Running Thoughts on a Sunday Morning Run

First set up the mood music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQeqmNbA2Hs&list=PL5CDB24A68C015899

Then set up the scenery:

Ayala Alabang Madtigal Drive

It was 615 Am a beautiful slightly cloudy Sunday morning. Last night there was moderate rain so the roads were wet and the foliage around was damp. A crisp fresh and moist morning met me when I stepped out the house. It has been a great weekend so far, I told myself, referring to a great friday party night and meaningful date with Bian and a Baby shower on a Saturday. I felt I owned the streets, one or two vehicles would pass every now and then but essentially the running path is waiting for me. 

I wanted to jog somewhere else, I wanted to see new scenery, new houses and streets. Ayala Alabang is 550 Hectares in size and despite being a resident here for more than 9 years I have not explored all streets. This gave an ready excuse to stray from the regular path and to go out and explore no running paths. I took the the inwards path to our village, to the direction of St. James Church through Madrigal Drive. I then took a left at a random street near Woodrose, hoping to see new houses. 
My mind was relaxed but it was also thinking. I looked at the houses at that part of our village, they were beautiful. I admired the architecture, how they stood out. Clearly these are the dwellings of the wealthy.

A sudden realization with a bit of sadness hit me, I have not yet bought any home for my and myself. I claim to live in this village but in truth I still reside with family. Its not that I am complaining, its just that I felt that I have to accomplish having a functional and comfy but modest home. I thought that if our product launch made it, I will get some money to get a plot to build a house and to have a home of my own. As I was jogging I saw their nice gardens and with that I too aspired that I would like a house with a nice garden.


I also thought of the Baby shower, I thought of what it takes to raise a child nowadays. I thought of fatherly duties and family moments. I thought of settling down with my wife. How will I raise a family? What happens if I get to live in Alabang Hills? If I live in a condominium, what happens? I wanted to know more about the getting married business before buying into it full heartedly.  I asked myself when should be the best date for it? Too far into the future is not healthy but too soon means so much financial sacrifices. As soon as I thought of the latter I realized how far in life I have come and that real adult issues are facing me.

I thought of the company, I wanted to review the salaries of my staff. I wanted to design a merit based compensation system, a better system than experience and seniority as the key factors of compensation.  I wanted to be fair, I want that my company can offer career growth and development. I wished that we had more training band resources budget. 

The next thoughts that filled me was about our new product division. I want to further enhance our supply chain, I want to invigorate the people around me. They are young, many of our staff are indeed quite young but we have in our front a game changing task and a relatively smaller budget. Again this should go big- correction, it MUST go big (emphasize on the must), our dreams and ambitions are in that project of ours. The pressure is up but it must be met by business finesse and a cool mind. 

In general I thought about life and the general themes attributable to it. I asked myself am I ready? Am I ready? 

My mind murmured "I will catch my dreams and I will find out how to make them real.?

Before long I already made it back home sweating profusely and still having many of questions inside. It was truly a thought inspiring Sunday Jog.

Merchant's Tales: Operations, Fish and Aquariums

One of the activities I consider very relaxing is to stay in cool cafe with a nice hot mug of mocha infused coffee and doing an operations model. Ive said it before and I will say it again, numbers always behave as expected and I find it amazing every time that I can manipulate them with ease. Before I lose most of you in nerd talk I'd take a slide back and have a little throwback essay on How I got to like operations. Ive been doing formal operations planning for a number of years back but I will be talking more about where it all started.

So where did it all start?

My quick answer will be in my early childhood. Im looking back with happy eyes on how we were raised with frugality. It was 1993, I was Grade four at that time, the time where I first got my daily school allowance of 40 pesos.  We were taught that money must be earned honestly and hard work therefore our school allowance. In addition I almost always never got to have new stuff, and for a fourth grader that would be the latest Jurassic Park toys or the latest sega or super nes console. What I did have is a trusted single gear BMX  bicycle.

I learned from the very start from a hard and pretty harsh lesson that my money will never get replenished when I spent it. Now matter how much I pleaded and how much I tried to appeal to my parent's logic, the stern no additional funds will be the answer. This became the foundations on being frugal. When I was that age I couldn't help but feel some self pity but little did I know that this would be the foundation of my values.

While I did not many of the most updated toys, I found a new hobby. Okay its a hobby that is really reserved for the nerdiest of the nerds, if you may call it that way. I started fish-keeping. Below are black and white mollies,  the breed of the first aquarium fish I kept. Initially sourced from Bio Research SM Megamall

Fish keeping was far cheaper than any fancy toy or super nes equipment and I found myself progressing from silver mollies to "higher level" fishes. When I was in Grade 6 the Arowana craze swept every household. The sucky think about arowanas at that time is that you have to feed them live fish. This becomes a big hassle as I had to schedule my biking trips, my budget and check the weather. 

Presenting the Silver Arowana

The Blue Line is the bike path I took to the petshop

The suckier thing is that with the absence of a good internet connection at that time I sometimes get drenched in the rain while traveling in a bike carrying live feeder fish. The road gets slippery and I had to carry my bike to get through the shortcut, that's why weather played an important part in my operations.

The grandest plan was when I finally decided to keep goldfish.I needed a new tank for this and to do this I had to save up money for a couple of months for a four hundred peso (400 php) 20 Gallon tank.

 There was also a big catch: I cant bring my bicycle


. To save money I decided to take the tricycle going to the pet shop (again see the above image in blue) then walk down Sun Valley Village and the long stretch of Sta Ana drive, finally reaching 11 Benedictine Street while having both of my hands carrying a glass aquarium.

I had to walk for 40-50 minutes

This is perhaps was the tipping point where I got to be an "official" operations guy.  The project sever obstacles. 1) Given that I will be doing this project during the summer time, 2) I had to take note of the various shade areas in the village. 3) Another thing I had to consider is that I did not want anyone to see my carrying a huge aquarium tank that would be quite a big embarrassment, it did not help that a lot of my schoolmates lived in Sun Valley too. 4) The distance was pretty far so I had to make sure that my strength will be recovered whenever I stop 5) I have to make sure that the weather would cooperate, the rains will make the glass tank very slippery.

If I drop the aquarium tank, that would mean my savings will be nothing more than shattered glass.

I pushed through with the plan and I went to do it on a Saturday, I got a tricycle and rode it until the entrance of Sun Valley ( a good 15 Minutes from our house) it cost me 25 pesos. After which I walked to the Pet shop and immediately asked for the 20 gallon tank. Going back, I took a special route. A route that makes me go from one shaded area to the next. When my arms were aching, I stopped by under the shade of trees. I sat for a few minutes and carried the cargo again.

The most difficult stretch was the home stretch: Sta Ana Drive which was long and was bordered by an open field. There was no shade in this road so I had to be under the sun for more than 15 minutes. It was hot, but I made it.

The finished aquarium looked like this:

Looking back at my achievement I can really say that this was the start of it all. Later on I would be planning my trips, creating itineraries that accomplish many and waste little. I did this for a variety of excursions ranging from friendly outings, school work outings and other outings. In my exchange term in Europe I planned a few trips on my own and with other people. It was wonderful, doing homework on places, distances and attractions became something like second nature to me. When I took logistics and Supply Chain, I took it with great interest. I was happy doing it every time.

I'm helping out in a major logistics program for our new product that's hitting the market on the third quarter of year. Its always a happy memory to revisit the time where had the aquarium project was the biggest logistics endeavor at that time. 

Merchant's Tales: Go!!! Ready and Get Set! Writing about a Product Launch

I'm working on something really exciting. Were about to roll out a new product line in a couple of months (This has been in the works for the past 5 months too). This is more than a product line, its an entirely new product division with a different market with a new set of critical success factors.

We have to make this launch Big. We want to get it in the market with a bang!

Introducing the next generation of household LPG. 

EC Gas. 

Our Teaser Ad that gained a warm reception

Our Pallets are waiting

Like most opportunities, it comes with its unique set of challenges. This is where I believe I come in and this is by (by favorable timing) I join into the product launch fray.

My Role
     My role is not the be the General manager, Chief Operations or Chief Financial officer. My Role is to give direction, help and assistance in whichever way possible to ensure this will be a big success. Nothing more and nothing less, at this level having a desired position is only a reflection of personal vanity but as of the moment even a little vanity is shunned. Overall, the team managing this product launch is young, except perhaps for a few members in the technical and operations department who have been with the company for at least 6 years and up. With about seven years of work experience and a master's degree under my belt I actually feel I'm one of the most senior people here.

Anxieties
     I am both excited and a little bit scared, anxious. Dale Carnegie and a couple of self improvement books told me that being a bit scared is good because you have something to give a damn a bout. Its really obvious that this launch will make give a whole lot of damn about. There are many themes of thought: how can our office accomodate more staff? where will they be based? What is oir payment policy? The VAT equation is complicated especially when we do a lot of internal prodyct transfers etc...

Sometimes it becomes a bit overwhelming and I stay up awake longer lying in bed for a few hours more. I remind myself of the almost insurmountable challenges Ive been through and that ignites a spark of confidence inside me that gradually warms me to sleep.

Product in Transit
     As the moment as I type this 5 forty foot truckloads of product shipments are in a cargo vessel somewhere in the Indian Ocean with cargo that's intended for Manila. At the moment of its arrival is should be met by a functioning team of operations staff ranging from helpers to drivers who will dispatch the product to our primary storage facility for record keeping and then later on to the refilling plants where these LPG cylinders will be filled in for the first time with our LPG fuel.

Birthing Pains
     Like any new start there will be a lot of birthing pains in this new venture, the goal is to keep the labor and "birthing session" to the shortest time possible. The goal is to survive through the initial chaos of opening and take charge of a campaign. I envision myself as the Russian army during the latter stage of World War 2.We will prevail.


What does it take to launch this?

Guys
     We are not in short of talent. We might be short of experience but we are relentless and we are adapting. I'm also doing arrangements with our Human Resource and that adds the "we are growing".


Logistics
    This has got to be my favorite. I'm doing the optimization models as of this moment. I also have a DLSU intern team doing work for Cebu, I will be done with my logistics modelling by August 4. 

Creativity
   I am very happy that we have finally gotten serious about advertising and hired an agency. We got fresh talent on board too, we got someone who can flesh our out ideas and communicate it to the world.

Lots Of Money
    Duh.

Your Patronage

   A business exists only because the market dictates its relevance. Many times you have to teach the market on what should be considered relevant.  It will take effort and we are willing to explain every little bit of product detail but without accepting and patronage this wont fly. We wish for your patronage in every way, be it a Facebook share or like or taking on a franchise. Were easy to talk to. 


Beyond the Bottom Line Lessons I want to learn 

Developing this team 
I want to develop a team with a more corporate style approach. I want them to be efficient and effective and I want this team to learn how to do problem solving toge there. 

Introducing structures
For the longest time, our corporate culture has been very entrepreneurial. Its not that I'm not happy with it, being entrepreneurial enabled us to see this opportunity but as organizations grow a degree of organization structure must be developed. Our market and operations are becoming more sophisticated, so must be.  We cant all be salesmen. 

Further Harnessing my Management Capabilities
This is another chapter in my management journey. I shall cherish every moment of it and learn from it as much as I can. I will also apply the lessons learned from my past endeavors, the Mackay and Ausa Venture. I am excited to see this project as the best real time exercise for my logistics and supply chain optimization, Ive been having a deep itch to find its application in work Lastly I wish to develop people's capabilities and management skills. I want to impart the logical and scientific approach, I want them to be oriented in the detail, while being able to be decisive. This perhaps will be my legacy here. 

So Help me God.

Sleep Well tonight, Strike Hard Tomorrow

This Sunday was more dull than the regular Sundays I usually have. Today I felt a bit sluggish and lethargic with bouts of down emotions. I feel I'm not very well acknowledged here at home, my support group is not giving me an ounce of support at all. Gosh look at what I'm typing, perhaps Im just not in the jolliest of moods - that's all.

I decide to write all these down to remember this day for tonight I sleep early. Tomorrow I shall wake up with the prowess of a mighty lion. Raaaaar.

For the meantime its zzzzzzzzz to dreamland.

Thankful to be in a Hospital Bed

Ironic title?

Yes?

Then read up!

Saturday late afternoon I just had a great time watching the Movie Argo. The movie was still sinking in my mind but then something happened  My tummy started erupting. At first it was a mild rumbling, it then intensified to severe spasms that made me go to the toilet to unload. Repeat this around 4-5 times and its clear that I have severe diarrhea.  Every time I went to the bathroom I felt that my strength got drained (perhaps because of the loss of fluids and body salts), I did my best to drink up water and Pocari sweat fluid replacement athletic drinks but I was still losing strength faster than my replenishment can strengthen it back. My body felt weak and my mind became slower in processing. After dinner I realized that me and my Bian had to go home (her home) quick as my strength was declining by the hour.

It was a pretty smooth ride going back home, my tummy cooperated. When I got to reach Bian's House (a good 20 minutes drive away) all the remaining energy reserves of my tummy to hold it off evaporated and I had severe diarrhea spasms. I had to find the quickest way to the restroom.

This is where the painful part goes in, being cringing in pain from the spasms (okay a little bit exaggerated but still painful nonetheless). It is when I started throwing up (wont be get too elaborate on the gross details) when things started to get ugly. On the third time I threw up, my entire digestive system, large intestines included squeezed in such a powerful spasm that there was a jolt of pain in my lover right abdomen. for a few seconds, even breathing was painful and I had to maintain a crouching position, any movement would be an ouch moment. I tried to wait it off for a couple of minutes, hoping it would subside. Hoping that I just cramped an abdominal muscle but when the situation did not improve, my imaginative mind suggested I might have something worse, appendicitis.

Like a wounded but composed World War 2 Marine, I literally slow crawled my way to the bathroom door. I tried to seek from help from a medic who came in the form of my sweetie. She was all too eager to help except for one thing, both of us couldn't drive! (DAAAANG!) Before a sense of panic had the opportunity to strike in we had someone else to the rescue, and in the best timing possible!

Bian's Sister Agee!!!

Hearing that she is a few blocks away going home was a wonderful sign of relief for me! Seeing her was even better as it gave me reassurance that we will be able to go to the nearest hospital. What makes things better is the fact that the nearest hospital is right about the subdivision's (BF Resort) exit. While I was still cringing in pain, the ride going to the hospital was smooth and I felt that I was in safe hands

It was a strangely uncomfortable but familiar feeling to be back in a hospital room. The memories of my little surfing accident last year in April were still fresh in my head. I felt so helpless and I was thankful that Bian was beside me all the time. I am thankful for Agee too for parking the car in the most accessible place possible. I was not afraid, well a little bit- because I knew an appendectomy involves a scalpels, surgical tongs,  needle and threads working in my abdomen.

This is where it sank in, I was there in my very comfortable hospital bed with my Bian who sat in a less comfortable chair. She stayed by me through my stay despite me saying that I will be all right and everything has been taken cared of. I did not sense any bit of "dyahe" in her face, on the contrary sometimes I feel that shes more worried than I am. She tried to suggest many things to make me comfortable, from offering me water, Red Gatorate to making me change my lying position. She was conversing with me all the time and I was holding her warm hands. Our talks ranged from movies, humorous talks to serious topics.

I have never been taken cared like this for a long long time. I tried to resist it first as I was taught not to be a drag to others but once I released and allowed myself to be taken cared of the feeling was amazing. I was happy, the type of happiness when you see something is genuine. Bian said people in the hospital bed have this heightened sense of sensitivity on whats going on around them (perhaps of the adrenalin in the body) and this is true as I saw genuine care in her being just there.

She stayed long beside me in the hospital bed, far longer than when her dad and Agee said  their his and goodbyes (thankful for their presence too). We even got to snap a picture together. After the checks have been finished and I have been discharged I spent the night at their home. My stomach pains was something that's not too serious.

Bian did another sweet gesture, she said she will sleep in their other couch to make sure that I am doing fine. This is above the fact that she offered water and food too. I even got more touched when she said she would be glad to take care of me in my house. This is the point where I've already melted into the consistency of water.

I stayed in their place until we said our hearty goodbyes.

I will never forget that in that hospital stay you can see real compassion and imagine yourself to be with this special person who can gladly take care for you. Thank you so much Bian.

It was a minor hospital stay, yes but perhaps its God's way of telling you whom you should be staying with... forever.