The book launch of Go Negosyo, Joey Concepcion's 50 Inspiring Entrepreneurial stories, was graced by no less than President Gloria Arroyo, to whom the importance of creating an enterprising Filipino culture is top priority.
Fifty individuals are featured, embodying what Prof. Andy Ferreria calls “The Entrepreneurial Spirit.”
Not only business owners are featured, as one expects, but also a selection from each of the three incarnations of entrepreneurs, as defined by Ferreria: The Classic entrepreneur, imbued with passion for an idea identifying a suitable market opportunity and having the capability to create products and services; the Corporate entrepreneur, be-suited executives who apply entrepreneurial principles to their work; and the Social entrepreneur, whose business strive to help others.
Stories of Classic Entrepreneurs are in abundance: Hair and Beauty magnates, brothers Ricky and Lester Reyes, Mozcom's William Torres, Splash's Roland Hortaleza, Island Souvenirs Jay Aldeguer, Bench's Ben Chan, Jollibee's Tony Tan CakTiong, French Baker's John Lu Koa, Figaro's Pacita Juan, National Bookstore's Socorro Ramos, Cibo's Gaita Fores and Julie's Bakeshops' Julie Gandionco.
Corporate Entrepreneurs Jaime Zobel De Ayala, applying entrepreneurial principles in the group's daily operations, the Lopez Family of ABS-CBN and Meralco, and Industry stalwart Raul Concepcion.
Among the Social Entrepreneurs are PlantersBank's Jesus Tambunting, pioneers of Small Business (SME) lending; Iliac Diaz of Pier One Seaman's Dorm, which provides clean affordable temporary accomodations to seafarers; and Vivienne Tan of the Entrepreneur's School of Asia.
Ricky Reyes, with his Isang Gunting, Isang Suklay programs, and livelihood training programs also fits into this category. In doing good, social entrepreneurs do well themselves.
Belonging in all categories, are tycoons John Gokongwei, Jr. and Henry Sy, whose massive empires create opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-ups: whether as dealers of their manufactured products, tenants of their giant malls, and clients of their bank's SME lending programs.
At the end of each short story are invaluable lessons gleaned by Prof. Ferreria from each entrepreneurs' life story:
“Build your enterprise around your passion. See if your passion has a market. Alternatively, check if fulfilling habits of customers who pay is your passion.” from Jay Aldeguer; “Entrepreneurs choose an enterprise not because of the money but because it is something they like.” and “Leveraging on current resources is a hallmark of an entrepreneur.” from Paolo Bediones. “Dare to be different, but make sure you are making a difference in the market and the company financials.” from Larry Cruz.
“When there is a shortage of supply in the market, there is opportunity.” and “If you want to earn more, delegate to others, but make sure your cost of delegation is less than the revenue of the delegated work.” from Socorro Ramos; “Social entrepreneurshipis something all classic entrepreneurs must go for.” and “Entrepreneurs have a positive outlook, they see opportunity in crisis.” from Ricky Reyes.
For several years, we have belabored under the idea that our economy is going nowhere. Is it really? Or is there already a yet unseen revolution ready to burst out and feed this nation for many lifetimes?
With the Go Negosyo program, we may just be on the verge of an economic renaissance, witnessing the birth of a new economy, with people trained not to look for jobs, but to look for opportunities, and create enterprises that create jobs.
