Have you ever had a moment where you just stopped and questioned everything you thought was normal? Maybe it was something as simple as wondering why maps are always shown with north at the top, or as complex as challenging the very purpose of your job. This is how Pete Dulcamara, former Chief Scientist at Kimberly-Clark, approaches life—by questioning assumptions. And let me tell you, during my interview with him on Never Been Promoted, it wasn’t just his upside-down map that made me rethink things—it was his entire philosophy on work, innovation, and living a life of purpose.
As an entrepreneur, I often get caught up in the grind, focusing on goals, growth, and the next big thing. But Pete’s perspective made me realize that true innovation doesn’t come from just chasing the next paycheck—it comes from aligning your life’s work with a purpose that serves humanity.
This conversation really hit home for me, and I think there are lessons here that every entrepreneur needs to hear. Let’s break down the two biggest takeaways from our chat.
You Don’t Work for Them—They Work for You
When I asked Pete about his transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, I expected the usual story: long career, disillusionment, burn-out, then breaking free. But that wasn’t the case at all. Pete never saw himself as just another employee at Kimberly-Clark or Dow Chemical. Instead, he flipped the script.
“I never thought of myself as an employee,” Pete explained. “I always thought Kimberly-Clark worked for me.”
That mindset is something most of us don’t have when we’re employed. We tend to think we’re at the mercy of our employers, but Pete saw it differently. He viewed these massive corporations as tools to accomplish his personal mission: creating businesses that improve people’s lives. And he leveraged the resources of these companies to do just that.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Mindset Matters: Shift your perspective. You are not just an employee; you’re the architect of your career and your life. Think about how your job serves your mission.
- Leverage Resources: Pete didn’t have the resources to change the world on his own, but he used the infrastructure of huge companies to execute his vision. What tools or networks can you tap into?
- Purpose Drives Performance: His focus was never just on the job—it was on a bigger purpose. When you align your work with a personal mission, your job becomes more than just a paycheck.
Procrastination is the Silent Killer
It doesn’t matter if you’re the most motivated person in the world—procrastination can still creep in. Even Pete, with all his accomplishments, admitted that procrastination has been one of his biggest challenges since leaving corporate life.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is just waiting to do things. Procrastination is a killer,” he confessed.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We know what we need to do, but we put it off. Pete’s approach to overcoming this hit home for me—he calls it adding “a pebble to your mountain every day.” In other words, progress doesn’t have to be monumental every day. Just keep moving forward, one small step at a time.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Set Small, Achievable Goals: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the big picture, focus on adding a small piece to the puzzle each day. Progress is still progress, no matter how small.
- Overcome Perfectionism: Perfection is the enemy of progress. Pete reminded me that chasing perfection often leads to procrastination. Do your best with what you have and keep moving forward.
- Create a Routine: Whether it’s writing a book or running a business, success often comes down to discipline. Create a schedule that helps you consistently add those pebbles to your mountain.
Reflections from the Interview
Listening to Pete’s story reminded me that entrepreneurship isn’t about escaping the 9-to-5—it’s about having a purpose and executing it with everything you’ve got.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Your Mission is Bigger than You: Pete’s personal mission to “create businesses that improve people’s lives” drove every decision he made, from his corporate roles to starting his own business. That’s a powerful guiding force.
- Relationships Are the New Currency: Pete highlighted that the relationships he built over 35 years have been invaluable. He didn’t foster these connections for personal gain but focused on helping others succeed, which has come back to benefit him tenfold.
- Purpose Over Profit: We all need to make a living, but Pete’s approach showed me that if you focus on solving real problems for humanity, profit will follow.
- Human-Centric Innovation is the Future: Pete introduced me to the concept of “humanity-centric innovation,” where business models and technologies align to meet the needs of people and the planet. It’s a reminder that business can (and should) be a force for good.
- Procrastination Can Kill Your Dreams: If there’s one entrepreneurial lesson I’m walking away with, it’s this: don’t let procrastination hold you back. Every day, add another pebble to your mountain.
Final Thoughts
Talking with Pete gave me a lot to think about—especially when it comes to purpose and how we view our roles, whether as employees or entrepreneurs. What really resonated with me was how Pete never let his job define him. Instead, he used his job to fulfill a greater mission, and that’s something we can all learn from.
If you’re an entrepreneur, or even if you’re still working for someone else, I challenge you to flip the script. What if you started seeing your company as a tool for achieving your mission? What if, instead of feeling stuck, you focused on how your job or business can serve the greater good?
Dive deeper into Pete Dulcamara’s story and learn more about humanity-centric innovation! Check out the full episode on Never Been Promoted: What TEDx Speaker Pete Dulcamara Can Teach You About Innovation
CONNECT WITH PETE DULCAMARA:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-dulcamara/
Website: https://petedulcamara.com/