The game changers

I was in Singapore when I got the news that Steve Jobs passed away. All my life, the only computer I owned was a Mac. Since the very first Macintosh, which I bought when I was in my early 20s in San Francisco, I remember how excited I was to own my first computer. At my age that time, being in my early 20s, the Mac was the easiest to learn as I don’t like reading manuals.

For us during those days, owning a computer in your 20s was a privilege. But today, even my own four-year old daughter has her own iPad. Technology has really changed the way we do things and Steve Jobs is the greatest entrepreneur of our time. He has not only changed the game in technology, computers, music and communication, but has also made us all happy.

Going to an Apple store in the States for me is like going to the Disney store for my kids. It’s the only retail store that I see that is always full whenever I go and it seems somehow exempt from the recessionary environment prevailing in America. My friends who were once users of Bill Gates’ Windows have now shifted to Mac. Many of them doubted the Mac would succeed and I remember having countless debates with them why Mac and Apple will be the future of computers.

All is history now. Like in previous generations, people like Thomas Edison were game changers. I am glad that during our lifetime, we did see one great game changer really help make the use of technology a means to improve our life in a fun and entertaining way. The iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac and many other applications have given so many interesting ways to communicate, to have fun through games, to buy music, movies, TV shows and many more. We may not have had the privilege of meeting Steve Jobs in person, but what he has left behind is surely a great gift to our generation, and has raised the bar for others to be even better. And this will inspire others to become the next Steve Jobs...

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Tonight, as I write this column, is also the banquet for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, an annual event that is already on its eighth year. Previous Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year winners were Tony Tan Caktiong, Socorro Ramos, Senen Bacani, Fred Uytengsu , Atty. Felipe Gozon, and last year, Tennyson Chen. Many of them are Go Negosyo trustees or supporters today.

Last year, I was one of those who awarded one of the entrepreneurs for the small enterprise category, and the winner was Mr. Mang Inasal Injap Sia. Coincidentally, Go Negosyo awarded him four years ago. One week after he was awarded as EOY, he received the biggest award by getting an offer from Jollibee to buy Mang Inasal for P3 billion for 70 percent of the company. A great value for a company he started only seven years earlier. Truly a game changer in his industry.

Many of the finalists of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award are in a way part of Go Negosyo’s advocacy. Many of those who are recognized become part of the advocacy, just like Tennyson Chen, last year’s winner and a game changer in the poultry negosyo with Bounty Fresh and Chooks To Go. He has joined our summits to bring about inspiration to others that they can also do it.

Mr. Mang Inasal Injap himself helped produce the new book of Go Negosyo that will be launched on Oct. 20 and it will be featuring 50 young entreprenuers.

As this column comes out, we will know then who the winner is for Entrepreneur of the Year. My cousin Ton Concepcion of the Concepcion Group of Companies is one of the finalists. His brainchild is the Condura Negosyo Ref. He thought of the brand “Negosyo” during the time we launched Go Negosyo. Kidding him, I would say that he should pay us royalty, but ever since he used this brand, our ref business today has captured market leadership. He, too, supports the Go Negosyo advocacy and even if he does not win, he is already a game changer.

The finalists of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year are: Erramon I. Aboitiz, president and CEO of Aboitiz Power Corp.; Maria Fe P. Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resourcesp Inc., Francisco M. Bernardo III, president and founder of LET’S GO Foundation; Raul Anthony D. Concepcion, president and COO of Concepcion Durablesp Inc.; Bernard Faustino M. Dy, school vice-president of University of Perpetual Help Sytem – Isabela; Prudencio S. Garcia, president of Mekeni Food Corp.; Jaime Enrique Y. Gonzalez, CEO of IPVG Corp.; Pacita U. Juan, director for marketing of Earth Life Store Supply Inc.; Ferdinand Y. Marañon, president and CEO of Sagrex Corp.; Anna Meloto-Wilk, president of Gandang Kalikasan Inc.; Camille D. Meloto of creative director of Gandang Kalikasan Inc.; Reynaldo T. Paulino, managing director of Kraftika Filipina; Ronnel C. Rivera, president of Gensan Shipyard & Machine; Genevieve Ledesma-Tan, chief executive mentor of Southville International School and Colleges; Bienvenido V. Tantoco III, president of Rustan’s Supercenters Inc.; Winston S. Uy, president of Universal Leaf Philippines Inc.; and Franics Glenn L. Yu, president and CEO of SEAOIL Philippines Inc.

Congratulations, YOU ARE ALL GAME CHANGERS.

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Contact me: [email protected] or Joey Concepcion Facebook account. Visit www.gonegosyo.net. Watch the top rating entrep show GO NEGOSYO: Kaya Mo! on GMA News TV, Saturday and Sunday 8 to 8:30 a.m. Get daily Go Negosyo Text Tips in your mobile phone by sending GONEGO to 2910.