Why “ Emprender con Calma” (Calm Entrepreneurship) will make you happier

Short-termism, lightning-fast success, relentless work. These are the mantras that have been marketed to entrepreneurs by Silicon Valley. But Patricia Araque, Executive Director of Santander X Explorer, debunked these myths in her TalkX (the second of this edition of the programme), proposing to attendees a much gentler, more natural, and equally successful model. Because you are the one who defines success.

“Emprender con Calma“ is Patricia’s new book, where she lays out “a feminist approach to building your business without falling into Silicon Valley’s traps.” “A practical and critical guide for those seeking to start up […] with purpose […].” Empathy vs. ego, value vs. profit, collaboration vs. competition. These themes were explored in a dynamic and perfectly structured talk with the Santander X Explorer Community Leaders, hosts of this special TalkX event.

“The book is to help people understand that there are many paths to entrepreneurship,” Patricia began, with over two decades of entrepreneurial experience. The best-known approach places money at the centre, builds a heroic narrative (you must be ambitious, grow or die, work hard) and relies on the false myth of meritocracy (false, because we all come from different places, and the entrepreneurial system is not equal). But there are other formulas. Here are some of the ingredients.

Want to see the full TalkX and how Patricia Araque responded to questions from the chat? Watch this video (warning: it will feel short) and then keep reading.

Rest 
Against this narrative, Patricia spoke of thinking in the long term in order to see things with perspective, something that allows us to make better decisions by not doing so under the pressure of time running out. It allows us to free ourselves from anxieties, to calm down. And then came the first of the statements that blew users’ minds: ’Working less does not mean producing less. Rest is as important as the hours you dedicate to your project. And you don’t have to live it with guilt, we are not lazy to listen to our body and take care of it. Putting all your heart into it doesn’t guarantee success, even if the story we’ve been told is different,’ he said. Hello, Elon Musk.

Trust without fear
The questions from the audience started to come in and the Community leaders (Carmen Lara, Caroline Schmidt and Eileen Galván) focused on one that is often repeated in the early stages of entrepreneurship: do we share our ideas or keep them for fear that they will be stolen? Patricia was very clear: ‘Collaboration is especially important, especially at the beginning, because that is when we have the least resources. We must create an emotional support system: mutual support makes us survive as a species. Fear isolates us, puts us in a shell. I encourage you to trust,’ he said. And with those magic words, the chat was filled with messages in which users shared their LinkedIn profile to find their network, their support. 

Define Your Success 
Naturally, the central issue for any entrepreneur—the funding of their idea—was also discussed in this TalkX. Patricia countered: “The narrative is controlled by those who have power and money, but most projects aren’t investable. And they don’t need to be. Let’s explore sexier options,  like making our own decisions or seeing our ideas progress within Santander X Explorer, giving us the chance to choose our team, our people. We need good people creating good companies and good jobs,” she said. “It’s inspiring: entrepreneurship with heart,” were the reactions from a thoroughly convinced chat.

“We need to redefine what success means to each of us,” Patricia added to conclude the TalkX, leading into the private section where she answered questions from selected Explorers. But what is success to her? How does she redefine it? It’s something very specific, very personal, that she clarifies on the first page of “Calm Entrepreneurship.”