Fordism

You can do anything if you have enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars.
Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eye.
It is the swing of your gait, the grip of your hand,
the irresistible surge of your will and your energy to execute your ideas.
Enthusiasts are fighters.
They have fortitude.
They have staying qualities.
Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress.
With it, there is accomplishment.
Without it, there are only alibis.

Henry Ford

Mom

I was on stage with accomplished entrepreneurs last Sunday with a thousand students and teachers listening and I heard three of us say we started our businesses thanks to our mothers.

And now as I sit in my office I hear Sir Richard Branson naming his space ship Eve, after his mother.

Learn from history. Be good to your mother. Call her now.

Sir Richard Branson with Eve, her mother after naming Virgin Galactic's space ship after her

With $200,000 you can now go achieve weightlessness and see the deep black space. But you'd have to fall in line, more than 250 people have paid already.

The Watered-Down Approach

My Chief Designer Myles Jamito sent me this video. Go out, look around streets and inside stores, you'll find many of the "STOP" signs.

More Rmarkable Things About Vietnam

A few minutes after you reach Vietnam you'll realize that this is a country of motorbikes. Below are some remarkable things that struck me.

The next time someone complains the door doesn't fit in the car, show them this picture

This is the very first time I saw a pig transported this way

Pregnant women ride motorbikes all the time

Equestrian type of helmets are in fashion

Show me your helmet and I'll tell you who you are

Teen Negosyo 2008

I was invited to be part of Day 1 in this year's Teen Negosyo.

I am surprised to see the Master Entrepreneur's framework of AIM in the schedule:
Day 1 - Mastery of Self
Day 2 - Mastery of Environment
Day 3 - Mastery of Enterprise

I think all three you develop further and further doing the same thing a little better everyday. The framework is important in seeing that a balance is required for mastery.

I am thrilled to see a lot of good people behind the program and I look forward to meeting them in person. I hope to leave the students the fire to give their all to what they enjoy doing and to be practical enough also to have something that will answer to their everyday expenses.

Cycles and Lea Salonga

In a private room a few minutes before the conference I asked Lea, "Do you have any more questions with Cycles?" She looked at me strangely and said something like, "None. I know Cycles... I'm a mom."

I knew Lea Salonga was perfect for Cycles when we found out early on that she was a user of Cycles way before the idea came about for her to be the face behind Cycles.

Authenticity is very important to me. I think that the very best products in the world are not those with the biggest ad budget, or the fanciest campaigns, but products where people etched their heart and souls into the brand.

Cycles was created because our kids have sensitive skin and ordinary detergents for their clothes caused them to have skin irritations. Beach Hut came to light because my wife and I love going to the beach. Bliss came about, well...

Wouldn't it be great if the chocolate you're eating came from people who are chocoholics? Or your shoes came from a shop who's owners and staff are shoe-addicts? Or your kids are taught in school by teachers who are truly, deeply fond of kids?

It's difficult to force yourself into authenticity. Your customers can smell foul thousands of meters away. Find what you love, and do more of it. You end up happier, and your products/services better.

Icing on this wonderful day in Vietnam

I'm having a grand time exploring opportunities in Vietnam. The day went perfect, I checked my email and the surprises are not done yet!

I got an email from Ms. Ana Ruby B. Pista who is the Deputy National Chair of Creative Young Entrepreneur Award informing me that I was nominated for the 2008 search. 3 Filipinos will be selected to represent the country in the world competition in New Delhi, India on November 4 and 5. It is a great honor just to be nominated and I look forward to contributing.

This would be a great time to share what my team and I have been busy with the last 2.5 years in the consumer goods industry.

Where to eat in Vietnam

Make sure to eat at Ngoc Suong Marina the next time you're in Ho Chi Minh City. I've eaten here several times before and after visiting it tonight I am convinced it is one of the best seafood restaurants in the world!

Don't forget to order the shrip hanging in coconut and tamarind crabs!

Philippine Pride!

The following are some of the Philippine-based brands I've seen in Vietnam:

1. San Miguel Beer
2. Unilab OTC Medicines
3. Oishi Snacks
4. Jack & Jill Snacks and C2 by URC
5. Cycles, Bliss, Halo from Naturale - the next attraction!
   

All these in three years?

The last time I was in Vietnam was three years ago. A few changes I can't help but notice:

• World-class airport
• 5-Star Hotels - both new and renovated (including Sheraton)
• Huge Louis Vuitton shop SHOUTING go in at a very visible location
  
• Spanking new Channel store whose glass is being cleaned every 30 minutes
• New Jollibee stores
• Helmets are now required for the bikers
• New coffee shops such as Gloria Jean's
  
• BMW cars
• A white FERRARI cruising the narrow road
  

Hello Vietnam

I knew that the Ho Chi Minh airport is new but the feeling is different when you yourself see it. It was a cool welcome to a fast-growing economy. I was very pleased with what I saw and I am very excited to be in this wonderful city.





It has been three years since my last visit in Vietnam and I still see familiar locations. What struck me as different is the feel that there is more traffic now and that I see a lot of construction going on. A few effects of progress I guess.

Cna yuo raed tihs?

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid, too.
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe tuo fo 100 anc.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

Another Planet

I often say that China is another planet given the challenges in starting a business. I may say the same for India given the diversity and richness of culture.

My last trip to India would be a good six years ago. I've never seen a place like it before and I have good memories of that trip. Now that I am armed with more experience and a greater appreciation of cultures, I am very excited to visit this country again.

Will Naturale Labs be selling in India? Definitely! When? That's part of the adventure.

Expanding Too Fast

In the next weeks I will be visiting both Vietnam and India. Naturale Labs will be opening an office in Ho Chi Minh City soon and my job is to make sure this happens. My visit to India will be exploratory. India (similar to China) cannot be ignored.

Vietnam will be the fifth country (including the Philippines) Naturale Labs will be marketing in for this year. This has garnered multiple responses. I got people saying WOW what a great run. And others saying be careful, you're expanding too fast.

I cannot blame the second group. Just read on what recently happened to Starbucks - closing 600 stores and cutting 12,000 jobs. Or recall what happened to Krispy Kreme.

But I'd rather be crucified for expanding too fast rather than expanding too slow. Otherwise why call it expansion in the first place?

The important thing to remember is to learn from history. The stories of Starbucks and Krispy Kreme are not uncommon. Learn as much as you can from them and then... pull the trigger!