The pushcart and the backhoe, isn't it ironic that the former now symbolizes what it would take for our country to heal itself and move forward, while the latter now serves as a reminder of how little has changed and how backward we still are.

Efren Penaflorida and a team of young volunteers have been spending the last twelve years teaching reading, math and writing, and even personal hygiene to not only street children but also those that live in the slums and depressed barangays. They do it not in a classroom, but in whatever place that they can gather the children. Sometimes in dumpsites, cemeteries, basketball courts or even under a tree. They bring with them everything that they need, books, pens, even tables and chairs, all placed inside a pushcart.

Every day , volunteers of the Dynamic Teen Company, push their pushcarts into these depressed areas in order provide basic education and more importantly, offer a glimmer of hope to the poor children.

Hope that is epitomized in Efren’s example. Efren himself was a former resident of a slum, located not too far from a dumpsite. He cites education as one of the biggest factors he was able to move up from the shanty of his childhood. He said, "Instead of being discouraged, I promised myself that I would pursue education, I will strive hard; I will do my best."

He cites another big obstacle for these street children, the huge prevalence of street gangs. These gangs not only control the areas but they often force the children to be accomplices in whatever gang activities occur. Sometimes these might be as simple as committing vandalism to as serious as alcohol and drugs, even acts such as robbery and rape. When Efren was 16, he stood up to a gang leader by refusing to join the gang. That gave him the inspiration to look for something that can provide teenagers an alternative to gang membership

The Dynamic Teen Company was the answer to giving his classmates not only a diversion but a chance also to help others. Efren proudly says, "Our volunteers serve as an inspiration to other children." This simple idea blossomed into an inspiring movement that has helped a estimated 1,500 street and slum children as well as recruiting 10,000 volunteers to uplift themselves by helping someone.

Last Saturday, The world sat up and recognized Efren when he was selected as the CNN 2009 Hero of the Year. Three million votes were cast and Efren was selected and awarded at a star studded ceremony at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre. Efren gave a inspiring speech in which he said, “Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.” He adds, “So to each and every person inside in this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed.” He concludes to genuine applause, “As I always tell to my co-volunteers … you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”

Efren’s amazing example should be held up as a shining beacon on what it takes for our country to heal itself and move forward. We can no longer thrive while the rest of our countrymen suffer. We cannot make the march to become an industrialized nation if we leave many of our brothers and sisters behind in poverty. The recent events in Maguindanao only crystallize this fact even more. Isn’t it ironic that in the span of a week, the pushcart is the symbol of progress and the mighty backhoe, a grim reminder of how backward we still really are.

We need to be the change that we dream about. We also need to start now. 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 want to share with you a story about how Timberland and its employees saw the real deal.

Timberland the shoe company decided to do their annual sales conference in New Orleans , a year after Hurricane Katrina. The company wanted to build teamwork and camaraderie by challenging and engaging employees to help rebuild New Orleans. The second day of the conference was reserved for community service, they invited City leaders to come and talk about what the City needed to rebuild, about how everyone needed to come together to put New Orleans right.

Properly motivated, the Timberland employees soon headed to the site of a famous restaurant owned by a famous jazz musician. It was a landmark of the City, and the employees eagerly rushed in to help. They spent the whole day helping hammer, saw, attach, or by doing anything that they could physically do to help rebuild that restaurant. They felt a lot of joy and peace and were congratulating each other for doing something vital and directly helping New Orleans.

One of the senior executives, however, saw something different. She saw that the employees, especially the younger ones , did not really see the situation for what it was. They did not understand the devastation as well as the pain and the continuing stark reality that residents of New Orleans still were living.

She gathered 200 of the young sales executives and commissioned three buses. Together they rode the buses deep into the city, deep into the areas most severely hit by the flood. Along the way, the young executives were shocked into silence when they saw the effects of the devastation. One year after that great flood, you could still see the grime and the waterlines of the buildings, the broken glass, the garbage, and most of all, a general sense of fear and desperation.

They hardly saw scenes of normal American life, instead they saw scenes that they thought only happened in the third world. They were suddenly hit by a massive wave of guilt and shame upon the stark realization of how little of an impact they had really made earlier when helping rebuild a restaurant. The buses stopped in front of a small dilapidated community center and they shuffled down.

One of the young men saw a volunteer in front counting a stack of water bottles. The former immediately approached the latter and volunteered to help. He asked what they needed, as it was in his power , to requisition more supplies such as bottle water, clipboards, etc. The volunteer looked at him and looked down, and said, “We need boots!” Then the young Timberland executive noticed that the volunteer was almost barefoot. He and his family had lost everything. They now lived in a trailer with almost no sanitation. But every day, the volunteer would walk to the community center to help out and had worn out his shoes. He also went on to explain, that they really needed boots and shoes because so much of the City was still a mess, they had to walk over debris, nails, glass, etc.

The young sales executive removed his boots immediately and gave it to the volunteer, with tears streaming down his eyes. Everybody else that came in the bus, immediately upon seeing and hearing this, started removing their shoes. They were so moved and ashamed that they did not realize how bad the situation really was. Somebody took a picture and sent it by mms back to the rest of their colleagues back at the hotel.

On the way back, everybody was quiet. Some were in tears. They were reflecting on how they could physically help the desperate people of that city and how to assuage the pain that they felt within.

But when the buses arrived back in the hotel, they were surprised to be met by a large crowd who proceeded to hug them and thank them for their small sacrifice. The mms picture that was sent had been sent and resent until everybody in the hotel knew what had happened. It was poignant moment where people just connected and realized the true situation of the City. As if someone had suddenly peeled off their blinders. They had finally seen the real deal.

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 .

Did you notice that nobody really wants to be a salesman. Not many want to be perceived as perpetually selling something. I think we call it, being an agent. People sometimes, even friends start to avoid you if they think you will perpetually pitch or try to sell them something.

But business needs sales people. Without them, there would be no business. The most successful sales people are those who have mastered the ability of selling without selling. I want to share with you what I believe are some of their secrets:

1. They know you – Successful sales people have taken the time to study the client. They know what are the interests, hobbies, business tendencies, and even personal habits of their clients. Because of this knowledge , they are able to suggest ways of using the product, instead of just pitching the product.

2. They treat you better- Because successful salespeople know you, they empathize better. They are able to provide a more personal relationship that transcends the normal supplier-client relationship.

3. They are honest about the product – If they feel the product is not suited for the client, they are upfront about it. They instead seek to increase the value of the relationship by assisting the client with the exact need and requirement. This way, the client always seeks the salesperson’s advice first, putting the latter in a unique position to sell more later.

4. They know what they are talking about – They are experts in the product, its uses and applications. It allows them to develop a unique connection with potential clients who are assured of feedback and solid advice.

5. They believe in what they are selling- They are passionate about the product and it shows!

6. They are always positive – They carry a cheerful personality that is willing to chat and discuss with the client any minute detail.

Think about it. How many times do we reject a product because of a pushy salesperson. And how many times do we buy a product just on the word of our “Friendly Favorite” sales friend.

Let me share with you Og Mandino’s sales principles,

“ Don’t pity yourself

Start each day with a target

Be friendly always

Always set an additional step then necessary

Be alert for each opportunity

Each problem has a positive side

Laugh in moment of hatred and anger

Concentrate on one thing

Be proud and satisfied

Examine the acts of the day at night”

It makes you wonder what it has to do with selling. But it’s true, the trick of selling is not to.

On another note, I want to invite people to check out Kumprahan Super Mercado, now open at Bridges Town Square. It is the first of its kind private market run by the producers and wholesalers, owned by cooperatives and managed by professionals. You will get a pleasant surprise with the affordability as well as the freshness of the products.

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 was invited to join the cocktails for Glory Reborn last Wednesday at MAYA, Cebu’s best Mexican themed Restaurant. It was a packed event filled by many of the movers and shakers of Cebu Society. The drinks were overflowing and the food was very good but it was unlike any ordinary social function that I have been to.

It was actually a clarion call for assistance for Glory Reborn, a non-profit organization run by a very young and beautiful American couple who took it upon themselves to champion the cause of indigent mothers and babies.

Hilary Overton first arrived in Cebu when she was 19 years old, in order to fulfill credits for her midwifery course. She volunteered to assist in Cebu slum areas and ended up working in a Cemetery as a midwife. In the course of a couple of years, despite the unreal conditions and the extremely dirty surroundings brought about by poverty, she assisted or delivered almost 2,000 infants. The intense experience left a big emotional mark in her that she took back home to the United States.

After completing her course and beginning work as a midwife, she could not get the images of the extreme needs of Cebu’s indigent mothers and infants out of her mind. She decided to come back, dragging along her new husband, to set up Glory Reborn.

Glory Reborn started out in the apartment that they were renting and the very first baby that they assisted was actually born in their own bedroom. From that start and due to the acute need, the organization has grown to occupy the apartment compound and now serves as a free maternity clinic. To date, Glory Reborn has delivered over 1,700 healthy babies and also provides free pre natal, as well as post natal care. All of this while surviving on the young couple’s passion and personal funds as well as generous donations from abroad.

I actually did not understand how to feel upon listening to the presentation. I was very touched at the kindness and sincerity of this couple who are doing a tremendous service for our community and society. At the same time, I felt embarrassed that this young organization ,with very little resources, are making so much of an impact and we did not even know about it.

One of the issues for me that is often overlooked in the natural family planning debate is actually the capacity of our Government to provide decent and complete maternal care services for many of our people. How many infants and mothers die each year because of lack of access to clean, decent and complete facilities or even proper medical care and attention.

Glory Reborn is doing a great service to our community but they cannot do it alone. They need your help, they need our help. If you want to know more about what they do, you can visit their website, www.gloryreborn.org , or email them at info@gloryreborn.org .You can also get in touch with them at (032) 418-9337.

On another note, I want to invite people to watch the musical play by Vincent Tanada entitled “Ako si Ninoy, there is a Ninoy in all of us” a Filipino Musicale that will be happening at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Grand Ballroom on November 27,2009. It is a chance for people to get re acquainted with our modern day national hero.

I would also like to invite kids and parents as well as the rest of the family to come and try YO-GO, the first kids frozen yogurt, which is now available at Toys@Work , ground floor, Banilad Town Center. It is the healthy alternative as well as having a taste specially formulated for children. Soft opening promo is a free topping with every order.

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 .

A lot of times, we barely pay attention to the people that work for us. We hardly know what their lives are like, what their dreams and aspirations are. To many, as long as we pay their salaries and they do the job that is required of them, that is more than enough to know.

But little do we know that these people , even the ones that occupy the lowest rung in the business actually are very significant to the chances of success or failure in the business. More often than not, customer’s perceptions of the business are not just shaped by our marketing and advertising efforts but thru personal interaction with our employees. If the latter show indifference, apathy or even simply bad attitude, the customer usually unconsciously assumes that it is the brand or the company that is this way. The customer then subconsciously tells himself to avoid the service, product or store.

A good friend, Germin, told me something that I will never forget. He said, “Hire for attitude, train for skills.” How many of us starting entrepreneurs really prioritize attitude in hiring over skill? Attitude over appearance? Attitude over achievements? I want to share a story about “Albert”.

We had an opening in the store and we dutifully placed an ad in the local paper. A couple of days later, I glanced over the applications and I saw one resume with a picture that looked like a mug shot. A mug shot is like a photo of a suspect taken by a policeman. The picture of “Albert” literally screamed “criminal”. Not only was it a bad picture, his attempt at a smile ended up like an evil smirk. I automatically set his application aside and told my staff that he was unacceptable.

A few days later, his application showed up in my desk again. I asked my staff if I did tell them that it was rejected, they replied in the affirmative. “So what is this again?” I asked. Apparently , “Albert” had resubmitted. I said “no, never”. And again added his application in the rejection pile.

A few days later, I saw it again, in the list of people to be interviewed. I frustratingly asked, “Why again?” “Sir, he came over to personally hand in the application and he is still here, maybe you would like to interview him.” In exasperation, I said yes.

So , I met “Albert” and interviewed him. He actually did not look like his picture. I asked him why the bad photo. He replied that he did not have the money to take a better one and I also found out that “Albert” was shy. Too shy to smile, so it ends up like a smirk. I also discovered that to make ends meet , he makes hammocks out of rope as well as other odd jobs. He proceeded to “sales talk” me into buying a hammock. The end of the story is that I did not buy a hammock although a lot of my staff did, but I did hire him. He turned out to be one of my most hard working employees as well as someone who always displays a can do attitude. He is never late and never says no. Customers like dealing with him as he is always ready with a cheerful answer and a smile. He turned out to be extremely resourceful and I count him as a blessing to the company.

So It was a lesson for me. I needed to go beyond the superficial. I needed to find out the attitude of a person and how he can apply it to his life and at work. And lastly , I learned never to be afraid to enter a situation that I end up surprised. People with the right positive attitude matter, in business its even more true. Thank you Albert for teaching me that lesson again.

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.com

I remember a conversation that I had with a couple of directors of one of MEPZA’s largest cooperative some time last year. We talked about the future of cooperatives and what they can do to serve and help their members. We discussed a variety of topics related to investments that they were interested in and what it meant for their members. It was a big eye opening discussion that struck with me, and made me appreciate the unique role that coops can play for many of our hard working “working class” employees.

Fast forward a couple of months later, Marketworks Asia, Inc. , a consulting firm that I am connected with, was asked to help develop and conceptualize a new commercial complex on a existing furniture factory. We had several meetings and the topic of what kind of innovation could we do that would benefit the public especially in hard times of today. I remembered that conversation and brought up the possibilities of asking cooperatives if they were interested in putting up a unique supermarket that would fit their objectives. It was a dream that we did not know would soon come true.

Jonathan Ramos, Chief Organizer of Kumprahan was just the right guy to put this together. He spent a large part of his younger years in the Carbon Market assisting his parents in their store, selling all sorts of produce like rice , eggs , etc. From that humble beginning , he was able ,thru hard work, become a financial planner with his own consulting agency ; helping clients plan and implement a financial plan for their future.

Jon took up the challenge and was able to organize the different producers, wholesalers and other stakeholders of his childhood and convince them that it was time to innovate. He was also able to get the support of Coopcentrum , a association of 14 cooperatives led by VICTO National Federation and the Philippine Cooperative Central Fund Federation. Other members include Timex Credit Cooperative, Timex Consumers Cooperative, Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, Lear Employees Multi Purpose Cooperative, Lexmark Employees Cooperative, Celestica Employees Multi Cooperative, SCEGA Cooperative, Guadalupe Multi Purpose Cooperative, Kings Employees Multi Purpose Cooperative, Mandaue Market Vendors Multi Purpose Cooperative, as well as several other provincial cooperatives.

Coopcentrum has partnered with Jon and invested into the project. Imagine a supermarket with an instant consumer base of almost 800,000 members as well as 224 member cooperatives. The beauty of it is that not only would the members of the different coops get to enjoy the best pricing as well as the freshest produce, they will also benefit from the business being all co owners.

Zeny Novabos, the Chair of the Philippines Cooperative Central Fund Federation and a Board of Director of Coopcentrum shared ,“The Coopcentrum Kumprahan is an answer to the dream of the cooperatives managing their own store. It is a store cooperatives can claim as their own. Best prices can be offered to the member cooperators, directly through the Coopcentrum or indirectly through the cooperative stores.”

Congratulations to Kumprahan Supermerkado which will be soft opening this October 29,2009 with a flower festival, offering flowers at “Carbon” prices with grand opening on November 15,2009. Congratulations Jon and Gladys!

Bridges Town Square will also soft open with the opening of Kumprahan and the opening of Oyster Bay soon to follow by December.

On another note, I want to invite people to watch a very special family movie, “A Journey Home” which will be a special screening at the SM cinema 7 and 8 this Saturday and Sunday. Show times are only at 4pm and 7pm on both days.

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

One of the projects that I am currently involved in is an interesting story of family, factory, progress, and then innovation. Family because it speaks of one family’s journey in building and growing their fledging export business. Factory, because this family had the faith and confidence in the city of Mandaue to build a factory in what was essentially farmland. Progress is evident in being able to witness the growth and rise of Mandaue from an industrial hub to full pledged highly urbanized city. Innovation comes to mind when you see the transformation of a factory to a “mall” or “Town Square”.

When Eduardo Alegrado set up a furniture factory almost three decades ago in a remote two hectare lot, he would not have been able to imagine that his factory will soon become a place where everyone will come to meet , get together, shop and dine. Back then, I am sure, he was just looking for a place that was convenient enough and at the same time, economically viable to put up a furniture factory catering for the export market. He recounted, “My family’s business has been operating in Mandaue City for more than 3 decades now. We had 2 furniture factories on a 2-hectare property there that was fronting a little street then.”

This new project really started with the onset of the recession. Eduardo recounts, “ when the orders started slowing down, we had to find ways of making all our assets useful. We did not want to just wait for business to be better but we wanted to innovate.” The family took notice that the area where their huge factory was located in was now a bustling thoroughfare and commercial area. They also noticed the expanding tourism market as well as new needs of a growing city.

Mandaue has really come on to its own. It now has a convention center, several large malls and commercial centers as well the largest medical university outside of Manila. It is also an important access from Cebu City to the island of Mactan and the airport as well as the connection from north to south.

The project is anchored on a very unique concept called “Kumprahan” which is a wholesale traders market housed in a supermarket setting. It will be run by producers, wholesalers as well as different cooperatives; thereby almost guaranteeing freshness as well as affordability.

There will be a unique fresh and live seafood restaurant called Oyster Bay which will have a beach setting, a lagoon as well as a salt water pond with live seafood. A lot of people will be surprised to know or will suddenly remember that the owners of Oyster Bay were also owners of Cebu’s first seafood restaurant almost several decades ago also.

There will also be an entrepreneur’s incubation area where many small entrepreneurs can affordably open a first “mall store” and experience a mall setting. There will be a tourist zone as well as a lifestyle strip.

This project really became aptly called, “Bridges”. Not only is it in between two bridges, it is also one of the main access to the north. But it is also the story of bridging the past and the present as well as looking forward to the future. In Bridges, everything really does come together.

On another note, I would like to congratulate Bam Aquino for winning the Catholic Mass Media Awards for the best business feature show. His show about starting small pinoy entrepreneurs called “Start Up” is a valuable resource for many aspiring, starting as well as encouraging entrepreneurs. Bam would also like to invite young people to attend the YoNoy! Event at 11 am today at the Southwestern University. There will also be an open forum with Noynoy Aquino.

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