We have already left the first week of 2019 behind. I believe it would be best for all of us to start the year with hope and especially optimism. Well then, what exactly is “optimism”? I have finished reading Steven Pinker’s book “Enlightenment Now” a few days ago. This Canada-born American experimental psychologist defines optimism as “the theory that all failures -all evils- are due to insufficient knowledge.”

There will always be failures or problems, because our knowledge will always be infinitely far from complete. What we need to keep in mind is this: We may encounter problems that are difficult to solve, but it is a big mistake to confuse them with problems unlikely to be solved. Most problems are solvable and each particular failure or evil that we encounter is actually a problem that can be solved. Therefore, we need to be optimistic and focus on the solution to be able to go forward.

An optimistic civilization is open to development and diversity, it is not afraid of innovations, and it has a tradition of constructive criticism. Its institutions focus on continuous improvement, identify failures, and find ways to eliminate them.

There will always be solutions to problems as long as we are optimistic.

After all, what is life but continuous problem-solving?

Happy new year to all!

The ways of doing business are constantly evolving in a rapidly changing world, in which we are frequently obliged to move at an increasing pace. Nevertheless, one thing remains constant: the need to always act in accordance with the Code of Ethics<; therefore, what must be done to ensure that our business practices comply with these ethical principles?

• Do not turn a blind eye to the problem: We may always try to act in a proper manner; however, we should remember that this may not always be possible, and mistakes can occur. What we should do in such cases is not to turn a blind eye to the problems. If we want to solve a problem before it deepens and spreads; we must first “see” the problem.
• Protect your values and do not compromise on transparency: Our values make us unique and differentiate ourselves from others. It is true that we live in a dynamic world and are sometimes obliged to respond quickly to maintain our competitiveness. Nonetheless, when we do business, we must first reconcile our priorities with our value index. Transparency is a must in the business world. Furthermore, we should remember that, in today’s communication-oriented world, it is possible for anyone to access and share any type of information easily.
• Draw a line between freedom and “egocentric freedom”: Freedom is indispensable for each of us and economic freedom is one of the most fundamental elements of freedom. However, focusing on individual interests will not bring success to an institution because freedom is also a benchmark in our relation with others. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that absolutely everybody complies unequivocally with the stipulated corporate Code of Ethics.