Don’t have to BS
September 27th, 2006 by 
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Loading ...The last two weeks, we have been hopping around city to city ( Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, and last stop is Vancouver) on a business mission trying to sell our city to prospective investors. I am doing this as a consultant to our city investment promotions office for which I am paid 1 peso a year ( an equivalent of 2 US cents in salary per year). I also have to spend for my own travel expenses so it really is not a very well paying job. The actual payout is the experience, the satisfaction of doing something for your city, plus of course, I also have an opportunity to meet lots of businessmen to pitch our company and its services as well.
It is always good business to participate in community projects. The goodwill and the experience are things that you cannot get elsewhere.
One of the things I have gained considerably the last two years is being comfortable with our business. We have passed the days when we used to grow triple digits and high double digits, and more or less have become more stable. There is not much high growth, but that is OK. The perk is that once you accept that, you also get more to accept yourself.
One of the things ( after talking to over a hundred business people) is that many of them express appreciation that our mission ( including my companions) are all straight talkers. We promote, but we answer the questions in a straightforward, no nonsense manner. If there are problems, we say so. And that is I believe one of the greatest perks of success - that you don’t have to BS to get projects or customers, and you are not under heavy pressure to accept business ventures that intuitively you feel is not the right partnership. You have a good track record to show, and you let it do the talking.
On introspection, I found out that many of the problems we have had as a business the last few years was trying to force yourself to accept projects that you feel starts off with the wrong expectations of the customers or is not really the prime focus of your business. However, because at that time, you were under pressure to generate business, so even if your gut feel does not feel right, you plunge into it anyway, and make promises that you may be unlikely to keep or fulfill.
Many times, that really boomerangs, and end up causing more damage than benefit. I think the best way for business to grow on the long term is to be healthy - as they say, don’t marry for the sake of marrying. It pays to take time first to nurture, and make sure first because both sides can be hurt if both plunge into it with rose colored eyes or false pretenses and expectations.
September 28th, 2006 at 5:28 am
Wilson,
Tony just forwarded me an article that you wrote regarding your recent business visits as a member of the Cebu delegation. At the end of the article is a link that brought me to this site. Reading the stuff that you wrote, I must say that you are doing very well, indeed.
I’m very interested in your mission to make Cebu a center for information technology. I don’t have an in-depth knowledge of computer technology and the wonders it has done to modern life. However, I do have a two-cent’s worth on this specific topic of putting our beloved Cebu on the tech map.
From an academician’s perspective (of course), I believe universities and college need to be proactive toward this goal.
For one, math and science curricula need to be revamped starting from the elementary level. Also, colleges and universities need to focus not only on teaching pure computer science but also on management and business skills related to computer and information technology/industry. To stay competitive, students have to learn, for example, how to finance technology operations, how to manage projects, how to supervise partnerships, and how to assess the risks related to this industry, what are the laws that regulate the industry, etc.
Another initiative could be a joint corporate-university program that employs students on actual projects for participating companies. This is akin to apprenticeship.
Needless to say, the government has to do something, too. For one, it should drastically reduce bureaucracy and red-tapes. In addition, it should increase budget allocation, if indeed it exists, for R&D to ensure the growth of innovation and to explore cutting-edge technologies. Is it too far-fetched to say that the government should help by investing in start-up companies or lower the cost of capital access?
Anyway, Wilson, we can talk more about it. See you tonight at Peking Duck Restaurant.
Your aging former history teacher,
Mrs. Lim
September 28th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
Wilson, we’ve known each other thru Ecademy and we have personally met sometime last 2004.
I absolutely agree with most of what you have written especially that of participating in community projects. But how far does participation go? Does it mean following what has been laid out to you or would ingenuity play a big role towards participation and helping the community grow?
We, at Co-OpWorld, is up to help communities around the globe. We, too, need your participation and hopefully you can take a second look of what we have and what we hope to achieve for the world.
You would not even have to travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars just to connect to business people overseas because this is one of the things we do at Co-OpWorld thru our 3D Online Expo.
I will be in Cebu from Oct. 3 to 9 and hopefully, you’ll be around. You may email me should you want to meet-up to further discuss whatever needs to be discussed.