Mario Piccini reflects on the link between tradition and the future, recalling his father’s 18th birthday toast as a symbol of responsibility and growth. He emphasizes that the future should not be passively waited for, but built day by day through constant improvement. Raffaele Tovazzi quotes Eric Hoffer to praise his openness to continuous learning.
A: You know Mario, there is one great quality I recognize in you: the ease with which you can travel along the timeline, between the past and imagining the future. This reminds us that Piccini before being a brand is above all a dynasty. So I ask you, how strong is the weight of this tradition and how much does it help you imagine the future so clearly?
M: A beautiful memory of me and my father comes to mind, which I think makes the point very well. It was my 18th birthday. My father summoned me to his study and, handing me a glass of wine, said, “Let’s have a toast, so that this moment may be the beginning of your journey into the future. A journey in which you will always carry with you, and to others, the family name.”
He thinks that to this day I still feel the weight of that pat on the back and that confidence with which he invested me. Living in the future, after all, means always trying to change something in the present. If you think about it, no matter how distant the future may seem, in order for tomorrow to be today it is enough to do nothing. We can simply wait for it with our arms folded, as when you are waiting for the bus. But in doing so, the future runs over us and catches us unprepared. Therefore, I try to constantly improve myself, giving myself the strength and equipping myself with the most appropriate means to face tomorrow with the right temper and determination. It is always a matter of perspective. Living in the future does not mean having a crystal ball, or always having the truth in your pocket, already packaged. On the contrary, it is an invitation to understand that our every action always has a connection with the past and the future, that is, it possesses a cause and an effect. Therefore, acting on what we do today is the best way to understand, tomorrow, which path to take. Kind of like a student who strives every day, in preparation for the final exam.
A: There is so much truth in your words, Mario. You reminded me of a beautiful aphorism by a great American philosopher, Eric Hoffer: “in an ever-changing world those who are not tired of learning will inherit the earth, while those who consider themselves already educated will find themselves perfectly trained for a world that no longer exists“. Without a shadow of a doubt, I can say that you will be among those who inherit the earth, because you possess an enviable spirit of self-criticism that constantly pushes you to learn. Despite your great achievements, you know how to always put yourself out there, with the spirit of a kid who always wants to peek over the horizon.
M: I think this is the key, not only in the work environment, but also and especially in life. I see it in my boys as well. In their eyes is the same fire and passion that has always been with me, and it’s beautiful to be able to imagine the future together, day after day. I am here to reach out to them when they stumble. We all make mistakes, it’s part of everyone’s growth path, but the important thing is to shake off the dust and start again right away with grit.
However, I too, at the same time, have much to learn from my children. Their flame and curiosity are a source, before pride, of inspiration. This is possible because on both sides there is immense trust, which allows us to design the new paths of the company and our family together.