Pierrick Marcoux
Pierrick is leading the Marketing team at Luminox - the official watch partner of Bear Grylls. He is based in Zurich/Switzerland, where he enjoys the great outdoors and stylish Swiss-Made timepieces.
What was the path that lead you to today?
I never knew what my dream job would be. The one thing I do know is that I feel extremely privileged that my career has so far brought me lots of opportunities - people that I would never have expected to meet and places I would never have imagined going to! For instance, who can claim that they had the chance to go on a business trip to the Atacama desert in Chile? Well, I can!
Who inspired you to do what you do?
There are plenty of characters who have contributed to the person I am today - to name a few:
Nicolas Hulot. A nature lover, conservationist, show host and writer. He tried to become a politician for a while but quickly realised he wouldn't have been able achieve what he wanted to achieve through politics. He then returned to civil life and continued his efforts in protecting the environment and driving awareness of this important topic, with courage, empathy and determination.
Eric Cantona. Sure, he was a great football player, but the man himself, the artist and the actor are even greater. If you have not yet seen it, I strongly recommend watching the mini TV series Inhuman Resources (Original French title: DERAPAGES). All of which show his attitude, charisma and purpose - a source of inspiration in many ways.
And, yes, in my teenage days, I was also a huge admirer of Bear! I'm so glad my job at Luminox gave me the opportunity to initiate a partnership with him and his team!
What have been the biggest obstacles you have encountered?
I try not to focus on the obstacles but on the goals.
Our main obstacles in life usually are our own limiting beliefs (this is not for me; I will never manage to achieve that). In many cases, these limiting beliefs are inherited from our childhood. It takes a bit of courage - and time - to realise that nothing (and nobody) can limit you - except yourself. Set yourself some goals, small or big, and go after these goals with no fear. You can do it! I have tried to apply that as much as I could both in private and professional life - and I always share this approach also with youngsters in my surroundings.
Biggest triumphs?
When I was younger, nothing ever seemed to be good enough. I'm glad I have been able to change my perception and I now find it so important to be able to recognise and celebrate success, even small ones. This might not necessarily be my personal success, but also the success from people around me, from my team. Also, not everything has to be perfect. Take pride in what has been accomplished already. Oh, and it's sometimes the small steps that matter the most...result is important, but attitude is everything!
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Life is not BLACK or WHITE - there are a variety of shades, nuances and grades. Once I realised this, I started to become less judgmental about people. Nobody is perfect (not even Eric Cantona). Now, I prefer to view life as a RAINBOW - a full spectrum of colours!
Why is getting outdoors so important in modern life?
I grew up in a very isolated area in the south of France, where I was surrounded with wild nature and wild animals. So as a child, I spent most of my time in the outdoors. Today, I live in a fairly big city (Zurich, Switzerland) but one of the things I enjoy the most about this city is how easy and quick it is to reach the surrounding forests and nearby lakes. It's important for me to have this connection with the outdoors on a daily basis whether I'm running, swimming, hiking, trekking, skiing... oh, and I even attended a Bear Grylls Survival Course recently!
But why is it so important to get outdoors in modern life? Because the waves of the oceans and the summit of the mountains are here to remind us how small we are - just in case mankind would have been arrogant enough to forget it.
Amongst all the endeavours you have been involved with, which is the most unforgettable and why?
The Bear Grylls X Luminox partnership aside, an unforgettable endeavour is setting the base for a successful collaboration with a Search and Rescue team in Iceland. Not only did I meet some extraordinary people there - true unsung heroes - but I also had the chance to explore this amazing country and it's dramatic landscape - the land of fire and ice!
Why is this particular project so important to you?
This project in Iceland gave me the chance to combine great professional achievement as well as personal outdoors adventures. Iceland had been a dream destination for a number of years and I feel very lucky that I had the chance to go there on several occasions. I'm already looking forward to my next trip there as there is so much I'm yet to explore!
Who has been an unsung hero in your life?
Musicians. Is it a paradox to name musicians as my unsung heroes?
I believe Music - and Musicians - really does help people. The revitalizing energy of a joyful song when you feel down. The power of dancing in order to connect and unite people. Music is not just about sound, it's also about rhythm and movement, and the ability to bring people together.
A special thanks to all the musicians out there - who are all making this world a better place to live.
Do you have a motto you live by?
The motto that I live by and that I have been taught by my father is TAKE THE RISK OR LOSE THE CHANCE. In addition, I have recently made one of Bear's motto's another favourite of mine: NEVER GIVE UP!
