In a world that often glorifies overnight success and picture-perfect achievements, Alejandro Betancourt offers a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to build a resilient life. As the Founder and President of ALMA Capital, an author, and a single father of twins, Betancourt navigates the complex intersection of entrepreneurship and parenthood with remarkable insight and authenticity.
The Duality of Strength
“The journey of entrepreneurship mirrors the journey of parenthood in many ways,” Betancourt shares in his Substack publication “Beyond Two Cents.” Both require an unwavering commitment through uncertainty, the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and the courage to make difficult decisions without a guaranteed outcome.
What makes Betancourt’s philosophy of resilience particularly compelling is his understanding of its dual nature. True resilience isn’t just about persevering through hardship—though that’s certainly part of it. It’s equally about embracing vulnerability and recognizing when to seek support.
In “The Group I Didn’t Want Changed Me,” Betancourt candidly describes his initial resistance to group therapy. “I’m private—think, ‘Don’t ask me about my day unless you’re my bf’ private,” he writes. Yet it was precisely this willingness to step beyond his comfort zone that led to meaningful growth. His journey illustrates that resilience often requires us to challenge our own preconceptions about strength.
Reframing Challenges as Teachers
Central to Alejandro Betancourt’s philosophy is the practice of reframing life’s difficulties as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to success. This perspective is evident in his approach to both business ventures and parenting.
“I realized I wasn’t waiting for anything—not for someone to come home, not for my ‘real’ life to begin, not for some future version of happiness to arrive,” he writes in “Table for Three: Finding Joy in the Space Between.” This profound observation captures Betancourt’s ability to find completeness within life’s challenging moments rather than postponing fulfillment until challenges pass.
When discussing entrepreneurship, Betancourt emphasizes that setbacks are not just inevitable but instructive. Each business challenge provides valuable data and insights that would be impossible to acquire otherwise. Similarly, in parenting his twins, he views difficult moments not as failures but as opportunities to model resilience and authentic problem-solving.
The Courage to Pivot
Perhaps one of the most valuable lessons from Alejandro Betancourt’s journey is the importance of strategic pivoting. As he notes in “The Dreaded F-Word We All Try to Avoid: Failure,” the ability to adjust course without abandoning core values is essential to long-term resilience.
“The first is that failure is permanent. In truth, failure is a temporary setback, not an identity,” he writes. This distinction has guided Betancourt through various professional iterations—from founding luxury brands like WineCarer to his more recent venture addressing the global water crisis through innovative technology.
This same adaptability serves him as a single father. Rather than trying to replicate traditional family structures, Betancourt has created a unique family dynamic with his twins, one that honors their specific needs and circumstances. “The twins and I have built something that doesn’t fit neatly into society’s flowchart,” he acknowledges in his writing. “It’s messy, loud, and sometimes complicated, but it’s real.”
Related: 6 Reasons Why Having a Wellness Coach is Beneficial to You
Building a Resilience Practice
Alejandro Betancourt’s approach to resilience isn’t just philosophical—it’s practical. Throughout his writings, he offers concrete strategies for developing greater emotional and mental fortitude:
- Embrace discomfort as growth: In “Soaked and Smirking: Why I Stopped Dodging the Rain,” he describes standing in a downpour and finding unexpected joy instead of frustration. This metaphor captures his belief that embracing life’s inevitable discomforts builds capacity for bigger challenges.
- Maintain perspective: “What if this isn’t the enemy? What if it’s just… life, showing up in full Technicolor, complete with the sweaty extras?” he asks. This practice of zooming out to see the bigger picture prevents being overwhelmed by immediate difficulties.
- Cultivate authentic connection: Despite his naturally private tendencies, Betancourt recognizes that meaningful relationships provide both support during difficult times and purpose through sharing our journeys with others.
- Practice self-acceptance: Rather than striving for perfection, Betancourt advocates accepting both strengths and limitations. This foundation of self-compassion prevents resilience from morphing into harmful perfectionism.
The Ongoing Journey
What makes Alejandro Betancourt’s perspective particularly valuable is his honesty about the ongoing nature of developing resilience. He doesn’t position himself as having “arrived” at some pinnacle of unshakable strength. Instead, he openly shares his continuing evolution.
“I’m a work in progress,” he admits in “Soaked and Smirking.” “I’ll probably curse the next heatwave or stubbed toe. But those moments when I don’t? When I let the humidity hug me, the ache sing, the rain soak? They’re small wins—proof I’m not just surviving life’s chaos but tasting it.”
This acknowledgment that resilience is not a destination but a continuous practice offers hope and realistic guidance for others navigating their own complex journeys between entrepreneurship, parenthood, and personal growth.
A Philosophy for Uncertain Times
In an era marked by unprecedented change and uncertainty, Betancourt’s philosophy of resilience offers valuable wisdom. By embracing both strength and vulnerability, reframing challenges as teachers, developing the courage to pivot strategically, and building practical resilience habits, we can navigate our most demanding roles with greater wisdom and authenticity.
As Alejandro Betancourt reminds us, the goal isn’t to eliminate life’s storms but to learn to dance in the rain—sometimes soaked, sometimes smirking, but always fully engaged in the messy, beautiful experience of living courageously.
