Business success begins in the home

I had a wonderful time speaking to some 600 plus public teachers in Vigan last week. I guess not many people know that while I do a lot of corporate trainings, I also give faculty development seminars, student leadership trainings and parenting talks every now and then. Teachers need to be inspired and I have been privileged to do this and have been doing this for the past many years.

During the question and answer portion, one teacher asked me a pointed question: “Francis, what in your opinion is the reason why our educational system has deteriorated over the years?”

I thought about it and said, “Perhaps one of the reasons why education has eroded is our inability to maintain our standards and our wrong sense of compassion passing students when they do not deserve to.” And the moment I said these words there was a roar of laughter and a slight commotion among the teachers as most of them agreed with what I said. At some point the blame game should stop and looking at ourselves in the mirror would be very helpful. It is not a hopeless situation but the hope should come from within the heart of every person.

Consider this true story I would like to share with you.

I got a phone call from MaryAnne, one of the coordinators of the famous morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda” inviting me to guest in a segment that will be talking about teaching parents to train their children to save money. I took the offer. Segments like these are designed to help people improve their lives and I am all out for it.

His name is Rommel Janapin and he goes to a public school. His parents call him “Onel.” He is a first year high school student, his mother is a manicurist and his father takes odd jobs in construction. One look at Onel and he reminds you of the many underprivileged and poor people we see all over the country. But something happened to the boy. He placed 3rd in the show’s Halloween costume contest and won an electric fan as his take home prize. He sold his electric fan and used the money as capital for a makeshift breakfast cart.

And now Onel wakes up at 4 a.m., goes to the market to buy things he needs for his mini-business, his father and mother now prepares the food and with a smile on his face Onel tells me he cooks the eggs every morning. By the time the interview took place Onel has made a little money, bought an electric fan and continues to do his business.

Now this story would not have been so inspiring if it were not for one major detail that I should will leave out. And here is the punch line: He manages to stay at the top of his class even while managing his business!

The segment host, the witty and charming Edu Manzano (nice guy!) was visibly moved with the boy and he asked him this question: “Onel, why are you doing this?”

Onel, unpretentiously, unscripted simply responded: “Because I can see how hard my father and mother work every day and I decided I wanted to help.” So wouldn’t you think that if this were the values all of our children have in the home then our country would be in a better situation today?

Edu looked at me while the camera was on and asked me a pointed question: “Why do we not have more of these stories in our country?”

I replied with a story. One day a famous and wealthy businessman from Malaysia was  interviewed by a reporter and a question asked him was this: “How come you are seen all over the place with your wealth and power still being driven around in your very plain and humble car while your children are seen roaming the streets with their very fancy and luxurious sports cars?”

And this wealthy tycoon’s classic remark was short but powerful as he said, “Because they have a rich father and I don’t!”

Real poverty is in the mind, the heart and in the spirit.

After our short segment was over, Edu gave me a smile and pulled out P500 from his wallet, winked at me and said, “I love to help this kid.” Taking the cue from him and not wanting to appear insensitive I pulled out a P500 bill too and we both gave the money to Onel while his mother was teary eyes watching what was happening.

This is education that starts within the home.

Now do you want another punch line? Here it is. It’s been a month now when the segment aired and the latest news I got from MaryAnne is that the money that Edu and I gave, Onel has used it to add a new barbeque business and is currently doing very well.

There’s just no stopping a winner is there?

(Send me your feedback and write me: [email protected] You can also listen to my radio program “Business Matters” aired 8:30a.m. and 6:30 p.m. daily over 98.7 dzFE-FM ‘The Master’s Touch’, the classical music station.)