Of Indizh, Canyon Cove and the Deaths of Crosby and Botak

As I may have recounted to some of you, I’d an extremely bizarre incident some time back while trying to book a room at Canyon Cove for my cousin Marga’s wedding. 

After repeated attempts to have them reach out to me, in exasperation, I’d blurted out to an agent, “How would you feel if you were in my shoes?”  Big mistake to ask someone who’s been trained to just be a drone – no feelings and mechanical. 

The conversation – in various avenues of the same theme – went on for about 20 minutes with her just saying that she’ll try to find out what happened and will get back to me. 

“I don’t care about what you’re going to do,” I kept repeating, “I just want you to tell me what you would feel if you were in my situation.” 

“I’m sorry, po, but I can’t,” was the automatic reply. 

Filipinos are possibly the warmest and most hospitable people in the world.  It’s what really makes me call this place “home.”  Given the wrong guidance and culture, however, they can be exasperating.  Key, I suppose is to bring out our strengths and capitalize on them.  Something Canyon Cove, obviously, didn’t do. 

I'd understood everything clearly when we finally stayed at the resort and actually felt bad I'd demanded so much from the person I'd spoken to.  After all, it was a place that was utilitarian, not too well kept and had that "pwede na" feel to it.  She was primarily echoing this culture.  

People who really know me are aware of my extreme nationalism – I’m not too happy when I’ve to eat at a restaurant that’s foreign and, for the longest time held, off on buying a pair of rubber shoes because I’d the belief there’s a local brand (even took a trip to Marikina). 

I've come up with a term - "indizh" - a play on the word indigenous - to describe homegrown companies that I'd rather patronize.  So, yeah, please, don't come running to invite me to the opening of that new Pink's Hotdogs.  I'm fine with my Manang's Chicken, thank you.   

Reasons for this include the practical:  I'd rather that the money made by an establishment stay in the country rather than go to that shareholder living in that four bed / five car McMansion in that tony Idaho suburb. 

So, in my long quest for that pair (I can actually share with you the state of my old one - which literally fell apart), I came to the realization that brands I knew growing up - Crosby and Botak - no longer exist.  Was it, perhaps, our inability to innovate that brought about this?  

Our, yes, culture that allows us to fall into that "pwede na" category?  Perhaps it was that and not the Ice Age that killed the dinosaurs, right?

Written January 31, 2015  

Of Mystery Manila, Shake Shack and Making Manny Poor

Checked out Mystery Manila with the kids over the break and it's highly, highly recommended.  To the uninitiated, it's a "live escape room game" where a group of friends and family have 60 minutes to figure out clues in order to get out "alive" and win some minor prizes - shirts, pens, stickers.  It's fun, but, quite intellectually taxing.  

Actually, it would have been a much greater experience had our guide been more involved and not so bored.  I understand we'd probably been his umpteenth guests, but, still.....

As it was, we were scratching ourselves trying to figure some of the things he was saying.  It'd seemed he'd lost the raison d'etre for the whole enterprise:  To have fun. 

I'd dare imagine if it had been run by Disney or Chili's, instead.  

Or, a company called Shake Shack.  Shake Shack is a wildly successful burger joint that is going public in a few and one factor in its phenomenal growth (from $21 Million in sales 2010 to $140M in three years) has been its model of paying higher than the average to its employees.  Their filing with the SEC stated that doing so attracts "...higher caliber employee(s) and this translates directly to better guest service." 

Making Manny Poor  

Along that line, we've a game here at home we've come to call "Make Manny Poor."  "Manny" is Manny Pangilininan - all around rich guy and who's responsible for our water, electricity and phone - and the formula is this:  We've set our general electric consumption at P5,500.00 a month and water at P1,000.00.

Should we hit less than those amounts, the kids get 80% and the helpers 20% of the difference.   

We've been at it for five months and is it successful?  Mildly, I would think.  The lights still do get left on and showers taken a little longer than necessary, but, there's a slight improvement in the bills I've noticed.  I suppose in the long run kids will finally figure out the value they gain in this exercise.  

There is, after all, some value I think when all stakeholders involved in an organization are made to feel important.  The least, I think, would be great customer service. 

Written January 4, 2015 

Of James Spader, Failure and Farrah Fawcett 'do

My cousin, Jo Cacho, actually sent out a great piece - that I'll be sharing more of shortly - that reminded me of a scene from a 1985 James Spader film that I caught a few nights ago.  Yup, been on a nostalgia trip lately - my fave radio station is Retro 105.9 (the name says it all) and my line up for films to check out on YouTube feature men with mullets and women with big hair.  Yup, time for me to take out my Spraynet. 

 

On the side:  I don't know what it is about looking back and reminiscing - I suppose it's a throwback to one's simpler life of being young and carefree.  Don't get me wrong, I've repeated it a million times now I'm having the best time of my life and so, no, I'm not dreaming about going back to a time when I was awkward, pimpled and looked like I really belonged in a UNICEF poster for Africa.  

Getting back:  There'd been a conversation between Spader's character and his father as he'd been a troublemaker and was now adjusting to a new high school.  Another misstep led him to question things - this is when the Dad uttered lines that made my laboring through a lot of really lousy movies (almost) worth it:

"I expect you to make mistakes.  That's what life is all about, for God's sake.  How else are you gonna learn who you are and what you believe in?  Look, son, life isn't a problem to be solved, it's a mystery to be lived.  So live it."

                                                         From "Tuff Turf"  

                                                                                                                 

As mentioned, Jo sent a piece by a well-known life coach named Martha Beck and in it she talks about how failure is what is actually needed for one to be a better person.  It's a must-read (unlike "Tuff Turf") and you can check it here.  

 

Indeed, I'd never get the chance to enjoy this "best time of my life" had I not failed in the US - gulp, it sends shivers up my spine just thinking about how much more "successful" I could have been over there.

An employee of ours had been let go during a downsizing period as members of the team had been unhappy about his whining ways - he'd get the job done quite well, yes, but it'd been always with a dollop of vinegar.  The others had tired of him and got him out a la "Survivor."  

He'd enjoyed the time away for a while - eventually making almost three times more - but, finally reached a difficult period including the hospitalization of his wife.  An opening left the door open for his return, after a year, and a six hour ride with him Thursday produced this gem - corroborated by his colleagues:

"Salamat sa pagbalik ko at ngayon alam ko na kung paano ako dati.  Dati talaga masungit ako kaya ngayon talagang bantay ko na ang ugali ko.......Di talaga tungkol sa pera ang lahat."   

I suppose one just has to be philosophical about things and figure out that there really must be a reason for everything - including failure.

November 15, 2014  

Einstein and the Theory of Relativity

"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity." - Albert Einstein

We'd been without a helper for a month.....and it felt like a decade.  In essence, this piece is about this:  Your views....perspective on things are shaped by your experiences....in comparison to what's around you.  

To that salaryman, for example, living in Yuzawa, Japan, having a helper is just the way it is and doesn't think much of it.

Another way to look at it is this:  A person in Peshawar feels he's poor because he hasn't been able to eat in three days....while a person in Fayette, Mississippi feels exactly the same because he doesn't have enough to pay for his cable bill.  

Closer to home, I'd shared among some of you what I'd heard during a recent barangay meeting in our village about the opening up of a new gate leading to the outside - to ease the horrible traffic congestion during rush hour.  Here are gems:

- From a retired, chauffer-driven woman who, obviously, doesn't go out much: "I don't understand what this is all about.  There's no traffic...."  Like I said, "views...perspectives....shaped by experiences."  

- Another beauty:  "You know, the other barangay administration was better. They didn't do anything - so, they were not corrupt."  I don't even know how to comment on such a self-defeating statement.

To the younger, working people in the crowd, the gates had to be opened.....while the retired ones who had nothing to do wanted the status quo.  

I think one of the more revolutionary insights I've learned is the idea of things being all relative.  It's what's made me sensitive to what I say and do - witness Binay claiming to be poor...."Yes, Jej, I'm sure you're poorer than the politicians attacking you, but, please compare yourself to the 99.9% of us." 

Written November 9, 2014 

When I Own a Hummer and Because You Can....

Sometimes these emails are hard to write and some are just gifts from God.  Thank goodness for some people on this earth, consider this piece manna.   

Last week saw me witness an elderly foreigner rebuke a bank teller for her having been asked to move from the preferred lane to another.  It was all a misunderstanding really - prompted by Filipinos not being clear in their instructions - but, it was in his reaction that I was appalled.  

He'd obviously felt slighted - "I'm a preferred client!" - and protested in a rather loud manner.  I was reeeaaally tempted to give him my caring advise, but, decided to withhold and instead left a note addressed to him..."I wish you'd done so in a loving manner.....Filipinos have yet to learn the fine art of excellent customer service, but, they're the nicest people....I've learned that when in Rome, do as the Romans do...."  Yup, funny stuff.  

This exchange was reminiscent of another I was a spectator to - a man berating personnel at Toyota for their slow service.  Again, he may have been right, but, it was the manner that caught my attention - loud and insulting.  

"Mando" is a term used by Filipinos and has its Spanish origin of "control."  It's a direct descendant of our feudal past that those in "power" - the rich and famous and those who look rich and famous - are given the free rein to do what they want - like it's their inherent right.....witness politicians, for example.   

Sometimes it's obvious - the above stories - and most of the time it's subtle...."sir, ma'am, po, opo..."

It's a universal phenom, too, don't worry as an ongoing behavioral experiment at UC Berkeley showed these highlights:

- A rigged game of Monopoly showed that the person "destined" to win became louder, more demonstrative and even consumed more of the chips that were on the table.  

- People driving more expensive cars generally ignored people at pedestrian lanes.

A piece written about the study concluded that "wealth and status seemed to increase one's sense of entitlement (and more likely to prioritize self-interest over the interest of others) while simultaneously decreasing one's empathy and concern for others."   

Fyi, a fascinating 16 minute talk by one of the researchers is on TedTalks - it's a must watch and is here. 

With the oh so subservient masses here, it's oh so easy for things to get to your head.  I can see that it's easy to act like a jerk....because one, simply, can.  

I guess the key is to know now what kind of person you'll be once you've become a deliriously wealthy individual.  The world, too, is filled with philanthropists - Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are the famous ones - who don't let what they have go to their head.     

I suppose one day I'll own a Hummer (ahhh, probably not), but, I'll sure hope to keep in mind to still stop at crosswalks and should I forget?  Please remind me what a jerk I've become.  I'll thank you for it.

Written October 12, 2014  

The Road Not Taken

My Dad once asked a Filipino BPO exec why Indians were more successful (at that time) than Filipinos as far as outsourcing is concerned.  His reply?  He'd noticed that during tradeshows, the Indians would go around and press the flesh while the Pinoys were just hanging out at their booths.  

That anecdote reminded me of something that happened recently.  You see, I've been lobbying to get young adult (YA) literature made by Filipinos out there.  Infamously, my kids are voracious readers and it'd pain me seeing them not working on books put out by local writers.  

Why can't they be reading stories about kids their age through the eyes of the Filipino - why not our own Harry Potter, for example?  

On the side:  The number one overall best-seller at Fully Booked are children's books (no need for a Harvard study to figure this out:  they've the time, energy and their parents' money) and, yet, the all-time top local title is a non-fiction on the justice system.

Obviously, the publishers are not doing their homework, right?  

Getting back:  My aforementioned lobbying got me into a conversation with an upstart publisher and I'd convinced him enough that he asked for authors I could recommend.  I'd recalled one I'd written to and thought I'd hook up again and I'll share here a bit of our exchange:

Jay:  Hi, I'd pushed an upstart publisher to check into coming up with YA books and he seemed interested and he'd asked if I knew of any authors he can speak with about it.

I understand it's not your genre, but, hey thought you'd at least be interested to find out about it.  I've read a bit of what you do and it seems to me there's something there that could fill that niche. 

Author:  Thank you for thinking of me, but I'll pass for now.  Will keep this in mind though!

My initial thought:  If I'd asked JK Rowling the same question 19 years ago, am sure she'd not have said, "I'll pass for now." 

 

The difference, I think, is this:  Ms. Rowling was a divorced mother to a very young child and was very, very poor - she's described her economic status as being "poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless."

Of course, it's more complicated than that - a mixture of socio-economic reasons - but, I do know it's become inherent in the nature of other cultures to go and seize opportunities and be trailblazers.   

I'm reminded of that Robert Frost poem Kara picked out for an assignment: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. 

At this point, we say goodbye to Lincoln who, himself, took the difficult road to keep the US united:

XIV.  Influence People Through Conversation and Storytelling

- Speak in simple and familiar strains with people, without any pretension of superiority.  Leave people with the feeling that they've known you all their lives.  

- Don't forget that humor is a major component of your ability to persuade people.  

- Remember that people are more easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous illustration than in any other way.  

- You will often avoid a long and useless discussion by others or a laborious explanation on your own part by a short story that illustrates your point of view. 

Written October 5, 2014

Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead?

There's a very long piece from the NY Times (here if you're really interested) and the gist of it is that research has shown that sharing one's self towards altruistic goals - helping colleagues, mentoring, giving, caring etc. - actually nets positive results.  

It's a mixture of making yourself feel good and people wanting to deal with you - business-wise, at work - because of them actually liking you.

Some successful brands - The Body Shop, Human Nature, Toms come to mind - have, in fact, made benevolence part of their DNA.  

I'd reflected on that and realized two very recent examples:

- Our partnership with the cosmetics brand Ellana had started out on the basis of my Dad, Diego - my brother - and I wanting to just help out on some concerns Theresa, the owner, had with her business.  It had eventually turned into several sessions and into the realization that she'd a strong business with great potential and was someone we'd like to work with.  

 

- I'd gotten to know Fanny, our HR Head for our HR resources firm, as someone we'd contacted, through my brother, as the headhunter for a position we were trying to fill.  It had been a long process and through it had gotten to know her - solely by phone.  Towards the end, she'd shared her recent resignation after an arduous experience.  I'd offered to meet for lunch to offer support and encouragement.  

The scheduled one hour lunch stretched and with us hitting it off - reaching the conclusion she'd be perfect for us.  

It was no surprise, therefore, that her reply to my asking her recently what she thinks her reason for existence is was "to help others."

It'd reminded me of that line I'd shared a few posts back:  "Discover gifts, passions and purpose in life so you can help others  Happiness comes as a result."

And now, a few more leadership pointers from Lincoln:

XIII.  Encourage Innovation

- Don't lose confidence in your people when they fail. 

- Let your subordinates know that you are always glad to have their suggestions.  

- If you never try, you'll never succeed.

- Remember that the best leaders never stop learning.  

Written September 28, 2014

James Coburn and Lincoln

Lately, I’ve caught myself checking out a couple of films with James Coburn on YouTube.  To the young and uninitiated, Mr. Coburn was a star of around four decades starting in the ‘60’s. 

He was lanky, not particularly handsome, but, parlayed this self-assured walk and, more famously, an amazing grin to stardom.  He’d excelled in roles that had him employ those two attributes – confident, suave, criminal, devilish.  

That was his mark and that’s what made him memorable (check out his Skyriders here on YouTube should you happen to find the time). 

Some of the things I’ve learned having been back here for five years now:  With Filipinos, you can actually come up with lousy products, but, just be good in relationships and projecting some sort of positive image.  

Absolutely, absolutely nothing can be solved over a nice, long lunch.  Go ask the BIR, politicians, criminals and cops. 

I guess one should ask oneself, among others, these questions:  Am I relationship-centric?, what do I think of meetings - a venue to cultivate meaning with God's other creations or just absolutely boring time wasters?  What makes me indelible to others?

Lastly, we continue on with a few more nuggets from Abraham:

IX.  Lead by Being Led

- If you are a good leader, when your work is done, your aim fulfilled, your people will say, "We did this ourselves."  

- Try not to feel insecure or threatened by your followers.  

- Let disputing parties work out their differences by bringing them together and guiding their dialogue.  

- Write letters to your subordinates making the personal acknowledgement that they were right and you were wrong.  

Written September 13, 2014

Continuing on Lincoln...and the Spurs

Like I said, I don't think we've heard the last on the Spurs.  I'd miss this important item on them being the first team in any of the four major professional sports in North America to hire a female assistant coach. 

 

Part of the reason why Becky Hammon had been chosen seems to stem from a trip with Coach Pop:

Popovich may have a rep for being prickly, but he's also one of the smartest and most well-rounded coaches in the NBA, well versed in everything from politics to pinot noirs. When he and Hammon found themselves on the same flight home from the London Olympics, they spent the entire time talking — about everything but basketball.

"From the time that he got off that trip, he really had an intrigue about Becky not only as a coach but just as a person," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "If you've spent time studying or watching Pop, it's not about basketball, it's about people."

We could even go back to last week's piece about the culture that the Spurs had set as an organization.  It's highly probable that this environment allowed Pop to even consider making this decision.  

Now, let's segue on to our series on Lincoln's principles.  

To set up everything, let's note that the civil war in the US had been fought over, really, economic matters:  You see, the northern (and industrialized part) of the US thought it abhorrent that slavery was still the norm by landowners in the states that made up the southern part.  

The stand of the Southerners was that it was their way of life - the slaves were being used to work on their cotton fields - and those who did not understand this had no right to tell them what to do.

In this midst came Lincoln who was equally disgusted by the notion of forcing people to work for, essentially, free. The reality, though, was that he had to keep the country together and so it was with this that he held up as long as he could from imposing the law that would abolish slavery - to be able to try and work out a compromise first.  

I guess the teachable moment here is to try and see first if there's a way to work things out before, yes, declaring "war" on anybody. 

III. Persuade Rather Than Coerce:

- A good leader avoids issuing orders, preferring to request, imply or make suggestions.  

IV.  Honesty and Integrity Are the Best Policies:

- When you make it to the top, turn and reach down for the person behind you.  

- You must be consistently fair and decent, in both the business and personal side of life.  

V.  Never Act Out of Vengeance or Spite:  

- Have malice toward none and charity for all.  

- Touch people with the better angels of your nature.  

VI.  Be a Master of Paradox:

- Avoid major conflict in the form of quarrels and arguments.  You simply don't have time for it. 

VII.  Exercise a Strong Hand - Be Decisive:

- An entire organization is never wisely sacrificed to avoid losing one or two small parts.  

- When making a decision, understand the facts, consider various solutions and their consequences, make sure that the decision is consistent with your objectives, and effectively communicate your judgment.  

VIII.  Master the Art of Public Speaking:

- Be your organization's best stump-speaker, with droll ways and dry jokes.  

- Remember that there will be times when you should simply not speak.  Say to your listeners:  "Kindly let me be silent."   

All for now and see you next week - same time, same station.

Written August 31, 2014

It Really Starts at the (Very) Top....and Lincoln

Yup, couldn't help it, we're back in Spurs territory here.  Probably really the lastest this season...then again, wouldn't bet on it.  

We've discussed much about them - five championships over a 17-year span, core members who've stayed on out of loyalty, players not leaving for higher pay, etc - and I've pointed out their selfless philosophy and organizational discipline.  Yada, yada, yada stuff, right?  

A bit of research, lately, pointed out the fact, though, that it actually, really starts at the very top - the owner. 

Let me share these few lines about him - obviously a PR job, but, I think you'll get the idea:

Peter Holt believes in a values-based management philosophy, in which the community gains benefits from association with a company that is committed to proper business ethics. A company's responsibility leads to the company supporting community projects, leading to mutual benefit for the community and company. These values were one of the primary factors in Holt's 1993 decision to invest in the Spurs. His desire was to keep the team in San Antonio to help the community and vice-versa. 

So, essentially, the Spurs are who they are because of a top-down philosophy - that a culture has been built and that success, you could say, comes naturally. 

Series on Lincoln 

Speaking of top-down, we'll be starting a series on Abraham Lincoln.  I thought of giving the heavy tome known as the "The Board Book" a rest for a while and checked out another one Dad passed on and it's about the leadership style of America's 16th President.  

A curious case he - lost eight elections, twice failed at business and only had a few years of political experience before becoming president during the gravest time of that country's history - its civil war!

What he had done during that period - keeping the nation intact - is nothing short of miraculous and has put him down as one of the greatest leaders of all time.  

Yes, you are not at war, I agree, but I think you're faced with certain challenges and maybe some of his principles may come in handy.  The book is "Lincoln on Leadership" and it's by Donald Phillips and he breaks down what he thinks are the principles of honest Abe:

I. Get Out of the Office and Circulate Among the Troops:

- Explain yourself in writing and offer advice on how to solve problems.

- Seek casual contact with your subordinates.  It is as meaningful as a formal gathering, if not more so.      

- Be the very embodiment of good temper and affability.  

- Remember, everyone likes a compliment.  

II.  Build Strong Alliances

- Invest time and money in better understanding the ins and outs of human nature.  

- Showing your compassionate and caring nature nature will aid you in forging successful relationships. 

Written August 24, 2014