Ecuador 3.0

Ecuador 3.0 continues…

I am continuing this series with (once again) something strikingly simple…water. This time it’s the hot springs at Papallacta.

Located 3 300 meters above sea level in the Ecuadorian Andes, the hot springs and thermal baths found a mere 1 hour drive from the capital city of Quito are both a delight and an opportunity for rejuvenation.

There are many hostal and hotel options as well as pools open to the public. A quick search will bring up these options as well as the famous Termas de Papallacta (official site here).

Soak up the amazing properties of thermal waters coming hot from the neighboring volcano.

– EMC

Photo courtesy Trip Advisor.

Ecuador 3.0

I have spent the last ten years in Ecuador. I though it was about time to start highlighting some of the beautiful discoveries I have made in these years living and working in Ecuador. I’m calling this series Ecuador 3.0 to reflect the Marketing 3.0 idea created by Kotler – that brands need to connect, engage and live in tandem with the wants/needs/desires/values of customer. Ecuador 3.0 is born!

I thought I would start this series with something strikingly simple…water. Guitig natural sparkling water is an amazing product. Their story here. Their official website here.

Guitig recently paired up with some talented local designers to create unique bottle designs. More info here (in Spanish).

Drink it in!

– EMC

El contexto sí importa

Previa a la visita del Papa Francisco a Ecuador hubo una explosión de comunicación de palabras, frases e ideas atribuidas al pontífice. Muchas de ellas eran hermosas expresiones de la necesidad de unión, de vivir con alegría, de evangelizar y vivir su fe, de tener vidas coherentes y valientes.

Una buena cita encapsula una idea o un pensamiento y de una forma particularmente esclarecedor. Da a lector o al público, la libertad de imaginar la masa real debajo de la superficie de las palabras como un iceberg. Invita al lector de pensar, contemplar y aplicar esta idea en su vida profesional o personal.

Es justamente esta invitación a la contemplación de palabras que a veces nos hace falta cuando se trata de frases o palabras fuera de contexto. Las palabras hermosas se quedan como palabras hermosas o nos conducen hace pensamientos o ideas equivocadas si no se los entienden dentro de su contexto.El arte de la comunicación es alinear las palabras con contexto para inducir acciones concretas hacia una meta.

Características de nuestro mundo social y físico inmediato – las calles donde caminamos, las personas que encontramos, las palabras que escuchamos – juegan un papel muy importante en la conformación de lo que somos y cómo actuamos.

El contexto sí importa. Con la visita del Papa Francisco y los mensajes que compartió con América Latina y el mundo, no hay que olvidar el contexto de su comunicación. El lenguaje y las palabras no solo describen el mundo pero tiene la capacidad de crear mundos; las palabras conllevan mucho poder.

– EMC

Visual Business Inspiration

This tree house has a swing that’s 2660 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains. Located in Baños de Agua Santa, Province of Tungurahua, Ecuador.

Quito wins the travel “oscar”

Quito was just named South America’s Leading Destination 2013 by the World Travel Awards. These awards are like the Oscars of the travel industry and so it’s quite an honor to living in – and promoting doing business in – Quito, Ecuador.

Quito is the recipient of quite a few awards such as Lonely Planet’s top 10 destinations, a National Geographic Traveler “must see” and The New York Times “1 000 places to see before you die”.

Congratulations to Quito!

5 Ways to Improve Living (in Quito)

It’s a beautiful evening in Quito, Ecuador. The sun is slowly sinking behind the Andes mountain range and the sky is a fabulous blue color – a color which has inspired so many artists, poets and writers from this part of the world.

As I reflect back on 8+ years of living in Ecuador and the challenges, adversities and triumphs of doing business (and living) in the “middle of the world” I came up with this short list of ways to help you enjoy living in Quito. I think there are parts of each item on this list which are applicable to other places where you may be living. Enjoy!

1) Breathe – at 2800 m above sea level you want to take an extra breath now and then; pausing to catch ones breath (literally and metaphorically speaking) is a sign of intelligence whether in business meetings or when taking a walk in Quito’s historic old town.

2) Plant a garden – whether you live in an apartment or have a large garden in the valleys surrounding Quito, plant some flowers and herbs – you will be amazed at what the powerful Quito sun does to your little garden in less than two weeks! In the office, why not buy a dozen Ecuadorian roses that cost $3 at your local supermarket (cheaper if you negotiate with the corner flower seller!)?

3) Talk to your taxi driver – ask them questions and get their point of view on things. Obviously, I stay away from giving them too much personal info but I enjoy hearing what they think about politics, business, traffic, the weather; plus I usually make a friend by the time it comes to pay the fare.

4) Lose your fear – fear stops us from doing things and I firmly believe that fear attracts those things we fear the most; to put it more clearly, and for those who know me well, a dog smells fear. Be cautious but be strong in life and business (more on this in a later post).

5) Say Thank You – it is amazing how many people take for granted the people doing the “little” jobs. Thanking people for the big and small things they help you with makes them happy … and will make you happy. Who doesn’t like to be thanked or recognized? More and more research shows that non-monetary recognition is what is truly valued by most employees.

I would love to hear your tips – wherever you may be living!