Hablemos, Tele

By: Tele Figueroa

April 28, 2026

There is a maxim we often forget: “Loving yourself is the key to success.” We
tend to think of success as something external, but the reality is that investing in
yourself is the only strategy that guarantees lifelong returns, transforming both
your personal and professional life.

The Risk of Living Other People’s Dreams

We spend decades helping others build their empires. At work, we give our all to
maximize profitability and achieve sustainable growth for third parties. That
was the commitment we accepted, and fulfilling it is noble, but the error arises
when that dedication makes us forget our own goals.
Sometimes, clarity only arrives with retirement. We look back and discover that
we lived for the company, neglecting what truly mattered:
Family: Those moments with children and partners that never return.
Health: We traded well-being for the immediacy of poor nutrition, ending
up with a body that demands…through pain and medication…the years of
neglect.
It is ironic: you helped the company succeed, but you sank in the process. You
were a work addict who ended up depending on painkillers and fragile health.

An Unavoidable Commitment

Not investing in oneself, not dreaming, and neglecting health should be
considered a serious fault, especially when that neglect drags down our family.
The most painful part of this scenario is that, in most cases, we knew how to fix
it and simply didn’t. We had control, but we chose to ignore it.

The “Mazinger Effect”: Giving Your All vs. Going for the
Win
I remember a story I used to tell in my talks to new employees that illustrates
this perfectly. Mazinger Z, the robot that always won, once faced an opponent in
a friendly fight and, to everyone’s surprise, lost.
Worried, Mazinger asked his mentor: “Where did I fail? I was strong and I tried
all my attack methods.”
The mentor replied with a striking truth: “That is exactly where you failed. You
came to try, but he came to do. You gave your 100%, but he gave his 101%. Your
effort meter read 100%, but his read 101%. He came to realize his dream of
beating the best, trusting fully in his skills. He didn’t try his luck; he came to
succeed.”
This lesson applies to our health, our finances, and our family life. The one who
“tries” leaves a crack open for excuses; the one who “does” closes the door and
commits to the result.

Moral: From Intention to Action

Life is not about “trying.” The word try is often a disguise for inaction. What
transforms reality is doing.
Plan: Don’t leave your retirement or your health to chance.
Invest: Time, effort, and will in your growth.
Act: If you have a plan, execute it. Be proactive.
Do not blame circumstances or others for the gaps in your present. You have the
knowledge and the capacity. It is your dreams and your goals that are at stake.
Invest in yourself today; I assure you it is the only way to finish the journey as a
true winner.

Article translation for personal blog – 2026