It reaches the title to describe it from head to toe. The memories of Guido Parisierrenowned businessman, they are called “I dont know yet”. In the incredible accumulation of anecdotes that make up his life and this book, the reason for this choice is one more: while he was writing in the seclusion of the pandemic, that was the answer he gave over and over again to his wife, Mónica, when he leaned out to ask him what his work would be called. But at the same time, reading the stories of this man who treasures encounters with figures as dissimilar as Catherine Deneuve, Fidel Castro and Rene Lavand, who in one night bought the famous Hermitage in Mar del Plata and who was the owner of Hippopotamus, among other diverse and impressive achievements, weaves the idea that Parisier’s drive, even at 89 years old, goes a long way. So much so that he “doesn’t know yet” what fate will bring.
News: Why is this book coming now?
Guido Parisier: There is a coincidence of things. More than a year ago my daughter gave me a gift: the service of a writer to help me. I didn’t call her, but she left me unsettled. She had also recently read the life of Aberramán III, who proclaimed himself caliph but was a great winner, loved by his people and also by his opponents. And on his deathbed, after 50 years of reign, he wrote that after having had so many successes he remembers his life and rescues only 14 days of happiness. That got me thinking a bit about mine. And I have many more… I am experiencing new things that I want to enjoy and that I could not do in another stage. Happiness is conforming and enjoying what one has.
News: In your story, how much did you have to be in the right place at the right time, and how much tenacity?
parisier: I attribute it to I was very lucky, but you have to push luck. In the episode of the carnival at the Hermitage, for example, in which we had promised a scola from Brazil but she could not arrive due to an accident and it turned out that on a cruise ship in the port there was a Brazilian show that could perform and save the night with all the tables sold, I attribute it to God. However, there is a mark of not giving up, of continuing to look for more solutions than just bringing a simple set from the local radio. It was getting on a boat to see Brazilians and keep insisting until things were achieved. The tenacity helped me a lot.
News: It is defined as liberal. How do you see the advance of figures like Milei or Espert in the congress?
Parisier: I am disenchanted with Argentine politiciansAnd I’m not talking about parties. It really went very badly for us, and the culprits are those who ran the country. I was in ’97 in New York and for a 100 peso bill they gave me 100 dollars, and when I made the change they explained to me that it was worth 102, more than the dollar! I don’t think they give you 25 cents today. If we stopped to analyze what was done wrong, we could open our eyes and see a light.
News: Would you get involved in politics again?
Parisier: No, I had my time. It cost me personally a lot, and I don’t want to go back. Those who want to always return to the best instead of costing, won.
News: And if you had to give some basic guidelines, where would you start?
parisier: (He reads from his cell phone) “The financial burden of the public administration not only depresses productive activity, it is an inflationary factor that affects monetary stability and economic development. It is necessary and urgent to initiate an action of austerity and rationalization that allows stopping the process of administrative hypertrophy, both at the national, provincial and municipal levels. It is necessary that those who assume the government do so with the conviction that they have been chosen to perform a service to the nation and not to enjoy the advantages of power”. Who do you think could have said it?
News: Any hero?
parisier: It was Frondizi in 1958. My book “1 más 1” compiles editorials that I wrote for Ámbito Financiero in the 1980s. What terrifies me is that if I publish it today, it is current. And 40 years passed! We lost 40 years… And when I see on TV for 40 years the same people saying the same things, they have already failed, they have already been. At the same time, I live in a country where 11 unicorns have appeared in the last four years. That is, businessmen who earned more than 1,000 million dollars, which between them double the liabilities that Argentina has. What is there to do? Let them run us for four years.
News: Among so many outings and encounters, he met his wife, Mónica. How was she?
parisier: A friend of mine had invited me to the opening of a bôite on the Champs Elysées. The owner of the place was the Brazilian who had created the Hippopotamus of Brazil. He told me about a new project and I made a 5% down payment. When I returned to Buenos Aires I met the people who were organizing it, and in that office they pointed me to the architect. Even from a distance she seemed attractive to me. I didn’t like what they told me about the project, but I still wanted to combine to see the work, because she had to accompany me. Two days later we met, and to continue talking about work, in theory, I invited her to lunch. ANDhe project was absurd, everything was nonsense except Monica. I totally changed it and today I make a joke that I conquered her so as not to pay fees, although it ended up being more expensive…
News: They had three children, Gastón, André and Michelle. Do you work with any?
parisier: No, I worked all my life on their training and I have been very concerned that they have independence. Something they have, they are the creators of Big Box, which today is in five countries and reaching Spain with great success. In all my actions I tried to make them the protagonists. I always felt identified with, understood and supported by my father, and that is what I tried to replicate.
News: Where do your joys go today?
parisier: It was varying. As my games varied, I remember that as a child I enjoyed the ones that my parents taught me or marked. I grew up when I changed games and decided alone. The years have taken me out of physical activity, where I practiced almost all sports, and led me to play cards with my friends. I play a lot of bridge, I’ve had tables all over the world. I don’t know if I’m good, but I’m lucky (laughs).
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