"When you look at any investment, any business, never look at how much you can gain. Look at how much you are willing to lose." This phrase summarizes how businessman Rogerio Chor built his career in the real estate market.
In an interview with Bravamente , a program hosted by big wave surfer Carlos Burle in partnership with NeoFeed , the founder of TGB Imóveis explained that he learned early on that returns are seductive, but it is losses that destroy assets and, sometimes, even reputations.
At the heart of this philosophy is the courage to say no: to business deals, to excesses, and even to opportunities that seemed irresistible. Therefore, he believes that security, risk, and profitability must always be balanced when undertaking a venture, especially in Brazil, where excessive leverage often takes its toll.
For Chor, saying no often means giving up potential gains to preserve what has already been built. Since it's not always possible to avoid mistakes, the entrepreneur recognizes the importance of taking responsibility, understanding the numbers, accepting losses, and moving forward without shifting blame.
"Don't fool yourself. Did something go wrong? Understand why it went wrong. Don't blame others. When you blame others, you lose the will to fix it," he stated.
For those just starting out, the advice is straightforward. Chor believes that to succeed, you need to focus on a single idea that makes money.
In his view, insisting on turning a passion into a livelihood, without it being financially sustainable, usually generates frustration and can even compromise the enjoyment of the activity itself. "Do what makes money. If it doesn't make money, do it as a hobby, not as a profession," he advised.
Throughout the conversation, Chor also showed that his view of business risk extends to how he organizes his own life. Despite the intensity of his work, he has imposed clear limits on his routine: he avoids commitments after 7 pm and preserves weekends to be present at home. By saying no to overwork, he says yes to family.
"I believe that life has to be a balance between fitness, exercise, health, work, family, happiness, and leisure," she said.
This is where the sport takes on a deeper meaning in the conversation: Chor became close to Burle by encouraging his son's dream of surfing big waves under the guidance of one of the biggest names in big wave surfing.
For the businessman, sport teaches discipline, emotional control and, above all, respect for limits, characteristics that are also fundamental in entrepreneurship.
