Self-Made or Never Made: Onur Güvenatam

In this life, you either exist or become. We discuss about the courage and determination you need to be yourself in the Self-Made or Never Made series with Onur Güvenatam.

Onur Güvenatam doesn’t accept excuses. For him, being one’s own requires determination and courage. “Actually we are who we are since birth, we both find and create ourselves. On the other hand, in order to do this, be his own person, one needs to be determined and be able to confront himself. If you can communicate your mistakes to yourself and accept who you are, then you are yourself. If you are good with the characteristics that make you who you are, then you are on the way to being yourself.” For Onur Güvenatam, this is a timeless path. It’s not a journey to be completed in a set period of time, its starting and ending times are not marked. There is no time but there are things you need to do; you have to be determined to set off on this journey even though you get afraid at times.

For Güvenatam, courage and determination are necessary in order to be yourself but not enough. There is one more action in this equation. Dreaming. He adds: “People also find themselves when they dream. When they realize their dreams, they feel confident, which is important in a person’s journey to becoming himself. Dreams keep people upright and dreaming should never end.

“If you can share your own mistakes with yourself and accept who you are, then you are truly yourself. When you embrace the qualities that define you, that’s when you are on the path to being yourself.”

-Onur Güvenatam

There are always other things you can do, other dreams you can dream. This journey has no end.” Güvenatam also advocates the importance of talent and persistence on the journey to being himself. “Talent is important but persistence is even more important. When you are determined, things transform. It is all about not giving up. You can face many challenges during your journey. Life will do its best to deter you at times. So what will you do?”

Creative Direction by Duygu Bengi
Hosted by Can Remzi Ergen
Photographed by Ege İşlek
Styled by Murat Kıvık

Hair by Mertcan Pekgüzek
Make Up by Alper Kabadayı

Creative Team Ceydanur Demir, Şevval Küçüktür, Umutcan Öncü, Doğukan Özpıçak

Creative Production Miray Kaya

A big thanks to you Gözde Tekay, Serkan Aykut Kargacı and Zorlu PSM Team