Among the thirteen (13) entrepreneurs presented to us, I found the stories of Christopher Bernido and Ma. Victorio Carpio, John Mackey and Prayong Ronnarong most meaningful.
The Bernido couple were Physics graduates from the U.S. who used their knowledge and devoted their time in promoting quality education for the poor through their system called Dynamic Learning Program.
John Mackey was the founder of the Whole Foods who was inspired by eating organic food and managed to open his own grocery store even without a diploma.
Prayong Ronnarong is farmer from Thailand who led a community of rural workers build a rubber factory which made their community, Mairiang, famous then later identified other agricultural products to allow Mairiang farmers have a competitive advantage.
Let me begin with Prayong Ronnarong’s formula: from poverty to prosperity. He used his difficult life in childhood to make things possible not just for him but for his whole community.
I am amazed how someone who only finished grade four (4) managed to come up with community enterprises whose profits funded education, health and welfare measures, including scholarships for the youth and social security fund.
His accomplishments and sense of social responsibility were something unexpected of someone who lacked education. His assistance to the famers and elders of Mairiang, and his “masterplan” for that matter, only show that even a young boy can make a difference in our world, so long as he is determined to do so.
If Prayong Ronnarong did not make it in elementary, John Mackey did not make it in college; but hardwork and determination are common with these two.
John’s company, Whole Foods Market would not have become this big now if he did not have his share of failures. What I liked about him is that, he started a business with the simple ambition to make a living and feed people with healthy food.
The fact this still holds true until now means that business, for him, is not just about maximizing profits. For him, doing business has a greater purpose, and that is, creating value for everyone – employees, customers, suppliers and communities. So from college, I am now inspired with those with doctorate degrees, the Bernido couple. “ We both wanted to do something for the country.”
This is the main line in the story of the Bernido couple that touched me. Many privileged families from different localities in the Philippines now have been so focused on their circles and on continuously enriching themselves. They seem to have forgotten some sense of compassion for the people around them. The accomplishment of the Bernidos is an exception.
I appreciate their efforts in teaching and investment on different strategies of education for the poor people of the Municipality of Jagna, Bohol, although coming from privileged families.
Education, for me, is the only way we can empower the poor and lift them from their unfortunate condition. Indeed, it was a good idea that they started helping their community but have impacted not just the Philippines, but the whole world. If we look at the histories of my three (3) personal choices above, we will realize that it does not take someone to be “somebody” to accomplish something, especially to touch other people lives and make an impact.
It does not matter if one is a graduate or undergraduate, or, poor or rich. The qualifications or characteristics of an entrepreneur or a leader for that matter are innate or intrinsic. Perhaps the most important part of the success of Prayong Ronnarong, John Mackey and the Bernido couple, was the process they went through.
They seem to have a roadmap of their intentions supplemented with a rationale. They knew what they wanted to build, why they wanted to build them and for whom did they build them. Probably their only difference was their planning and execution, but they all still made it; they offered solutions to some of their community problems.
Their stories made me realize that anyone can be an entrepreneur or leader so long as he/she chooses to, no matter how difficult it is. At the end of the day, leadership is still a choice.