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Start Business While Still Employed

Most books and gurus on entrepreneurship demand total commitment to a chosen business, including physical presence. But for Khriz Gueco, an architect in Saudi Arabia and owner of Gueco Farms in Capaz Tarlac which has more than 30,000 chic heads, he chose to do it a little bit smarter.

“I started this (poultry business) while I was in Al Khobar in 1997. Since then the growth has been steady.” he said.

Contract growing is ideal agri-business for people who have idle land. The size depends on the number of heads (chics) to be contracted.

In terms of risk, it is relatively low. “Basically, the supplier pays for the use of the facility, and payment is on volume or mass produced basis (by kilogram),” Khriz explains.

He claims, however, that the secret of his success lies primarily on his willingness to take the risks, and trust on the people he tasks to take care of the business. In his case, he engaged his family (including the extended ones) in the management.

“One of the smart ways of handling business while away is by having them (the people) feel a sense of ownership. Let them understand the consequences of its failure. That way, they will give due importance and proper care,” he said.

While Khriz continues his profession abroad in order to maximize further his earning potential, he tasked it upon himself to promote the value of entrepreneurship among his colleagues. Every now and then, whenever he is invited to share his insights to small groups or seminars, he reiterates the importance of having a business.

Accordingly, it saves a great deal of remittances, since the business is supposed to be giving livelihood and source of income to the family; and, it acts as a fallback in case something goes wrong with the employment

His advice however is to start a business while employed. “It is actually less risky,” he said. “Should the business turn unfavorable, then employment will provide a leverage to stand up and the capacity to start all over again,” he added.

For tours, and additional information on contract growing business, contact:

GUECO FARMS, Capaz,Tarlac
KSA:(+966)567492081
Manila: +63(02) 7421330 (S)

Lessons from China

Randy Garcia (RG), an illustrator, a sculptor, and a world-class designer, could not afford to confine his works in the local market. When the Philippine export manufacturing sectors suffered so much set back in the early nineties due to Asian crisis, he felt the need to join the bandwagon of Pinoy designers migrating to China.

Now, looking back, Randy had all smiles knowing he had learned so much from his experience. And this is what he has to say:

“More than anytime in my life, now I have realized that it is passion that drive the way to success. You need to have that burning sensation about what you do, and that rampaging determination to accomplish whatever it is that you desire,” he enthused.

Randy realized that though having a stable income for his family was the determining factor why he chose to cross borders, it is his passion for self expression that brought him to his journey.

“Here in China, I have a choice to be a mere sculptor, or an illustrator just like any worker with specific task. But I could not help it. There is so much in my mind, that if I try to suppress them, I’d go crazy,” he emphasized.

And so Randy’s story of little greatness in his company started. Now, one of his tasks is to train Chinese workers to do exactly as he does best - sculpturing.

“Chinese (workers) are very receptive. They are fast learners. It’s probably because of their orientation,” he explains.Randy said that he will not be surprised if he sees a Chinese doing religious relics like the ones in Paete (Laguna).

One of the common criticisms thrown to Pinoy designers like him is the so-called “giving away” of Filipino skills secret in favor of the Chinese.

But Randy is not worried. He believes so much in Filipino talent and artistry. “Our edge is innovation and in the mix & match. That I have to see here yet,” he explained.

“Philippines is still the destination for new exciting designs and innovations. I am not saying this because I am Pinoy, but because that is what I am told by my Western counterparts,” he added.
Randy imparts some valuable lessons to our manufacturing sectors in the country: “We should do away with mass production, there is no way to compete with China products in terms of price. Instead we should aim for total quality custom-made products”.

“Pinoy design is really world-class. Our mixed orientations, and education sets us apart. We should capitalize on that.

“And we have to deliver as this is one of our loopholes. The Chinese are persistent, and very committed. It is high time to re-asses our values if we want to enrich our own system of production. (S)

Being Progressive

Our society is experiencing a crisis of values. Nowadays, our concept of what is valuable seems closely associated to numbers we see on price tags.

The society that we have promotes a system that puts little importance on works without monetary consideration.

If this way of thinking continues to thrive on material interests, perhaps we may never see the day when we can describe ourselves as truly progressive.

This is probably the reason why we prefer going out of the country, and worse, why most of Pinoys already abroad do not see enough reason to come back.

With our country’s vast natural resources and our peoples’ skills, it seems that the only battle we are presently engaged is the one that is within us. If we can only learn to unlearn our wants, and value things that truly matters, then the war is over before we even know it.

Once again, let us revisit the challenge we set prior to leaving our country, but this time with a renewed commitment to faithfully comply with it. Let us be smart enough to realize that truly, ‘real wealthy people are those who need less.’

Designing One's Destination

It is said that the future is not the result of choices among alternatives offered by the present, but the result of conscious activity of mind and will.

Godwin Enerio, an Executive Secretary at ALJ Company in Saudi Arabia, is doing exactly just that. By taking design course at Sessions.edu, a New York based On-line School of Design duly accredited by New York State Department of Education and Distance Education Training Council (DETC), he is consciously taking his path to his future.

Aware of the ever changing economic condition of our country, Godwin is taking no chances to ensure continuity in his capacity to earn.

But unlike others who choose career path on the basis of practicality based on market demands like nursing and caregiving, Godwin chose the one which he is passionate about.

“I chose Design because my current situation (referring to his better earning capacity) permits me to do so, and it is something I can truly express myself and derive inner satisfaction,” he said.

A graduate of Marketing at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Godwin claims that studying actually balances his life, though at times, he experiences the challenge of time management.
So how does Godwin cope?

“Studying while working really eats a lot of time and energy. You need to allot time for both very carefully, so that not one will suffer at the expense of the other,” he said. “I guess what pushes me to go for the limit is the satisfaction I get each time I accomplish a task, or the encouragement I get from my instructors each time I finish an assignment saying I am beginning to develop a recognizable style,” he added. His works are added in the school’s website.

Even then Godwin claims he does not rely on recognitions, but treats them as mere affirmation to pursue his chosen field of study considering its global context - his fellow students come all across the globe .

Asked what is his gameplan? Godwin says, “My current undertaking is to prepare myself for any eventualities. I am hoping that I can use my study as a tool to improve my career, as I try to inject a little bit of creativity with my work whenever I have a chance,” he answered.

“At any rate, I am certain that once I finish this course, many doors will open for possibilities. Besides, it is never a waste of time to invest in oneself,” Godwin added.

John Schaar said the future is not a place we are going, but one we are creating. And as Godwin is seriously picking up valuable lessons in Design, he is slowly creating paths to his own designed destination.

To know more about Godwin and his works, visit www.gshack.com.

(This article appeared in SAWALI E-newsletter. For your free subscription, e-mail us at sawalinews@yahoo.com.ph)

A Tale of Two Jobs

An estimator in an industrial design firm by day, and a massage therapist at night!

From the onset, it would seem that these two irreconcilable careers would take toll upon each other as each demands skillful manipulation or mastery quite apart from one another. But for Cris Gallano, this is no feat at all.

For him, it all starts with the desire to earn more. “Let’s face it, we OFWs are here abroad for one basic reason, that is, to earn. My thinking however is if, and only if possible, I would want to earn some more,” he said.

Cris is employed in one of the industrial design manufacturing companies in Saudi Arabia. The nature of his job exacts from him keen research skill and attention to details as he estimates the cost and pricing of each job his company contracts. It is said that his job is the bread and butter of his company because the sole determination of its probable profit rests upon his precise calculation.

Because of this, Cris has to be more alert, aggressive, and energetic with his work. But taking a glimpse at his schedule, he would wonder how does Cris accomplish this when he spends his off-work times routing the streets of Jeddah.

“I do not say that my job is easy. It’s just that when you get used to it, have already mastered its ins and outs, then it becomes your second nature. Then after a while, you become bored with it, and you tend to have more wasted than productive times,” Cris explained.

In a country where contracting and holding simultaneous jobs are not allowed, Cris is carefully mapping out his calendar. Although strictly speaking the prohibition applies only in terms of formal contracting of subsequent work, and one that is in conflict with the original one, he is bent on keeping the identity of his second job a secret.

“The primary reason is to avoid probable misinterpretation that I am holding another job. Second, there is a stigma attached to being masahista (massage therapist),” he confides. “Most of our kababayans equate the profession to male prostitution or that of selling cheap sex,” he continued.

It is known to many that the profession is typecast as “service exclusive to gay clienteles”. Cris however expressed his indignation about this, since majority of his clients are straight men and (also) women who need real rubdown to free themselves from back pain, joint stiffness and aching muscles. “They are the ones who at the end of the day are too exhausted from different activities like tennis (popular sport among OFWs in KSA) and other sports, from driving long kilometer roads, or those that suffer from work related stress. My clients are mostly engineers, nurses, laborers, and delivery men. And they have one common denominator, that is, they want relief and relaxation,” Cris narrated.

Consequently, he categorically denied that there is so-called “extra services” going-on during sessions. But then he admits that he is only speaking for himself, and admitted he knows more than a couple stories about masseurs who misuse the profession as enticement to that “extra service.”

Cris explained, and would like to emphasize, that in terms of productivity, catering to the carnal needs of some scrupulous clients is not beneficial in the long run. Normally, a masseur can get an appointment or two, but after a while, that client will cease to call him. Unbeknownst to him (masseur), his sexual performance report flies high in the city. It’s a case of bad reputation gained, and productivity lost.

If properly done, massage therapy could be a ticket to building a good network. It is actually one of the benefits Cris enjoys so much. “There are lots of interesting stories about our kababayans. How did they get here abroad, their dreams for their family, their future plans,” he enthused. But for Cris, the most important thing is the learning. It is through his clients’ stories that he gets insights useful for his job, and his own development. Then of course, knowing the right person in case of his personal needs is just of the few perks of having a good network.

But unlike any other jobs, Cris could not afford to advertise. So, he usually gets clients through referral. This is the reason why every person in a profession must strive to do his best. “I still believe that the best form of advertisement is testimonial, and you can only achieve that when your customers are satisfied. Whenever I receive a call who claims to be referred by a client, it never fails to make my day, for I know that when that happens, I know I did another job well done,” he beamed.

Because he’s got quite a skill in this area, he was even asked to become a resource speaker for a number of seminars in Riyad where he had previous job assignment for more than three years.
There he used to emphasize among the attendees and would-be-masseurs to master the basics, and continuously seek improvement by reading literatures and magazines (or the internet) about massage.

He also advised them to prevent the “trap”. The trap happens when a masseur not doing his research and not improving on skills, but burning with desire of maintaining the same level of income, eventually gives in to some of the so-called indecent offers. “This is the way one taints the profession,” Cris explains. “And this is how the label or stereotype about masseurs as “selling cheap meat” is being formed,” he continued.

He also cautioned fellow masseurs (and those contemplating to be one) to be extra careful with people they are dealing with it. If he is not comfortable with the personality of his clients, then turning down an appointment is still ok. Cris related his experience when he got a call one Friday (the usual day-off in KSA) afternoon. He went to the place and was ushered in a small square type pad. As the man locked the steel door behind them, he got tense when he was succumbed to the dark as there was no window and that the only way to get out is the same door that he went in.

“All throughout the session I was only thinking of how to get out in case the man does something wrong with me. I was even trying to recall my taekwondo lessons just in case the need arises (laughter),” Cris recalled. Later on, he found out that the man is a tnt (no proper documents) which is why he chose to stay in a cell-like pad. “From then on, I started asking questions to clients prior to setting up appointment, even it irks some of them (some refuses to divulge information),” he said. “Preventing danger is still the best way of getting out it,” he added.

But this is just one of the few small trade-offs. On the overall, the benefits outweigh the risks. There are life’s pleasure which otherwise could not be had if an OFW relies solely on his regular earning.

“I look at it this way, if one is able to send his salary to his family in the Philippines intact, then I think every little time spent on that second job is worth it,” Cris said.

The demand for a genuine massage service is great and the challenge to become more productive and earn more by doing it on the side is always there. People nowadays are more pre-occupied than even before, be it physical and mental. With the outpour of new technology and ever increasing demands and intricacies of work, ways of getting rid of stress becomes essential. And massage therapy is proven to be one of the best ways to beat it.

If you are up to the challenge, then get up and start greasing your hand!

(This article appeared in SAWALI E-newsletter. For your free subscription, e-mail us at sawalinews@yahoo.com.ph)

A Big Bird Venture

Lifestyle farmers are enjoying the fastest growing agri-business today - ostrich farming. With the ever increasing demands for its products - jewelry, leathers, accessories, and of course diet-friendly meat, ostrich is little by little making its mark in the market.

Although not really new in the Philippines, our ostrich farmers also recognize the big potential of the local and global market. Mr. Sulayman Mendoza, an Assistant Education Manager in Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, hopes to finally return to La Union where he hosts 87 full grown ostriches, aside from his Australian goats.

Sulayman is very optimistic of the great opportunity of ostrich farming that in 2004 he established a cooperative in the hope of sharing his enthusiasm with people of vision, experience and expertise in the field of livestock farming.

The reasons for this high growth rate in ostrich farming are:

First, the ostrich is a fairly easy animal to farm, requiring little land and small amounts of feed.

Second, the ostrich reproduces and grows quickly. In fact, compared to a cattle which produces two calves in a year, a female ostrich lays an average of 60 eggs in a year.

Third, the current price of the ostrich meat is extremely high, and can be quite profitable.

This is why in the US, Australia and New Zeland, lifestyle farmers have the command of the market.

We asked Sulayman on tips on how should OFWs spend their hard-earned money on a good business, he told us that it is always good to look for something new, and never be afraid of going ahead of the market.

Like any other business, one must be brave enough to face the risks, and certainly ostrich farming has its own peculiar challenges to deal with. But it is never wrong to invest your money in something you truly believe.

To know more about ostrich far-ming & Mr. Sulayman Mendoza’s farm, you may contact the following details:

Eng’r. Sulayman “Deo” O. Mendoza
(SJAHI): +966-2–2807777 ext 104
Mobile Number: 966 – 5 – 08686329
Farm Address: Pinoy Foods and Livestock’s Multi Purpose Cooperative Ostrich and Goat Farms
Butubut Este,
Balaoan, La Union (S)

(This article appeared in SAWALI E-newsletter. For your free subscription, e-mail us at sawalinews@yahoo.com.ph)

Posted by sawalinewsletter at 12:27

Productivity

(This article appeared in the Editorial Section of SAWALI E-newsletter, an advocacy newsletter challenging OFWs to become more productive & enterprising. For your free subscription, e-mail us at sawalinews@yahoo.com.ph)

Productivity can be seen in different lights. While most of us look at it as taking some time off from inactivities by doing odd jobs to augment income, productivity may come in the form of taking further studies, acquiring new skill, learning new craft or even picking up new sport. Still, to some, reading a good book over a cup of coffee or while taking their sweet guilty pleasures can be productive as they want it to be.

The measure then to conclude for a time to be productive is if the activity enriches, or affords us insights useful in our present (and future) undertakings. Whatever they are and however meager they may be, they all deserve a good landing in foregoing pages.

Goods of this world, whether money, food, water, even talents and time, are meant for all. Do not deny your stories for they may even become a barometer of success. Otherwise stated, let your tales shine to inspire fellow Pinoys to light their own fire to otherwise dimming nationhood.

Manny Garcia