Martian Mode - Martian Mode
I am a multiple businessman. I have had the privilege of creating companies in all the mega regions of the world: India, China, Africa, Europe, USA, and now South America. Some of them have been successful, others not that much, but each start is a learning lesson.
One thing I love about startups is the fact that they start with an idea and they grow from that. My wife always says I like watching something grow from scratch. I love mentoring people and the next generation of businessmen. The experience I have acquired helps me influence the culture of my last startup P46. In P46, we want to revolutionize cash payments by making them more beneficial and convenient for consumers and retailers. We have a mission and we strongly believe that our culture and our people is what will make the difference to be successful.
Speaking of mission and culture, we have this saying called “Martian Mode.” If any of you have seen the movie “The Martian” with Matt Damon in the starring role, the start of anything is similar to what Matt Damon faced while he was in Mars. Well, I do not want to spoil the movie for those who have not seen it, but basically Matt Damon is stuck in Mars and struggles to survive. He has no time to feel sorry for himself, he can either give up or starting working.
As Matt Damon in “The Martian”, in P46, whether in business meetings, product rallies, presentations to raise funds, as issues turn more complex with multiple variables that affect a decision and an outcome, we always refer to this notion of “Martian Mode”. In short, it implies focusing on what can be controlled and solve one problem at a time; we can only solve one problem at a time.
One of our core cultural attributes is similar to the idea of Matt Damon stuck in Mars. You start with a mission, solving a huge problem of consumers that typically could result in the interruption of an industry. As the journey continues, you may let your brain mislead you as you start dealing with multiple forces at stake, such as the lack of resources, competition, and the factors that accumulate against you, or you can enter into the “Martian Mode”: focus on what you can control, do the math, and start working.
So I can promise to our community of users, retailers, customers and partners that we are using the “Martian Mode” to solve your problems. As Mark Watney, the Martian, said: “That's all it is. You simply begin. Do the math. Solve one problem. Then the next one, then the next. You solve enough problems and you get to come home.” This is one of the rules we follow each day to get closer to our mission, we want to make a difference because you are essential for us.