Miriam Marquesan and Leandro Lamor
Barcelona (EFE).- Considered one of the most influential leadership experts of the 21st century and with more than a million followers on Instagram, Robin Sharma is clear: less time on social networks and less worry about what they say on them of you because “your value does not depend on how others look at you”.
In an interview with EFE during his recent visit to Barcelona to sign books on Sant Jordi, the author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” or “The 5 in the Morning Club” -almost a religion for millions of people who follow his self-actualization guidelines-believes that we can all develop a shield against criticism.
Prophet of the principle of “believe in yourself and do not pay attention to those who underestimate you”, asked about cases of depression, especially in adolescents, due to rejection on social networks, he affirms that you have to spend less time on them “and help them to understand that your worth and value does not depend on how others look at you.
“It hurts all of us to be insulted or criticized on the networks, but you have to help young people and adults to develop a little armor so that, if they criticize you, they don’t break your heart. There are tools like meditation and others to fight against insecurity and that is what gives value and meaning to your life”, she affirms.
For Sharma, the most creative people have been those who have received the most criticism at some point in their lives: “Most saw them as weird and it is not usual for someone who is outside the herd to feel absolutely comfortable in their skin despite The critics. But all visionaries have had this ability.”
He says it in his latest book: “Manifesto for the heroes of every day”: “Taking yourself too seriously guarantees that nobody takes you seriously” and quotes John Lennon for when you are down: “In the end everything will be fine. If you’re not okay, it’s not the end.”
Being bored is key to creativity
It seems like a paradox, but the man who has gotten millions of people of all ages and professions to get up at 5 in the morning to exercise, meditate and write a journal turns out to be a staunch defender of the right to boredom.
“Boredom is absolutely key to creativity. Very often it is precisely when we are bored, in the process of daydreaming, when the best ideas arrive”, says Sharma, trainer and “guru” of millionaires, politicians, rock stars and global companies such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Starbucks or Microsoft.
But do we all have the willpower to get up at five in the morning?: “I think so. It’s a matter of neuroplasticity. Our brain can build and grow with experience. It is about acquiring new habits within everyone’s reach. But sometimes we don’t put in enough time for the habit to become the new normal,” she says.
Free Leaders
She always cites her parents and her fifth-grade teacher as the people who most influenced her life: “My father and mother were special heroes in my life and only had the title of parents. And there is Nelson Mandela, his power came from his humanity, from his desire to serve others, and that does not come on a business card.
“We can all be heroes of our life”, says Sharma, “from the teacher who is able to help someone to the waiter who serves coffee and does it with optimism and excellence”. And he finishes it off by remembering the name of the person who made the coffee next to him.
The pandemic has changed us all
“It may seem like a generality, but we have all been changed by the pandemic. The pandemic has shown us that the world can change in one day, that what you want should not be postponed. It has also taught us how fantastic it can be to always be at home, with the family, and to live more fully” she assures.
In his opinion, the pain and suffering suffered by the pandemic, as well as an adverse event such as illness, financial bankruptcy or divorce “awakens us and can help us to be better people. It can open us to the world of reflection, of self-help and it can make us wiser, stronger and kinder”.
The law of reciprocity
Sharma, born in Toronto (Canada) and currently residing in Italy, is a firm believer in Karma, an energy or cosmic law that means that what we do in this life has a counterpart in what we receive and speaks of the ‘Third reward’: “Giving a gift and expecting something in return is not a gift, but an exchange”.
For this reason, he advocates the purpose of serving others: “If you do good for a person, a client or whoever, if you do it conscientiously, you are not only giving away, but you are giving yourself away. And that’s the idea. If you expect something in return, the gift becomes impure.”
And when asked if he has been impressed by the personality of any Spanish leader or businessman, he does not hesitate to quote the founder of Zara, Amancio Ortega.
“I read somewhere that when his company went public, he was in the cafeteria with his employees. I don’t know him personally, but I have read that he is someone with his feet very much on the ground and I think that he is the best leader, the one who maintains a degree of humility, the one who treats his employees better. Because arrogant leaders are the ones who turn their businesses into obsolete businesses, ”he says.
AI: Tech titans say “slow down”
Asked about the impact of Artificial Intelligence, he shows off his humility when he acknowledges that he does not know enough about the subject, but says that “the great titans of technology are saying “stop it”.
“Personally, I believe in technology added to humanity and if it is managed correctly it can help us move forward,” reflects Sharma, who will shortly deliver his new book to his publisher, of which he advances that “it is much more focused on the values of today, to this post-pandemic world.”
And what remains of that lawyer whose life changed in 1996 when he published “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”, whose protagonist, Julian Mantle, was precisely a lawyer who made an inspirational journey of inner discovery to India after suffering a heart attack?
“In a year I will be sixty and I hope and trust that Mantle will keep me with the key knowledge of what is important in life: family, personal growth, being a kind person, trying to work better and better and, in that sense, have a good life”, he assures after an interview in which the prophet of productivity has never looked at his watch.