Many times we complicate our lives when it comes to finding answers, although it is also true that there are issues that are not easy to digest and encourage complications. He had been wanting to write an article for some time about the figure of the businessman from a reputational point of view, analyzing the reason for his bad reputation (yes, he took the latter for granted). The fact is that one starts looking for sources and the most palpable thing that can be found is that, in reality, the vast majority of Spaniards have a positive or very positive image of entrepreneurs, as confirmed by the Entrepreneur Valuation Barometer prepared by AVE. Given this situation, and returning to the initial reflection, the issue now is to find an answer to emerge successfully from this apparent contradiction between the data and the collective imagination, and it will also be simple.
Since I don’t want to complicate my life, I’m going to start directly with the final answer. Of course, I trust the numbers. How do these fit with the businessman’s bad reputation? Very simple, because, more than “bad fame”, what is widespread is “the perception of bad fame”. I reach this conclusion through explanations of different types. Some are more general, simply like bad things make more noise; and other more elaborate ones, such as the chic component that involves relating guilt in its different variants with the business concept. And this last point does require more explanation.
This argument was already running through my head naturally, but as I prepared to write this text, it has gained even more force. As with other articles, I have looked for official figures and data to rely on, in this case, to try to encrypt as much as possible the bad reputation that seems to surround the leader of a company. Far from fulfilling this objective, what I have found are arguments in favor of how chic it is to make visible a supposed bad reputation. I was especially struck by a news-argumentation focused on supporting an alleged bad image supported by no figures and “weighty” arguments such as that employers do not like their workers to enjoy the bridges.
I also don’t like to think that “they have won the game of the story.” Obviously, the situation is close to my heart, but I believe that all this does not go hand in hand. In fact, I have not talked about the entrepreneurial concept, with which I also feel very identified based on my experience, and in the eyes of society it seems to be much better viewed. What makes this difference? The truth is, I’m not very clear about it, and I’m convinced that anyone who assumes this contradiction isn’t either. And it is neither about avoiding self-criticism nor denying evidence. The lack of ethics in leaders of top multinationals has not helped in this entire process, but I remain convinced that we are talking about a minority, and that the social commitment of the businessman is on the rise. For my part, to lead by example so that this last phrase also ends up being chic and, above all, becomes more and more real.
