I recently realized that I haven’t written anything in 10 months. That’s a long time. I wish I had more time, there’s so much to write about. But now it’s time to start again. I’m going to resume writing at regular intervals, as consistently as I can manage.
So, with that, I want to share how I feel about 2016 and tell you about a recent visit to my grandmother. Whenever I’m in Istanbul on a Sunday, I try to visit her. This past weekend, though, she came to my place for dinner with my aunts. It was a pleasant evening—we talked about the old days, and especially about my grandfather. This past November, we also commemorated the 10th anniversary of his passing with his close friends. My next post will be about him.
Life is short, and it’s truly important that we spend more time with the people we love. After my parents divorced, my grandmother practically became a mother to me. That’s why every minute I spend with her—this incredible woman with a heart of gold—is so precious to me.
My grandmother and I at our house
While we‘re all dining together
As always, she asked me about how work was going, how the rest of the family was doing, and about my personal life.
For the first time, I told her, “2016 is going to be a special year for me. I’m experiencing breakthroughs—in a good way—across the board. This year, I’ll start seeing the results of all the hard work I’ve put in over the years.” I gave her an example: after three years of effort, we had just launched the first in a series of 50 MW solar and wind energy projects in Konya, and I told her there would be more to follow.
The picture we took with the project team on the site of the Konya Kulu project
Konya Kulu project 3D visual
These were some of the best news she had ever heard from me. I added that ever since I left the family business to start my own venture, I’ve been determined to bring her good news. She was truly happy, bless her. Over the past five years or so, my grandmother and the rest of the family have witnessed just how much I’ve poured myself into creating something meaningful on my own—working day and night, sacrificing everything else. Still, they’ve only seen a small part of the full story. I plan to invite her and the rest of the family to my office soon, so they can see more closely what I’ve been working on.
There, they’ll see more clearly that—through EkoRE—we are not only advancing renewable energy projects and investing in technology, but also that through the Basic Needs Association (TİDER), of which I’m the founding president, we’re helping people in need to stand on their own two feet. My main motivation behind all of this is not just to carry out successful projects, but to contribute to the sustainable development and advancement of humanity through our investments in both people and technology. I’m making a serious effort to protect nature and make the world a more livable place. I know I’m still at the beginning of the journey. I’m in the prime of my life, and I’m fully confident that, with all my knowledge, experience, and vision, I’ll go on to accomplish many more important things. I know that these efforts and initiatives will impact thousands of people in 2016—and millions, even billions, in the long run.
And I’m trying to do all this in a place like Türkiye. Sadly, I’ve gotten used to people here being more inclined to hinder than to help, constantly throwing up obstacles, focusing on the negative, and trying to demoralize you. Even though the general structure of the country and people’s mindsets often challenge me, I’ve made it a point to push forward through it all. Instead of getting stuck on problems, I tackle them head-on with a solution-oriented mindset and keep moving forward. If, in doing so, I’ve unintentionally hurt anyone or been misunderstood, I ask for their forgiveness. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my friends and supporters who try to understand me and value what I do. As I have in the past, I’ll continue to do everything I can for them and for the people of this beautiful country.
I also want to thank my teammates. I know everyone is pitching in tremendously, and I’m watching closely. Our managers and team members are all putting in extraordinary effort. I have full faith and confidence that, shoulder to shoulder, we’ll overcome challenges and achieve great things—creating a true success story not only for Türkiye but on a global scale.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my 15 years in business in Türkiye, it’s that while many things here are difficult, nothing is impossible. No matter the circumstances, I’ve never thought about giving up. Even when I’ve lost things along the way, I’ve always tried to keep sight of the bigger picture. And that’s how I intend to continue.
Of course, as I do all this, I try not to forget to enjoy life too. Knowing that I’ll be better understood in the future makes it easier to overcome the challenges and obstacles I face today. I look forward to sharing the joy of important and lasting achievements with everyone who contributed and with those I endear.
Good news is just around the corner…
Tag: family
