In my recent business trip to London I watched in-flight the James Bond movie ‘No Time to Die’. What was the most memorable scene was the ending when M said in tribute to Bond: “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
This brings me to my June 28, 2022 column when I encouraged The Global Filipino Magazine readers to think and act as Global Filipinos – Articulate, Assertive and Adventurous.
I will discuss the last trait. Being Adventurous in the UAE means being innovative, being brave to try new things that would achieve the objectives of one’s company or organization. Disruption is already a sought-after action when competition is getting fiercer every day and the market getting smaller.
Being Adventurous is also following your heart, your passion. I left a very comfortable and influential position with ABS-CBN Global in 2007 when I was in charge of sales and marketing of The Filipino Channel in the Middle East. I wanted to resume my PR career which was my profession for nine years in the Philippines before we relocated to Dubai in 2001.
I also left a very comfortable and promising job with United Laboratories or Unilab as Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager. I would have been holding an executive position today but the call to be adventurous was really irresistible. My wife and I thought that we can easily return home if things do not turn out well in the UAE. Fast forward: it’s been 21 years we have been living here.
It took me six years to resume my PR consultancy work because I had been involved in sales and marketing responsibilities when we arrived in 2001. First with World Image, the special events arm of the Singaporean-owned Pico Group, and then with Mediacom and eventually ABS-CBN Global promoting The Filipino Channel. My take home package was less than what I was getting as a ‘Kapamilya’ with the first two PR agencies I worked with in 2007 (Asdaa) and 2008 (TRACCS), but it was all worth it as I needed to go back to my passion as a PR Man. I was only able to stabilize my financials with the third agency (Venture Communications) in 2009.
Suddenly the call to become an entrepreneur was tempting. We all know that entrepreneurship is always a big risk for people who have regular and secured income. At that time companies were still in a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude on the continuing effects of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. I earned decently but the amount from all my clients and projects if averaged monthly was very far from what I was earning from Venture Communications. I therefore failed as an entrepreneurial PR consultant in 2010 and 2011.
There’s always a risk being an entrepreneur but don’t let failure stop you from pursuing your dreams. I really admire people who are entrepreneurs. They are very brave. Individuals who are moving to another company is also a courageous action for those who are already comfortable with their current position.
So dear readers don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zones. If your heart is speaking then try to listen to it. Steve Jobs said this: ‘Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.’
Finally, here’s another famous soundbite from the movie Braveheart: “Every man dies, not every man really lives.” Go and live your dreams my friend.