Translator: Clara Martos Reviewer: Trina Orsic
Our family business turns nine today.
A few months ago we did not expect this day to come.
2020 caught us off guard, just like everyone else.
We were suddenly living in a horror film.
Everything we had worked on and planned fell to pieces in a matter of days.
Like most of you, we thought: “This will surely be over in a month”.
However, the weeks kept passing by
and the situation only got worse.
Clients were not able to visit us due to driving restrictions.
As the borders were closed, the merchandise could not arrive.
With no clients or goods, there were no possible sales.
Even though we kept on checking,
the numbers just didn’t add up and everything got complicated.
The payroll, the rent, the banks.
Getting through the month seemed to be almost impossible to do.
This obviously hurt on a proffessional level.
It hurt my professional ego, but my heart hurt the most.
My mother founded our family business over 30 years ago, in our living room,
with us, her three daughters, when we were this little.
She made it work so well that her dream became ours as well.
A few years ago, I decided to give up my corporate career,
that successful and stable work project,
to jump into this boat.
It was her dream, my dream, my dad and my sister’s dream.
It was the dream of a big team; many people depended on it.
But now I wonder: “How did we manage to make it work?”
And I only found one explanation:
The purpose behind the purpose.
Just like in any business, our purpose was to generate certain yields.
However, the key difference lies in the purpose behind the purpose.
From day one of Hija de Tigre, (A tiger’s daughter)
we made sure to fight to inspire all women,
to empower them, remind them how amazing they are inside and out.
One example is that even in a global pandemic,
we created a platform for them, for us,
in collaboration with our friend Devi Nova.
I know that the pandemic made us pass through certain emotions
that did not make us feel great.
Fear, uncertainty, loneliness, sadness.
We simply thought: “We can’t just stand still and do nothing”.
That was the moment we started our project: Círculos 3:33.
A virtual platform that provides tools and inspiration
to every woman that decided to be a part of it.
We did this weekly through articles, videos,
information and tips.
We also had an online event
or several virtual tiny events called “círculos virutales”.
It was so special to see how in these circles
we were able to observe that in a single virtual space
both a woman from Guanacaste and another from Filipines are connected.
A space where we covered very relevant topics for us:
women’s health, hormonal health, breast cancer,
women’s entrepreneurship, feminism...
We witnessed how in the same circle
a woman of 17 years and one of 70
were able to share their experiences and feelings.
We are more than 1500 women and we are all different from each other.
But we do share one thing:
We know we are not alone and that we are in this together.
Whenever I pause for a moment
and I analyse what I have learnt this year, what I have lived,
I understand that living under the purpose behind the purpose
not only has affected my career, but also my personal life.
Since I’m analysing retrospectively
which were those moments in my life
when I have been most lost, with no direction,
and it was in the moments when I was the most disconnected
from my real purpose.
That is when I realise
that what matters the most is not what I do on a daily basis,
but why I do it.
I really think that, for me at least,
and I would dare to say, for my generation,
questioning our purpose today is more relevant than it has ever been.
This global pandemic has reminded us that nothing is under our control.
But that, at the same time, a little gesture or action
can change the course of a pandemic
and, why not, life itself.
Here today, in Costa Rica, in my life and as a consequence of the domino effect,
in everyone’s life, in that of the world, if we put it that way.
It has been a year where...
Well, yes, I do believe in this, but, at the same time,
even if I’m here today discussing a topic I’m passionate about, purpose,
it has been the year where, more than any other time in my life,
I have thought that I’m not doing things right,
that I’m not enough, that I’m not doing enough,
that I am not going to make it.
And it has really been those spaces where I was most broken,
where I have been vulnerable, where I have created a space
to talk to myself, look at myself in the mirror and say:
“Melissa, reconnect with the purpose behind your purpose”.
And that short moment, that pause, allows me to take a break
and say: “Ok, I’m on the right path”.
Do not misunderstand, I am beyond grateful
for everything that is going on in my life.
I am aware of all my blessings
and that my difficulties are not big compared to other people’s.
But I know that even if we are at a high point in our life,
or a low one, whether we are in a pandemic or not,
if we live by “the purpose behind the purpose”,
only good things will come into our life.
The world is shouting out for a change
and we are the ones responsible
to be the agents of change that are being requested.
And we will be able to do it succesfully
if we are connected to a genuine purpose.
I know today, more than ever before,
we need women and all people connected to a noble purpose.
With a purpose behind a purpose.