David Vélez, the charismatic banker and co-founder of Nubank, shares his inspiring insight on the importance of shooting high in a recent interview with Enzo Cavalie on the Startupeable YouTube channel.
Vélez urges us to overcome fear and aspire to great goalsoffering a perspective that can transform the way entrepreneurs approach their projects.
David Vélez asks to leave fear aside
For David Vélez, the first crucial step for any entrepreneur is to overcome the fear of failure.
He notes that this fear is present everywhere, even within Nubank’s teams. “There is fear at the end of shooting high because one is not going to reach that great goal.”says Vélez. This fear, according to him, prevents us from thinking big and taking risks necessary to solve big problems.
Inspired by the wisdom of Aristotle, Vélez highlights the importance of setting ambitious goals. “It is better to shoot high and miss than to shoot low and hit” he quotes, emphasizing that at the end of the year, there is always the possibility of having achieved more if we had aimed higher.
This philosophy not only motivates entrepreneurs to dream big, but also to accept mistakes as part of the learning process. “It is daring to think bigger, to not be afraid and to be willing to make mistakes, learn, fall and get up.”Adds Vélez.
The influence of the environment
Another fundamental aspect on the path to success is the environment in which we operate.
Vélez suggests that surrounding yourself with people who also think big is vital. “We are the average of the six people we spend the most time with.” he says, underlining the importance of being in an environment that encourages ambition and growth.
The influence of those around us can be decisive; If we are in the company of people with high aspirations, we are more likely to aim high too.
The culture of “Sawing the Floor”
In his analysis, Vélez also addresses a cultural problem present in Latin America, where there is often a tendency to “saw the floor” of those trying to stand out. “In Costa Rica there is a very big phrase that says ‘sawing the floor’”he mentions, describing how this attitude can discourage entrepreneurs.
David Vélez’s words to shoot high not only means setting ambitious goals, but also being willing to face and learn from failures. It is essential to create a culture that values effort and resilience, and that inspires entrepreneurs to surround themselves with people who push them to reach their full potential.
Read more: David Vélez, the richest man in Colombia: I liked mathematics.
