Filipino LDS SME Business Success

Belsie Agustin: Persistence Pays OFF

2011-03-07T01:13:00.000-08:00

Belsie always knew that being in business was the right way to go. His strong work ethic and character were shaped early in life where he worked his way through school, working at the various fast-food establishments in the country like Dunkin' Donuts. He also took time to become a soccer athlete which helped him with a scholarship throughout his College life.

His family are known Latter-day Saint community leaders, some of them among being lawyers and occupying different high positions in government. But Belsie knew he was to carve his own name and plough through a lot of weeds to become successful.

Finishing college with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication and later signing on to the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management), Belsie climbed up the ranks and has become a respected officer in the organization. Furthering his studies in law and in teaching has helped him advanced to become a senior officer.

"I knew I had to have some kind of income through employed earnings to be able to start a business", quipped Belsie with a smile.

His major break came when he found a mentor in the outdoor advertising business which became one of his earliest ventures. "I had to learn the ropes. I was fortunate to have learned from a good teacher". Their business boomed and they became a pioneer in the outdoor advertising industry in Zamboanga City.

Once they knew how to structure their operations and do the legal work for their leases, clients came in and they were in business. After several month of hyped sales and just growing through word of mouth, the revenue came in and they were very profitable.

Unfortunately, some unusual circumstances affected his relationship with his business partner and so he was forced to leave and set up his own. "I was very discouraged when that happened, I cried lots of tears when I realized that our business partnership could no longer exist because of certain financial matters".

That was the turning point for Belsie. Several months after losing his venture, he decided to form his own enterprise, structuring it carefully and calling it ALBEREI ADVERTISING. Because of the lessons he learned from his initial venture, Belsie is now able to avoid pitfalls in business and continue to expand his company to cater to many known brands in the market like PLDT, SUN CELLULAR, CEBU PACIFIC AIR, FILINVEST, BOBSON JEANS, and many others.

"My experiences as a full-time missionary for the LDS Church has greatly helped me in handling my clients". Though not an alumni of the Academy for Creating Enterprise, Belsie believes in financial education and is a wide reader of many business how-to books.

"Financial Knowledge is the key to expelling the fear within you and can help any person willing to go the extra mile to provide for the family and fulfill his Godly-mandate".

Belsie is currently serving as a Counselor in the Guiwan Ward of the Zamboanga Philippines Stake.

For more information about his company ALBEREI ADVERTISING, and for your outdoor advertising needs, please email alberei_advertising@yahoo.com

Marbellionaires!

2009-10-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

It was a rare opportunity to speak to around 30+ students engaged in a satellite training program located in Marbel (a town found 2 hours away from General Santos City), conducted by the Academy for Creating Enterprise. These eager minds were very hungry for knowledge and after sticking to the 1 week course outline, they were now about to graduate.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a motivational speaker for them. What I said was not as important as what they were feeling towards their ability to practice what they learned and get out there to start businesses that have high value. In essence, I asked them point blank if they were going to be one of the frogs who jumped and learn how cold the water was, or are they going to be one of the frogs that remained on the tree and never changed the humidity.

After the ceremonies, I had another opportunity to chat to some of those students and to find out if they had indeed received a great paradigm shift. Most of them were very fired up in relating their respective business plans and the strategies that they were going to use to get their businesses up and running. One of the students that I have interviewed had an existing Mobile Phone stall in one of the more prominent portions of the town, and he was relating to me about creating a brand for his shop and focusing on improving customer service.

Learning for these students, I realized how we could all change our realities by adding new and vital information on a constant basis and how we could indeed change our temporal situation by exerting a little imagination in the field of business and investing.

Rich love their work and Stick to it

2009-09-03T08:45:00.001-07:00

by: Stephen W. Gibson (repost from Academy for Creating Enterprise website)

Have you ever thought about getting rich? I guess everyone has at least thought about it. But what is the difference between those who think about it and those who do it? According to Napoleon Hill, author of “Think and Grow Rich,” thinking about riches is an important part of the formula for wealth accumulation.

But there is another school of thought suggesting that the more you think about it, the less your chances of becoming rich.

In one of my favorite books, “Getting rich Your Own Way”, author Srully Blotnick disagrees with Hill, citing his own 20-year study of 1,057 people. Eighty-three of his subjects became millionaires, but they appeared to have become rich almost accidentally. Meanwhile, those who were most obsessed by the idea of accumulating wealth never did. Blotnick found that among those who know how but said they didn’t want to put themselves through the perceived pain, or they didn’t want to sacrifice “just to have money.”

Others among those he studied felt a person only becomes wealthy by doing hard things one doesn’t normally want to do. So they worked constantly and frenetically, often at jobs they hated, in hopes that they would inevitably become rich. In fact, just the opposite happened.

The harder they worked at something they didn’t enjoy, the less likely they were to become wealthy. Meanwhile, those who worked day after day in their own business doing something they loved eventually did become rich, but it almost surprised them.

According to Blotnick’s study, the key to getting rich is working hard at something you really like. Blotnick also points out five characteristics shared by the millionaires in his study.

1.They were persistent. They found a field and stuck with it. Unlike their less financially successful counterparts, the future wealthy workers picked a field and, through good and bad times, plodded forward.
2.They were patient. Impatience keeps many from success because they are not willing to pay the price of long-suffering. Money was the reward to those who just kept struggling it out year after year, and being patient.
3.They did the petty as well as the nobler aspects of the job. They realized that there are pesos in the details.
4.While competition played a part in their success, they were not obsessed by it. They seem to compete more with themselves than their co-workers or people in the same business.
5.Outside investment activities consumed a minimum of their time and attention. More often than not, they made little or no money investing outside their own business.

Those of us who are in business for ourselves and who just go to work everyday in our ongoing struggling for financial independence might be closer to real wealth than we think.

**Building a business is 90% Emotions and 10% Technicalities. It is better to know less then act upon the knowledge, than knowing more without any form of action. It is BEST to know more and act more.

TO START OR NOT TO START

2009-08-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter from 2 American volunteers that is heart warming and motivating to those who want to start a business but are still wrestling with your own fears and doubts. Whether you are a Mormon or not, it is worth reading.
From the website: www.creatingenterprise.com.

Dear Alumni,

Before we share our message with you, please allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Jeremi and Rebecca Brewer, Directors of The Academy for Creating Enterprise—Mexico. We are returned missionaries, alumni of BYU-Hawaii, and in our last year of PhDs at Texas A&M University—the second largest university in the United States. We are sharing with you knowledge that we have gained through personal experience in business and experiences of other people. We know that what we share will bless your lives as it has blessed ours and others in Mexico.

Our hope is to reach the heart of each one of you that reads this letter. Consider this letter to be addressed to each of you, personally. Pretend that this letter is a conversation that we are having in your house, your office, or somewhere private. We want you to know that we love you very much. We know that the Lord is mindful of you, your trials, your triumphs, and your families. We have felt the special Spirit of the Lord each day in the Philippines, and know that ACE has been a blessing in each of your lives. Please, take your time and read this letter carefully; it is directed to you individually. This letter has one main purpose: We want to encourage you to start your own enterprise if you have not done so already.

As you very well know, the primary purpose of creating an enterprise is for you to be able to break the bands of generational poverty, improve your temporal life, and teach yourself and your children a new way of behaving and thinking. However, old habits and customs are very hard to break. Traditions and cultures are also very difficult to change if you do not make a daily effort to adjust your way of living. So, we encourage you to start today doing something new. Remember, “If you always do what you have always done, then you will always have what you already have”.

If you have yet to start your own enterprise, we write to you to help you remember those things that you already know are true. You know that being an employee is usually not the way to have the financial freedom that you wish you could have. You know that working hard for someone else usually does not pay you a sufficient amount for your needs. You know that when you work for someone else they have more control over when you work, where you work, how long you work, and how much money you make. In other words, as an employee, your employer has more control over your time and money than you do.

Now, being an employee is not always bad. You may very well be thinking, “But, I just need to raise capital” or “I am only working as an employee so that I can learn how the industry works.” Those are wonderful thoughts and you should be taking daily notes of how the operations are run. If not, start now! Try to find out how business transactions are completed. How much they cost. See if the clients are satisfied with the business and if not, then try and see what they are not receiving from the company you work for—you may find a great niche. If you are working to learn and gain knowledge (capital), training (capital), and experience (capital) you must make sure that you document what you see, hear, and feel.

You graduated from ACE, what is stopping you now?

If you are an employee and thinking about starting your own business, what is stopping you? Are you afraid or nervous? Do you lack the confidence? Are you still looking for the secrets? If so, allow us to share with you our favorite word in the English language: “Do”. “Do” is our favorite word because it requires thought and action. Remember the Rule of Thumb, “Ready, Aim, Fire!”? Well, this is similar to that. Remember the words of the Lord, “Therefore be ye doers of the word”? Do you remember the truth that we are agents to act and not be acted upon? And, do you remember the scripture which challenges us to be anxiously engaged in a good cause? As you can see, the Lord yearns for us to improve our own lives. You must pray as though everything depended upon the Lord and work as though everything depended upon you!

We know that you may have not started a business already because you are afraid. You may have not started of a lack of capital. You may have not started because you you’re your employment. There are thousands of reasons why you may not have started a business. However, we promise you that if you will just “Do” something today, if you will just “Do” something every day, that you will find success. The Rules of Thumb teach us great principles. You have the magic bullet and the secret sauce. You have all the tools. If you lack confidence, the greatest secret of all is that confidence is only gained by “do”-ing. If you “do” something you will learn more and more. If you “do” business you will learn more quickly than if you are idle. Remember, thinking is not enough, you must think then do, then evaluate what you have done and then do more!

Allow us to remind you of those missionaries who came to the Philippines from different countries. You may have had companions from outside of the Philippines, you may have gone outside of the Philippines on your mission, or you may have had contact with people from outside of the Philippines. Can you remember those missionaries? Can you remember how well they spoke the language of the mission? Some of them were more Filipino than most Filipinos—they spoke the language so well. Others, however, were so afraid and nervous to make mistakes and fail that they spoke as little as possible. Do you think they were smarter, faster, or more prepared because they were from outside of the country? The answer is simply no!

Our professions are in language learning and teaching. We know that the more someone tries to learn the language by speaking it, the quicker they will become fluent in that language. Sure, the missionaries make mistakes while speaking the language, but the difference between one who learns the language well and the one that doesn’t has a lot to do with the amount of energy, attention, focus, and discipline they put into practicing the language. In other words, those that would “do” the language by speaking it each day learned better than those that didn’t.

The same principle applies in business: you will make hundreds of mistakes—not one single person on this earth has ever spoken their native language perfectly. In fact, we make mistakes with our own language every day. The same reality exists with people that “do” business—everyone makes mistakes.

President Monson once said, “Elders and Sisters, when learning your new languages you must remember that you will make one million mistakes—so, you better start now!” The same principles apply in business—you will make millions of mistakes, but you must learn from them. You must learn how to improve upon them. We promise you that if you will start to “do” something in business that you will begin to become more fluent in business. Your abilities will increase. Your confidence will increase. And, your bank accounts will also increase! But, if you stay quiet, too nervous to start or try, then you will be like the missionary that never opened his mouth. You will never learn and you will miss out on so many opportunities—in this case, you will miss out on the opportunity to create a better life for yourself and your family.

So, “do” something today to change. Start now! You can do it! Find your talent, your passion, and your dreams and work for them each day. We know that you can do it. Whatever your business is, don’t feel that you are locked into just one business. We know that if you will start by selling papayas today, next year you could very well be manufacturing lead weights. You never know what tomorrow holds if you will just “do” something to change today!

We don’t only pray for your success, but we have come to the Philippines to train those in the Academy these same principles. We pray and we act. We pray and we do. We make mistakes each day, but we learn from them. We grow from them. We improve each day. We know that you have it in you to “do” great things. We know that you can “do” more than you are already doing. There is no magic bullet. There are no more secrets. Start now! And, as the hymn goes, “Wake Up! And do something more!”

With much love and hope for your success,

Jeremi & Rebecca Brewer

Next 2 Entrep Profiles Coming UP!

2009-06-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since new profiles of successful LDS Entreps have been uploaded here, but the final touch of articles to be featured here will soon be posted. Hope you are excited as I am.

These 2 fine individuals to be featured in the next few weeks have paid their 'dues' to the Spirit of Entrepreneurship and are faithful members of the LDS Church. One is based in the Visayas and the other is based in Mindanao. They are always on the GO and are keen in seeing business trends.

The purpose of these profiles are not to boast in any way or to create a popularity contest, but it is to provide 'role-models' and 'exemplars' of people who have started, persevered and are enjoying the journey. Setting up a business can be very challenging since MONEY is such a highly emotionally-charged subject that few are able to control it, tame it and use it for profit. In reading these true to life articles which have not been exaggerated in any way, one can create a deep realization within the self that taking on the creation of businesses as a challenge can be worthwhile and life-changing. It is the process that puts the profits in the coffers.

Happy Reading!

Visayas Region Alumni Conference

2009-05-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

50% DISCOUNT FOR THE FIRST 50 ONLINE REGISTRANTS ! CLICK HERE.

Some points to consider

2009-05-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

While on a trip to Cebu, this author had a chance to drop by the ACE home in Banilad and share a few insights to students. If you think that speaking to a very diversified audience coming from all across the Philippines with different values and beliefs about money is easy, then I recommend you try it, it will be good for your health.

The precepts and principles that I presented were very challenging to the students that I found some of them wrestling with the precepts and others agreeing while a portion not knowing what they believe in.

Here are the principles that I was privileged enough to share;

a. It does not take money to take money
b. Money is just a Score card
c. Education (Financial) + Experience = Excessive Cash
d. You are your walking business venture

The greatest section that was met with much skepticism was the first principle that was shared. This led me to issue a challenge to the students that if I provided x no. of pesos to them that they should be able to double the money in less than a year. Everyone was silent except for one man who sheepishly told me that he could, I wish I could believe him. If he really knew what he was talking about then he would not be in a disposition where he had to borrow money to start his own venture in the first place.

Some admitted that they had already seen that the concept of money as something 'relative' and not as something that needed to be hungered for. Money just becomes a score card following the implementation of good management. Money follows Management.

Some also shared that they never realized that the accumulation of money was relative to their business experience and education. Something that the present school system does not teach.

And finally, one is but a mirror of one's business. If personally, one does not take care of personal finances then sadly, then chances are that individual will have a very difficult time running his own business.

Capital is NOT the problem

2009-04-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

It sounds so common we often get paralyzed by it.

'wala man akong pera pang-negosyo' or
'kelangan ko ng puhunan' or
'dapat ako may xxx na pondo para makapagtayo' ng negosyo.

You hear these all the time, though there may be some truth to it, but it is NOT the complete truth. Money alone is not the hindrance to starting your entrepreneurial venture.

Much money at most instances can cause us to be dumb and fumble in making decision making in business. I knew a person once who received 1.5M a decade back or so from a real estate deal, but lost it all within a few months. The business world is too unforgiving to the unprepared mind who believes that having the money at the onset would guarantee success. It's the thing between your ears (your mind) that will help you be creative enough to succeed in business, but you need further training & education. The way I see it, there are 3 kinds of start up prototypes

1. The one who BUYS the prototype (Franchisee)- has cash but wants to duplicate an existing system

2. The one who INHERITS the prototype- business-minded parents giving away to their seed

3. The one who STARTS THE prototype- the one with seed money

4. The one who STARTS the prototype- the one with LESS funds

The categories are arranged according to level and the hardest being No.4 the one who starts the prototype but has LESS funds. But if you apply the rule of nature which states "That which is easy has a tendency to become difficult, that which is difficult has also a tendency to become easy." The choice BECOMES CLEAR. The odds for all levels are varied and the rewards as well.

You are an immediate prototype of your business. As truthful as a reflection in a mirror can be, we can all do well to enhance that reflection though continuous study & application. A good busineess owner needs working knowledge on the following:

SALES
ACCOUNTING
BUSINESS LAW

Just to name a few.

You need not be a genius for all areas, but you need to know the basics so that you can objectively gauge your business. The Academy provided the baby steps, but ultimately you are responsible for further education. The rules of thumb are immortal and are guiding principles but there are still a lot of disciplines to learn from and investing in good business books that are written by entrepreneurs as well can help a lot.

You ideas are the greatest resource that you will ever have, not money.

The Definition of SUCCESS

2009-04-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Early in my business life, Steve Gibson shared his definition of SUCCESS and it was something that went like this: "Success is the fulfillment of worthwhile pre-determined goals." The definition of SUCCESS is important and vital for an individual since it will determine by large how one will measure it.

Most of us, consider success as monetary in value or something that is associated with having much money. That is only one side of the definition of SUCCESS, if you go back to Steve's definition you will not find a word that is linked to having tons of money and yet it is very clear as to how he will measure his own success.

It would be a little weird if we account our success to having much money since this would mean that the Entrepreneur has run out of ideas on how to let his money circulate in ventures that would create more. Remember that the money we have today is actually a 'currency', from the root word 'current', it must needs circulate or it would die.

One fellow Alumni told me, "I can't share my story since I am just starting out!" Again, it boils down to how you define success. The business inertia that stops us from doing and getting into planning, starting and building your own enterprise is very hard to overcome and in my book, I would greatly consider that a great success in the part of the individual.

On the other side of the coin, if I see a business person having too much money in his hands, I would consider that individual as someone who has stunted growth financially since having too much cash on hand will usually mean that one is running out of good business ideas. And what does such an individual do? Buys useless 'doodads', toys or liabilities like a new car, expensive camera etc..Not that these things are bad but they need to be purchased in the right perspective and not as a means to illustrate being 'successful.'

Well, what are you waiting for? Retreat and meditate on the word Success and what it means to you.

Mindanao Conference Learnings (continued)

2009-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

JESUS ONG DY (Business Opportunities in Troubling Economic Times)

5 Principles to draw from:
1. Forget your plans and challenge the existing circumstance
2. Optimism versus Realism
3. Reinvest your profits
4. Creativity and Innovation
5. Value your people

Dream and Dream Well, but do not be a slave to your dream.

People are the most expensive assets.

Don't take life too seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway. =D

RAUL EDGARDO VICENCIO (Creative Sales and Marketigng during Hard times)

Selling STrategies:
1. Increase Market Penetration
2. Evaluate Customers per segment
3. Focusing on Customer Needs
4. Evaluate 'wanting' segements

Focus and understand customer needs by Exceeding Expectations, Adding value to service and prioritizing customer satisfaction.

It will also help to:
FINE TUNE PRODUCTS & PRICING
IDENTIFY MARKET POTENTIALS (trends, laws, industry growth, sophisticated investing)
FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS

CLEMS ABALOS (Taking Care of Employees)

Hire Slow and Carefully, Fire FAST Cautiously.

Be Creative in winning your employee's Trust.

You will never have your employes treat your customers another way.

DAVUD LA SUEUR

EFFORT- how hard we work
EFFECTIVENESS- how powerfully we work

Pointers in preparing to launch a business:
1. Gain relevant experience
2. Remember all experiences can be relevant
3. Be Bold and Creative
4. Work for FREE
5. Look for Wisdom and SEEK it.

The payment of FULL Tithes and Offerings makes GOD our partner in business.

Mindanao Conference Learnings

2009-03-01T23:13:00.000-08:00

The Mindanao Conference held last February 27, 2009 at the Marco Polo, Davao was well-attended and was very informative. I am not aware of the full number but all the tables were filled and Alumni both near and far came to converge, network and learn.

The ACE Alumni TEAM was there headed by James Fantone. The Seminar which was devised by his team dubbed, "The Secrets to Growing your Business Amidst Crisis" was graced by 4 Entrepreneurial Speakers who are established business people themselves. People whom you know you can trust since they have been to the path.

A few summarized learnings from the conference:

ANDY BARFUSS (INTRODUCTION)
STEADINESS is vital to growing a business. 3 things that are constant in our lives :

1. CHANGE
2. PRINCIPLES
3. CHOICE

In coping with the changing times, it is important to learn to love change, learn to spot opportunity amidst change and profit from change.

Andy was quick to emphasize that since there has always been a crises and much difficulty in the Philippine setting, a new "crisis" would not really matter since we would not really notice the difference. He likened the present US financial crisis to a car travelling at 100 kms.per hour and suddenly because of problems, the vehicle could no longer achieve that speed and so the speed change is abrupt and very noticeable.

Departing Quote "I have had hundreds of problems in my life, most of which NEVER HAPPENED!"

ISMAEL TABIJE (YOU ARE YOUR GREATEST ASSET)

Dominating thoughts determine what we will be. It is by leveraging the mind and training the mind to be 'success-oriented' or 'success-aware' that can help one be successful.

By having a healthy attitude towards failing, one can rise and always try again and create the success story that everybody reads about. The Successful person is the one who falls and stands, falls and stands, falls and stands again and again.

In other words, Successful people are those who are persistent and those that view failure as an avenue to succeed. Failing is not the falling down but the STAYING DOWN.

The business YOU ARE IN, is the best business that you can engage in.

Departing Quote: "Dream your dream then do your best. Never doubt and never rest, until that dream is yours."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Mindanao Conference

2009-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my hotel room here in Davao City, my flight came in early this afternoon and so i had a chance to relax a bit and visit the Employee Resource Services (ERS) office and exchange thoughts with it's Manager- Mr.Philip Tan.

The ERS is an LDS Resource Office that helps people become more self reliant and be able to provide for their families. The office is located in the 8th Floor of the Landco Building, just across Victoria Plaza Mall. The center is equipped with computers with Internet connectivity, a library of great books and magazines that will surely foster success and training rooms. What is unique about this center is that it is run by Volunteers and is also open to the public, be it LDS or non-LDS.

It did not occur to me that in their quest to help people, the ERS also focuses on education and self employment, not only in job seeking. Mr. Tan's dedication to his position can help an individual fill the void in the quest for a great career.

The ERS also encourages programs for those who are willing to engage in Micro Enterprise. In fact, one of the projects that the ERC is coming up with is a training module that will cater to the needs of those seeking to start their little businesses but don't know where to begin. Even for those with existing businesses, the ERS can provide referrals from it's extensive network of people and companies that need a certain product or service that you already have.

"The lack of capital is not the reason not to start your own venture. I believe in the 3 C's that individuals need to have to be successful!", Mr. Tan is quick to recite. The 3 C's are

1. C haracter
2. C ompetence
3. C onnections

For further information on the services provided by the ERS, click here.

Mr. Philip Tan can be reached through the following phone numbers (082)224-6458 or by email: tanpa@ldschurch.org

Tomorrow, I attend a conference for the Mindanao Region at the Marco Polo hotel. The Academy has been gracious enough to provide follow up training and this will also be a great opportunity to network with other ACE Alumni. I will jot down more on this here on this blog so stay tuned.

PROFILE NO.2: RABIN S. REDULLA

2009-02-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

Life for Rabin S. Redulla is pretty much Family,Church and Work all with fronting capital letters. His goal is to retire early and serve the Lord better.

After completing a successful full time mission in the Philippines Manila circa 1996-1998 under President D. Rex Gerratt, he returned home and married his girlfriend- Janis on April 15, 2003 at the Manila Temple.

Coming from a prestigious school and working his way through a scholarship, Rabin entered the corporate world doing several jobs for Fast Distribution Corporation, a large logistics company that distributes Nestle products. As the Executive Assistant to the company’s CEO and Vice Presidents, Rabin was able to observe from the top on how the business was run and notwithstanding his strong tendencies for salaried employment, the seeds of entrepreneurship nourished within.

After his career with Fast Distribution, Rabin entered the Business Process Outsource Industry (BPO), this time he was in charge of helping the company (a new industry player) set up camp in Cebu and running it’s operations. “The experience enhanced my Interpersonal, Organizational and Communication Skills, not to mention my computer skills!” he sighted.

This was the turning point for Rabin, he realized that if he could operate other people’s businesses, then the likelihood of operating one successfully for himself was probable, and so he decided to shift his life’s direction from being an employee to an entrepreneur.

“Entrepreneurial qualities exist in individuals in a variety of combinations and degrees. It means that almost everyone – and that includes you and me – has entrepreneurial attributes, more or less. These attributes can be apparent or hidden, active or dormant, developed or underdeveloped.” He would often quote this self made proverb to himself..

Enter the Academy.

The Academy for Creating Enterprise program has helped Rabin discover, activate and develop his entrepreneurial attributes. The training that was provided had a tremendous and long-lasting impact on him that helped fuel his fiery enthusiasm. Through the various programs, case studies and inspirational speakers, Rabin discovered a whole new world in Enterprise Creation, a world filled with opportunities with abundance, and not scarcity. “It was a 360 degree change in PERSPECTIVE.” he quipped. I realized that, “To be born poor is not a sin, but to die poor is ultimately one’s fault.” he concluded.

Currently, he is the Managing Partner of a water refilling business, branded as AQUAPOWER. which earned him a nomination as a finalist in the business start-up category of the recently concluded Entrepreneur Academy Awards. He has been able to start this venture with the help of a Canadian LDS partner, whom he describes as 'Manna' from heaven.

“I was deeply touched by my business partner’s vision and righteous desire in helping me and other Filipinos uplift their way of living so that we could serve the Lord better.” he said. But all was not well in the beginning, the Canadian partner, himself an experienced businessman, would question Management policies and practices within the business and very soon, their personalities clashed. There was also the huge problem of losing their water containers to their customers and of course, cash flow.

The capitalization was quite high and so they put their minds together and decided to overcome differences or else they would lose it all. After a few emotional splurges on disagreements and without a hint of discouragement, Rabin and his partner set aside differences, rewrote their business plan and devised a system for their distribution and implemented their plan, which has helped increase their sales while minimizing liabilities thus, increasing profitability.

AQUAPOWER is now a successful refilling station engaged in the production of purified water for distribution in 5-gallon ‘food-grade’ containers. The business gives employment to six (6) Heads of Families, mostly members of the LDS Church, these employees in turn serve in different capacities for the LDS Church. .The station is situated right along the Minglanilla-Naga South National Road in Sitio Abuno, barangay Tulay, Minglanilla Cebu and serves primarily the neighboring city of Talisay and municipalities of Naga and Minglanilla.

The business plan also describes their plan to accept dealerships in the near future and in other areas of the province as it evolves into a micro franchise prototype because of it’s proven systematic water delivery. Rabin’s study, hard work and perseverance has helped the venture hit a monthly gross sales of Php108T (US$ 2297) with an excellent ROI of 37%. Although it’s initial capitalization will have a complete return in 3 years time, it is impressive to note that in just 12 months of operation, Aqua power has been able to return to its investor approximately 25% of the initial capitalization together with a monthly profit share.

As his business experience and skills grow, Rabin is ready to take on newer ventures with greater returns. As his refilling station runs on ‘Auto-Pilot’ (systems dependent business), he is now starting his own logistics business together with another ACE Alumnus. He is also able to better serve in various capacities for the LDS Church. “Had it not been for much of the training I have obtained in the ecclesiastical setting, I would not be in the position where I am in right now.” he said. True enough, had he not been a Returned Missionary, he would not have been able to join the ACE program.

Rabin and Janis are blessed with (3) beautiful daughters. He is currently serving as the 2nd Counselor of the Talisay Philippines Stake for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Profile #2 in the making

2009-02-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

We are still putting together the story of Profile # 2. It takes a while to construct a profile since we make sure that the data we use is credible since it is fairly easy to do any start-up business story for the sake of sharing the glories of starting an enterprise. We want to focus on individuals running a profitable micro or small enterprise, who have been changed through the process.

We also want to sincerely evaluate the business venture if it is indeed profitable and not a 'grease monkey'. Even if they do not have the 'Millions' that others have claimed they are using to start their ventures or gaining, as long as the enterprise has good systems, generating good cash flow, providing good Return-On-Investment (ROI) and has several excellent Internal Rate of Return factors. It is our belief that a venture without the factors sighted would be short-lived and we also believe that if one cannot handle 5,000 pesos to yield good returns then there is a (0) zero probability that one could handle 50,000 pesos or 5 Million for that matter.

We invite others who also want to share their successes to inspire others to give me a short write-up or email. If you know a member of the LDS Church who is on the same path, help us inspire others. This blog is regularly advertised to many Filipino members of the LDS Church so as to send out the message that Enterprise Creation is a long term solution to our deepening crisis of employment.

Ng: Starting a business for wrong reasons

2009-02-06T17:59:00.001-08:00

By Wilson Ng
Wired Desktop

SCHOOL FOR BUSINESS. I am continuing to share my thoughts on entrepreneurs, whom I believe have been given a lot of emphasis in view of the Presi-dent’s goal to create millions of jobs by supporting entrepreneurs in the next few years.

One of the better schools that I know that teaches entrepreneurship is the Academy for Creating Enterprise, which is located in Banilad.

This is a school founded by an American foundation, Called2Serve Foundation USA, and most of the funds are raised by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Gibson, who are from Utah.

The school gives a two-month intensive, live-in and hands-on course on entrepreneurship, including actual working on a business plan, which allows you to discuss various aspects of the business. It is headed by Jose Antonio “Tony” San Gabriel, an MBA graduate of the Asian Institute of Management.

Most of the students they are currently training are chosen from returning missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The school has been there for four years, and several students have started businesses that run to six or seven figures in annual sales.

It was Tony who gave me one of the better books that you should read on entrepreneurship, which they also use in their academy. This book is “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber (the E means Entrepreneur), and the author attempts to paint a different picture of the entrepreneur and what a person needs to succeed in starting a business.

MISCONCEPTIONS. The author tries to change popular misconceptions about entrepreneurs, and presents his views on how to start and grow a business.

The author’s view is that entrepreneurs are really ordinary people, not like the perceived risk takers, geniuses or innovative people that they are painted out to be. They just happened to start a business, and all for the wrong reasons—they don’t like their job (that is a very wrong reason to start your business!), or they know the technical side of the business. They think they know the business, which is actually two different things (thus, a very good accountant goes into accounting consulting, or a good programmer starts a software company, a person who cooks well starts a restaurant business etc).

In fact, the author believes that knowing the technical side of the business can be a handicap because then the person will focus on the technical product instead of growing the business, which can mean more focus on the selling, marketing, financial and human resource aspects of the business.

Contrary to the perception that most entrepreneurs are enjoying their life of financial freedom, most entrepreneurs who go into business for the wrong reasons or without adequate preparation or experience are working harder than before, and many lose hard-earned money and spend sleepless nights trapped in the entrepreneural nightmare of having a business that is in dire financial straits or going nowhere.

While it is true that small business success will propel the economy, we have to be careful in encouraging this.

In most countries, and I reckon also in the Philippines, half of the businesses started fail within the first two years.

We hear many overseas workers sending money back and encouraging their families to go into small business to enable the family to enjoy financial independence. They hope they can return when that is successful, only to find that the business just ate up their savings.

If you are interested to start or grow your business, get the book.

Check out the Internet. There are huge resources there on teaching you how to start and manage a business. A great site is www.sba.gov, which is sponsored by the US government. Enroll in a good course. Try to learn as much as you can before plunging in with your hard-earned money.

Moderator's Note: This is an old article that I came across in a local Cebu paper and provides insight that the community is taking notice of the impact that the Academy is doing and gives good advice.

The Academy Curriculum

2009-01-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

The Academy has a unique curriculum in that the 8 week course can indeed put up the foundation that one needs to muster all that strength underneath to start a micro enterprise. The training period is set up using business case study analysis wherein the students learn what has been coined as "Rules of Thumb", which are in actuality, simplified terms of Business laws that will help generate success. Making Financial statements is also an integral part of the education received and also the setting up of a business plan.

Personally, I have been blessed by learning to make business plans, projecting cash flow and income proformas which I have discovered through the years, are mental maps of where a certain business is going. This critical thinking has helped me create ventures in my mind, then on paper, then to reality.

Some of the Rules of Thumb we learned at the Academy are:

Roll your inventory.
The system is the business.
Nothing happens unless someone sells something.
Buy Low, Sell High!
Cash is KING.
A Sale is not a sale unless the cash is in your hands.
Never ever give up.
Pay yourself first.
Separate Entity.
Do not eat your inventory.
Be Nice Later.
Use credit wisely.

Very catchy phrases that stick to your mind and helps you recall, even when you are emotionally wrecked trying to assemble a deal or coming from a distressed cash flow venture. My favorite being "Don't Eat your Inventory." (What's yours Steve?)

Simple phrases that are laws and principles that others have used to gain success.

2009-01-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENT!

PROFILE NO. 1- MELCHOR ADOLFO PAHULAYA

2009-01-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

Mel was excited when he graduated from the Academy sometime in the year 2001, he was able to practice the business rules of thumb right away when an opportunity came to start a janitorial supplies distribution and a cleaning services business. He was excited to travel the road to self reliance so that he would be able to marry the girl of his dreams in the Manila Temple, start a family and serve His Maker.

Working 15-18 hours a day building his business with a partner definitely was not an easy task. They labored night and day delivering supplies to their customers and supervising people that handled their contracts. One of their contracts was to provide cleaning services to the Church. After several months of effort, Mel felt that he was no longer in control of his life anymore. They neglected the rule of thumb ‘pay yourself first’ and did not write down a partnership agreement. Everything turned to ashes one night, when he and his partner had a huge fight; painful words were uttered and an awful scene of who did the most work came into play. Mel left the business disgruntled. As anticipated, the partner did not pay him his share of the business profits.

After that incident, Mel went off to Luzon (northern part of the Philippine islands) to find employment and get his life together.

In the summer of 2004, Mel came in touch with one of his Mission buddies who was living in Zamboanga City (southwestern tip of the Philippines) and who after presenting a simple business plan, invited him to start a business venture. Mel was hesitant at first since his still felt his scars in the realm of business failures and the fact that he was doing really well in his employment in Luzon (north of the Philippines) left him with uncertainty. His heart soon took courage since the woman that she would be marrying resided in the same city and they had made an agreement to settle in this city, with him giving up his job. After calculating the odds of the move, Mel took the plane to Zamboanga City and worked to execute the business plan that his friend had presented.

The plan was simple: a new US Fast food chain was opening shop in the City and they needed a vegetable supplier. His friend won the contract and from this, they went to work. Mel worked IN the business as the 1st employee while his mission mate worked ON the business as the 2^nd employee. Since both of them had undergone training from ACE, they knew the difference and understood that a business start-up needed to cover both areas of the INS and OUTS of the business.

It was Christmas season 2004, when Mel took his fiance to the Manila Temple and since the thriving business needed attention, had to cut short their honey moon.

Mel focused on the day to day operations of the business, kept a balanced inventory system, ensured quality packaging and delivered the goods to the clients everyday. They had learned to make financial statement projections while they were at the Academy and so they projected their cash flow and income statements carefully so as to be able to create strategies. Capital funds were limited, they only had a combined savings of approximately 50,000. They were literally empty handed in terms of equipment that they needed to use for the day to day operations of the business however, they did not lose hope since after doing the mathematics, they approached a contact in their network that loaned money at 3% a month (36% per annum). Their projected financial statements told them that the business would be able to bear such a high interest and still have funds left over. They needed fixed assets like huge chest type freezers and a vehicle to use to deliver their goods and solved this by finding an appliance store that offered installment plans payable for 12 months. They also found a contact in their network that agreed to offer a 6 month 0 interest installment plan on a mini pick-up vehicle (also known as a multicab). Because of the training they had received in projecting financial statements, both partners were able to address pressing challenges that a business start-up always encounters and they were able to stretch their limited cash base.

All was not well along the way, there were instances that there were cash problems and cash emergencies. But by keeping a constant watch on their payables and receivables, they were able to manage such shortages. The most memorable instance in Mel’s mind was the time that he had to pawn his wedding ring so as to be able to make supplier payments the next day. Experiences like these, turn boys into men.

The partner working ON the business was able to get all the necessary business permits. And since this was a start-up venture, it took 2 months before they could be given their first Official Receipt booklets which meant that 60 days worth of inventory was already given to the client without billings. They were able to manage this by bearing in mind the rule of thumb ‘delay payments to suppliers as much as possible.’ More clients were also added to their portfolio, the big Sardine factories also were asking for vegetable supplies while the first fast food chain client opened it’s 2^nd outlet after 12 months thus increasing sales.

Mel is smarter in his business this time and so, he pays himself a salary from the business and follows another rule of thumb called ‘practice separate entity’. He works full time at his job in the business and manages people as he continues to build this company that he helped start in 2004. Today, that company has a net worth of 5 Million Pesos (US$ 100T ) and by managing the finances of the business and using annual profits to expand to other ventures, Mel is able to become self-reliant and is able to magnify his calling as the President of one of the Branches in the Zamboanga Stake. By constantly improving in his financial education, improving in his business skills and sharing what he knows, Mel is quite confident with the decision he made to educate himself in the realms of business which started in the halls of the Academy for Creating Enterprise.

(In the picture, Mel Pahulaya with his wife opening one of their expanded business ventures.)

First Entrepreneurial Profile coming up..

2009-01-21T06:31:00.000-08:00

We are doing the final touches on our first ACE graduate profile personality. Please stay tuned and prepare to be inspired!

1st Entrepreneur Awards for LDS set in Cebu Oct. 11

2009-01-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

Malaya Newspaper
October 08, 2008

THE 2008 Entrepreneur Academy Awards Night will be held for the first time in the Philippines on Oct. 11, 6 pm at the On-Stage Ayala, Cebu City.

The Academy for Creating Enterprise, Brigham Young University-Hawaii and Yamagata Foundation – pooled resources to round up member-entrepreneurs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from all over the Philippines to give away eight major awards with a total of P1 million cash prize. A total of 149 businessmen-nominees were selected from more than a thousand enterprises all over the country to vie for any of the following major awards:

Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award – given to the entrepreneur who has maintained excellence in all aspects of the business over a sustained period of time; the business must have been founded more than 3 years ago;

Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year Award – given to the entrepreneur who recently started a business (below 2 years) but has established clear and workable systems from marketing, sales, human resources, accounting and has maximized limited resources;

Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for one who has applied an innovative approach, business solution or technology which resulted in improving business processes or in growing the company;

Retail Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has established excellent customer relationship in retail selling thus increasing sales and expanding market reach;

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for an entrepreneur, aged 21 to 28 years, who has maintained management excellence; Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for female entrepreneur who has shown exemplary management of her business;

Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has applied practical, innovative and market oriented approach to the business or has created products and services which address the challenges faced by communities, helped solve complex social problems and benefited the marginalized and the poor;

and LDS Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has demonstrated leadership and excellence in business, church and community and has been a mentor to other blossoming entrepreneurs.

* The event was a great success and was attended by many including Cebu based Businessmen, officers of the Yamagata Foundation and of course, Steve and Bette Gibson.

Here is the link to the Master Entrepreneur Awardee via YOU TUBE.

DISCLAIMER

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This blog is not in any way affiliated with the Academy for Creating Enterprise or the Called2Serve foundation or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The research found herein and the maintenance of this site is contributed by RM Viking Trade Resources INC, a privately held Philippine Company who believes in the Spirit of Entrepreneurship and of Financial Education as the main keys of alleviating poverty.

For more information, please contact Paul Ryan Gusay- pregusay@gmail.com.

The Academy for Creating Enterprise Story

2009-01-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

In June of 1993 Steve Gibson sold his Denver, Colorado-based home healthcare business since Steve and his wife Bette felt to do more important things other than concentrate on earning a living. On an occassion, Steve meditated on a talk by Warner Woodworth, a BYU professor who spoke about an organization that made Micro Credit loans in the Philippines. Steve found that he could meet several of his goals by volunteering with this organization, so he accompanied the founder and former Baguio mission president, Menlo Smith to the Philippines.

During his first visit to Cebu, Steve was so excited that he could not sleep. During the wee hours of the morning, he encountered a chapter in a book he was reading entitled "Even Eagles Need a Push," which contained a story about a Starfish Thrower. It relates the story of a young boy in a beach throwing starfish back into the water while a grown up commenting that the boy's efforts was futile since there were tens of thousands washed ashore. The young boy, picking up one of the starfish and throwing it back into the water responded, "It will make a difference to this one, and this one." as he throwed back another starfish. The impact of this story on Steve has led them to a unique mission call that will impact the lives of many Filipinos.

In November of 1999, armed with boxes of training materials, they made the move from Provo to Cebu and distributed 1300 applications in a CES Countrywide conference. A friend of theirs- Ed Siady found them a large home in a compound which was to be the ACE Training headquarters, helped them set up a bank account and hire a secretary.

The applications were slow at first and Steve and Bette would travel to the post office every day to check if there were submissions. One day came 1, then two then 11 at a time. Tears streamed their eyes after receiving 75 applications for the first batch of 25 students.

After 19 months of setting up the Academy for Creating Enterprise, the Gibsons returned to Provo in May of 2001. They have returned several times since then. Their love and prayers continue for the Filipino people as they pass the Operations to a very capable all-Filipino staff.

In his own words, "I still remember the story of the Star Thrower. I know we can't make a difference in the lives of every Filipino Returned Missionary, but I do feel that we have made a difference in the lives of nearly 1,375 so far and I truly feel that we have just began," Brother Gibson said.

The legacy of the Academy for Creating Enterprise continues as it starts to reap the success of their graduates in their individual fields of businesses. The recently concluded Entrepreneur Academy Awards held last October 11, 2008 as co-sponsored by the Yamagata Foundation was a startling phenomenon as each finalist was evaluated and paneled by judges from the Community, Business leaders and the Academe. The finalists have proven that the formula for success lies in business and financial education.

Follow us as we recount to you the various successes of ACE graduates.

SME- our country's only hope

2008-12-31T04:37:00.000-08:00

The Philippines is a very young republic and small to medium enterprises may very well be the only hope that will stabilize the country. The bigger the Entrepreneur bandwagon, the better. There are a lot of organizations in the country, including organizations and foundations that believe in the Filipino's capacity to engage in such.

To sight a few we have:

1. ACE- (Academy for Creating Enterprise) a not for profit organization that is based in Cebu City that provides scholarships to LDS (Latter-day Saints) Returned Missionaries so they may be equipped with the basic skills to start small businesses. For more information on their website: www.creatingenterprise.com

2. GONEGOSYO- a program that has been started by Joey Concepcion, which seeks to promote Entrepreneurship as a good alternative to livelihood. They have been received very well by various communities and have been spearheading, commercializing even the successes of various Filipino Businesses in the hopes of implanting a business mindset to the populace.

The big businesses came from small ones and hopefully through this blog, we might bring to light the wonderful success stories of our Filipino brothers and sisters. Kudos!