Success is associated with paradigms and standards that don’t necessarily conform to the expectations that all people possess. Slim is a successful man who will remain a symbol for new generations.
Some may think that a person’s wealth is defined by how much one has, how much one earns, the clothes one wears and the way one lives. We now know this is not at all true. That is to say, we now know that this is not an absolute certainty. Slim does not associate success with money. He has a rare sense of social value, not only in his business leadership, but also in his human sensitivity. Of his secret to success Slim said, “I believe that success is not economical. I think that viewing success from a material point of view is not accurate, [...] I think for me, success is the family I was born in, grew up in, my marriage, my children, my grandchildren, my friends.”
For Slim, success is not only succeeding in business. For him, the word success means values and principles, which do not always bring good and favorable results in business.
Some personal development experts caution that success has its secrets. For example, successful men have a certain quality of persuasion and security in public speaking. They are organized in their thoughts and this is reflected clearly in the act of speech writing; they are organized and productive, innovative and creative; they have critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate information; they are good listeners and know how to make decisions and answer questions quickly and efficiently; they have the ability to make accurate estimates and work with a mind for numbers, to read and use this knowledge productively and efficiently; they are relaxed and face problems with wit; they know how to hug a child and how to track and record expenses and revenues that are vital not to survive, but rather to thrive.
The Slim genetics for businesses attracts a spotlight on him. Every day, from many parts of the world, he takes requests for interviews from the most influential publications and even the more frivolous ones. The tabloids search for whatever pretext they can to put him on their covers. The Spanish social commentary and entertainment magazine Semana attributed a supposed romance with the Queen of Jordan Noor al-Hussein (whose birth name is Lisa Halaby). The publication made claims that the widow of King Hussein and the Mexican tycoon were in a relationship, but Slim took care of the rumor. “We are just friends,” he asserted.
The truth is that Slim is seen as one of the entrepreneurs with the most sex appeal. Dr. William M. Brown and a group of British experts in developmental psychology from the University of Brunel argue that sex appeal is not a matter of chance nor is it based on fashion. The characteristics of sex appeal have to do with a person’s genetic potential, the symmetry of his personality. It is known that symmetrical faces are more attractive, but corporal symmetry is a fundamental added value for sex appeal. For men, that symmetry should include a large torso, good shoulders, small chest, strong legs and an acceptable height. In the case of female sex appeal: long legs, chest of considerable size, small shoulders and a proportioned waist to hip ratio.
Entrepreneur magazine was given the task of exploring Slim’s personality. Reporter Doris Gómora consulted a group of specialists to try to decode the “enigma” of Slim.
Being an entrepreneur is to live one step ahead of the majority. But when does an entrepreneur become an influence for other entrepreneurs?
A group of experts in the fields of small- and mediumsized enterprises and entrepreneurial talent talked about exemplary entrepreneurial personalities and what characteristics make them successful. Here are their answers.
Leadership and Vision
Francisco Martínez, coordinator of the program Entrepreneurs of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, considers Slim an example of a successful entrepreneur.
“I think the most important thing is recognizing the needs of society and we can discuss any of his companies,” Martínez said. “In addition, he is one of the few that brings seed capital to create start-ups or reactivate bankrupt firms.”
But according to Martínez, what makes Slim different?
“He is an analytical leader and above all he is always ready for change, so in that way, if anything should come up or affect any of his companies, he is ready to take the necessary measures.”
Discretion
Miguel Torruco, a hotelier in Mexico City, said, “Slim is a successful entrepreneur because he is a person who has a unique vision for business, he knows how to buy and sell. Additionally, he is discreet and unostentatious, personal qualities not very common nowadays.”
For Erika G. Bello, from the School of Business at the University of the Americas (UDLA), Slim is also the most outstanding Mexican entrepreneur today.
“He has the necessary personality traits to continue succeeding: leadership, charisma, creativity and safety,” she said.
Innovative
“Slim is the prototype of a successful entrepreneur,” said Imanol Belausteguigoitia, director of the Center for Development of the Family Company, from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM).
“Slim has five characteristics that meet the definition of an entrepreneur: proactive, risk-taker, innovative, competitive and adaptable; he is flexible,” he said. “He anticipates events or problems. He takes calculated risks, breaking with paradigms. Finally, he is an aggressive competitor; it would seem that for Slim, competition is incentive.”
Successful men
Angélica Arreola, Director of the Center for Assessment of Human Resources of the Technology Institute of Superior Studies of Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico City campus, said that for her, the most emblematic of the country’s entrepreneurs are Lorenzo Zambrano, Cemex’s president, and Carlos Slim, president of Grupo Carso.
Why did she choose them? Zambrano and Slim are two entrepreneurs who have shown that big business can thrive in Mexico.
“Innovative people are breaking paradigms, they have the capacity for innovation and a strategic vision of future business, which is vital to the development and expansion the business,” she said.
The magazine Quién analyzed the personality that Slim projects. Under the title “The face of the Billionaire,” the publication gave the following outline of the image of the engineer:
Power, money and knowledge are the traits that stand out in tycoon Slim Helú and this is identified through his drooping eyelids and his small eyes, reflecting that, from childhood, much has been demanded of him.
Here are some of the conclusions reached by the psychographic researchers Alma Leticia Márquez and Martha Patricia González when analyzing the facial features of the entrepreneur.
Rectangular face, straight hair and prominent features: these traits are characteristic of analytical people with a taste for mathematics and who are result-oriented. The prominent features reflect that he spends much energy on long-term situations.
Small and widely spaced eyes indicate analytical skills and reflect an open mind. He is a good strategist who likes to multi-task, taking on many projects at once.
A drooping upper eyelid reflects expectations that are self-demanding and demanding of others.
Bags under the eyes: these signs on the face express exhaustion and excessive stress.
Discrete lips indicate an aggression in achieving objectives.
A broad nose indicates that he has great ability to concentrate. His nostrils are barely visible, which means he knows money management.
Attached earlobes: they are stuck, this means he listens, has great ability to put ideas into practice, he likes to make things work well.
A prominent chin indicates that he often exercises a strong influence on others and is an ambitious person. It speaks of leadership, of his constant victories, and that he often reaches his goals.
His handwriting has also attracted the interest of the media. Usually, the engineer handwrites his speeches and lectures. He is obsessive about even the smallest spelling errors, reviewing them again and again. Though it is rare to see corrections, this does not mean he doesn’t make last-minute changes. Furthermore, the texts he reads to the public are on paper with a letterhead of his name.
Under the title of Slim, with the power of his signature, Expansion editors also asked: What personality traits does the employer emit when he signs his signature?
The president of the Psychografology Society of Mexico Victor Piá Arreguín said the analysis of the writing of the employer concluded that his lines show signs of a nervous temperament and a hardiness, which speaks primarily of his drive, dynamism and result-orientation.
In an article by reporter Gisela Vázquez, a handwriting expert, she rises to the task of analyzing Slim’s handwriting. Here are some of the highlights that were discovered through his handwriting:
The angularity of some parts of his writing indicates that he may act directly and assertively, saying things as they are or as he feels.
“We can see that his personal life is more relaxed than his professional life, where he can be more rash and domineering.” His strokes are very similar to those of the artist Pablo Picasso. These strokes occur in people who are creative, resourceful and able to read the current situation.
Inclined and slanted writing reflects dynamism, energy, and self-improvement. This person denotes ability to interact with others and express their views to others.
He signs his full name. What you see is what you get. He doesn’t take on a different attitude when it comes to his desires and interests.
He writes his letter “S” with angularity on the bottom. This reflects the gift of command, assertiveness, and organization in every one of their activities. The ascending letter “S” reflects a person who has many ideas, is creative, inventive and self-improving.
His spaced writing can be seen in those taking time to think, giving space for his ideas and projects.
A signature that ends with a period, such as Slim’s, is seen in those who tend to impose their point of view.
A down-sloped writing style may be due to any situation that causes nostalgia or a decrease in energy management. Here it is important to consider whether a situation here and now, or there and then.
Accents on the “I” that are high are also seen in people who like to dream, innovate, anticipate events, and especially in people who have the intellectual ability of strategic planning.
Letters “C” and “S” are elevated which is seen uniquely in people who want to stand out from the crowd.
Plato is best known for his philosophical work. However, his influence on mathematics is quite considerable. He thought it was impossible to study philosophy without the knowledge of mathematics. Perhaps this is the reason why his famous and significant phrase is placed at the entrance of academies: “Let no one ignorant of geometry enter.” This and other propositions like “numbers rule the world” show us that he was directly influenced by the Pythagorean theory.
“Numbers speak to me, they dance,” Slim said when asked about his fondness for accounts. His addiction to mathematics led him to opt for studying engineering and economics.
Fans of numerology argue that this “is a science or a set of laws verifiable and repeatable, which aims to study the entire human being.” As its name indicates, numbers and numerical calculations are used for the analysis of name and birth date, from the point of view of their psychological behavior and the most significant events of his life. The result is in a way similar to astrology’s ability to divine past events, present and individual futures, as well as certain inclinations that one will inevitably meet throughout his life.
Thoth, or Hermes Trismegistus, is considered the father of numerology. The Greeks called him the “God of Wisdom.”
Numerologists ponder the teachings of Pythagoras, the numerical Kabbalah and Christian symbolism of the Middle Ages, and even exalt the Arabs and Celts who studied the power of numbers and considered it as “reflection of the divine.”
The following is Slim’s Numerology chart, which explains his strengths and the predominant traits of his character.
