'Iron Man 2's lessons for businesspeople, professionals & the next president

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance. — Confucius

Courage is a special kind of knowledge; the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared. — David Ben-Gurion

SINGAPORE — This writer was recently invited to Singapore for a meeting and I passed the time waiting for my return flight by watching Hollywood flick Iron Man 2, which was good entertainment but not as refreshingly fun as the first version.

By the way, Ateneo de Manila University president, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, asked me to remind people that tomorrow is the 400th death anniversary of the Italian Jesuit scholar Fr. Matteo Ricci, SJ, who spent most of his life in China under the Ming Dynasty and was the first Westerner allowed to enter the Forbidden City palace complex in Beijing. Like Fr. Nebres, the great Fr. Ricci loved math, science, Chinese culture and Confucian values.

Here are a few lessons I believe businesspeople, professionals and even the new set of political leaders — foremost of whom will be the next Philippine president — can learn from the movie Iron Man 2:

• Surround yourself with loyal and competent staff. Look at Robert Downey Jr.’s character, the mercurial tycoon Tony Stark: no matter how chaotic his business career or personal life becomes, he doesn’t implode and his business empire still survives. Why? He has loyal and competent employees like his efficient personal assistant, Virginia “Pepper” Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Another key staff member is Stark’s bodyguard and chauffeur, Happy Hogan, played by Jon Favreau. Even in the case of the former actor Ronald Reagan, he did well as leader of the US because he surrounded himself with good people. Another example was Liu Bei of the Shu Kingdom during China’s Three Kingdoms era — he got the services of a man who was much smarter than himself, the strategic genius Zhuge Liang (also called Kong Ming).

• Keep trade secrets truly secret! It was shocking that the swashbuckling billionaire industrialist Tony Stark had mindlessly and irresponsibly lost one of his prized Iron Man suits to the United States military due to a best friend stealing it during one night of irresponsible and drunken carousing. How come security was lax? How come there were no backup security systems? KFC and Coca-Cola are the world’s biggest fast-food and soft-drink businesses due to their well-kept trade secrets: Colonel Sanders’ chicken recipe and Coke’s secret formula.

• Collect and love art. For this writer who is an art lover, one small detail from Iron Man 2 made me exceedingly happy. Tony Stark is also an art collector! In fact, Pepper complains to her boss about why he suddenly decides to donate his collection of 8,011 pieces of art to the Boy Scouts of America, a collection she had personally curated. One doesn’t have to be a tycoon to collect art. Though it has been proven worldwide that buying art can be a good investment, unlike buying expensive cars that depreciate, I buy only art that I love and appreciate, and I have never resold. I suggest that we buy art we truly admire. I prefer young but talented artists in their 40s or younger.

Among my recent art purchases include three beautiful works by top painters Manny Garibay and Iggy Rodriguez from Boston Gallery in Quezon City, at a fundraising project by Concerned Artists of the Philippines and the Council for Health and Development to help the so-called “Morong 43.” These 43 health volunteers, one of whom is the wife of former UP College of Fine Arts Dean Neil Folorican, were said to have been illegally detained by the military. The military claims they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA). I am not in favor of communism and I disagree with the NPA’s use of violence in their struggle, but I admire the paintings of Garibay and Rodriguez, and I do not favor the illegal military or police detention of anyone.

Another work I recently bought was a unique oil painting by top artist Alfredo Esquillo Jr. I also bought works by various artists at the “Art in the Park” project of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines held in Salcedo Village, Makati, last Feb. 27, thanks to the invitation of Trickie Lopa. One of the oil paintings I bought there was by Lawrence Borsoto, at the recommendation of Harvard-educated Congressman Sonny Angara, who described Borsoto as “talented but underrated.” I recently also bought works by CJ Tañedo, Jepoy Almario and others at a recent exhibit at Tala Gallery in Quezon City. Also in February, during the reunion of UP Fine Arts batch 1989, I bought 25 beautiful artworks by Norman Dreo, Grandier Bella, Juan Sajid Imao, Jasper de Leon, Tessa Alcantara, Nikulas Lebajo, Omar Sebastian, Kweenie Y. Cotton, Aba Lluch Dalena and Rogel Tapang. There are many other paintings I’ve been collecting every month. Let us support the arts even if government does not!

• Be humble always. Whether for businesspeople, professionals or politicians in this election, it is advisable to avoid being like the cocky Tony Stark or his business rival — the no-less-arrogant and delusional Justin Hammer (played by actor Sam Rockwell) — who act like the narcissistic tycoon Donald Trump. At a midnight meeting with Megastar Sharon Cuneta and her uncle, Senator Tito Sotto, the latter told me that one of the lessons he learned from politics is that “Filipinos like humble people and dislike people who are perceived to be haughty or overconfident.” Why do I admire billionaires Li Ka Shing of Hong Kong, Henry Sy, John Gokongwei Jr. or Manny Villar? They are all humble, down-to-earth, no airs, not swellheads.

• Study the sciences and math. Whatever our professions, we should adopt from hero Tony Stark and his foe, the Russian villain Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke), their love of science and math. Stark is a math and science whiz who graduated summa cum laude from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (JG Summit Holdings chairman and CEO James L. Go also earned two science degrees from MIT in Boston), while Vanko is also a physics whiz. It is sad that Philippine society is aping our former colonizer America too much, idolizing more lawyers, bar topnotchers and showbiz stars instead of entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers. All the political leaders of China’s “economic miracle,” from President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao to past and future leaders, are all engineers. Let us focus more on science, math, and economic development! Tech whizzes Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft and others also show us that science and math are a great way to build world-class fortunes! For businesspeople or the next president, invest more in research and development (R&D) on technology.

• Never underestimate foes. The cocky Tony Stark is so sure of his success that he haughtily proclaims before the US Congress and world media that no country or business rival comes close to replicating his Iron Man technology. Of course, he is wrong for resting on his laurels and almost gets blown away by upstart Vanko. In this national election, I have personally seen front-running candidates acting as if they are already sure winners, which is bad for their public image as well as competitive spirit.

• Be fair to all people, especially foes. Was the late dad of arms tycoon Stark too harsh on the late dad of Vanko, so much so that this son forever seethed with vengeful fury? Whether in business, the professional arena or in politics, we must be fair to others. Even if one wins over our competitors, there is no need to be cruel, brutish or vindictive. To the election winners, be magnanimous and humble! In fact, I believe a good entrepreneur shouldn’t totally kill off or wipe out one’s competitor, or else how can we improve and show the world our superiority in service or quality? I believe one reason Meralco is hated by consumers is the fact that it’s been a monopoly with no competition. In following the Biblical decree “love your enemies,” do not only pray for the survival of your competitors but also be fair to them!

• Trust, love and obey parents and elders. Tony Stark had an unresolved grudge against his late father, who founded Stark Industries. He never appreciated his dad’s love. No matter what happens, we should trust, obey and love our parents and family elders. They have more experience. They have our best interests at heart. Look at what the younger Stark eventually learned.

• Do not surrender to bad politics. We citizens are the true masters of our ostensibly democratic society. Political leaders, police, military generals, and bureaucrats are all so-called “public servants.” We should not cower in fear from our modern-day datus. Look at how the pesky US senators tried to threaten business leader Stark. If we are right and fair, we should not let them step all over us. In our Philippine society, it is tragic that rotten politics have for decades obstructed sustained economic progress and scared away investors. Let us hope, pray and work for a society where good politics can facilitate and support more businesses, more investments, and more progress!

• Do not self-medicate; seek help or advice. Whether it’s our physical health or emotional problems, business or other woes, do not be too prideful, scared or embarrassed to seek help from friends, doctors, accountants, financial analysts, good lawyers or experts. Nobody is truly Iron Man — even the best entrepreneur or genius needs to seek a second opinion or professional advice. Look at Tony Stark: his stubborn penchant for secrecy and self-medication almost kills him, and it is eventually timely outside help that leads him to his ultimate salvation and triumph.

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