Andrian Lee digs gadgets, Neo and Thomas Edison

Every Thursday, Andrian Lee goes to the Victory Leadership Institute in Fort Bonifacio, Makati where he works as a volunteer. Here in this newly opened school, Andrian feels the joy of a marketing director who was successful in raising P200 million to build VLI. From conception to opening, Andrian helped develop this five-story school on a one-hectare land for the Protestant church. "The institute is all about nurturing and developing the character of a good leader," he says.

Trevoca.com is the e-commerce company that Andrian Lee, 35, started three-and-a-half years ago. Catering to doctors, he sells multivitamins and food supplements through the Internet and text messaging. Clients pay for their purchases to a bank, and FedEx delivers the Trevoca products. With 25 employees and 30,000 active distributors, this bachelor’s company is the biggest customer of FedEx.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

The inability to accept failure because failure is a fact of life.

What is your passion?

My epitaph will read, "Builder of enterprises, builder of ministries, builder of men."

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My high tolerance for pain and conflict. I allow them to continue even when I should have put my foot down in the first place.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I detest negative fatalistic attitude. We should live our lives by faith. Being negative robs me of optimism.

What sports do you do?

I am committed to going to the gym three to four times a week.

Where are you most comfortable?

Wherever things are organized and planned.

What books influenced your life?

21 Immutable Laws of Leadership and Falling Forward (about moving on after a failure), both by John Maxwell. I am now reading Wild at Heart by John Eldridge on discovering the secrets of a man’s soul.

Which hero of fiction can you most identify with?

I love The Matrix. Neo is a hero because of his discovery of his mission in life. For us, life has meaning only when we unlock our purpose.

What is your current state of mind?

On launch mode. I’m concentrating on my new product and new division in my company. And I’m also planning the marketing campaign for VLI. I feel the pressure and the heat.

If you had the chance to change something in your life, what would that be?

I would be more athletic because the first half of my life I was overweight and sedentary. I only recently learned the value of fitness.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I am a gadgets geek. I like Palm Pilots, audio equipment...

What is the first thing you look for when you meet a woman?

Spunk. A quietly confident positive attitude.

Which historical character would you like to have been?

The period in his life when Thomas Edison discovered the light bulb and the phonograph.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

On the business level, my transition from being a corporate employee to an entrepreneur, because I failed in my first two businesses. Also, being able to apply my marketing skills to build VLI.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Contentment and thankfulness for being where I am right now.

Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?

"Begin with the end in mind."

Name an embarrassing moment at work.

Just yesterday I made someone wait an hour because I was late.

What do you most do with your hands?

Writing creative brochures, business materials.

What is your most fervent wish?

For the Philippines to become a progressive nation, a nation with real leaders, a nation of renown instead of shame.

How do you resolve your conflicts?

One can only minimize conflict. I believe in continuous communication and feedback.

What words or phrases do you overuse?

Really?

* * *

E-mail babycamp2 @yahoo.co.uk.