The pursuit of excellence and ethics is true success

A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires. — Marcus Aurelius

Action is eloquence. — William Shakespeare

BEIJING — Today is the birthdate of two people this writer reveres and whom all entrepreneurs, leaders, homemakers, students, professionals and others can learn from in terms of what I believe should be the true measure of success, excellence and ethics: Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (121 AD) and the great English poet-playwright William Shakespeare (1564).

Not only President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the 2010 presidentiables or business leaders in our society, but also all leaders and ordinary folks like me should draw inspiration from the character and life record of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

A very important leader behind the world’s fastest-growing major economy, China Premier Wen Jiabao said he has read and reread 100 times this Roman emperor’s work Meditations. He wrote it in Greek while campaigning between the years 170 and 180. This 2,000-year-old book is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its “exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness.”

Creativity: Source Of Economic Power & True Success

Today is also the 445th birth anniversary of William Shakespeare, the sublime writer who gave us King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice and other literary masterpieces. My late educator mother told me as a child that if I aspired to write just one outstanding novel or great poetry, I could achieve immortality like Shakespeare or Li Po.

William Shakespeare’s life and works epitomized excellence and creativity, which we should aspire for, not considering as acceptable the easy way out like our “puwede na iyan” attitude.

I strongly believe that more than our natural and mineral resources, creativity is one of the finest true resources of the Philippines, which we should develop, cherish and maximize to make the Philippine economy truly globally competitive.

I have written this many times in this column and want to reiterate, that we should develop our economy’s high fashion, arts, furniture, crafts, Internet media, entertainment, music and tourism industries with creativity as our differentiation and value added — not just labor inputs or labor exports. 

We must encourage, nurture and financially reward our artists — whether visual artists, literary writers, media, theater, music or others — in order to enhance our Philippine economy’s competitive edge. Creativity is a source of priceless wealth, of economic power and success. We must develop and unleash the creative resources of the Philippines, which are more valuable than all the mineral deposits, arable lands and other physical resources of our 7,107 islands.

To our government and business leaders — we must also create, or attempt to create, international brand names like China is now fast doing with its Lenovo computers, TCL and Changhong TVs, Haier appliances, Chery cars, and so many others. Many Chinese enterprises are following — and fast outdoing and outshining — their counterparts in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, even America.

In the Philippines, some of the homegrown brands that have made inroads into the vast China market include San Miguel Beer (where’s the beer brand of taipan Lucio Tan? His Eton Hotel is already in Shanghai and his Allied Bank in Xiamen City); Metrobank, which is doing well in Shanghai; Oishi (owned by low-key billionaire taipan Carlos Chan); Bench of Ben Chan (younger brother of the Oishi boss); Jollibee of Tony Tan Caktiong and Ernesto Tanmantiong (their initial forays using the Jollibee brand name weren’t successful, but their family never gave up and now owns the Yonghe King fast food brand all over China); Jack n Jill snack foods of John Gokongwei Jr. (under the Chinese brand name Jen Jen), and a few others. Coffee-shop chain Figaro also has a presence here now.

Good Governanace In Politics, Good Ethics In Business

On Sept. 28, 2008, CNN reporter Fareed Zakaria interviewed Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and here is the interesting part of their exchange touching on Marcus Aurelius and his lessons about the true meaning of success and happiness:

“You have said that you have read the works of Marcus Aurelius 100 times,” Zakaria said. “Marcus Aurelius is a famous Stoic philosopher. My reading of him says that one should not be involved in the self and in any kind of pursuits that are self-interested, but should be more for the community as a whole. When I go to China these days, I’m struck by how much individualism there is, how much consumerism there is. Are you trying to send a signal to the Chinese people to think less about themselves and more about the community?”

“It is true,” Jiabao replied. “I did read the Meditations written by Marcus Aurelius on many occasions. And I was very deeply impressed by the words that he wrote in the book to the effect that, where are those people who were great for a time? They are all gone, living only a story, or some even just half a story.

“So, I draw the conclusion that only people are in the position to create history and to write history.

“I very much value morality. And I do believe that entrepreneurs, economists and statesmen alike should pay much more attention to morality and ethics.

“In my mind, the highest standard to measure the ethics and morality is justice.

“It is true, in the course of China’s economic development, some companies have actually pursued their profits at the expense of morality. And we will never allow such things to happen.

“We will not allow economic growth at the expense of the loss of morality, because such an approach simply cannot be sustained. That’s why we advocate corporate, occupational and social ethics.”

Indeed, this writer believes that true success in this short yet exciting life God has gifted us with is not just about money, fame, power or creature comforts; it should be more about the passion for and pursuit of excellence and goodness.

* * *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments are welcome at willsoonflourish@gmail.com or add me in Facebook to e-mail me.