Meet Alberto Jaen

 

We recently connected with Alberto Jaen and have shared our conversation below.

Alberto, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I guess the opposite never helped me. Life taught me from a very young age that it is tough, of course… but compared to whose? Look around, not on Instagram, in real life, and see how fortunate you are. Many people choose to complain all day and be a victim, but you can’t be both a victim and responsible at the same time. If you choose victimhood, you give responsibility for your life to someone else or circumstances. And that takes away your power, and somehow to be an optimist is a kind of power we all have. We must always be grateful or at least think positively, because it’s the only way to endure tough moments. I believe that success in life generally lies in knowing how to handle frustration. I always try to remember that good times won’t last forever, and the same goes for bad times.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a writer originally from Madrid. I’ve lived in the US for over 14 years and have won 25+ international advertising awards. I also served on the Board of Voices For Children Foundation for 7 years. I won the Circular Economy Challenge of the UN in New York in 2020. In 2022, I won the ‘Talk About Heat Challenge’, organized by the WHITE HOUSE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. I hold a B.A. in Advertising & PR. In the last 2 years, I’m transitioning to entertainment industry as a writer too. I’ve been involved in several projects like the short film ‘LIGHTS UP’ (as a writer and Executive Producer), and the feature film ‘BECOMING VERA’ (as an Associate Producer).
I’m passionate about storytelling and social impact through powerful stories. I love raising awareness of current issues and advancing society through innovative thinking that breaks away from conventional views and conditioning. Whether through true or fictional narratives, my scripts aim to provoke thought and instigate change. I strive to inspire the industry to utilize storytelling as a tool for promoting greater social good. For me, there’s nothing more fulfilling than giving life to impactful ideas, as I firmly believe in the transformative power of stories to change both individuals and the world.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Probably the three skills that have helped me the most in my life, not just professionally, have been patience, resilience, and surrounding myself with good, talented, and generous people. Learning patience has been challenging; when you’re younger, you want everything quickly and don’t think about the process. Resilience might be more innate; I’ve never been the best at anything, but I have been good at enduring hardships to achieve my goals. Most importantly, people don’t get anywhere alone. I certainly wouldn’t be even halfway if it weren’t for so many people—friends, and family—who have helped and continue to help me, making me believe in myself even in the lowest moments.

My advice for young people, or anyone just starting, is to surround yourself with the right people. There comes a time in life when you have to close the door on what doesn’t serve you and find the best companions for the journey to your desired destination.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

There have been very tough moments. One was at 37 when a family issue unraveled my life in a matter of weeks. Others have been related to financial problems. In those moments, panic took over my reality; I didn’t understand anything, and that’s when I had to take my mental health very seriously. Stress affected me a lot at some point; I needed to learn to keep my harmony, and to control the dialogue with myself, to shift the narrative of what’s happening to a more positive one. I try to combat the feeling of being overwhelmed through meditation. Also working out, so my body can help relax my mind. I aim to go to the gym four times a week, even when I don’t feel like it or I’m tired. I also walk in the Canyon a couple of times a week. Experience teaches you that it’s important to anticipate stress and recognize it when it’s coming. You have to know that even when your mind tells you that you have the energy to keep going, you need to rest. I once read in an interview with a CEO of a bank in NY who said, “I can do my work in 10 months, not in 12.” It’s true: in the end, if we don’t rest or take breaks, we aren’t as productive or inspired, even if we think otherwise.

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