Among Tales of Individual & Corporate Success
I've always been fond of books about individuals and corporations that succeeded and stayed alive amidst adversities. I am actually fond of success stories in general. Whenever I pass by National Bookstore or Fully Booked, I usually browse and briefly scan the books of this kind. One time, I remember standing for like an hour at National Bookstore Powerplant just to scan the book "NeGOsyo: Inspiring Stories of 50 Successful Filipino Entrepreneurs". I tried to learn and see how these entrepreneurs were able to do it. Well, I did like the book in some way, though it turned to be more of a biography of certain individuals that are running big corporations in the Philippines. Only a few individuals in the book are worthy of note because in my own terms, they really worked hard in reaching the path of success. Fully Booked, on its corporate or management section, has several hardbound and paperback editions of the success story of McDonalds, Microsoft, and Google. However, I am more inclined to read more about local individual and corporate success stories.

The success story of my Alma Mater is the very first tale that I have ever read. This, however, did not come in one thick publication. I managed to appreciate the one hundred years of success and growth of my second home for the last eight years because I journeyed with it and witnessed it grow. Even the likes of Raul Roco and Ninoy Aquino can attest to the fact that my Alma Mater survived the extreme of extremes, despite the monastic way of life of its founders. Despite the size of my second home, it managed to post a challenge and be a benchmark in some academic disciplines and fields.

There was one local corporate story that did catch my attention. In fact, this tale was somehow hyped, because it told about the story of a broadcasting giant: Kapitan by Raul Rodrigo. I have not read the book though in one seating, but I managed to read quite a number of pages while I was at Fully Booked Powerplant. Except for the main family featured in this coffee table book, I thought that the roots of the 61-year old broadcasting company were quite something. The book made me realize that in any written corporate history, it is not the "monetized capital" that will be printed first, but the "human capital". Coincidentally, this conforms with Warren Buffett's philosophy that "Money doesn't create man, it is man who creates money". The story was about the foundation of Philippine TV alright, but it boiled down to the success of the corporation, something brought about by the people that took part in its growth. The founder's idealism was also worthy of note.

Until recently, I came across another tale of corporate success. This time, this was a rare story, for the book cannot be bought over-the-counter. The book, titled "Different... From All of the Rest: 25 Years of Corporate Partnership", was indeed, different from all of the rest. The book told about the humble beginnings of a local investment house made of the people, for the people, and by the people; Filipino people to be more specific. This masterpiece was about the roller-coaster ride of the corporation, which was bumpy but fulfilling at the same time because along with the ride are its people, who are also its primary capital in the field of capital itself. What's even more unique about this tale is that it contained different forms of prose (and even poetry). I have always wanted to go where others dared not to go, and this book not only reminded me of this goal (which I actually forgot out of several preoccupations), but also served as proof that I can do it. If only the corrupt leaders of the government can actually read the book, they might learn from it and lead the country into greater heights.

I have always been fond of success stories, but I have some sort of bias with the three tales I've mentioned because somehow, I have been part of them, or I had my own sightings on a portion of their growth and journey.

So far, the first and the second tale, and their account of their success, have already been challenged by quite a number of factors. In fact, they have somehow "fell for it". For the case of the first tale, I must say that in the recent years, it has been investing too much on "physical capital", and not really more on the "intangible capital", which is education and the improvement of its academics (for more details on this, just contact me). Don't get me wrong though, for I will forever be indebted to my Alma Mater and proud that I am a Bedan. The second tale, on the other hand, somehow had a wrong turn recently. Aside from being revenue-conscious, the firm in the second tale became clouded with control and money, to the point that even fate had to give them the hardest lessons they had recently: including the tragedy they became involved in, losing the leadership in their arena, and suffering a net loss for a quarter.

I have only been part of the life of the firm in the third tale recently. I can say for sure that until now, the principles imbibed to us still remain and are still being reminded to us implicitly. I can't say, however, if the firm itself still holds tight to its own ideologies. This still remains to be seen. There are lessons at the course of the firm's journey though that to me, made the firm a bit less courageous, but I really am in no better position to judge them. They've been there for more than a quarter of a century. I, on the other hand, am still in the early stage of my development.

But, thanks to "Different... From All of the Rest", and the other tales like I've come across like "Kapitan" and the story of my Alma Mater, I've realized now, more than ever, that I should invest more in myself, and not what surrounds myself. I hope that soon enough, I can start investing for my own human capital. Sadly, the human capital in me is really risky. In fact, it is "prone to default" or "below investment grade". But, as they say, the higher the risk, the higher the reward. I've promised to a very few people whose opinion and support really counts that I will give them rewards out of their investment in the human capital in me, and not losses. I really hope it can happen.