Startin Over

Starting Over: A way of Life

Step out of your comfort zone and succeed

Author: Luis J. Echarte

Year: 2013

Editorial: LID

Available through:

Amazon

Ten years ago, when I was told that I would not live long, I started writing this book to state my philosophy and the lessons I had learned along the way. I also wanted my children and grandchildren to know more about me.

Something I discovered long ago is that the world is in great need of leaders that can translate their ideas into reality. But those leaders are only forged outside their comfort zone.

This is the main life lesson that I want to share with you. It doesn’t matter how many times you have encountered obstacles, it doesn’t matter if you sometimes doubt your capacity to achieve your dreams, overcoming fear is the only way that you will be able to escape from the slavery imposed by fright.

I started noticing this when I left Cuba, when I was 15 years old, one and a half years after Castro came to power. I went to live in the United States, a different culture, with a different language, and I decided that I did not want to take refuge in the microcosm of the Cuban community in Miami, which was my and my family’s destiny. I wanted to integrate into the society to which I had just arrived. That was the first time that I gave up my comfort zone and took a risk to attain more.

When I graduated as Architectural Engineer, I worked in construction for my father, in a small real estate business.

After three years, the company ceased to exist, and I believed that I had enough experience to start my own adventure as general contractor. I did some business quite successfully, but again I felt the need not to get stuck, and to take a leap again.

The time came in 1979, when my father-in-law proposed me a business opportunity in his family’s company: none other than Bacardi.

At the beginning I agreed to a fraction of my previous salary because I foresaw the unlimited possibilities that this job would open in the future.

In this way I faced my biggest challenge in the company, which was to take it out of the comfort zone in which it was, and which limited it before a thriving competition. The company crawled out of the gutter and sales bounced back substantially.

I have had many successes like this one, on the way, and several setbacks, but I have always taken control of my life, going beyond what my comfort would have allowed. I have learned that the world needs leaders that do not become slaves of their own comfort, and who take risks to break free from such slavery.

Ten years have gone by since that fatal diagnosis. I am alive and I feel alive, especially because I commit myself, and risk what I do one hundred per cent.

I want to share these experiences, hoping that you will find in them the motivation to try to break away from the comfort of the routine that prevents us from going forward and bringing out our full potential.

See More

Taking Risks /
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

When we are satisfied with the comfort of the routine, we avoid going forward and exercising our full potential to its maximum capacity. Our comfort zone enslaves us.
I learned to soak everything in. We must learn everything in all the areas of the company, and always be alert, challenging yourself to learn more and do more.
My fear of failure worked as my strongest engine, it made me drop my safety mechanism, work harder, learn more, and plunge into frightening situations, because that is where the real potential for growth is.

Leadership

To be a leader is knowing how to get the best from your employees, because without them you are like a conductor without an orchestra. We must invest in them, offer them ways to learn more, motivate them to improve, and praise them every step of the way.

Growth / Success

The core of the matter is to face the challenge and not to be afraid of making mistakes, to learn from them and persevere until you reach your goal.
Seek hard work, because great achievements come from it... and luck goes with it. On your way to success, plan to win and never stop improving. I play to win, without guilt or excuses.
RBS-blog

Starting Over: A Way of Life

“Taking risks is a way of breaking free from slavery.”
- Luis J. Echarte

Reading a good book is always a pleasure, but if the work has been written by someone close to us, the pleasure is exponential. This is the case of Starting Over: A Way of Life, where Luis J. Echarte, one of the main and most experienced directors of Grupo Salinas, shares his experiences and his business view, through the eyes of a global executive, who is not afraid of transformation.

Luis is convinced that the only constant thing in our world is change, especially in business; he therefore considers that to be successful we must accept this condition and learn to adapt quickly to the new circumstances: we need to be capable of reinventing ourselves continuously.

Leer más

REVIEWS

Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego

Luis J. Echarte is one of the main and most experienced senior executives of Grupo Salinas. He gives us clear examples of the huge satisfaction that a job well done provides, the responsibility of running companies, and also the importance of being consistent with what you say, think and do. It has been a great satisfaction to share the road with him.

Sergio Sarmiento

With Cuba flowing through his veins, a young man addicted to work becomes a business success in the United States, as President and CEO of Bacardi Import. After being expelled, he flirts with the London way of life, and leaves on Nirvana meditation excursions. He moves to Mexico as CFO of Elektra and becomes a friend and close advisor of the Mexican billionaire, Ricardo Salinas. He also finds the strength to defeat cancer. Luis Echarte’s life is not only the entertaining story of a business career, but also a valuable lesson on humanity.

Juan Ramón Salazar, Huatabampo Sonora:

Good day! I am glad that through this mean and with the testimony of Mr. Luis Echarte, people like me are motivated, and that we are invited to remain firm in the battle towards a future, which will be better if we want, I will do my best to have the book in my hands, since it has been more than recommended and, in the case of Don Luis, I imagine it is very interesting.
I am a young man who likes literature very much and I will have no problem in reading it. I like that there are people who share their experiences and share a little of their life to inspire young WARRIORS like me who work like little ants every day. Thank you for teaching me and motivating me through this medium. I hope for more content like this, that in spite of the work, I give myself time to read your advice or passages like those of Mr. Luis or Don Ricardo, congratulations, God bless you and at your service. :) See more

Zoraida Galicia Morán, Axochiapan, Morelos:

The little I could read is very interesting, it invites you to keep going, despite of all the obstacles we find in life. Regards.

Miguel Luis, NYC:

I have just read Luis Echarte’s book, and I think it is an excellent story, a group of interesting anecdotes and data. From the standpoint of management, I would have never thought of the way that the idea to create Bacardi Breezer arose, a product that is still popular now among consumers: a milestone!

Marysha, D.F:

It sounds very interesting, everything, the short quotes mentioned, but I think what called my attention the most is the final part: to get rid of fear. Nowadays humankind has many chains, which have thousands of names, but the real name why we don’t break them is fear. I hope to read this interesting book soon. Marysha

Roberto, México:

From the title it demands to be read. The phrase has a connotation that makes you reflect. Luis, congratulations on being who you are, for your friendship, for your observations. Thank you. Mr. Salinas congratulations, the greatest wealth consists of having talent, ideas with a future vision.

Raymundo Alvarado Martínez, Ciudad de México:

I worked from 1994 to 2010 at Grupo Elektra in Human Resources; I have only good memories of Mr. Echarte, and very valuable professional lessons. He is a solid, intelligent, skillful, bold man, with extraordinary finesse and a born leader. I am sure that his book will be useful to many persons, I will read it soon. Congratulations for daring to share your life, what you have learned, and your way of feeling and thinking. Raymundo Alvarado Martínez.

Rolando Villarreal, D.F:

I have not met any other person who is at the same time a gentleman and a real human being, in the way he treats others, who demands results and rewards people that exceed expectations with the same chivalry. Without any doubt, he had a difficult start by changing countries overnight, with diverse cultures, habits and practices, but which also helped him to develop one of the best personalities that I have had the pleasure to know, work with, and learn from. A person who has been successful and who reached success because he believed in himself for his potential, and he held on to his ambition.
It was a wise decision to bring him to be part of his team, to make the journey more enjoyable, in good times and bad, achieving success despite the challenges, but always exceeding his expectations because he was stimulated to make a greater effort when the environment hindered. A true leader and a gentleman of those that are no longer left. See more

Oliver I. Pozas, México, D.F:

Luis Echarte’s book is an excellent personal account and life lesson. His teachings can be applied to many aspects of daily life. It is important to understand, which is very clear from the first paragraphs of the book, that the sign that marks the end of the road is not the end in itself, and that perseverance is important in all areas of our life. In summary, a book with an excellent vision and an interesting message.

Empleado GS, DF:

I have read the book and it is very worthwhile, as an employee of Grupo Salinas, it has revealed to me the way our leaders think. I hope this group has many more years of triumphs, together with Mr. Salinas and his executives.

Tezcatlipoca, México DF:

If there is something I enjoyed from reading this book, it was to get to know the personal side of a professional with his experience. For a young executive it is important to know the balance, the challenges, the setbacks that drive a person. There is no triumphant general who has no difficulties behind the medals. Neither are there senior executives that have not lived through critical moments. The most valuable thing is the sincere testimony, told as a casual talk, it is almost possible to hear Luis Echarte’s story when reading the Blog. Congratulations and regards. Mr. Salinas, you have a great advisor by your side.

Carlos Lavalle, México:

Good day, your comments are good based on what we live day to day, we must be prepared to give our children a good education, to forge professionals to be able to stop crime and make Mexico a reliable country, thank you. REGARDS.

Rodolfo Jupiter López, Santa Cruz, México:

I think that the basis for Luis’s success was his great perseverance, effort and dedication, together with the excellent values he has. I will get his book and read it; I know I will learn a little about the great talent that God gave him. Regards.

Lizandro Cetina, Mérida:

Mr. Luis adds many values to the organization, may success continue, congratulations. Best wishes.

Carlos, D.F:

An excellent book, written by a great person. A great recommendation, which allows us to learn from the invaluable lessons of the life of a leader.

Arturo Zárate Vite, México, D.F:

Highly recommendable, Luis’s book. I already have it in my hands. I agree with the importance of change.

Dom Perignon, México DF:

A great testimony from perfectly blended personal and professional experience, and which result is the trajectory of Luis Echarte, with its successes, failures, and fears, but also what boosts his success: energy, optimism and consistency.

Ciudadano Informado, Guadalajara, Jalisco:

Opening, analysis and timely decision are characteristics that make Luis an executive that adds huge value to the organizations. Congratulations for all these years of effective leadership!

Dulce Sabatés, México DF, Grupo Salinas:

I already had the opportunity to read the book and it was really a pleasant experience. I was able to understand the great human being that is Luis Echarte, that you should not remain in your comfort zone, and that we must dare to change as Ricardo Salinas says. Also, I take as example that nothing is guaranteed: neither health, nor work, nor your partner. We are all strong and we can move forward, we only need to dare. Thank you, Luis, for sharing, you are an example to follow.

Available through: Amazon