Let’s Go Negosyo!

From experience, I know that it can be a real struggle for a person to reach his dreams. He must be able to learn how to spot opportunities, take risks, and withstand all obstacles that will come with each decision that is made. And this cycle does not stop even if the business has already been established. But even if the journey towards success is hard, it is never a hard road to take if you love what you are doing. You must be passionate about success—that if you would like to succeed, you must first want it. That is why together with a number of successful entrepreneurs, I founded an advocacy that will reach out and motivate Filipinos to grab the chance of freeing themselves from misery and improve their lives, one negosyo at a time. (more…)

People often ask what is the secret to success, and one of the answers is to find what your passion is. Fortunately for some, they have known what they want in life at an early age. I know a lot of entrepreneurs who have discovered their passion while they were still kids and have sustained it as they grow up. The fact that they love what they are doing has been their fuel to achieve their dreams and be what they want to be.

Going through the entrepreneurship path is not easy. There will surely be problems that can discourage you. But if an aspiring negosyante is driven and he loves his craft, these problems will turn into opportunities for him to grow. This will be their difference from other entrepreneurs, whose attitude is not as positive. (more…)

For the longest time, Go Negosyo has been inspiring Filipinos to move and work their way out of poverty. We have been adapting different ways to equip our countrymen with the entrepreneurial know-how, such as holding seminars and summits, publishing books of inspiring stories and on key entrepreneurial concepts and strategies, and even featuring these learning principles and ideas on TV, radio and print, through our media partners GMA News TV and DZRH/Radyo Natin and THE PHILIPPINE STAR. But before an aspiring negosyante could proceed, he must first instill a strong passion inside him. Without passion, he or she will be weak in facing obstacles that will surely come his or her way. And this fact is not limited only in doing business. A person who is passionate on doing what he loves best in life will surely attain success.

Passion has been the moving force behind the acclaimed filmmaker Ramona Diaz in doing documentaries. Ramona, who was born here in the Philippines but is currently based in Baltimore, is the director behind “Imelda”, which showed a different side of the former first lady Imelda Marcos, and “Don’t Stop Believing”, a film about the first year of Arnel Pineda as the frontman of the band Journey. Her love for storytelling prompted her to take up filmmaking as her career. It is not as easy as it seems, because Ramona has to deal with challenges such as getting support to fund her films. But with passion, Ramona believes that any aspiring filmmaker can overcome challenges and succeed. (more…)

In my last column, I introduced this year’s finalists for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. Thirty young men and women were able to pass the rigorous screening processes of RFM Foundation, which aims to cultivate a new breed of a young bayanI—someone who serves as a role model of academic excellence, exemplary leadership, good moral values, and socio-civic consciousness. This year’s TOSP winners were awarded last August 2, and PNoy personally congratulated them and handed their trophies.

The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines 2012 pose with President Noynoy Aquino during the TOSP Awarding Ceremonies. Also in photo are from L-R RFM Foundation President Marie Concepcion-Young, National Bookstore President Alfredo Ramos, RFM Corporation Chairman Jose S. Concepcion Jr., CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, RFM Corporation President & CEO and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, and PLDT Vice President for Retail Voice Patrick Tang

In his short speech, PNoy said that the TOSP finalists and winners are blessed than most of us, because they have the capacity to understand things better. They are also gifted with an opportunity to serve their fellowmen, which is what each of them should cherish. And I could not agree with PNoy more: that those who have more in life should be able to share with those who were not as fortunate. These people, young as they are, have already led inspiring lives. It is my honor to share their stories, because despite the changing times, we can still count on our youth to be the source of hope of our fatherland. Now, it’s their time to act and move this country forward. (more…)