Three masteries needed to be an entrepreneur

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

In the GSB, we were in agreement that there are three masteries that an entrepreneur to be truly one must master:

     1.  Self

     2.  Opportunities

     3.  Enterprise

It could not be pure technology mastery, or learning a trade or yema making or durian farming.   It has to start from the self.  Self improvement:   education, emotional, physical, spiritual are all part of mastery of self.  It involves development of leadership skills oral and written communication

There has to be mastery of self.  Thus Ii believe that a graduation skill of an entrepreneurship  student is the ability to write a comprehensive business plan that contains executive summary, organization, objectives,  marketing plan,  financial plan, operating plan, compliance with govt regulations, and exit strategy.  When this was no longer allowed,  I all ready wandered off to other pursuits.  

The entrepreneur must be able to spot opportunities around him.  What are the source of opportunities:   hobbies,  trends, changing customer wants and needs, and most commonly:  WHAT PISSES YOU OFF. ?

 According to Jack Ma, it is what the customer complains about.   (In your company or others.  The former head of Marriott makes sure that all complaints reaches him.   (That is what Ii try to do.  I read the FB messenger which are usually used as channels for complaints)

Not everybody can be entrepreneurs.  Not everybody can be online sellers without buyers.  Thus being entrepreneur is reserved for a selected few.  Many will try but only a few will succeed.

What do you think?

Where lies opportunities? In complaints, in what pisses you off?

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Most people think that innovation is left for a few and that is part of advanced thinking and black ops in business.  There is no secret to innovation

Find out what pisses off people, find out their complaints, find a solution and you are on your way,

Find the pain, let it go away.  Your solution is the innovation.   Solve  the complaint.

Opportunities abound; for every door that is closed, several will be opened

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

It was very disappointing and distressing that projects we were courting negotiating did not push through:

1.  Somebody balked and changed his mind from JV to sell after 6 months, and after accommodating the land owner for a hefty sum, and after having the project pre approved by the mayor.

2.  The one we are pursuing at an island province seemed to have stalled as we had no more news about our discussion on a proposed deal.

However I got the following offer:

1.  MP, untitled, 3 hectares on a mountain slope, a plateau and overlooking

2.  MP a 3.9 hectare project titled, no hill climb, for sale;  we proposed a JV.  What a relief from Guido case and all that controversy  

3.  A 2.9 hectare near the highway, overlooking, suitable for a high end big cut subdivision for a clustered vacation home project, resort, eatery, coffee shop.  Definitely a JV. 

So for one or two project lost, several will appear without you looking for a replacement.  

N. B.  Update.

1.  MP, untitled, 3 hectares on a mountain slope, a plateau and overlooking.   

      Not overlooking the Laguna Lake;   the ones that are overlooking at the back of the resort.

      Different negotiation.   The owners would like to build a school

     More accessible because of the Ynares avenue from Pantok, from Save more.   About 2.4 km.

     From Elem School about 1+ Km.  

2.  MP a 3.9 hectare project titled, no hill climb, for sale;  we proposed a JV.  What a relief from Guido case and all that controversy 

     So far away about 3 km from high way (from Phoenix) VM property.  So many ascent.    

     Roads are narrow.

3.  A 2.9 hectare near the highway, overlooking, suitable for a high end big cut subdivision for a clustered vacation home project, resort, eatery, coffee shop.  Definitely a JV. 

     The owner is the land owner and developer.   We can only get as much as 20% for

     Marketing  -    10%

     Design       -      5%

     Management -   5%.

     The owner is a contractor and does not have much experience in marketing and design.

So for one or two project lost, several will appear without you looking for a replacement.  

What should the starting point of business be: resources or opportunities

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

On our way to a buffet celebration in a spot near Roxas boulevard,  I saw many commercial building newly built with FOR RENT/LEASE SIGNS.   What happens when there are no takers, lessors, tenants.  Unproductive investment.  

The way we were made to understand and teach the entrep students was to seek opportunities first then provide the resources/production facilities.  

Hence we have the exercise known as serendipity walk, where the student is asked to walk as street and list down as many opportunities as he can see.    Some come out with several dozens and discover that they can be a consultant to those seeking business to establish.  

What do we call person who can see things that are not there?  Visionaries...  right....

One time we asked a Sales Manager of a multi storey condominium in front of a mens Univesity, why the condo was put up?  She said because he has too much money.....

Well what about those who have little capital and borrowed much.  Its a disaster.  

So the next time you put up a building, be sure you have a list of business needed in the area where you are putting up a building   No need to seek for tenants later on with the FOR RENT sign.  

Where would you invest?

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Two opportunities presented themselves to us:

1 One project located nearby, a town with 313k population, a jv, cap ex would be about 20M max:

7 for titling, advances to the land owner:  about P6M. There is no competition   The town exec wants this to be put up at once.   We can sell the plots at premium since there is no inventory in the town

2  Another in an island province.  Near a filled up existing similar business, Cap ex needed about P200M

There is an existing competition with about 10,000+ inventories.   Population is lower than the nearby town.   303K legit population count.  We cant sell at a premium since there is a competition.

The site is near prohibited establishment.   

I would prefer #1. because of lower cap ex.  Larger population,   No competition. 

 What about you?

Opportunity seeking follows the numbers game

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Even at this later stage in life, this office entertains many possible projects.  I think opportunities follow the law of numbers.  Of the so many in pipeline, only one or two will prosper.  Many obstacles will come up preventing success of the project:   1.  regulations,  2  internal dissent or lack of cooperation, 3.  the proposed partner mindset.  Lately one of our projects in the pipeline was cancelled because one of clearances was delayed, He lacked obviously patience and the maturity to come to a long term business  relationship.  He dared us to end the project, which we did.  We spent time effort, and over a year wrestling with the project. 

I was relieved that it was over.  It was second time he showed his lack of patience   On the other hand it was  a blessing in disguise because we did not get the desired row.

The other project was abandoned by the Board because lately we are having difficulty with LGU and 

its almost two years.  The LGU exec is a relative and has not been helpful.   

As my younger brother used to say, maybe " Not meant to be"     May be we will just use the project to cover our liabilities

Forecast in 2023 - it is going to be hard, but there are plenty of opportunities

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Crisis that toppled Credit Suisse Bank

It is going to be difficult.  Consider the external environment:   Ukraine Russia war, global climate change disasters:   earthquake, super typhoons, global energy challenge, bank runs in US and Europe

After 3 bank runs in US:  Silvergate, Silicon Valley and Signature, came Credit Suisse Bank, the oldest and 2nd biggest in Switzerland  It was bought by UBS, the biggest Swiss bank for only $3 B plus.  The $50 billion credit facility offered by Swiss National Bank failed to stave off bank run for CSB.  

What was bad, the deal zeroed $17 billion of bondholders.    Switzerland image as haven for world wealth would become uncertain, and certainly no longer the citadel, safe haven for your hard earned money

The net effect of this is the lose of faith and trust on the banking system world wide, and this is bad because bank is the core of capitalism and without that trust.  

Not to be left behind and shivering due to scandals like CSB is Deutsche Bank.   Just like CSB:  accused on ML cases, tax evasion, etc.   

Thus what are we going to do -  languish suffer and wait for cards to fall due to this banking crisis.  Certainly not.   We need to be entrepreneurial.

1.  There are problems to be solved  - poverty, credit, global change, waste management, energy

2.  Opportunities -  occasion to make money and create more wealth.  Take note that China minted many billionaires during the pandemic

3.  Leadership opportunities to solve the worldwide woes

4  There are industries that recession proof:  energy, shelter, clothing, food, and health care, tourism, transportation, hospitality

We see many opportunities to save and earn more money:   solar lamps, rider type lawn mower for maintenance, excavator for one of our processes. 

It is not over for the whole world   

Habang may buhay, may pag asa, may negosyo.  May pag yaman

Habang may buhay  

Job openings at Holy Gardens and its affiliates. Apply now

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Job vacancies:

       Memorial Park units:

        San Carlos City Pangasinan

        San Fernando La Union

        Calamba City Laguna,

        Oton Iloilo

. Holy Gardens Greenhills (Calamba Laguna)

    Memorial Park Supervisor

- ensure smooth operations of the office and memorial park site

- honest, diligent, hardworking

- goal- and detail-oriented

- location: Brgy. Barandal, Calamba City, Laguna

- send resume and cover letter, with the subject "HGG Application - Supervisor"

2. Holy Gardens La Union

Memorial Park Supervisor

- ensure smooth operations of the office and memorial park site

- honest, diligent, hardworking

- goal- and detail-oriented

- location: Dalumpinas Oeste, SFLU

- send resume and cover letter, with the subject "HGLU Application - Supervisor"

3. 3RD FLOOR Angono main office

1. Admin Hr

In charge of record keeping, hiring and training and admin matters

2. Accounting supervisor

1. Daily abstracts and collection and deposit reports from provinces

2. ICR and ledgers

3. Sharing with JV

4. PNL

5. Government reporting

3. Majorem Lending supervisor

1. Lending operations

2. Borrowing operations

3. Accounting

B. Staff

1, Accounting staff Angono

2. Accounting staff Provinces (La Union,, Pangasinan, Calamba, Oton)

3. Customer Service Specialists all offices

4. Management trainees for various discipline: finance, marketing, operations higher salary than entry level Promotion within 1 year to supervisory position

Our rates are competitive in MM and higher in the province. Oton rate is as in MM

Please send cv to

holygardens.ph@gmail.com

jorge@holygardens.ph@gmail.com

MARK THE TOP OF THE CV FOR YOUR POSTION BEING APPLIED FOR

AS say La Union Operations Supervisor

Apply now.

Tel. 0908 928 7888 Jorge

More business opportunities at the beginning of 2023 - forecasted to be bad year of the Rabbit

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Just had a conversation the other day with a business friend, a bank executive regarding her query of the possibility of investing in a memorial park in the capital of island province.   There are no more inventories, and the land she presented to be a possible site 3 years ago at P400/00 sm is now a city

cemetery.

What are the things that favor such a project:

1.  The only memorial park in the city is sold out.

2.   The selling price is  P115k/plot - but there are no inventories

3.   The population of city is 307 k.

4.   The city is first class with annual revenue of P3.8 billion

Memorial opportunities:

    1.  Death rate at 0.5% = 15,000 (we can sell in one year)

    2.  Household  300,000/5 =  60,000

    3.  Class A and B buyers =  10% =  30,000.

We can have buyers in excess of inventories.  We can cover by having say 20,000 columbarium 

Possible sites:

1.  5.2 hectare going up north at P1,200/sm  (about 60m cash)

2.  JV with religious for a columbarium

For the 5.2 hectare, the yield would be about 12,500 plots that can be sold for P80k per plot or 1B

What to do:

1.  Talk to the religious for combi project of  MP and columbarium/crematorium

2.  Agree to P1,200  stagger payment, secure pre sales commitment to pay the balance.   

https://goo.gl/maps/bGuptJKytikcNW8r5

    

Foreigners see a lot of opportunities in the Philippines, why dont we?

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Rizal Philippines
April 5, 2017

I met with a up and coming exporter of food products to Korea. He has partnered with Koreans, and they are selling many local products to Filipino community in Korea:   saging na saba, tilapia, bangus, boneless bangus, tocino etc.

One of their suppliers also a Korean, started five years ago with nothing.  Now he is a millionaire with a house in Alabang.  He started exporting through them Moringa, then tea from dried guyabano leaves.  (The Korean doctors discovered the the anti cancer properties of guyabano) and the coconut sap sugar.  For the latter they had a cooperative with the local mayor in Quezon, and they paid P150.00 per day for the coconut stalk cutter

Why does it take foreigners to see opportunities in the country.  I told long time ago to an acquaintance to start this business, ie developing suppliers in an island province like the coconut sugar, and other herbals.  We talk about so many herbals, but those who believe early seize the opportunity and make money from out of those ideas

One Korean I know has a vision of providing interment via crematorium.  He now has 14

Opportunities abound; loss of one and new one opens

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Rizal Philippines
September 24, 2016

As we talked with the seller of the school (the founder) she looked sad that she would part with the love of her life.  Anyway, we have great opportunities ahead of us:

1.  A memorial park, cemetery in her home town in the Visayas  She is related to the mayor

2.  A cemetery in Zambales, the hometown of her husband.  Her husband is related to the mayor.

3. I also told her, I want to be in the Forbes list of those whose networth is at least $1 billion.  Having school is one of the good investments I can make. Phinma, the Montinolas, Yuchengcos are into school.   Say she runs the school academics, I set up the organization and the finances .  That would be a good combination isnt it?

I noted that she had the short end of  deal and she would still struggle to make ends meet.  Could I talk to the buyer to have consideration?

I will try.   I am just new in the organization that will buy the school, and I do not know my role