I would like to apologize for the slip up last week. I emailed an old column by mistake. It was an ironic twist when I thought about it, as my writing this column turns one year old today. So it was an embarrassing reminder to me to keep me grounded and responsible. I can’t believe how time has flown. It was not too long ago when I discussed writing again with Nimrod, the next thing I knew, I was already seeing print.

It gladdens my heart when I know that I have made a small difference in shaping perspective as well as encouraging the young to consider entrepreneurship. Our country really needs new entrepreneurs especially in this time of economic hardship. Many have lost jobs and many more are living in fear of what lies ahead. We need to provide incentives as well as make financing, training and support available for new small entrepreneurs to rise up.

I recently met Alex Reyes who started  talking to me about the cause of social entrepreneurship. It is a definite need in our country. One of the most promising programs is Hapinoy which seeks to provide financing, supplies, training and a brand name to the traditional sari sari store. By centralizing and professionalizing the supply and retail chain, the small sari sari owner can reap the benefits of lower costs of products as well as a better inventory and management system. All this under one Hapinoy brand. It gives many small entrepreneurs a fighting chance to not only survive but to prosper.

Jay Aldeguer recently also shared with me a unique project proposal between the tourism players, the Department of Tourism and a major telecom firm. The rationale behind the project is to provide substantial trickle down benefits of tourism to the basic foundation of  Filipino life, again the sari sari store. They aim to provide a “tourist” look as well as standardize and increase some of the products offered for sale. So the basic sari sari store can function as a tourist kiosk offering maps, dictionaries or even basic souvenirs as well as pre paid  cell cards and other accessories. Studies will show that this will increase the basic daily income of theses stores almost four fold, thereby hitting two birds with one stone : Social entrepreneurship and tourism.

There are many critical issues that we need to focus on this year. In the midst of all the gloom and depression in the news, we have to each come into an individual realization that we are responsible to be part of the solution and not merely an observer of events. This is our home, our country, our city, our barangay, our street. We need to be more involved, and it’s a great thing about our people is that we are and we do.

One of those is Joseph, a web development company owner that services a lot of accounts in the US. He has offered to develop a site for One Step Up that will not only feature my writing but also others. It will also feature forums and chat rooms to discuss entrepreneurship as well as providing encouragement and support. Joesph has also offered to host it for free. Thank you Joseph. He himself  is a great story. A former CPA and a lawyer, he used to be  a teacher of accounting at a major university in Cebu. He is now a successful entrepreneur marketing services to the US. 

I asked him why he offered to do this. His reply was, “ I believe in the advocacy of encouraging entrepreneurship, I want to do my part in helping others go one step up.” Kudos to you and thank you.

Next week, I will be flying to Cagayan upon the invitation of the Mindanao Business and Youth Congress who will be holding their 5^th annual convention under the theme, “Igniting the youth to be socially responsible entrepreneurs for sustainable development.”  I would like to thank Daniel Mejia, the conference chairman for inviting me. I am very excited as well as humbled to have been invited to share my thoughts as well as to learn from the youth of Mindanao.

There are many fears today, both real and fiction. We need to continue praying and having Faith.  Let us continue to search for the silver lining in each situation. I am reminded of what American entrepreneur Les Brown once said,  “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at  stirspecialist@gmail.com ,  or visit  www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com

I’m going camping with my son today. It is a father and son scout activity at his school designed as a bonding moment. The panic began when I saw the fine print in the circular. The activity begins at 7:30 am and ends at 2:30 Saturday afternoon. “No electronic devices allowed”.

It has been a while since I have not had an electronic device with me. No laptop, no access to the internet. Not even time to read my newspaper till the next day. But I guess it is a good thing. I get to spend time with my son without any distraction. And I get the chance to reflect on how things have been in the span of one year.

I recently realized that my column writing is turning a year old next week. Time has really flown, and “One Step Up” turns one. It has been a tremendous journey of growth and discovery. I set out writing this column to help encourage entrepreneurship especially among the youth.  Along the way, I too have been encouraged, by successful leaders and entrepreneurs who have allowed me access into their lives and share their stories; by the response and enthusiasm of readers, who have made it a point to read not only my column in The Freeman but even my blog.  Some have made the effort to communicate with me and I am honored and happy to have gained new friends.

One particular reader, Joseph, wrote me to offer his help. Joseph is president of a web development company that services US clients. He made a generous offer to develop One Step Up into an interactive site with chat forums, blogs, etc. He has even offered to host it for free all for the cause of encouraging entrepreneurship and helping others get one step up. This will be a great development and can allow many of us to learn and share together.

One of the effects of the column that I did not expect to happen was the many invitations that  I have received to speak for and in the cause of entrepreneurship. I have happily accepted and tried to share my thoughts and take the opportunity to learn at the same time. The encounters with students of the MBA programs of UP, USJR, student leaders of CNU, among others have given me great hope about the future of this country.

On February 6,2009, I will be sharing in Cagayan at the 5^th Mindanao Business and Management Youth Congress under the theme, “Igniting the youth to be socially responsible entrepreneurs for sustainable development.”  I would like to thank Daniel Mejia, the conference chairman for inviting me. I am curious to discover the thoughts and learn from the youth of Mindanao.

Socially responsible entrepreneur. This is a heavy need in our Country. It is amazing how many of today’s youth have taken up this challenge. I recently met with Alex Reyes who opened my eyes about the need for social entrepreneurship in this country. He talked about Hapinoy , a innovative microlending program designed around professionalizing the Sari-Sari store. I will be discussing this in another column due to the significance and importance of the program.

I set out writing to encourage, but in return I have been encouraged.  Thank you.

Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

For comments, suggestions or stories that you want to share, email me at stirspecialist@gmail.com ,  or visit  www.stirspecialist.blogspot.com