Mario King: Cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitute’

Entrepreneur of the Year

CEBU, Philippines — In a world full of intellectuals offering their expertise how to outsmart in the competitive world of business, Cebu's 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year Mario King however, only has one secret to share; cultivating an "Attitude of Gratitute."

Mario is one of the five heirs of a conglomerate their father late Juanito I. King founded in 1957--the King's Quality Food, which later expanded to strings of diversified businesses such as Nitos Auto Supply, construction, and industrial equipment supplies, among others.

But despite this clearer way of relying his fate into the already established family business, Mario made his own mark, alongside helping the succession of their parents' legacy, now led by third generation Kings of Cebu.

He is the man behind making motorcycles affordable to thousands of Filipinos through Nitos International Ventures Inc., the company behind the household motorcyle brand–SKYGO.

This unassuming big man in business is also the father of the Sto. Niño de Cebu Finance Corporation, a financing arm that caters to car financing, personal loans, appliance financing and group financing.

What makes Mario shine above the others in his caliber, is his deep connection to the ground, making gratitude his main and single vessel to attainting what he is today. A czar of gratitude.

CLICHÈ

In his 45 years of experience in the business, Mario discovered this simple thing, an antidote to greed, envy and entitlement –which are the obvious pitfalls of most businesses, and even those who are still starting out, or even praying to try into business.

In fact, his claim to success is even a cliché that is often forgotten and buried, jaded by the struggles and striving to get on top.

"Everything is a gift," Mario shared his conviction that cultivating an attitude of gratitude every day is the cure of failure. For him, this is not just a mere cliche, but it should be a philosophy everyone should live by–if they want to be successful in everything they do.

Mario is a living reflection of this overused, yet rarely applied attitude, where he and his wife Haydee champion the offering of socialized housing for Cebuanos, who can hardly afford a decent home.

Through the J. Nitton Development Corporation, hundreds of socialized housing units were built, and is still bent on building more in the coming years.

Socialized housing projects by the way, are not the cup-of-tea among conventional residential developers. It is stingy in giving profits.

Yet, out of gratefulness, Mario through his company has raised the bar on this unpopular segment in real estate development.

Carbon Boy

A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Management, Mario had to fight an inner struggle after college, either to join the family's business back in Cebu, or start a new life apart from what he grew up with.

"I spent two weeks in La Union after graduation to clear my mind," in his solitude he sensed an immense drive to go back home to repay his parents' sacrifices.

Fresh from solid theoretical and intellectual know-how in managing a business, the eldest of Juanito's brood is back to the muddy corners of Carbon market every morning to his routinary job of buying kilos of meat for their processed food business – the "Carbon Boy."

His decision to settle back home transformed him into a more versatile and compassionate leader, both in business and in altruism.

Turning Point

While he was busy building his own business, as well as overseeing his family’s corporation, Mario was drawn to several social and civic events, aside from leading the Juanito I. King Foundation since its inception in 1991.

His turning point in deciding to put his heart into building houses for the lower income families, was during his deep involvement with Habitat for Humanity Philippines-Cebu.

Mario briefly took the reins of the chairmanship position after the death of close friend Roberto Aboitiz.

He said the joy and the unfiltered emotions of gratefulness from beneficiaries of the project have always been among the greatest and joyous feeling he ever felt. It is actually beyond the thrill and deliciousness of having everything material one could have.

Aside from his involvement in Habitat for Humanity, Mario is also putting his hands-on attention to DREAM Projects catering to children with special needs and the bridging digital divide project, an adopt-a-school computerization project for remote public schools in Cebu.

The Heart Of Success

Mario said that when one has accomplished everything and reached the top, ironically the very essence of success is not found up there but rather from the hearts of grateful people who consider everything as a gift.

A true entrepreneur only finds true success in a place of no rugged edges. It is in the space of doing business from the heart. In generosity, Mario mastered the art of compassion, a by-product of constant gratitute. Business for him can only enjoy the rewards of genuine success if these were the main foundation of every venture.

Over the years, his company's success has not been put on the spotlight. "We have always been low-key," he said.

Yet, the radiance of his heart cannot remain unnoticed. The Cebu business community through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) proclaimed him as 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year on Friday night, during the Grand Chamber Awards to culminate the month long Cebu Business Month (CBM 2018) celebration.

Looking Closer

Indeed, there are easier roads to gratitute. Looking closer, he found the hidden folds of life. Somehow, he was able to find the forgotten or unsuspected treasures, which have not appreciated for want of time or attention–they are the gifts of life, some apparently banal, some special. If we are distracted, we miss them; if we notice them, we are happier and therefore, we can honestly call ourselves successful in any form.

No business is small or big enough, unless it finds its purpose "and we give our best and heart into it," he said.

At 63, Mario continues to spread this credo of gratitute in business and outside business.

Being recognized as one of the bastions of Cebu's business, he doesn’t have to say tons of advises, only inviting everyone to practice being grateful in all circumstances–both good and bad news.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," 1Thes. 5:18