Nelson says that his motivation was to write a free and open story that would serve as a legacy for his next generations – Photo: Gladstone Campos / Especial RF
Entrepreneur Nelson Sirotsky's passion for communication is intertwined with his education, with his family, with his victorious business career and is present in his book the eighth day, of personal and professional memories, released in 2018 by the Primeira Pessoa label, by Sextante. The work is the result of some of the individual characteristics most valued by the entrepreneur: intuition, planning and discipline. And it arose from an inner need, after Nelson had faced some remarkable episodes in his personal and professional life.
Nelson is the son of the founder of Grupo RBS, Maurício Sirotsky, and worked for the company for more than 45 years, 21 years of which as president. Today, he is a shareholder and publisher of RBS and is also dedicated to Maromar, an investment holding company that participates in businesses with high growth potential and positive impact on society. With the gratification gained from the launch, Nelson suggests to anyone thinking of writing a book: “Seek your motivation. And when you find her, go after your dreams, even with all the difficulties. A book is hard, difficult work, which requires planning on the one hand and execution discipline on the other, in addition to time”, he shares in an exclusive report for Reputation Feed.
“A legacy for generations to come”
Each one builds his story within his perspective, his truth, says Nelson, on the eve of his 70th birthday: “I wanted to write a free story, an open story, a story with transparency, that would really serve as a legacy for my next generations. And maybe that was a wise decision, in my way, because it was free throughout the writing process. The moment the idea took shape, when it became something concrete, I decided to face the challenge of exposing myself with the truths that I had written, of what I had built throughout my life and that would be shared with eventual readers. “
Illustrations in the book were photographed by Celso Chittolina, at Nelson's residence, in Porto Alegre, as (1) the key to the safe that belonged to Maurício Sirotsky Sobrinho and (2) the wooden puppet of an orthodox rabbi, in the foreground (in the background, detail of the painting Tree of Life, by Siron Franco). (3) Nelson's cane collection is also featured, as is (4) the domino game that belonged to José Sirotsky, Nelson's grandfather
“That it would be interesting for the readers”
During the creative process, what surprised Nelson most was the level of emotion. “When I decided to write my story, I wanted it to be true. But I wanted, in my mind, it to be interesting for readers. In my professional activity, I have always been concerned with the public.”
Nelson's concern was not whether readers would like it or not, but that it would be enjoyable to read. “In this process, before calling anyone, I read a lot, thinking about who would be best suited to turn what I had already written into a biography. My requirement was that he was from Rio Grande do Sul, that he knew a little about the history of my family, a little about the history of our company, a little about our reality in Rio Grande do Sul and Porto Alegre. It was then that we decided to call Letícia Wierzchowski and propose to her the challenge not of rewriting it, but of transforming it into a biographical story, of interest to readers.”
After making his records and realizing his ideas, Nelson invited Letícia to produce the biography together – Photo: Carin Mandelli
Nelson at one of the three popular book launch sessions held in São Paulo, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis – Photo: Vini Dalla Rosa
“It did me a lot of good and made me great as a person”
The result, according to Nelson, is evaluated from three moments. One has to do with the period in which he wrote his story, alone. Another, with the time when he produced the text, in a joint work with Letícia. And, the third, with the moment when the book reached the public. “As a result of the launch, there was a reaction from readers, which was often positive and often negative. No problem with that. It was really cool that I got both positive and negative reviews related to the book. That did me a lot of good and made me great as a person.”
Clovis Malta is a journalist
clovis.malta@ankreputation.com.br
