Invest in Yourself 01/02/2012
WRITTEN BY JASON ESTIMADO Quite often, I hear or read these lines: "invest in stocks; they’ll go up in value;" "invest in land; it’s always in demand;" "invest in a business; it will give you extra income;" and the list goes on. Rarely, however, have I ever been advised or reminded to invest in myself. What kinds of investments am I talking about here? Should I invest on a new music player... an iPod perhaps? Should I invest in a new laptop for my presentations? Or, should I invest in a new facial care treatment to make myself look younger? While I am definitely tempted to invest in that last one, the investments I am talking about here are those that may give me enormous returns in the future. It is important to note, however, that the investments I am talking about here might not give us immediate returns. I’d like to think of them as fertilizer (perhaps not the best metaphor), that will help seeds grow and bear produce one day. Perhaps we should consider investing our time and money in these: Read books. Education is very important! We can read about handling money, running a business, leading people, motivating oneself and, on occasion, battling "evil," like the heroes in fiction novels (I just had to throw that in there). Yes, even reading for leisure is good because it relaxes your mind and allows you to exercise your imagination. That said, I suggest that, when it comes to books with more serious contents, we read and reread these books often. I do this a lot. In fact, when I'm not busy with work - like when I'm waiting for an appointment or when I'm stuck in traffic (which happens quite often) - you can always find me, with my nose buried in a book. I never leave home without a good book and never go to sleep without reading a few chapters. Through books, I have obtained knowledge - that my rather limited experience could not give me - which has given me confidence. Though I agree that "experience is the best teacher," I also believe that reading about "other people’s experiences" is an inexpensive way of gaining knowledge. Attend seminars and workshops. Like books, seminars and workshops give us a chance to learn from other people’s experience. Workshops, like our very own B.E.S.T. (Beyond Entrepreneurship Skills Training) Workshop - yes, this is the part where I make a plug for our workshop - offer the kind of experience you can't find by reading books. Interacting with a speaker or doing hands-on activities may even have some advantages over reading. Also, attending seminars and workshops helps you increase your "network" of contacts, which reading can't do. Interview knowledgeable people. It would also benefit you to talk to people who knowledgeable in the field or endeavor you would like to pursue. In my experience, I have found that these people always seem to be happy to answer my inexhaustible supply of questions; and believe me; they're not hard to find. Through these "wizards," I have gained valuable information and specific insights, which have helped me in my own pursuits. I recommend that we try to find people we look up to - probably people who motivate or inspire us or perhaps people who are into the business you are interested in - and simply talk to them. There may be a few who might be too busy to talk to you, but you will find someone willing to talk to you; and the rewards of this type of contact are priceless. If you plan to take this step, preparing a little token of appreciation for them would go a long way. I encourage everyone to spread the news and tell a friend to invest in himself or herself. Enriching the lives of others is, for me, one of the most important things a person can do. This is the path to becoming a true wizard of business. Copyright © 2010 by BizWiz Resources www.BizWizResources.com Add Comment WRITTEN BY BOOM SAN AGUSTIN Turnover, lackluster productivity and apathy are just some of the challenges that corporate executives face with their present manpower. Many managers have tried many different techniques to motivate their team; yet most of these techniques are temporary, at best. Perhaps, it’s time for a change. Perhaps, it’s time for your employees to adapt an “entrepreneurial mindset”! Surprised? Don’t be. There is growing evidence that espousing an “entrepreneurial mindset” in your employees actually supports growth in sales and employment, increases corporate performance, and unleashes employee potential. This may all seem a little hard to accept right now, especially since most HR Professionals have been taught otherwise; but just think about it for a minute. The famous philosopher, Aristotle, once wrote, "Man’s life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals"; and this is the basis of an “entrepreneurial mindset”. Employees with this type of mindset are driven more by results rather than by routine. This means that both the company and the individual reap immediate rewards in profit, performance, and sense of purpose. If your employees are motivated by “their own goals” and if they see your company as a means of reaching them, they are, in turn, encouraged and taught to use their ingenuity, invest themselves in their work, and reach for their goals by helping your company achieve its goals. Employees who are taught to think like entrepreneurs or businessmen are less likely to complain about work conditions, since they view your company as an important vehicle for reaching their goals rather than being the goal itself. And because your company is no longer the employees' "end all", they are also less likely to go on "strike". Strange, you say? Not really. Your company, like all other companies, is not immune to the effects of a bad economy. Faced with a company crisis, your employees are usually filled with fear; and may resort to "desperate" measures, like a strike or a protest. Since their whole hope for a "better future" is anchored on the company itself, the thought of losing their jobs becomes, simply, unbearable. However, if your employees' goals were outside your company, then a strike or protest actions would only be a waste of time for them. They would rather exert effort in either looking for another "vehicle" (company), fast-tracking their goals, or helping the company solve its problem so that they don't have to change "vehicles". In any case, you don't have to worry about protest actions. An "entrepreneurial mindset" may actually benefit some company positions more than others; which would eventually benefit your company. Sales people, for instance, would probably be more receptive to the idea of entrepreneurship. And why not? They stand to benefit from it. "Sales" is all about motivation... and motivation is all about owning your personal goals! This is why an "entrepreneurial mindset" can probably improve the performance of your sales people more than any "sales training" workshop can. Sales training focuses more on "honing the skills" of the learner; whereas entrepreneurship focuses on their own personal "reason" for selling. Without a reason to sell, no amount of "skill training" will be enough; however, if your "reason for selling" is strong, then even a lack of skill cannot stop you from selling. I know that it'll take some getting used to; but we cannot deny that this will probably be the focus of Training and Organizational development in the near future. If this is the case, wouldn't it be best for your company to get the ball rolling now? Copyright © 2010 by BizWiz Resources www.BizWizResources.com WRITTEN BY BOOM SAN AGUSTIN In her 2009 press statement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Teresita Peralta, then chief of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, said that more than half of our country's 33-million-stong-workforce is self-employed. Since then, the number of self-employed in the country has actually grown. This has prompted some analysts to say that Filipinos are “natural entrepreneurs.” I disagree. Though it is true that more Filipinos engage in some sort of “business” rather than work a 9 to 5 job, it is not true that most of us are entrepreneurs. A large percentage of those who have engaged in“business” do so more out of necessity than out of an entrepreneurial spirit. Statistics have included the sidewalk vendors, drivers of public utility vehicles and junk collectors (bote-dyariyo) in our list of “businessmen.” Though some of them actually have this entrepreneurial spirit, most do not. In fact, even some medium sized business owners fail to show any real entrepreneurial spirit. Our so-called “business acumen” has actually been forced upon us because of poverty. The fact that our business-mindedness is brought about by our will to survive isn’t necessarily a “bad thing;”however, the sad truth is that, for the most part, it ends there. Most Filipinos can’t seem to go beyond their day-to-day struggles. They can’t seem to make their “business” venture profitable. Why? Because of lack of education! What kind of education? Well, let me tell you a story about a taxi cab driver I met recently: In my travels around Metro Manila, I have met a taxi driver who, through perseverance and a clear goal, now owns 3 apartment houses and an internet shop. He drove his taxi, and told me that driving a cab is his way of getting an education. He often interviews his passengers about the proper way of doing business and investments. Many times he got (according to him) really stupid answers; but every so often, he meets people who provide him with brilliant ideas, which he has catapulted into the “assets” he owns today. One passenger suggested that he take advantage of the growing “mobile phone load” business at the time (he got this advice during the turn of the millennium). Realizing that the area he lived in had a lot of variety (sari-sari) stores that did not sell “load” (because he lived in an area notorious for street thugs and no one wanted to invest in a “load”business there), he decided to invest in it himself. He then saved up 5,000 Pesos from his meager income as a cab driver and started his venture. The rest, as they say, is history. I’m sure he’s still out there... getting his education from the driver’s seat of his cab. This cab driver is an entrepreneur! I envied his wisdom because I had a formal education; yet I have not accomplished what he has. He, with his limited education, was able to capitalize on the bits and pieces he gathered from his passengers... while driving his cab! Can you imagine that? Sadly, this cab driver is but one in a million. His story, however, is a perfect example of how a little bit of education can go a very long way. Most formal entrepreneurship instructions in the country are NOT offered to the likes of sidewalk vendors, variety (sari-sari) store owners, drivers of public utility vehicles and other “street-employed” workers. If we continue to ignore this sector, I believe that it will be our own undoing. Just look around us. Untended farmlands, squatters, drug addiction and a host of other social ailments are the price we pay for leaving our populace ignorant. Let’s not wait for the government to move. We have an obligation to educate our would-be entrepreneurs and make them successful. By doing this, we save our own futures. It’s time to bring on the era of the Filipino entrepreneur! Copyright © 2010 by BizWiz Resources www.BizWizResources.com | BizWizArticles are written by BizWiz Resources Team members ArchivesCategories |
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