And it’s said that Filipinos make poor businessmen.
With our culture’s strong inclination towards ‘pakikisama’, our tendency to go on ‘siestas’, our nature to be subservient and overly prudent, it has been said time and again that Filipinos would make the worst businessmen. This belief has been shattered however, with the triumph of a Filipino in the recently concluded first season for the Apprentice Asia.
It’s been more than a week now since Filipino sensation Jonathan Yabut bested contenders in the famed reality show. The Apprentice Asia actually takes its roots from the US and has since grown to be an international franchise. It was launched in Asia last May 22 with a group of 12 eager young businessmen and women who would compete for the rare chance to work for and with business magnate Tony Fernandes. Every week, a competitor was ‘weeded’ and sent out of the boardroom with the now iconic phrase, ‘You’re fired.’
Eventually, it was down to Andrea Loh from Singapore and our own Jonathan Yabut. We all know how that turned out, of course, but did we really see the wisdom this young man has shown in the course of the competition?
Wisdom can be found everywhere, if we are willing to open our eyes to it. Jonathan’s unique combination of glib, gut and cunning eventually won him the race. Time and again, Tony Fernandes has remarked that he has not seen the real Jonathan yet. This may be because of the pressure filled environment the cultivated or the lack of opportunity for a real interaction. Or then again, it may just be because Jonathan was honest from the start. He was honest in presenting himself and his goals all throughout the competition and took responsibility when things went haywire. Yes folks, honesty is still, undeniably, the best policy.
Jonathan knew how to strategize and look at the big picture. He did not sweat the small stuff nor did he place too much focus on the menial tasks at hand. He always knew how to step back and let things fall into place and when to go into to full battle gear and engage. This is very true for everyone. How often do we find ourselves getting frustrated over little things?
And finally, preparation is key. Before the show even started, Jonathan did his homework on Fernandes and the show. He studied Fernandes business decisions and stocked up on knowledge from previous shows of The Apprentice in the US. He took mental notes of tactics that worked and backfired. He did not come unprepared.
“There’s so much happiness in me” he has been quoted as saying. Well, Jonathan, the entire Filipino community is mirroring your emotions. We have so much happiness in us too.
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