Have you ever heard people cheering you up and say, "Don't Quit, You'll be the Loser!"? And yes, you did not surrendered! Not because it's worth fighting for but because you doesn't want to be coined by many as "quitter".
I remember when I was taking CAT to be aspirant cadet officer in high school. While, on the intensive training--- mentally and physically after the regular classes, we are allergic to those who quit from the said extra curricular. We look at them down so to boost our ego, we stronghold to each other and say, we will not quit even we die. This is the innocent-young spirit I have when I was on teenage years. Such as, play hard, and work hard (actually work smart), like a kid who don't bother anything but to enjoy everything!
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| My eldest brother and his colleague, together with Jay from JsquaRe Family (right most). |
I took degree at university and with the loads of requirements, we surpassed because of the end result. We have a good mindset of perseverance. This attribute is good most of the times, and even we use the same idea on our relationship and at attitude work. Or else, we will have no better professional background if we keep jumping off to another work. It established a very reasonable image to a company where you bestowed good standing because you never quit from your previous work (given the fact that's unbearable, hehe).
Insomuch, trying on a business as we knew should be a risk-taker. Nevertheless, we should set the risk tolerance on until when we should pursue. My story could be admirable in many and coward for some. My dream to put up preschool when I was 14 years old was realized by God when I was 24 years old. It was a 10 years of praying and preparation work, 1 year of hands-on and financial sacrifice! Then, just a 1-day decision to quit, but not a sudden thing...
Allow me to be emotional when I did this as expressed in writing. My family were also participated on my plans. My friends supported me during the difficult, the whole community who respected my family witnessed it. Moreover, God is faithful as He entrusted me all this while I am young. I usually fly back home three to four times a year to monitor and spot the envisioned area. To prepare and talk to people and see the strategic move. It was literally a sleepless night! Thus, when it started an hour skype call or calls to Philippines/ staff for their online training was initiated (before my 1pm work at SG). I confined myself of not travelling as much, wearing fancy clothes as my age, eating extravagant foods on the table or anything that spend my dollar and cents. It was a pain in physical but as everyone has different needs and wishes, so mine is different than the rest!
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| During the successful Open House for the upcoming SY 2011-2012, with my family friends, pioneering staff of MAP and my dear own family. |
Let me share my stories the other processes of achieving it. I landed at Singapore with one vision, to put up school business back home and my mission is to get work as fastest as I can. I applied over a night and the next day, God answered my prayer. It was a very rare and overwhelming situation when companies called you to start immediately on this foreign land. Many industrial companies hired me but managed to chose a training centre in lined with my dreams to handle children.
Consequently, I have to upgrade myself in soft and hard skills. Aside from being equipped in my work and open-eyed in the field I have chosen, I enrolled to various seminar and workshop. I found there people whom well like-minded. They are doing more on emotional quotient and I saw the chances of offering my concept to them as I am involved in intellectual (cognitive) enhancement. It was a perfect match as really they are looking in investing in Philippines. As usual dilemma, they don't know and where to go. I showed them the path and how to do it.
There's a trial came to them in one or two months when his secretary/ assistant which is a Filipino rejected by the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) Singapore. But again I saw it as more opportunity to happen my dream. I talked to her and offered to work "still" with her boss and me. I guided her with what I want and to cut it short, she became very efficient and proficient in these area.
I continued to produce curriculum and send the materials needed to the school. We incorporated around November 2010 as she started working August on that year. I have to think initial plan to immediately generate fund. I think, I am really concerned about the cash flow of the team. I created a program during summer to pull out and retain some enrolled students from it. My partner has own company in Singapore which considered as two slots and myself, each invested an initial share of Php250,000. Due to the commitment of our representative, we allowed her to have a 5,000php monthly over 3 years working in the said project.
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| Facade view of MAP and it's banner and spacious parking lot of established school. |
On our 1st year (SY 2011-2012) was a remarkable start with 55 students, 2nd year (SY 2012-2013) with 76 and 3rd year (SY 2013-2014) had 108 official students. These were excluding the tutorial program that we offered. My curriculum up to Grade 3 was also approved by DepEd. Along with these, I invited my dear friends in Singapore (JsquaRe) to invest in our canteen, and so the acceptance was also great. More than the figures are the great testimony of the parents or loved ones of the children we are nurturing. Truly, MindHearts Academy of the Philippines Inc. (MAP) patterned it's caption "Nurturing Everyday Heroes".
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| Concrete idea by Jakeson G Quiatchon, drawn by Mark Joseph Songco, my former high school classmate based in Dubai during that time. |
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| One of a kind banner of MindHearts Academy of the Philippines Inc., designed by Glen Allado. |
Like in any other relationship, business too, has a highlights and low-lights. With greater responsibilities, friction, hesitation and innovation may occur. We as partners had out-focused on the things set before us. There are huge decisions that were not raised. small matters that micro-managed. Separation was not became our sole option. We thought, business partners are like we marry our lifetime partners. But it's actually more harder and challenging, I bet!
As months prolonged and the world gets smaller, we struggled to breathe in whatever one's suggestion and action. Notwithstanding, we cannot managed because I am here, we are here. The trusted person was now running the show and we are the audience. No more proper communication, could it be only one-way, misinterpreted. The sleepless nights turned into nightmare and mild depression. I secluded myself from public, no Facebook or social medias and boxed myself on the room where work and myself can only be seen. Until, we decided to sell the business, my dream with a question of "How much"? Yes, would it be how much, to sell my dream or your dream in exchange of peace of mind, security of your family members and respect from the people (that's left)?
It was a formidable question that lingers on my soul for the next coming days. Everyday was a question of how much. Then, I came to a point of asking myself "why" that leads me to "what than how". Why will I sell my dream and just quit?
1. Return of Investment (RoI)
I had a 200%++ increased from my initial capital invested.
2. Peace of Mind over Friendship
So not to ruin the relationship, fighting for what you want will be last.
3. Concerned Family
The loved ones usually first to receive the impact. My one's weakness so I quit to secure them.
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| My mother who's very supportive and prayerful on my journey to my little dreams. Who became so affected and worried for the out coming of every crucial decisions I made. My father is always shy to express his valuable support, but his ideas were always excellent and best to me. |
I am grateful for the learning occurred during the process. Although, I have read a book that says, "don't learn from your own mistakes, wise man learn from others". This is the most brave decision I have ever did! As of the now, I am the enjoying the moment and making the lost with the ones who really felt my deepest concern. It's worth the patience and to quit when in times like this!
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| Picture was taken at Benguet during our Baguio City tour last April 2014. When my last meeting with them on what to do and celebrating my brother's birthday and father's thanksgiving! |
