Do Not Limit Your Dreams - Yusuf Kenan Öztiryaki

I didn’t write this book just to tell about Yusuf Öztiryaki’s successful business life. I wanted to show, with examples, how I became a well-known industrialist by patiently overcoming the challenges that life put in my way one by one through patience and hard work. I wanted to emphasize how important it is to be truthful, to keep your word, to be patient, to work with love, to set big goals, and to work steadily.

I also wrote this book to talk about the charitable works, services, and contributions I have made with the love of humanity and a sense of social responsibility, and to explain their importance for humanity. Because people should not get lost in business life and should not live only for their job and themselves; they should also allocate time for their families, friends, and society, and be helpful to them. People must also be sensitive to other people, animals, and the environment. They should work with professional chambers and non-governmental organizations such as foundations and associations, and participate in social responsibility projects. Since the moment I started to be successful in my business life, I have been involved in these organizations and projects, and I have tried to be useful to the community in all aspects. The reason why I have included these topics extensively in this book is because I hope to be an example to society, young people, industrialists, and those who are open to entrepreneurship and improvement.

I have focused my social activities mainly on education and security issues. Because an uneducated society is doomed to all kinds of backwardness, poverty, and dependence on others. It is the sense of security that ensures development, progress, peace, friendship, and tranquility in society. That’s why I have been supporting education as the President of the Vefa High School Education Foundation for 26 years and as the Vice President of the Association of Solidarity Council of Turkish Education Foundations (TEVDAK) for 20 years. I also had the honor and pride of making great contributions to our country’s security and police force as a member of the board of the Police Foundation for 33 years, from 1985 to 2018.

This book is a summary of my attitude toward life, my worldview, my religious understanding, the difficulties I experienced in business life, my achievements, and my efforts with the responsibility of being a good person and a senior family member. The establishment, development, and growth of Öztiryakiler, and its becoming a national and international brand, was not easy. My father’s efforts, which started in Gerede and continued in the Bakırcılar Çarşısı (Coppersmith Bazaar); my brother Aydoğan, who did the greatest favor of my life by making it possible for me to study and who was number one in his job; and my brother Tahsin, who always supported my work and worked alongside me, all played a tremendous role in this success. In the development of Öztiryakiler, the honesty my father instilled in us, his emphasis on respecting human rights, and his conviction that working hard without fear or hesitation would most often bring success were all very important.

With the belief that we are obliged to succeed like our father, Öztiryakiler continues on a path that always gives us hope.

Let’s love our homeland, our nation, and humanity, and think in a modern way. Let’s preserve Atatürk’s principles and revolutions, the achievements and values of the Republic. Let’s not forget that true patriotism means hard work. Throughout my life, I have never set limits on my dreams; I have always pursued them. You should not set limits on your dreams either. Work tirelessly and persistently for your dreams. Remember, as the Great Atatürk said: “Those who set out with no thought of resting along the way will never grow tired.”

Yusuf K. ÖZTİRYAKİ