Saturday, December 27, 2008

The Audacity of Hope

I just read the book 'The Audacity of Hope' from elected president Barack Obama. I must say I could not agree more. The greatness of America lays in the fact that Americans have the audacity to hope for a better future. Europeans could learn a lesson from the Americans. Since I left The Netherlands 4,5 years ago my thoughts towards the USA changed drastically. As the rest of Europe I was jealous of the success of the USA and nationalistic towards my own country, The Netherlands. Being 12000 kilometers away for several years gave me a new perspective. The difference between the Europeans and the Americas is that we mostly complain whereby Americans focus on positivism and hope towards a better future. Like Obama mentions in his book. Americans have the audacity of hope to believe in a better future and work toward achieving their goal. It is amazing that America just choose the first black president in the history of the United States. People were not lead by color but by choosing the best man for the job. In my own life I can relate to Obama. For me also it has been an uphill battle. I have gotten nothing for free in my life. Positive side effect is that it has hardened me. I had to do it myself, believe in my own capabilities and make things happen. I was challenged many times in life but finally I made it successfully through business school; university, was hired by one of the mayor consultancy agencies, started a DOTCOM and now living in Argentina, started a company that has the audacity to believe that Argentina can be best at producing creative services worldwide. As of yet the concept is unknown. People even do not think creative services should be outsourced. They do not know Argentina. The combination of words 'creative outsourcing is an invention, it is not used regularly. But still, after carefully analyzing, the local situation I think I am right. I have the audacity to believe that I am right and the rest of the world is lagging behind in knowledge. It is just because my life has been a constant struggle that I am not put down immediately by what other people say or think. The struggle has thought me to believe in myself and to have hope. I hope that bit by bit little lights will pop up around the world of people believing that Argentina is right place for creative services. With Connaxis we not only hope but we also prove it in our every day work. We show customers that you can achieve the best price / quality relationship outsourcing creative work to Argentina. Our showcase portfolio site (http://www.connaxis.com/portfolio/overview) is hallmark of what has been achieved in less than half a year. Imagine what we can do over the course of several years. Imagine what we can do with the bigger budgets of larger clients. No, I do not believe anymore, I know we are right. I have the audacity now to tell each of you that we are right and that you should investigate it for yourself. Have the audacity to inquire to question our proposition. Drop us a mail. We will be happy to send you all the work we did up to now. We will be happy to present you with a list of competing companies in Argentina. Have a look at their work. Convince yourself. Discuss your findings on our websites blog.

Find the audacity of hope for yourself. Work toward fulfilling your dreams. Go out there in make it happen. You just have to believe and the magic starts.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Peter van Grinsven
Managing Director
Connaxis S.A.