The geniuns of business or luck

By ALEXANDRE DONIZETE PENHA

Many people have dreams of achieving the long-awaited financial stability, for the Genie, or Humberto, it was no different. As a young man he made a challenge, to be able to set up his own business and not work for anyone else before he was forty.

This challenge was made much greater and complicated by the fact that he had a very poor family, an alcoholic father, and a drugged brother. With this, his focus on business increased, he dedicated himself a lot to studies, took advantage of all the opportunities offered, learned how to save and where to invest.

From ice cream maker to big businessman. All this trajectory had components of luck, competence, charisma, dedication, and vision for business. This made the main character always have doubts about his trajectory.

What really was he, the Genius of Business or Luck? Maybe the reader can better decipher this story?

• Language: English
• Publisher: ALEXANDRE DONIZETE PENHA
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224025114

ALEXANDRE DONIZETE PENHA

Discover the literary journey of Alexandre, author of 20 published books and 24 written books. Writing is a journey around the world without spending a dime, and he continues to explore the world of literature. Join him on this journey and discover new worlds through his words.

Book preview

ALEXANDER DONIZETE PENHA

THE GENIUS OF BUSINESS OR LUCK?

ISSUE 1 - JANUARY 2017.

SUMMARY

Chapter 1 — Childhood..................... 09

Chapter 2 — Ice Cream Maker...... 12

Chapter 3 — Second Job............... 15

Chapter 4 — Advertising agency.............. 20

Chapter 5 — Breakup with Brother.......... 25

Chapter 6 — Promotion......... 31

Chapter 7 — Vision for Business............... 39

Chapter 8 — Porto Alegre............... 45

Chapter 9 — Explosive Friendship.................. 68

Chapter 10 — United States..................... 85

Chapter 11 — Asia............... 112

Chapter 12 — United States/Europe............ 129

Chapter 13 — Happy Sad Year............... 201

Chapter 14 — Small Decisions.................... 225

Chapter 15 — Dreams and Accomplishments................ 249

Chapter 16 — End of Hours........................... 303

SYNOPSIS

Many people have dreams of achieving the long-awaited financial stability, for the Genie, or Humberto, it was no different. As a young man he made a challenge, to be able to set up his own business and not work for anyone else before he was forty.

This challenge was made much greater and complicated by the fact that he had a very poor family, an alcoholic father and a drugged brother. With this, his focus on business increased, he dedicated himself a lot to studies, took advantage of all the opportunities offered, learned how to save and where to invest.

From ice cream maker to big businessman. All this trajectory had components of luck, competence, charisma, dedication and vision for business. This made the main character always have doubts about his trajectory.

What really was he, the Genius of Business or Luck? Maybe the reader can better decipher this story?

AUTHOR GUIDANCE

The characters and incidents described in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to specific individuals and events was not intended by the author. The same goes for places

The words in italics mean, figures of speech, slang, profanity or the way the characters speak.

CHAPTER 1 – CHILDHOOD

A relatively small family, Humberto had only one brother, Roberto, younger one year old, his mother, Rose and his father, Joaquim, lost their parents early and therefore, the children did not have time to live with their grandparents. Rose and Joaquim came from the interior of São Paulo, city of Piracicaba, in the late sixties, trying a better life in the big city, Joaquim got a job in a metallurgical company and Rose in a fabric factory.

With the birth of Humberto, Rose had to stop working, a year later came Roberto, with two small children, the dream of returning to work was disappearing. A life suffered, Joaquim did not have a good salary, the costs were high, especially with the rent, they moved several times of house, until they found a cheaper rent. 

Even so, Joaquim worked as a mason on the weekends and Rose sold snacks. There was hardly any money left, so since they were little, Humberto and Roberto got used to that difficult life, asked for toys, money to buy some food, snacks, snacks and always heard from their parents that they had no money.

Humberto was always shy, since his brother was completely different, always gave behavioral problems, Humberto pulled his father's side, light brunette and black hair, Roberto pulled his mother's side, it was lighter, smaller than his brother ten centimeters and stronger physically.

Rose and Joachim, always worried about their younger brother's attitudes; Humberto was quiet, but always liked to make jokes and make fun of others, but always controlled by his shyness.

Rose and Joaquim comment on the son, the mother said:

- One day, when Humberto loses his shyness, he can be a good comedian, or he will disrupt everyone's life.

- I hope Roberto gets some of Humberto's shyness, otherwise it will be difficult to control him.

Although brothers, they were never so close, they had totally different habits, friendships too.  Humberto liked quieter games, Roberto liked to play ball and fly a kite, although agitated, did not like to do heavy work, especially help in the house.

Humberto noticed that his father, Joaquim, clearly had a preference for his younger brother, Rose treated them both equally, had a redoubled attention with Roberto, for the personality and the work he caused, they had to always keep an eye on him. This did not bother Humberto in the slightest, what made him sad or nervous the most, was the mania that Roberto had for competition, he wanted to be better than his brother in everything. If he took a scolding, his brother had to take it too.

One day, Roberto fought in the street and was beaten by two boys, came home, full of blood, but did not shed a tear, had a very strong genius.  His mother wanted to know what he had done, after he told what happened, he took another beating from his mother, rushed into the room and watched Humberto watching television. He asked:

- What did you do this time?

- Shut up, that's none of your business.

- Then you're going to cry over there.

At that moment, Roberto went behind his brother, punched him hard in the nose, who fell to the ground, crying and with a lot of blood coming out of his nose. Immediately Rose grabbed Roberto by the collar and began to give another spanking. Then he went to help Humberto, who stopped crying and soon the blood also stopped coming out of his nose. Rose told her son that when Joachim arrived, she would tell him everything. In the evening, Rose talked seriously with Joaquim in front of the two brothers, the father only said that it was a joke between brothers and that it was for Humberto to stop these frills. This made the older brother angry.

After that, he decided not to talk to his brother anymore, but even with this distance between the two, the fights did not end. Humberto had a birthday to go Saturday night, was anxious and could not wait for the party to come. Before taking a shower, his mother asked him to go to the bakery to buy bread and cold cuts, at which time, Roberto went to the bedroom and put on his brother's clothes and went to the street.

When he arrived, he took a shower went to the bedroom and did not find his only clothes to go out, he asked his mother, who responded by saying that he passed and left on top of his bed. The two searched the entire room and came to the conclusion that Roberto had picked it up. He had no other clothes, ran out into the street after his brother, went everywhere he used to stay, but didn't find him.

That day was a disaster for him, to miss a birthday and just the girl he liked, not to mention the foods he rarely had a chance to eat. His anger for his brother tripled after he learned from his friend Vareta that his brother went to the party in his clothes and stayed with Deborah, the girl he liked, and even said that Humberto did not like this type of party.

After that, the mood between the brothers was extremely shaken. There were still two more fights, the first was when Humberto told the whole truth to Deborah, she was furious and rejected Roberto, who liked her too, but because of his brother, competitiveness for him was everything.

With Deborah's contempt, Roberto went with everything to his brother, this time things were very different, Humberto reacted to the height and, this time, it was Roberto who took the worst. Soon, Humberto was beaten by his father, who said he did not want retaliation or revenge between the brothers. The second fight was worse, the next day, Roberto began to laugh at his brother for the beating his father had given him and still said that he had never been beaten by his father, because he liked him better. Humberto lost his mind and again quarreled with his brother.

The punishment for the two of them was heavy, they couldn't go out on the street for anything, they had to help with household chores and just go out to school. This heavy mood among the brethren remained for a long time. 

Chapter 2 

ICE CREAM MAKER

––––––––

With many financial difficulties, only the father worked and did not earn very well and still spent a good part on drinks, with this, Humberto had to start working, at sixteen he began to sell ice cream. He went out every day with a Styrofoam box full of popsicles, he had to go through several neighborhoods to be able to sell everything, gradually he managed to get customers who bought his ice cream every day.

I made this trip from Monday to Friday, I made good money, I was really enjoying this routine, I made friends with customers, who began to consume more popsicles. One day he decided to leave with two Styrofoam boxes full of ice cream, it was exhausting, a very strong sun at noon and two heavy boxes on his shoulders.

Even so, he loved going that route and selling all the ice cream. On a very hot Wednesday, he went out to sell the popsicles, making the same journey, after leaving a mechanical workshop, stopped to meet three young people, delivered the ice cream and asked for the money, the boys laughed, the strongest took a stiletto from his pocket and asked for the money, Humberto delivered what little he had.

One of the young men said:

- Hand over all the money, otherwise it will be worse.

- I just have this, I've started selling the ice creams now, the box is full.

The thieves looked at the box and kicked it hard, grabbed the two boxes, knocked all the ice cream on the floor and started stepping on the popsicles and Humberto. Until an old man appeared shouting for the thieves to stop attacking, it was God who put that gentleman there, Humberto would not endure so much violence.

Mr. Agenor lifted him up and took him with difficulty to his house, which was nearby, arriving there, his wife, Mrs. Maura was extremely worried about the situation and went to the kitchen to get the box of medicines and bandages. She said if it was not better to take him to the Emergency Room, but Humberto did not want to.

After making the dressings, Mr. Agenor took his car and took it to the ice cream shop, the boy wanted to warn the owner that he was robbed, needed to account for the ice cream. When he arrived at the ice cream shop, everyone was frightened by his situation, to his sadness and revolt, the owner of the ice cream shop asked:

- Are you okay?

He answered yes, then Rodolfo asked about the money and the Styrofoam boxes.

- I was robbed, your Rodolfo, they beat me and took everything I had, look at my state.

- I understand what happened, but I'm not to blame for this, you'll have to pay for the ice cream and the two Styrofoam boxes.

Agenor was disgusted and said:

Don't you have a heart? Look at the boy's situation.

"I'm a businessman and I'm not to blame for what happened. Friends, friends, business aside.

Humberto began to cry; then Agenor asked:

How much does he owe you?

He did the math and Mr. Agenor made a check at the counter. Humberto yelled at the owner of the ice cream shop, saying that he would never sell an ice cream to him again, arriving at his house, he thanked Mr. Agenor for everything and said that in a week he would pay the amount of the check, Mr. Agenor did not want to accept, saying that he did all that from the heart, but he insisted, saying that he would pay anyway. When he entered the kitchen, his Mother looked at him in terror and said:

- What was that? Who did this to you?

He told the whole story, from the violence of the robbers, of Mr. Agenor and Mrs. Maura, to the ice cream shop. She told him never to work with Mr. Rodolfo again and that next week she would start looking for a job for him in some companies. He didn't leave the house for a week, because of the pain he felt and the shame of the bruises that were left on his face and body.

After a week, he asked for a sum of money for his Mother to pay His Agenor, she took a sum that was saved and gave it to her son. He went to Mr. Agenor's house to return the money, it was a very nice visit, Agenor and Maura were very happy to see Humberto well, they offered a coffee, followed by a cornmeal cake.

He was very moved by the sympathy and generosity of the couple, said that he would always return there, because from that date, they would be like grandparents to him. This was said by the couple.

He went back to school, to his sadness, he recognized one of the boys who assaulted him, he did not study in the same school, but he stayed every day at the entrance of the school, it was a craze of the staff, to arrive before the signal hit and to keep talking until it was time to enter.

Humberto arrived in the nick of time and entered with the students, afraid that this boy would do something against him. And so it was for several months, until the end of the year.

Chapter 3

SECOND JOB

––––––––

Finally, at the age of seventeen, Humberto gets his first job with a formal contract, earning minimum wage and working as an Office Boy. He had many difficulties at first, due to his immense shyness, he was ashamed to ask where the streets were that he needed to deliver the mail.  With that, it took longer to get the job done. A month later, he received his first payment. He, very cheerful, joked:

- What will I do with so much money?

He never stopped making a joke, even if it was with himself. I loved looking at the stores that sold branded surfing clothes, a fever in the 80s and 90s. He entered the store and asked the price of several shirts, analyzed and bought the cheapest one, even so, he was so happy that he came home, took a shower and put the shirt on without passing, went to the street to show his friends that he had managed to buy a branded shirt.

His payment was to buy the shirt and there was only change left for the day to day. His shyness was diminishing, as a popsicle seller helped a little, but he began to overcome this trauma, working on the street, every day he had to go to notary offices, banks, forums and all possible places. With this he got to know the City of São Paulo with the palms of his hands.

He had an extremely heavy routine, worked as an Office Boy, quit his job, had to use two drives to get to his house, just showered and ran to school at night. On Saturdays he got a scholarship to take an English course.

He continued in this routine, after eight months of working, studying and taking courses, he began to think about giving up doing English or school. He didn't like to study very much, although he was easy to learn. On a sunny Sunday he decided to go out after lunch, started doing the same thing when he sold ice cream, went through the machine shop and then decided to pay a visit to his grandparents Agenor and Maura. The doorbell rang and soon Agenor appeared with a big smile on his face.

- My boy, how long.

- My dear voice . Sorry for the absence, I'm in a mad rush.

Agenor opened the gate and gave him a strong hug.

- Looks like you guessed, we're celebrating my grandson's birthday, it's been a year.

He greeted everyone and finally gave Maura a tight hug. As he liked parties, no matter if it was a child's party, an adult's party or a simple meeting, in the late afternoon the party was ending, the guests were leaving, leaving only Humberto, Agenor and Maura, who wanted to know how the life of the grandson was from the heart; He said he was working, studying, taking an English course and then vented, saying:

- I'm thinking of quitting studying or the English course.

- I don't do that, my son, never stop studying, see?

"I'm studying and working hard and I never have money for anything.

Agenor advised him saying:

— Continue in your studies and try to get another job where you can earn a little better and with a perspective of evolution. I will check with my son Arnaldo if he can get anything for you, he works as a sales representative, knows many people and many companies. But do you promise us that you won't abandon your studies?

He promptly said yes.

It was already night when he left his grandparents' house from the heart. He left there extremely happy for the attention and concern that Agenor and Maura had for him, very different from his father, who spoke little to his children, even to Roberto. Humberto began to think about the possibility of leaving that job, he was already a year and three months old, had a good knowledge and experience on the streets.

On a rainy Monday, he arrived at work and soon received several services to do on the street, all in the center of the city of São Paulo, the worst of all were the notaries and the forum of Praça João Mendes.

It was already past thirteen o'clock and he still hadn't had lunch, he decided to stop at a cafeteria and ordered an X-Tudo, he had walked a lot and was very hungry, while waiting, he began to pay attention to the conversation of two executives who were sitting at the next table, an executive was saying that he was not taking that job anymore,  that he was going to ask to hang up.

The other said:

- Hold on a little longer, the best way to get a job is to be employed, you start looking for a job at lunchtime, send resume, if you can't, at least you're employed.

He had that phrase in his head: The best way to get a job is to be employed. He ate his snack and went to the forum João Mendes, after almost two hours managed to finish another task, took the bus and went to the top of Mooca, got off at Avenida Paes de Barros, before arriving at the company, looked at a sign saying: You need ACCOUNTANT, OFFICE BOY. He laughed and said:

- Is it a coincidence? Is it fate? Is it luck?

He thought better and came to the conclusion that it was none of them, he who kept running to do his tasks and did not notice the things that were there, right in front of him. He did not think twice, he pressed the doorbell and went to check the vacancy, half an hour later he left a little disappointed with what he heard, the salary was the same as what he earned, but he had no food stamps and it was much further away than his job. And he still works on Saturdays part-time. He went back to work with all the services done.

At least that rainy, busy and tiring day kept him on his toes, so that in the next outings, he could calmly look at some job vacancy, better than his own.

Months passed and nothing to find a job, I was about to complete two years in the same role and with no prospect of promotion. He arrived at his house, extremely discouraged, his mother soon noticed and went to talk to the son, he vented everything to the Mother. They always talked and got along very well.

"I have two good news for you, Mr. Ari wants to talk to you and Mr. Agenor as well.

That day, he did not go to school, went straight to the house of Lord Ari, who had a stall and sold pastries at fairs, he invited Humberto to work with him, the salary was a little better than he received, but he worked Saturdays and Sundays. He asked one day to think, left there and went straight to Mr. Agenor's house, had good news, Agenor's son found a vacancy of OFFICE BOY, in the company where his friend works, it was an Advertising Agency and the salary much better than he received.

He thanked him very much and went home, happy. The other day, he called the company and talked to Danilo, friend of Arnaldo, son of Agenor, he told him to go to the agency the same day not to lose the vacancy. He was on duty, waiting for the bosses to release some work, hoped it was near Avenida Paulista, where the advertising agency was, to his misfortune, received two services in the city center, thought well and decided to go first on Avenida Paulista, do the interview.

Arriving at the agency sought Danilo, who passed all the tips for him to do the interview. After forty minutes the Human Resources manager said that she liked the resume, the interview and that she would send it to the last conversation with Danilo, who asked almost no questions, just said:

- Your Agenor spoke very highly of you, so I don't need any more references, you're hired.

He worked out the details and then screamed down Paulista Avenue. As soon as the euphoria ended, he went downtown, he still had two services to do. By the end of the afternoon, he arrived at the service, it had really taken a long time, so his boss said:

- Did you leave to do two services in the center and come back only now? I had two more urgent deliveries to make and I had to go to the companies myself.

- Unforeseen things happen.

His boss, at the same time, said:

"Unemployment also happens, tomorrow you don't have to come to work anymore, you're fired.

- Okay.

He wanted to cheer at that news, he was going to get it all and he still didn't have to give notice. When he arrived at his home, the family was all gathered.

- I have two great news! The first is that I was sent away.

Soon his father looked on with some anger, wanting to scold. He continued with a wide smile.

- The second, is that I managed to get a much better job, in an advertising agency that is on Avenida Paulista, there, for sure, I will have chances to evolve. The meal voucher is almost double what I have. 

His mother, Rose, gave him a hug, his father wished him luck and judgment. His brother, Roberto, congratulated him, saying:

- If there's a few food stamps left, you can give it to me.

Roberto was out of work, because he did not want to be working as a helper in the woodworking shop that was in the street below where they lived, Humberto then thought of helping his brother, even though he did not have a good relationship with him.

- Mr. Ari offered me a job, working with him making and selling pastries, I can talk to him to give you this vacancy, what do you think?

Immediately the brother said:

- I'm not going to be at a market selling pastries.

- I'll give him an answer tomorrow, anything let me know, I'll try to arrange for you there.

Later, Joachim called Roberto into the room.

- You'd better take this job until you get something better, you know my salary can't support this house right.

"If you drank less in these pubs, there would be more money left here at home.

Joachim slapped his son across the face. Rose listened in the kitchen, came to see what happened, when Roberto, without letting out a tear, said:

- The father does not like to hear the truth, I said that if he drank less in the pubs, there would be more money left at home. He didn't like it and slapped me.

Joachim went again on top of his son.

Rose stepped in front of him and said:

- To that end, Roberto is right, you can't imagine what I do to keep this house.

Humberto just watched the whole discussion from the room. Roberto left the confusion and went to his brother, said he accepted the job of pastry salesman. Humberto happy said?

- Good. Tomorrow I will not work, we can talk to Lord Ari.

Friday morning, the brothers went to the house of Lord Ari, after talking a lot, Roberto got the job. It would start the other day, Saturday biggest movement of the week. On the same day, Humberto received an invitation from Mr. Agenor for a barbecue, celebrating Humberto's new job, including the presence of Danilo, his future boss. Lord Agenor did this already to bring Humberto and Danilo closer. The party was a lot of fun, Agenor liked it and knew how to make a barbecue like no one else. By the end, everyone was already high from the many drinks, Agenor called the two of them and said excitedly:

"I have you as children and I would love for you to get along, helping each other at work.

- I'll do my best not to disappoint you.

- Let's get along fine. - Danilo said.

The many beers helped with the praise and comments.

Chapter 4 

ADVERTISING AGENCY

––––––––

Monday, the first day of work for him was difficult, he only knew Danilo, a completely different environment from his other job, people talked a lot, even shouted, but it was a very cheerful and outgoing environment, everyone joked and made fun of each other.

Early in the morning, Danilo showed the entire Agency to him, introduced it to the other employees, then entered the room of the owner of the Agency.

"You can disobey anyone in the agency but this man, the owner. - He laughed.

- I'll always remember that. 

Silvano welcomed and said:

- Whatever you need to talk to us, this company is a family where everyone helps each other.

These sentences gave him confidence and made him less tense. Danilo led him to his desk and began to want to know more about him.

- Are you studying? Do you take any courses? I want to know more about you.

"I'm studying, doing my senior year of high school, and I do English on Saturdays.

- Good, it seems to be hardworking, let's see if your English is good.

He was a little awkward, after a few conversations, Danilo asked which English school he studied, he said it was a school near his home.

"You need to study in a better school, you've been studying for a while and you've learned little. Here, in this building, there is a very well-regarded school, which is our partner and client. The employees have fifty percent discount, you can take classes every day, we have an hour and a half of lunch, if you can eat in half an hour, there is an hour left for the course, if you delay a little there is no problem, we know it is for a good reason, here at the agency we all help each other,  As our boss said, we are a family.

He accepted on the spot, said he would do everything to give back, took all the directions and went downstairs and made the registration in the course, would start only next month with the filling of a new class, because it was in the middle of the month of August.

After four days of working at the agency, the employees were amazed at how quickly he did the services, in reality, the other employee who was fired is that he rolled up a lot to do the tasks, was caught many times playing arcade, video games and even sleeping in the Trianon Masp. He did his jobs fast, liked to go back to the agency soon to watch the staff work. The weather was very nice, a lot of noise, a lot of laughs, but the work paid off.

Arrived Friday afternoon, closing the workday, the staff of the agency scheduled for that day a happy hour, almost everyone went, He loved this type of meeting, but that day had important proof at school. His mouth watered, but decided to go to take the test. The days were intense for him, work and then school at night.

Finally came the first of September, would start his English classes in the new school, was even busier, even so, he was happy, his English classes were very good and dynamic, he was learning fast, on Saturdays had the mornings free, with the new English school, canceled classes in the old school.

He managed to get good grades in the penultimate two months, leaving the last one more relaxed so that he could finish high school. Although he did not like to study, his job gave a lot of motivation, he talked to the staff and everyone said they were finishing college, others who were starting graduate school, he wanted to finish high school to start college.

At the end of the year, he managed to finish the course, his mother was happy, even cried, saying:

"Thank God, you managed to finish high school, now you're in a great job, doing English, I think I've already referred my son to life. In compensation, Roberto was disapproved and I received two complaints from Mr. Ari, saying that he is treating customers with paws and making soft body, just did not send him away out of consideration for us.

Really, Rose was worried about her youngest son, who was drinking heavily, and some friends who didn't seem like good company.  On Sunday, Rose asked Humberto to see what his brother did after playing ball, because she was suspicious.

He agreed and said:

- Okay, Mom. I'll go there in a little while to see what he's up to.

He went to the football field, stared at his brother from afar, after the game, Roberto went to the locker room, took a shower went straight to the bar next to the field, almost all the players gathered in that bar, to celebrate the victory or lament the defeat. After several beers, he saw his brother leave the bar with a guy and they went to a soccer court that was behind the field, there he saw his brother smoking marijuana with the other guy, he left there and went home, before arriving to find on the street his friend, Vareta.

- Hey, Genius (it was as Vareta called Humberto, because he liked the drawing of Shazzan and Dini el Gênio  very much), why are you sad? You're the nicest guy  on the street.

"I went to see my brother play ball and then I saw him with a guy, smoking weed.

- Do you know too?

So you already knew and didn't tell me anything?

I don't want any more confusion with your brother, remember when I told you that he went to Deborah's party in his clothes and still kissed her? Then he beat me up for telling him.

He agreed with his friend and said he wasn't going to get him into trouble again. He was very fond of Vareta, he liked him more than his brother. He came home and didn't think twice, he told his mother everything, he was nervous about his brother's attitude.

She wasn't surprised, she said she was noticing her son, different attitudes. Rose told him to leave when his brother arrived, she was going to have a very serious conversation