Amidst the chaos of war remains the decisive component of
humanity. A single soldier can change
the tides of war. General Patton’s type
of field management supported by a willing organization was a turning point in
the Battle of the Bulge which was the turning point of War in Europe. The Punic wars would have not been in history
without the presence of its charismatic soldier-leader in the person of
Hannibal who laid waste battalions of Roman Legions battle after battle in
their own territory. Amidst the growing
sentiment of this generation for technology in the 21st
century, the human factor in operations
will be put to the test. Amidst streamlining and cost cutting of modern
organization, there will always be business value disciplines that will call
for the best in the human factor as
leadership and interpersonal skills.
A Cebu Pacific would have only be possible by the leadership
and strategy of John Gokongwei whose astute business skills paved the way to a
succession process which resulted to a competent second generation
Gokongwei. Philippine Airlines and
Fortune Tobacco would have only be possible with the shrewd business management
approach of Lucio Tan; a most practical demonstration of Sun Tzu’s doctrines in
the Art of War.
Sir Jo is one illustration of a competent Salesman-soldier. Known for his accomplishments in the retail,
real estate and distribution business. The
Yap family started their success from humble beginnings of a competent couple
in the person of Sir Jo and Mam Carmen. From
stories shared by long time employees of the family the couple assumed a modest
grocery space at Valencia in the early 80s. Years before that Sir Jo was an
edible oil salesman covering Northmin in the 70s while Mam Carmen was a
resourceful woman who worked her way up as a working student and business
woman. Sir Jo once shared with your humble writer how he had designated Bodega
1, 2 and 3 the stores of his peers in Valencia.
The system was to improve his assortment he contracted his peers in the
nearby streets who specializes in certain category which he was not yet
carrying. The staff can contract this items from customers under arrangement of
“pick up later” to give them ample time to pull out from Bodega 1, 2 and 3.
Machiavelli and
Clausewitz spoke of a path to
sustainable effective leadership. Machiavelli has clearly differentiated the competence of
acquiring power from the competence of sustaining it. While discussing the concepts of fortune and
skill, many princes and kings have acquired fortune by birth right but have
failed to sustain their position because of lack of skill. However, history is full of accounts as well of bold
and sublime men who have reached the pinnacle of their chosen field from humble
and heroic beginnings as the Patriarch of LCG Group of Companies Lu Chiam Giam
and the Matriarch of the Gesalem Group of Companies. Having worked with the
next generation sons and daughters, it’s a humbling and awakening moment to
stand in the presence of the children and the companies they have built.
Trully, a legacy to human limitless possibilities.
Experience, to start from the bottom and to know the
idiosyncrasies of your chosen industry or profession, historical appreciation, to gain knowledge as
to how decisions and its consequences were made in the past and Intellectual capacity to persist amidst
the success and failures of your chosen path; to realize these impostors and be
quick in anticipating traps. A strength of mind to remember and keep faith to your life’s purpose even in the darkest dungeons
of captivity; to remain faithful in your cause however hopeless.
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