Business
Succeeding in
Times of Change
Ismael Cala
After visiting Bangladesh, a 20-year-old Spanish
student has decided to challenge major global
brands with his app Ethical Time. Renowned
companies produce clothes in the Asian country at
low cost and in controversial working conditions,
but Ignasi Eiriz is not intimidated. His objective is
clear: to create respectful fashion with workers and
with the environment.
The current world is dynamic and challenging
by nature, especially if we confront what has
already been established. And, as the only
thing that is clear, is change, we are pushed
to the maximum capacity of adaptation,
especially if we decide to undertake a new
project. But what happens when, in addition to
this undertaking, we must do it differently from
our usual way? It tests our ability to review
and update purposes, adapt them to the
context and combine them with the change of
culture that is generated, for example, when
emigrating.
Although there is no specific data for the
Latino community, the general statistics on
entrepreneurship are alarming. According to a
Forbes study, eight out of ten new businesses
do not last longer than 18 months; the failure
rate is 80%. However, the data is refuted by
analysts of the Bureau of Labour Statistics of
the United States. They say that "20% of small
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businesses do not survive the barrier of the
first year, and 50% do not survive five years,
better than what Forbes says, right? Yes! But
the figures are very alarming", analyses the
expert Luis Ramírez, from SCUDO Consulting.
Although change is inevitable, the process
doesn’t have to be traumatic. As an
entrepreneur, (five years ago I founded the
company Cala Enterprises with my friend
Bruno Torres), believe me that I have lived a
roller coaster of emotions with positive balance,
because we have been able to surround
ourselves with the best, train ourselves, try and
rehearse with controlled risks. Today we are a
stable company that lives its purpose day by
day, helping other organisations to be better
places of work for their collaborators.
If we can plan and train ourselves to structure
a clear and assertive value proposition, as well
as to propose a profitable business model
with clear purposes, we will have greater
possibilities of escaping the aforementioned
statistics.
Train and be flexible to adapt to a changing
environment and you can successfully travel
the path of entrepreneurship! This is what the
young Ignasi Eiriz tries to do to make a living
and make things change.
Train and be
flexible to adapt
to a changing
environment
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