What Does Colombia Need to Achieve Success?

Mauricio Barajas Jaimes

February 1, 2015

ID:000208124

WHAT DOES COLOMBIA NEED TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS?

Colombia is one of the richest countries in the world, has two oceans (the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean), 35.000 plant species, 3.000 vertebrates, 1.800 kind of birds, 27 unique reptile types, 712 sort of amphibians, 127 fish breeds, 64% of the páramo extension around the world, oil, coal, gold, nickel, silver, platinum, natural gas, emeralds, fruits, vegetables, coffee, coasts, rivers, fertile land, flowers and also a favorable climate for growing crops the 365 days of the year. The problem is that Colombians doesn’t take advantage of all the wealth they have, the main reason is because they live with mediocre and conformist ideas. Colombian citizens need to change their mind for achieving success, and start adding some values like discipline, persistence and dedication. They need these valuable characteristics to exploit the diverse and numerous wealth they have under their feet. Additionally, this country counts with an area of 1,141,748 km2, which is the 26th biggest area in the world; also have good water reservations and a favorable time zone. With all the attributes mentioned before, people cannot explain why countries like Japan and Switzerland with less comparative advantages, less mineral richness and less surface are richer tan this rich but poor country. The problem lies in the effortless culture that prevail in the state, because they don’t persist in their goals, give up easily on objectives and expectations.

A common case in Colombia, where can be explained this situation are the workers in the Caribbean coast, that live from the sea or tourism. This guild of people works for the daily meal, for example if in one day of work, they gain the sustenance for 3 days, instead of saving money, they take the easy decision to not work the next 2 days; because they have sufficient money for living. In other countries people don’t have that facilities, so for having money they need discipline and must work everyday. The costeños have the resources and talent for having good profits in one day, but like Raul Dravid said “I think we judge talent wrong. What do we see as talent? I think I have made the same mistake myself. We judge talent by people's ability to strike a cricket ball. The sweetness, the timing. That's the only thing we see as talent. Things like determination, courage, discipline, temperament, these are also talent”.^[1] Discipline is more valuable than talent, that’s one reason why Colombia isn’t economically advance, because the working hours are not respected and for elaborating things with incorporated value, discipline is required and not only for one day, but for all the time until the production process is ended. Persistence is also a value Colombians lack, is one of the countries where more business are started up, but is also one of the highest in closing or crushing companies shortly.