About me
Writing about yourself is never easy. It's even more difficult when you realize that millions of people may read and comment about what you write. But, I thought this would be an important project, especially for my daughter who is presently five years old. I dedicate these pages to her and to my parents who still play a critical role in getting me to always move forward. Please realize that this is work in progress. Just as my life is still evolving, so too will these pages evolve over time.
At my core, I am a very simple person. I am an only child who has been blessed with parents who were married for 52 years. My father passed away in 2006 at the age of 82. A great man and a gentleman from an era that has long gone where agreements were made and honored through a mere handshake. My mother, is presently still alive and plays an important role in pushing me to always view any circumstance as a container filled with invaluable lessons. She's always been a key believer in maintaining a positive mind, which I try to pass along every day to my friends, family and professional relationships.
I grew up in the Dutch Caribbean. It's a great place to raise children. I often say that multiculturalism was invented in there where individuals from over 32 cultures live. I obtained my college-level education in the United States where I've lived for most of my life. I have travelled all across the world and have worked in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Canada and other places. There is no perfect nation. However, for me the U.S. is the greatest country on earth. We are far from perfect, however from my perspective, America provides the greatest opportunities for advancements, fairness and equality.
My intuition is probably my greatest guide, even though my thinking is based on logical reasoning and analytics. Probably a result of my academic background. I take measurable risks that yield measurable results. My direct reports, superiors, family and friends typically point out that I excel in dynamic environments while remaining pragmatic. I am a very direct. Some say I am too direct - still working on that. Integrity is a big deal for me and so is trust. I don't do well with people who like mental chess games or work in shadows. Frankly I think it's a great waste of time and shows a great lack of intellectual capacity.
Innovation is key to our future. I've devoted my entire life to the field of technology and have no regrets. I encourage everyone to be as innovative as possible. But be prepared for some people to tell you that you’re crazy. However, I encourage you not to change your vision of the future or what it is you want to achieve just because someone doesn't quite see things your way and more often than not, can't comprehend your views. Make a concerted effort to explain yourself but then move forward.
Be prepared to take risks - taking chances will define you at your very core and is most rewarding. That doesn't mean you take foolish risks. But have the courage to take risks, knowing full well that some will yield great results, while others might end up being not such great ideas. Keep working, keep striving, never give up always push forward be consistent. Have dreams, but set defined goals to achieve those dreams — if not, life will disappoint you. Realize, in the process that we cannot take anything with us and that for as far as we know, we live this life but once.
To quote Bill Gates, it's fine to celebrate our successes but it's more important to heed the lessons of failure. The real challenge of personal growth, be it mental, emotional or spiritual lies not with our successes but how we stand up when we get knocked down. Adversity introduces us to ourselves. How we handle difficulty is what defines us - that is where the real personal growth takes place and that is where our real character shows.
We plan our lives every day. We live to a certain order — strive to continuously raise the bar on your personal standards. Think and act out of the box, within reason of course. But embrace spontaneity. It's liberating!
These pages provide my perspectives on a number of topics. I don't expect you to agree with these. But they are born out of my own experiences and lets call it 'roads less travelled'. I hope you enjoy this site and that it provides value to your own personal journey.
Anthony DeLima