Taking inspiration from today's outliers

MANILA, Philippines - They say it takes great wisdom acquired through extensive experience and old age to become successful in any endeavor. But this may not always be the case, looking at the countless rich and successful young entrepreneurs we have today.

So what are the secrets to their success?

For Go Negosyo founding trustee Joey Concepcion, the answer is simple: these young entrepreneurs all have common traits that separate them from the average Joe.

“These people displayed burning ambition and dogged determination at an early age,” said Concepcion. “They are not afraid to take calculated risks. If ever they encounter setbacks, they think of ways to circumvent these obstacles with clear, coherent action plans.” 

Keyword: Determination

One shining example of a determined entrepreneur is Clang Garcia who operates a jeepney tour business.

Inspired by the efficient tourist travel system abroad, Garcia thought of localizing the operation by using a cultural icon - the jeepney - to transport tourists from their hotels to various places of interests in Metro Manila.

But red tape threatened her business idea. There were so many papers and requirements she had to accomplish. But with her sight fixed on her goal, she submitted all the requirements and diligently followed up on her application for franchise.

It took a while, a total of four years, before she won her battle when the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) finally issued her a franchise to operate.

Still, the challenges did not stop there. Her determination was once more put to a test when her “hop on, hop off” tours did not flourish according to plan.

Perennial traffic and guest safety issues brought down the business.

Undaunted, Garcia reinvented the concept into a thematic city tour and thus, “Jeepney Tours” was born. It has now become a must-do for every traveler who visits Manila.

Right now, Garcia is mulling to expand her business to other key cities in the country like Cebu and Pampanga.

No limitation

Lester Lagos, on the other hand, has been hearing-impaired since childhood, but he did not let this stop him from realizing his ambition of owning a graphics design company.

Armed with a degree in multimedia arts and a truckload of passion, he established Urban Frog, which specializes in marketing, printing and Web solutions. He then hired people with hearing disability like him to form his workforce.

It wasn’t only his physical handicap that posed a challenge to Lagos. He also lacked knowledge on the marketing and financial aspects of running a business.

For Lagos, however, giving up was never an option. And he was right. Three years into its operation, Urban Frog is surpassing expectations in terms of revenue, proving to everyone that a handicap is never a hindrance to success.

Hobby becomes business

Meanwhile, Ivan Man Dy showed how a hobby can be turned into a profitable venture.

Dy, a Manileño, loves local history, culture and architecture and likes frequenting old places in Manila such as Binondo and Intramuros. He initially ventured into walking tours as an extension of his interest.

But Dy admits the transition was not without difficulties. Apart from the paperwork that he needed to accomplish, there was a need to professionalize the services by streamlining the tours and other back-end support.

He developed themes for his tours. His main challenge was to generate interest in his services and he responded to this by fusing historical, culinary and architectural themes in the walking tours, setting them apart from the “usual prepackaged city tour.”

His creativity did not go unnoticed. Soon he caught the attention of the likes of American chef Anthony Bourdain of Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” and international media outfits Lonely Planet and the Discovery Channel. 

But even with his newfound fame, Dy hasn’t changed a bit. He still is the same man happily conducting walking tours somewhere in Manila while at the same time having the time of his life.

Garcia, Lagos and Dy are just some of the young achievers who will be recognized as Go Negosyo’s 2011 Young STARpreneurs at the Young Entrepreneurs Summit on Sept. 23 at the World Trade Center.

Following the success of the previous summits, the third Young Entrepreneurs Summit will gather together the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and youth from different high schools and colleges to reinforce an enterprising spirit and to empower them with the relevant entrepreneurship tools to help them move up in life.

For Concepcion, the summit has become an effective venue for commending the entrepreneurial spirit of these individuals who, at a very young age, are already making great contributions to the country’s economy.