many funny moments and discovered some parts that we didn’t notice before. Another important part is the ability to shift after work and rebalance to attend to the kids. Usually, this shift happens on the way home but now there is no time or space, so when you finish work everyone is around.
D.N.– I think every household falls naturally into a pattern. I would say it has taught us all that we don’t stop and chill and enjoy each other’s company very often as we are always rushing here, there and everywhere. This has been a definite positive and we plan to rush less and live more going forward.
A.C.– Do you feel your work life has been affected by the shift to working from home in ways that your partner’s work life hasn’t?
D.N.– I think during the home-schooling part of our all being at home together, I definitely felt the most frazzled trying to be mum, teacher and employee. I constantly felt like I was struggling to do anything well. I normally like to give 100% to work when I am at work, 100% to my family at home, etc. But this simply wasn’t possible, so both my husband and I had a lot of adjusting and mindset shifting to do to find some kind of balance.
S.J.– No, we are affected equally. The kids might have been used to coming to me, but now they have to see who is free to help, and sometimes that’s not me.
This is the perfect time for renegotiating gender roles at home- Photo Credit- Jason Briscoe-Unsplash
Company Support and Household Demands
A.C.– Has your employer been willing to reschedule work tasks to accommodate household demands or have you had to make adjustments with your partner?
S.J.– I think that without the flexibility and support that Novartis provided, things wouldn’t have been the same. Knowing that you are supported and that your safety and mental wellness are a priority made a huge difference. It gave us the power to shift things around easily and reprioritize without any fear or worry. So yes, the company was supportive and unique compared to other companies and industries.
D.N.– My workplace has been incredible from the start, allowing us to have no meetings during lunch time to let people feed their families and get some much-needed fresh air. Some days my husband could join us and other days we had to tag team, so he worked while I had meeting-free time.
A.C.– What are some of the conventionally gendered divisions and stereotypes you deal with where you live?
D.N.– I would say that there are not so many stereotypes as such. But for sure the organization of the children, including activities, packed lunches, new school clothes, shoes, emails from school for the most part still automatically sits with mum regardless of the working status. I think this is evolving in the UK. I know a lot of men who have taken shared parental leave with their wives when their babies were born or gone part time to look after children.
S.J.– The conventional belief that the woman is responsible for the house and kids although she is working like the man. Not all men accept to change and share such responsibilities. In addition, it really goes down to what the man believes and values and how strong the relationship between two people is. Another belief is that the man’s work is the priority. This is fine when it really is the case. Sometimes, however, the woman can have a senior role that’s more demanding and provides more, and it’s still not given the priority at home.
Renegotiating gender roles at home at this time – Photo Credit- Sven Brandsma-Unsplash
Overcoming New Challenges
A.C.– What would you say have been the most challenging aspects of this transition as a family?
S.J.– For me it was getting the kids to understand that being at home does not mean I am available. We had to monitor some behaviors at home, something that was not required before. (Like kids talking to each other loudly while you have a meeting.) And we had to create the time for the whole family to communicate and engage with each other after a long/technology draining day.
D.N.– I think the most challenging aspects of the transition have been, not being sure if you were keeping all the balls spinning. That feeling was definitely exacerbated at the beginning of this situation. On a positive side, we have had so much bonus time together and have learned that not everything needs to be done at full speed all the time.
A.C.– What advice would you give to other working women trying to renegotiate gender roles at home?
D.N.– My advice would be to listen to each other, what’s important for each member of your household generally and on each individual day, then talk it out. Things don’t need to run like clockwork, that’s not life. Compromise is key from all sides.
S.J.– This a difficult question because every house and relationship have its own dynamics. In general: Reflect and reset your priorities. First things first and the rest can be compromised. Involve the family members in transparent discussions and sharing the challenges you face. And ask for support.
After months of adjusting to work and life merging in such a way that we feel like we are working 24/7, it’s only natural to wonder what comes next. Is this what the future of work will look like? Will offices become a thing of the past?
Through their Work Trend Index Report, Microsoft has explored which of the remote working changes to workspaces are likely to become a permanent reality in the future. The report draws its conclusions from a combination of insights like how Microsoft costumers use their tools, a Harris Poll Survey of people working remotely in six countries, and research data from projects including surveys, interviews, focus groups and even studies on the human brain.
Future of work- Photo Credit- Chris Montgomery-Unsplash
5 things about the future of work you should know
1Goodbye to Nine to Five Weekdays?
According to the study, our unique circumstances have bound home and work-life in ways that have forced everyone to make quick adjustments and shifts. This means that household tasks will need to mix with work ones – a reality that became evident as more and more videos of kids crashing meetings became available on social media. For some, finding a balance has had to do with negotiating schedules and working outside of the customary office hours.
Microsoft’s study found that people have not only been working outside of typical workday hours (before 9 am and after 5 pm on weekdays) in the past few months, but that they’ve also been signing on during weekends for team chats and meetings. With things like commuting to work gone and, in many cases, a less rigorous morning routine, those first few hours of the morning have become priceless for people sharing living and workspaces.
If those mornings of juicy office gossip and general camaraderie are something you still miss every day, you can relax because you’ll probably get them back. At some point.
The study found that while many companies will probably decide to make working remotely an option, physical offices are not likely to disappear completely. Yes, remote work can be incredibly productive and save companies money in more than just office space, but there are also many reasons for these spaces to stick around.
In their research, Microsoft found that 82% of managers expect a more flexible policy as things begin to normalize. With 71% of managers and employees who hope to continue working from home a few days a week.
Still, getting away from the distractions of home, an ergonomic work environment, a stable connection and those priceless moments of human interaction that take place in these spaces will possibly keep offices as a part of the future of work.
We will go back to the office as part of our future work- Photo Credit- You X Ventures-Unsplash
3Remote Work Fatigue and Making Connections
Tired of work-related video chats? You’re definitely not alone. In fact, the study showed that remote work is more taxing on our brains than in-person interaction. While some may find working from home more relaxing than going to the office, there are aspects of spending so much time on the computer that affects us emotionally and physically.
Researchers from Microsoft’s Human Factors Labs ran a study to understand how the brain responds to collaborating remotely through computer screens compared to face-to-face interactions. They found that working remotely is more mentally challenging, with higher levels of stress and a more recurrent tendency for overworking. Video meetings can be more demanding and there are several factors leading to “meeting fatigue” including a prolonged focus on the screen and a lack of non-verbal cues.
More than half of the people surveyed confessed they feel less connected to their colleagues when working from home. A predictable issue people everywhere have been struggling with as we all face an inescapable fact: interacting through a screen just can’t compare with spending time with people. Things like body language and the kind of interactions that happen organically still can’t be recreated online.
The study found that while remote collaborations are more mentally challenging than in-person interaction, the back to work and normal human interaction could be much more trying than many may have anticipated. According to the study, people have found it more difficult to go back to work after these months working remotely.
This happens because while work strategies and certain ways to connect socially can be transferred to an online environment, “the opposite is untrue.” After so much time spent with ourselves and our families or housemates, it will be difficult to adjust back to co-exist with other people at a safe distance in a shared space.
Findings about the future of work- Photo Credit Tina Witherspoon-Unsplash
A positive effect of the pandemic…
5More Empathy and Inclusion
There have also been positive changes as a result of our circumstances which will, hopefully, stick as we move into the future of work. Over 60% of the people surveyed said that they now feel more empathy towards work colleagues and their personal struggles than before. Employees and managers are willing to create shifts and adjustments to accommodate working parents, people sharing their workspaces and other challenges that have resulted from this crisis.
Remote work has also fostered a more inclusive environment for some people to thrive and express themselves. Half the people surveyed by Microsoft said they feel more valued and included because virtual rooms make everyone look more, and feel, or less the same. Additionally, in-meeting chatrooms have created another forum for people to speak up and share their perspectives with the rest of the team. The future of work may offer a chance for wallflowers to shine!
The pandemic changed the future of work and how it will affect us and our lifestyles. But it has also created opportunities, made us more empathetic to the specific difficulties faced by our colleagues and created a more inclusive environment for remote collaborators. Through new updates on Teams that include Together Mode (a shared virtual background for all users) and Dynamic View (an adjustable view of shared documents and participants on the screen), Microsoft hopes to address some of the issues of remote work. Among them, reducing meeting fatigue and helping people feel more connected to their colleagues while working apart.
It seems impossible sometimes, but it is not. Keeping your business dreams alive in times of crisis requires creativity, innovation and perseverance. Today we tell you the story of how two Puerto Rican entrepreneurs are doing it.
This has been the case for Arlyn Vázquez, owner of a pastry business called Chic & Divine Sweets, and Elizabeth Vázquez, creator of Medic-Citas, a micro-business dedicated to transporting disabled or at-risk people to medical appointments and personal events. These two inspiring women work hard to keep their business dreams alive. Dealing with the impact of the pandemic on an island that was already affected by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and several earthquakes earlier this year.
Chic & Divine Sweets is a business dream that came true thanks to Arlyn Vazquez vision. Photo Credit- Holly Stratton-Unsplash
The Birth of Two Business Dreams
ALINE CERDÁN – Tell us a little about your business, how did it come about?
ARLYN VÁZQUEZ, CHIC & DIVINE SWEETS – I had been thinking for a long time about the idea of establishing my own business. I come from a merchant family. My parents had a grocery store for more than 30 years and almost all my brothers have businesses. So, I took community entrepreneurship classes in the city where I live and then I started taking various baking courses. In the process, I realized that not many people knew what macarons were, and those who did, thought they were too delicate to make. So, I started to perfect my technique. I started selling to friends and family while still working for a company.
In 2016, just when I lost my job, I participated in Saborea Culinary Fest, one of the most important gastronomic events in all of Puerto Rico where the most recognized restaurants participate. That helped a lot with product acceptance and gave me the courage to talk to more people.
ELIZABETH VÁZQUEZ, MEDIC CITAS – Medic-Citas is a micro-company that specializes in transporting elderly, children, youth and adults with functional diversity to their medical appointments, treatments, dialysis, laboratories and private or family events. Our vehicles are equipped with a ramp to move them in a safe and comfortable way.
Before starting my business, I decided to quit my job with an airline. It was closing its base in Puerto Rico and I would have had to move to the United States. My parents were very sick at the time and my main responsibility was to be with them until the end. I was in charge of taking them to their appointments. Getting them in the car was always a struggle. Then, someone told me about a company that offered this type of service. The service was requested at the Veteran’s Hospital for my dad and I was fascinated with the type of work they did. I learned about the process of having that type of job, the requirements, etc. That is how I decided to start this business that fills me with satisfaction, love and empathy for clients who are mostly elderly.
Medic Citas is Elizabeth Vázquez business dream – Photo Credit- Unsplash
Adjusting Business Dreams in Times of Crisis
AC – What transformations have been necessary to keep your business dreams alive in times of crisis? What adjustments did you have to make after the pandemic?
AV – Unfortunately this crisis has affected all entrepreneurs, but especially small businesses. I have focused on staying positive, looking for alternatives and products that people can consume and work from home. For example, I started selling boxes with cakes clients can decorate at home, an alternative where the whole family can participate and then enjoy a homemade cake. In the same way, I began to offer empanadillitas (mini turnovers) so that people can fry them at home on a Sunday as a family while having a day by the pool.
EV – These events have shown us how vulnerable to any natural and man-made situation life is. Difficult times that have affected our economy and health. My business dreams continue to be firm in these situations. I think it has been a time to analyze, study the situation, remain calm and confident, and save money.
AC – What are some of the biggest challenges as a post-hurricane Maria business owner?
EV – Hurricane Maria paralyzed our services for a month until medical appointments were normalized. It was the first time my work routine was affected. But the appointments resumed, and we started working, thank God. That made me analyze how to prepare financially for an event like the hurricane or worse. The biggest challenge is to continue believing in what I do and to not allow myself to fall when confronted by any situation that might appears. Everything is about being assertive, protecting what you have, feeling passion and waiting for the exact moment to start or continue growing. Never stop no matter what.
AV – Thanks to the fact that we have a power plant, we were able to make the product and deliver it to all the points of sale quickly. We didn’t have much time between making and storing, so we made the food and delivered the same day. However, they say that “the misfortune of one is the grace of others” and one of the points of sale that we have now was thanks to the fact that another company that made desserts couldn’t continue to supply.
Practicing solidarity economy helps multiple businesses achieve their dreams.
Important Lessons in Times of Crisis
AC – What do you think is the most important thing you have learned about how to keep your business dreams alive in times of crisis?
AV – Stay focused and positive. Always look to learn from others and look for alternatives that fit the market’s needs and the moment.
EV – Believe in my dream, love what I do, have passion for my business, don’t let it fall without fighting first, move obstacles, reinvent myself, open doors and close those that are not convenient.
AC – What recommendations would you make to other small business owners fighting for their dreams and businesses at this time?
EV – I recommend that they don’t give up. That they fight for their dreams. It is not always easy but it’s never impossible. They will encounter obstacles, but their dreams are bigger. I’d recommend they start their business with a business plan they can follow through each step. Don’t start a business with debt. Go little by little. Don’t be anxious, the business will grow slowly.
AV – That they never give up, that they persevere and that they believe in themselves. There are always difficult moments in a business, but we have to know how to learn from them and move forward.
Photo Credit-Alysha Rosly-Unsplash
Solidarity Between Puerto Rican Businesswomen
AC- How does your business impact the local economy? What is the best way to support small entrepreneurs and businesses in our communities?
EV – Positively! First, the local government injecting capital by giving jobs and paying government taxes and patents, being a self-sustaining company. Second, I serve as an example to motivate others to become financially independent.
Being in solidarity with small local companies. I like to use the services of my people and consume what my country produces. That is what stays here in my homeland and in this is how we support the communities to grow and expand.
AV – The best way is buying their products and promoting them. Currently we are the first in the Google search for macarons in Puerto Rico. Anyone who likes to taste a fine dessert such as macaron, calls us. They are a dessert that is used at parties and even as gifts at special events such as weddings.
AC – Where do you find the strength and inspiration to keep going when everything feels most difficult?
AV – My family is my greatest inspiration and my strength to keep going.
EV – First, in God who guides me and has never abandoned me. Then in the testimonies of people who have gone through difficult situations and motivate us not to give up. It strengthens me remembering where I was before and what I have achieved so far. That gives me the drive to continue fulfilling my dreams and goals.
Lucy Carrasquillo is committed to a solidarity economy. She believes that every businesswoman has what she need inside her to get ahead and not only keep her dreams alive, but help the dreams of other small entrepreneurs flourish.
The inspiring Puerto Rican businesswoman is in charge of Centro Gomas Savarona, a family automotive business that she and her siblings have managed to transform and keep afloat through the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the current global pandemic.
After earning a master’s degree in management, Lucy joined her husband at ConsultCom, a company dedicated to helping those considering starting a business through training and personalized attention. But in addition to being an indispensable part of the survival of both companies in times of crisis, Lucy supports efforts to rebuild her country by investing money in local companies. How? By creating and supporting responsible projects and entrepreneurs interested in a better and fairer world.
Her philosophy exemplifies the values of the Solidarity Economy, which aims to inspire a social transformation to give rise to fairer, more supportive, planet-conscious societies interested in making the global and individual changes necessary to prosper. Organizations participating in this movement are committed to creating opportunities, encouraging education and development, changing their consumer habits and finding ways to adjust politics and the economy to the needs of the majority.
According to Lucy Carrasquillo, every woman entrepreneur has all she needs to succeed inside her.
Solidarity Economy: Supporting the Dreams of Others
ALINE CERDÁN – Can you tell us a bit about ConsultCom and Centro Gomas Savarona and how they came about?
LUCY CARRASQUILLO – In my career, I started to manage the businesses almost without realizing it. In the case of Centro Gomas Savarona, when my oldest daughter started school, I had time and needed to earn some extra money. So in 1997, I approached my dad’s business and started in the administrative part since I had a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in secretarial sciences. There, I started as the owner’s daughter with managerial functions. Little by little, together with my brothers, we began updating and innovating in my dad’s business, which started in 1985. When my dad died in 2014, I started to have shares in the business. In other words, the second generation managed to keep a successful business. Here I started out of need, but as time went by I realized that I was a businesswoman. I was in charge of compliance management, marketing, human resources…
ConsultCom is a business that my husband started and which I later joined after completing my master’s degree in management. I love it because we are dedicated to providing training and business support for people who want to start a business. With that in mind, we created a local model with a methodology to provide people with the basic tools and guide them through the initial process of starting a business. I am fascinated by what we do because it is not only providing business training, we include accompaniment and we go further with our entrepreneurs. In many cases we know their stories and their setbacks, we listen to them, we encourage them to identify that in themselves the strengthsthey need to achieve their business dreams.
In our model the key is to be there for the entrepreneurs and the fact that we promote another way of doing business,from a different logic: the Solidarity Economy. That is why we create alliances, support local businesses, care for the planet, treat and pay workers fairly. Success is also achieved by companies that help others. Problems like global warming, labor injustices and inequality move us to create another way of handling the economy.
Lucy Carrasquillo de ConsutCom es un gran ejemplo de una emprendedora que apoya a emprendedores- Photo Credit- ConsultCom
How to Keep Dreams Alive In Times of Crisis
A.C.– How has your business had to transform to keep your dreams alive in times of crisis? What adaptations were necessary after the pandemic?
L.C. – In the case of the automotive business, we shut down for two months. We got a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), which helped us keep our workers and established a cleaning and disinfection protocol. We all wear masks for protection and respect physical distance. Here I am very concerned about the safety of our workers and clients. I am always on the lookout for complying with protocols for everyone’s health. “If I take care of myself, I take care of others.”
On the other hand, at ConsultCom, it has been a challenge since we work in group training and our design includes a lot of contact. We do group work and individual business advisory meetings. But in the face of the pandemic, we moved our training to a virtual platform and, to our surprise, we managed to retain 75% of the participants. Some were unable to continue with the training due to problems with the internet, lack of equipment or personal situations such as caring for their children and older relatives.
Training and support have been a challenge since it is not the same as when it is in person. But given the circumstances, we have managed to maintain a relationship with the majority and, even in this circumstance, seven businesses were established, ten are in the permit process and another eight are prototyping.
A.C. – What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as the owner of your own business post-hurricane Maria?
L.C. – In 2017, when our island was hit by Hurricane Maria, the situation was very depressing. For months we had nowater and no electricity, it was quite a challenge. With the automotive company, we had a cistern and a generator and we were able to continue providing services.
In our consulting company, all services stopped. The energy was poured into surviving and supporting our community’s basic needs. There were calls, meetings and community activities, and solidarity emerged to support each other. Solidarity was what helped us all get back on track. Emotional support was very necessary to help lift us up as a country. At ConsultCom it took us 5 months to restart our work.
The challenge was maintaining a positive attitude and keeping the faith that this difficult time was going to end and we had to move on. I had to be strong and encourage others. When you focus on helping others, it helps you focus on working for a better future.
The solidarity economy promotes a more equal world where we all live better-Kelli Stirrett-Unsplash
Resilience: The Fundamental Ingredient In Times Of Crisis
A.C – What do you think is the most important thing you have learned about how to keep your business dreams alive in times of crisis?
L.C. – After having experienced Hurricane Maria in 2017, the earthquake in the south of our island in January 2020 and the pandemic in March, times certainly require us to be resilient. We have to be in constant change mode. In times of crisis the attitude must be positive and flexible. Always looking for ways to innovate. If it doesn’t work one way, we move on to the next. Always paying attention to what the client needs and working with them. This pandemic is also giving birth to a new, more demanding and digital consumer.
A.C – What recommendations would you make to other small business owners fighting for their dreams and businesses right now?
L.C. – These difficult times require us to identify that vital force that moves us. Every businesswoman has what they need inside to get ahead. That strength, persistence, and shrewdness. Every businesswoman has potentials that she must awaken and start using. In our training, we talk about business self-esteem because the engine of a business is the person. If the entrepreneur becomes aware and identifies her abilities and what she needs to grow, she will look for how to develop those. She will experience an inner liberation and conceive herself as capable. And that awareness will help her achieve her business goals.
The majority of the people in our training groups are always women. For example, in the last training group we completed in June 2020, 56% were women. This data indicates that women, in their quest to complete their entrepreneurial dreams, take action to prepare themselves and become an entrepreneur. They take time to go throughthat process. We have several success stories from business owners such as boutiques, the first co-working in Caguas, pastry shops, catering, beauty salons, event coordinators, transportation and others. We are also currently working with a restaurant, life coach, pet groomer and others.
Women have management skills (at home) and those same skills are put in place to manage businesses wisely. We know how to take care of physical resources and to manage funds.
The advantage of being part of the solidarity economy is that people support each other. Photo Credit-Content Pixie-Unsplash
Buying Locally Is Part of The Solidarity Economy
A.C – How does your business impact the local economy?
L.C. – In the automotive business we have 10 workers and therefore we are the livelihood for their families. Purchases are made from distributors in Puerto Rico. Our business has been providing services for more than 30 years and I have been managing it for 23 years.
At ConsultCom, by promoting the creation of charitable businesses we also create awareness of supporting local businesses. (A principle of the solidarity economy.) When we asked the most recent group we completed in June 2020 if the program helped them broaden their awareness of the importance of consuming locally, 100% said yes. In these moments of crisis, one of the ways to contribute to the economy is to buy from Puerto Rican businesses, since that way the money stays in our country.
A.C – What is the best way to support small entrepreneurs and businesses in our communities?
L.C. – Promoting another way of doing business taking into consideration the solidarity economy and empowering our people so that they have the ability to create their own businesses. In Puerto Rico, according to economist Manuel Lobato, for every 1,000 inhabitants, 12 businesses are created. That statistic is very low. We at ConsultCom contribute to raising awareness and provide training to change that reality. We can all be businessmen and businesswomen. Those who decide to get their hands on the process and achieve that business goal will make it happen.
It is a matter of will and seeking support in order to bring the business to fuition. The best way is with business training aimed not only at the technical aspects of how to establish a business, but also including the emotional aspect that can accompany you through the process.
A.C – Where do you find the strength and inspiration to keep going when everything looks so difficult?
L.C. – When things around me are difficult and even depressing, such as after the hurricane, I take even more refuge within myself to regain new strength to deal with whatever comes. I am a person with values and convictions, and I have a purpose in life to help others discover their inner potential. So, I must be connected with myself, with my inner strength and my light. And that light comes from God.
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