Entrepreneurial Efforts for Transforming Society

During the last two years, the ADEC awards of distinction have fallen on two Schoenstatt entrepreneurs

Pedro Peyrat, empresario premiado Pedro Peyrat Pedro Peyrat, “Unternehmer des Jahres” 2007
Graciano (Yoni) Pereira con su familia Graciano (Yoni) Pereira with his family Graciano (Yoni) Pereira mit seiner Familie Foto: Tuparenda © 2008

PARAGUAY, esf. ADEC (Association for Christian Entrepreneurs) is an organization of entrepreneurs who, inspired by Christian values, promotes the personal transformation of the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial culture of excellence, and the social responsibility and strengthening of civil society.

ADEC believes that public acknowledgement, promotion and propagation of these examples are indicators of the meaning and direction of these entrepreneurial efforts for a true transformation of our society. Therefore, each year it grants the most important distinction of the country to companies and entrepreneurs who stand out because of their success, their efficiency, their honesty, and their social responsibility.

During the last two years, the awards of distinction have fallen on two Schoenstatt entrepreneurs: for ENTREPRENEUR of 2006, the distinction was awarded to Graciano (Yoni) Pereira AND IN 2007, IT WENT TO Pedro Peyrat.

We wanted to interview them to learn more about this professional achievement and following are the answers they offered:

Pedro Peyrat:

What does having received the ADEC award mean to you?

R: It is a joy for me and it "makes me happy" to receive an award because it is something different, but it is also a commitment which obligates one to continue in the same line. I did not receive many awards in my life, but this does not mean that life has not rewarded me, and it has a great deal.

How do you share this award with your employees and how did they receive it?

R: One of the awards which life has given me is the persons who accompanied me and accompany me in the work place. Together we created a company where one of the most important activities is having "our own entrepreneurial culture" based on the seriousness of our relationships and in the prestige which aids being a referral source in the local and international pharmaceutical market. I believe the employees received it with joy and were proud of belonging to the company.

Is the Schoenstatt Pedagogy reflected in your work and in this award?

R: The Schoenstatt pedagogy has been in my life for 30 years, in all aspects: personal, family, work and social.

This award is indicative of the formation which I received from my family, my temperament, and the thinking of Father Kentenich. I think other people should speak about this.

To receive an award is a moment of joy. Were there sacrifices?

R: For me to speak about sacrifices is a bit much, but that does not mean that it was easy. I think it would be better to say that a great deal of effort was put into it.

Which tools did you use for achieving this award?

R: Some of the tools were: constancy, tenacity, seriousness when facing labor relationships (with the employees) and commercial relationships (with the clients) and in addition to that, Practical Faith in Divine Providence.

What would be your message to the entrepreneurs?

R: That they should work to formalize the companies in all aspects since it becomes more and more evident that one can only keep working with serious companies. Do the ordinary extraordinarily well.

Graciano (Yoni) Pereira:

What does it mean to you to have received the ADEC award?

To be an entrepreneur in this country is a great challenge, and if you add to that--- be a Christian entrepreneur---it becomes more than a challenge, a commitment. In addition to it being a great honor for me and my family, it is a great honor for my group of collaborators without whose constant support it would not have been possible for me to received such an important award.

How do you share this award with your employees and how did they react to it?

Each one of them is a very important part, and together we form the motor which moves the great machinery which are our COMPANIES. They felt they were participants and co-responsible for this great reward.

Is Schoenstatt’s pedagogy reflected in your work and in this award?

Fifteen or more years ago, along with my wife, I had the good fortune of coming into the Schoenstatt Movement. From that point on, my commitment was strengthened, not only to my small family but with everyone I am involved with in employment activities. Witnessing joyfully is my great passion; LABOR CHALLENGES ARE NOTHING.

To receive an award is a time of joy. Were there sacrifices?

There is a phrase I like, but I do not know who wrote it. I saw it for the first time on the back of a taxi-van. It read ‘MANY SEE MY PROGRESS, FEW SEE MY SACRIFICE." This phrase resembles my daily activity. Sacrifices and self-denials, as we would say, mean traveling at whatever hour, eating and sleeping wherever, not being close to my family as I would like, and in addition, fulfilling my Schoenstatt activities (group meetings, conferences, retreats, etc.). Often I fulfilled these after arriving tired and spent from a trip. However, I made every effort to always attend what I could because this is the strength which motivates my action.

Which were the tools you used so that the company could reach this award?

There were several factors among which I could mention: perseverance, risk, firmness and always surrounding myself with efficient people and without scrimping any effort to reach advanced professional training.

What advice would you give to new entrepreneurs?

The same advice I give to my children who work with me: love your work, work with honesty and humility and do not distance yourself from your family or from God.

 Source: Tuparenda, magazine of the Schoenstatt Family in Paraguay

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 090308