Founder of XP Investimentos, Guilherme Benchimol shared his vision about what it means to undertake in Brazil. In a direct and inspiring speech, on his Instagram, the executive stressed that entrepreneurship goes beyond opening business and taking risks: it is about turning people, building solid companies and, at the same time, contributing to the country’s development.
“Entrepreneurship for me is about boldness, about freedom, it is about transforming. It’s about delighting customers, thinking in the long run, having consistency and discipline.”
For him, the entrepreneurial journey only makes sense when it helps to develop both executives and partners, without losing sight of meritocracy.
The executive also pointed out that entrepreneurship needs to be connected to the sustainability of the business: “It is to build a company made to last, with profitability and able to cross all the moments of the economy, continue to grow and advance.”
Continues after advertising
According to him, this movement helps to show the country the way to a more solid economy and, consequently, for a better future.
From the idea to the courage to execute
Benchimol stressed that the courage of entrepreneurship is born of an inspiring idea, but that it must quickly be transformed into a viable financial plan.
“The next step is to see that, in the shortest possible time, revenues need to exceed expenses. And that during this period you have reservations necessary to cross this moment.”
Then comes the most difficult decision: to abandon the comfort zone. “The third step is to have the courage to abandon your job or what you are doing to fall headline with all the energy and passion of the world.” This is how he himself started his trajectory.
Continues after advertising
Although the entrepreneurial journey is lonely and marked by emotional volatility, Benchimol stated that the clarity of purpose was essential to overcome the difficulties.
At first, he said, worked with semiannual goals, but today focuses on four to five years, supported by daily consistency and discipline.
He added that surrounding himself from the right people is critical:
Continues after advertising
“You need to have a team that complements you, acting with transparency, making decisions based on mathematical vision and always seeking the most likely and effective direction.”
Benchimol: discipline, balance and continuous learning
In the vision of the founder of XP, entrepreneurship also requires balance between personal and professional life. “The entrepreneur has to connect the ‘low fruits’ in time and have a minimally balanced life, with health, sport, good diet and preferably near the family.”
Its main source of learning came from the books of Jim Collins, especially Companies made to last (Built to Last), work that read several times. But he points out that curiosity and humility to learn on a daily basis, along with the team, are as important as formal study.
“This continuous learning turns out to be as relevant as gathering good information in good authors. It is the ability to quickly correct the routes that make a difference.”
Benchimol also highlighted the role of XP in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The institution operates not only in the management of companies, but also in supporting the fundraising via equity, debt and, through its manager, in funds of venture capital – in partnership with Romero Rodrigues’s headline.
Continues after advertising
POSSIBLE INSPIRATION AND PATHS
For those who are beginning, Benchimol stressed that undertaking is not necessarily inventing something from scratch.
“It can simply be tropicalizing an idea seen outside Brazil or perfecting something that already exists here, but finding a better way to do.”
He considers that being inspired by models already tested is a less risky path to the first steps in entrepreneurship. “You already have a reference, use someone like Benchmark and improve over the years.”
Nevertheless, he stressed that there is no ready formula. Each entrepreneur follows his own way, according to him, but discipline, consistency and courage follow as indispensable elements for those who want to build lasting businesses.
“To undertake is helping people, delighting customers and, especially, contributing to the country to have a more solid economy. This is the purpose that has always guided me,” concluded Benchimol.
