Would you have invested with the skinny little geek? Sometime last week, my Dad asked me to attend a multi-level marketing seminar involving Voice Over Internet Protocol (V.O.I.P) products. He wanted to attend the seminar personally but he asked me to attend the seminar primarily for two reasons first he had another meeting to attend and secondly, he just did not understand what the product is all about. (This also goes for all other “hi-tech” products) So I reluctantly attended the seminar. An American gave the presentation. He was very eloquent and convincing. The product was equally good as well. But what really intrigued me was the sales pitch he made when asked he people to join the multi-level marketing company. He told us that Microsoft is one of the richest and one of the most successful company in the world. The company is currently worth more than $ 200 Billion dollars. If these guys would come knocking at your door, you wouldn’t hesitate to give them your … [Read more...]
Putting up a call center? Think before you leap!!!
The Philippines is one of the hottest destination for business process outsourcing. It just places a little notch lower than the India. A lot of call centers and other business process outsourcing ventures have cropped up all over the country. More than half of the available jobs advertised in the newspapers are business process outsourcing jobs ranging from medical transcription to customer and technical support and legal services among others. Instead of being stagnant because of the dwindling dollar, our export sector has exhibited growth due to business brought about by business process outsourcing. My brother who is our company’s vice president for finance wanted us to join the bandwagon. He was interested in involving our business in the business process outsourcing industry specifically in the call center operations. I expressed my reluctance that we do so since this is totally unrelated to our existing line of business although I acknowledge that business process … [Read more...]
The 7 characteristics of highly effective managers
Yesterday we had our first semi-annual branch command conference. Our company holds two annual meetings in order that we might get in touch with our branch managers. The purpose of this month’s conference was to set goals and to layout plans for the year. At the beginning of the meeting, I gave a talk on the 7 Characteristics of highly effective managers. Here are the points I gave: 1.) – They are good leaders Effective managers are good leaders. Leadership in one word is INFLUENCE. Good leadership is influencing others to achieve our mission and vision. Systems and structures are managed but people are led. Managers wield authority while leaders apply influence. Managers administer programs, leaders develop people. Managers formulate policy, leaders set example. Managers control, leaders empower. Highly effective managers are good leaders. 2.) They continuously maintain the balance in the organization I have always maintained that there are three basic divisions in an … [Read more...]
Business & economic forecast for 2008
As the year is about to start, let me indulge you with my own analysis of the business environment that will we will be experiencing particularly for those living in Southeast Asia and most particularly for us in the Philippines. This will also involve some economics as this will affect businesses as well. Let me just begin with the statement that no forecast is a perfect forecast, no matter how good a forecast or a forecaster is, there is no such thing as an absolute forecast. A forecast is only an aid to enable us to make good business decisions. We will start off with the happenings in the world largest economy, the United States of America. As we all know the United States of America is facing a serious economic dilemma due to its sub prime mortgage problems. This problem has translated into slower jobs growth, shortage of business credit, and a decrease in industrial production among other things. The problem is so serious problem that even the White house has lowered its … [Read more...]
2007 Business year-end-review
More than two years ago, sometime in September of 2005 I saved this article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled “'5% growth or worse 'Forecast of economic 'collapse' in 2 to 3 years chills businessmen” I saved the article in my computer because I wanted to know if the future projections of the business environment in our country will come to pass. In this article, according to economic analyst Peter Wallace “There is a 60% to 70% chance the Philippine economy will experience "modest growth" as it struggles with rising global oil prices and internal political uncertainties” He continues that if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo fails to carry out tough fiscal reforms and change her leadership style, the country is "heading towards a recession" or prolonged economic slowdown. Now that two years has actually passed, businessmen can take a breather because the analysis of Peter Wallace did not seem to take place. We did not just experience modest growth, we experienced … [Read more...]