Special report by Trizza Castro - Art of War.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Factors that should make a Successful Entrepreneur by Marlon Pizarro - AGSB Clark
Before i was sent here in Clark, Pampanga to manage one of our business, i was working in Dasmariñas and Bacoor, Cavite handling our two gas stations and one motor hotel. Back in college, i was a constant student leader and fortunately, end up as our school's Student Executive Council President. I also do lay-out and graphic designing on the side (made steamers and billbaords) and sometimes host events when i got a free time.
Achievement Striving
It's says on my result that i place slightly less importance to my goals. When i was backtracking what i've been doing, it all suddenly struck me. Yes, i have set my goals before but have i've been eyeing it from the start or i get easily distracted with my environment specially my peers? Drinking, partying and socializing dominated most of my after graduation life. This result should serve as a heads up for me if i want to be successful before reaching my 30s.
Industriousness
The result says i have a low level of handling pressure or stress but i always thought that i get my brain juice going when i'm cramming and i know i have already tested myself on this. haha. Maybe i can be better if i avoid pressure instead and lately i also noticed that handling stress really gets me on my peek. i have been depressed because of this and being depressed only proves that i am not good at handling stress.
Passion
i am not surprised i have a low level of passion. The business i'm handling now is not out of what i want. it's a family business, i have to like it, love it and do it. i also don't base my decisions on what i feel emotionally because i believe that it is a form of weakness and could destroy the professional decision i am always rooting for.
Taking Control
I was speechless when i read the result. Everything that was written is correct and all me. Even though a lot of people see me as a leader, i often doubt myself. i'm always scared of the "what happens next". I'm only confident if i can clearly see the outcome of my decisions, i know, contrary to an entrepreneur, i'm not a good risk taker. i often try to reduce risk before jumping to it.
Creativity
For a graphic/lay-out artist, i got creativity as my lowest!!! i can't believe it at first but i thought, creativity doesn't mean someone is good with colors or designs. Creativity means that a person can innovate ideas and think things through in a new way. I admit it, i always go for "what is in the book" and traditional acts, maybe because i was thinking that these acts have been done and tested and the results are good. Making new ideas or acts gives us risks and like in my "Taking Control" part, i am not good with risks.
The results made me realize i have a lot to improve in order for me to be a successful entrepreneur. it also gave me hope that these traits are trainable and achievable. Yes, i was shocked and sad when i saw the results but it also motivated me that growing and progressing is a never ending process. Someday, with this guide, i can say i am successful. (sometimes test are not very reliable 3)
MARLON AARON H. PIZARRO
DIRECTOR / ERT-ESH COORDINATOR
Safety Officer
Unit 701 Alabang Business Tower, 1216
Acacia Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, 1770
No. 27 Lily Hill Plaza, C.M. Recto Highway,
Clarkfield, Pampanga
t: +63.2.556.8121 ALABANG
+63.45.499.2228 CLARK
f: +63.2.556.8267
m:+63.917.544.7456
Factora Paper - by Jose Tiburcio Canlas - AGSB Cark
Sir, here is my factor paper. thanks. - bong canlas
Factor Paper
By: Jose Tiburcio S. Canlas
There have been two instances in the past when I was given the opportunity to establish and operate businesses of my own. First, I was enticed to put up a CPA Review School. Second, I decided to practice my profession through the establishment of my own accounting firm. Both businesses were short – lived and did not succeed.
After a short stint at Punongbayan and Araullo, an accounting firm and then a member of Ernst & Young International, I was invited to teach in various CPA review schools. I have observed that the review schools where I was affiliated were earning good money and I was one of the reasons why reviewees enrolled in these review schools. A few years after, the thought of establishing my own review school started bothering me. I had an established name in the academe, enough capital to start a business venture, and I believed then it was easier for me to entice students to enrol in my own review school. So, in the first semester of 1995, I officially opened my own review school. The first semester was good but because of operational problems, I decided to shut down operations at the end of the second year.
For the years that followed, I got employed in private corporations, handling accounting and audit work, and moving up from supervisory to managerial positions. Along the way, I have met various business owners who later would become my inspiration and motivation in putting up my own accounting firm. So, in the first quarter of 2001, I officially started my accounting firm. The firm instantly grew with the coming of more clients usually due to referrals from existing clients. The growth was very fast and I was not able to catch up with the increase in the volume of work. Consequently, the quality of my professional services declined and in the second quarter of 2006, I stopped the operations of my firm.
Looking back, I can say that the qualities of an entrepreneur that I possessed and which led to the establishment of the above – described businesses were:
Dream
I have heard stories of successful owners of colleges who started as operators of review schools. They have also ventured into other businesses that made them even more successful. I have dreamed of becoming just like them. So, I had to get out from my comfort zone. I decided I should not be a CPA reviewer only but an owner of review school. I decided I should not be an accounting or audit manager only but the owner of an accounting firm.
Decisiveness
When I decided to put up an accounting firm, I knew I was leaving a quite comfortable work. If I stayed, I did not have to worry on funds to pay for my daily expenses, rentals for an office, salaries of staff and not to mention company – paid telephone lines and gasoline. So, it really took a will power to leave one's stable job and venture into a business that was still uncertain to succeed. The difficulties of starting all over again, organizing and providing capital for the business did not stop me from establishing the accounting firm which I planned for.
On the other hand, the qualities of an entrepreneur which I lacked and which led to the closure of the said businesses were:
Attention to Details
Attention to details is very important especially in managing the operating expenses of a business. In the case of my review school, the biggest operating expense was that for the space rentals. A continuing two – year lease contract was not appropriate for a starting review school. Full capacity occurred only during the first semester because of the greater number of students graduating in May. There would normally be less number of enrolees in the second semester. Instead of a continuing two – year lease contract, I should have opted for a lease agreement that was renewable on a per semester basis.
Fast
I was not fast enough in providing the demands of the business. In the case of my accounting firm, a few months after I started, the number of clients materially increased resulting to the lack of employees who were competent to perform the services demanded. I just found myself the only person capable of doing the services demanded, while my salaried employees were just waiting for me to accomplish the work needed. I was spreading myself too think that the quality of services started to dwindle. There were delays in the preparation of tax reportorial requirements. Dissatisfied clients then started to disengage and opted to transfer to other accounting firms.
Dedication
The time I devoted to the business was adversely affected by my personal relationships and commitments. I should have realized by then that to take the business off the ground, it needed the full commitment and close supervision of the owner. As I got distracted with a lot of things, I was not able to contain the fire burning within me when I started the business.
Right Motivation
In establishing the review school, I had the wrong motivation which was earning more money. What I had in mind then when I was still a CPA reviewer in other review schools was that I was the one bringing students to them, and thus, the one bringing in money for them. It was the wrong belief of enriching other people instead of enriching myself. So, I decided to put up my own. It could have turned right if the intention was to provide an exceptional preparation for the reviewees to help them pass the CPA board exams.
Looking forward, I still dream of putting up and operating my own accounting firm, this time, as a more disciplined entrepreneur, taking into consideration the good qualities of an entrepreneur which I have not applied in my previous businesses and armed with management skills I learned from my MBA subjects and the best practices shared by my colleagues. 4
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