🇬🇧 Surmount and intensity

Some of us are born in families where to achieve our dreams was encouraged by parents and relatives. Other ones were born in families where to win was only possible following one determined path designed by our parents and anything different was considered a defeat, anytime we tried to live our own lives we were considered the black sheep or someone with serious defects.

I had a curious experience. My father wanted to see me as a medical doctor. He didn’t study a lot because my grandfather died when he was a boy and being the older boy it was his mission to manage the businesses of the family. The course to be a medical doctor was the most difficult to enter at the local university and my father knew I was able to enter. I had great grades at school. My mother and her family had a different attitude. My grandmother wanted to see me as a judge. Law was the second more difficult course to enter at the local university. I wanted not one nor another of these careers. My father accepted, respected and encouraged me in the path I chose: communication. My mother and her family were unable to do the same.

I lived with my grandmother, my mother’s mother, for many years although my mother is still alive. And although she had paid my studies, she never showed any sign of approval. My grades were considered my “obligation” for this part of the family. Curiously good grades weren’t expected from my brothers or cousins who had the same benefits that I had and mediocre grades. My cousin were never wrong and he was never criticised. But he never achieved something he really liked. He lived the life others planned to him. These become examples of how not to live for me. And I don’t care if this is your way to live since you respect my choice.

Along life I chose to learn and I developed some courage to make my dreams come true. I love to read and to watch movies since I was a child. Art and cultural richness are passions I cultivate since then, altogether with a curiosity about different places and realities.

I don’t embrace every opportunity I find but in general I go so deep in the ones I embrace that almost nobody can do them better than myself. As I had a family that is never satisfied with whatever I do, I’m accustomed to ignore criticism and keep doing what I believe. And up to this moment I conquered many dreams I believed were impossible when I was just twenty.

I see sometimes people desiring to discover an easy way to become rich, and I think although there are some people who become rich and even famous overnight, real richness is a result of winning a lot of battles along life. Real battles, not video games. Battles against ourselves much more than those against others. My father died respecting my choice. My mother maybe never admit she admires me as a professional and I no longer try to change her opinion. People like her won’t hire me nor consider me worthy. They’re too weak to accept the advice of someone like me. We just choose different paths. But I found great masters in this life and I continue finding, and they’re my masters just because they make me keep on my track, intensely doing a superior job at the same time they respect me and encourage me. This is my way to play as a consultant and as a mentor. I’m intense, my criticism is as strong as my praise. My work is for those who accept and believe they can be much better and much stronger when guided by a master who respect their goals and their personalities. Because I believe “praise only” can be as negative and toxic as “criticism only”.

Nycka, the nomad 

Consultant on Personal Branding 360°, Personal Style and Branding 360°.