When I moved up to Roosevelt in Bataan, I found myself getting to know the people who lived around me, whereas when I lived in Olongapo City, I really didn’t have the opportunity, because I was still shipping out, and only home for two months at a time between ships.
Well owing to the fact that I’m quick to enjoy a beer, I started to get to know quite a few neighbors here on the Mountain, and one of the things I noticed, was they all thought they didn’t have a chance to ever get ahead.
One guy, named Pauli, was married with kids, and had a small metal working shop on the National Highway. His complaint was a lack of business. I pointed out that his shop was one of five medal shops within a mile. At that time the Toll Road was not built yet from San Fernando to Subic, and everyone had to come through the Lahar section on the National Highway, and by the time they got to Olongapo and the Subic Freeport their car was filthy. I suggested that he hire a few kids, put up a sign, and wash cars for the people going to town to conduct business. He made good money for six years until the Toll Road opened, and the traffic slowed down. But during that time he made enough to build a nice house for his family.
Another guy in the area went to town early every day, and brought back newspapers to sell. Every morning I’d have to walk around until I found him to get my paper. I made a deal with him to automatically bring my paper to my house and I’d pay for a week in advance. He liked the idea, then he had a light bulb moment, and a month later he had twenty five steady customers and adding more every week.
The reason those two succeeded while others wait for the mango to fall, I call it, the “Sari-sari Theory”, the guy next-door is making money at his store, to wit, he should open one and get rich too, which would put a Sari-sari store every 50 feet. Or the vulcanizer has a good idea, so he and seven others sit and wait, until no one makes any money, as there can only be so many flat tires in one day at one location.
No original thoughts, just copy what the other guy is doing, and success is yours, or so you’d think. A corporate example of my “Sari-sari theory” are the big three here in telecommunications, Smart, Globe, and Sun, Cell Phone service providers. They don’t innovate; they just copy what the other guy is doing.
My brother-in-law complained that his Sari-sari was not doing well, I asked what was he doing different from everybody else? He said, “Nothing”. Well that was his problem, I told him to sell items no one else sold. He started selling little cheap toys and odds and ends, and was doing well, until he decided that selling BBQ was the way to go. He sells nothing now.
The guy who started Jollibee, walked around for a while selling ice cream out of a taped up Styrofoam box. He later opened a fast food stall in the market and noticed that all the other stalls sold exactly the same thing, He mixed ground beef and pork together, and he sold hamburgers that satisfied a Filipino’s taste buds. Then his stall caught the eye of all the school kids, and the rest is history.
Find the need and satisfy it, don’t be a lemming and just follow the flock in to the sea. We Kanos, who for the most part have found our way to earn, could take that wisdom we process and pass it around to our families or friends. I’d advise not to lecture, just drop a suggestion in passing, plant the seed and see if it grows.
There is always the funny side to everything; Mr. X who lives down the street, received some money from his family in the states, who were trying to plant that seed. He went out and got a second hand Jeepney and put it out on boundary (Rented it to a driver). He lost money every month, due to repairs on the Jeepney that he foolishly hired the driver to perform.
While the driver was not really doing any repairs, he was out making money with the Jeepney, and collecting from both ends and not paying Mr. X for the rent.
Mr. X by the end of the year put the Jeepney up for sale as it was running at a loss. You’re gonna’ love this part. His former driver bought the Jeepney! A few months later Mr. X purchased a Trike. We were talking, and he was now planning to rent it out also, since his track record was so stellar in the Transportation Field it was just the natural way to go.
When he asked what I thought of his new plan, I said, “Don’t rent it, just sell it now at a loss and save yourself all that grief.” I then pointed out that since he didn’t have a job, why not drive it himself and eliminate the thief? His wife jumped on that idea. He’s doing okay now!
It is far better to teach them to fish, than support them for life. It’s an old idea, but it still works.
Paul -Wise words. I like fishing. I easily learn. So me, I’m okay. If there is money (w/c I don’t have bust just asking,) is it wise to invest rather than have it for safe keeping? Thanks.
Ha ha.. and I said bust ‘but’ ok. Re: question, I (used to) have minimal savings before, but savings nonetheless (too frugal really except when it comes to food). What should have been done with the money? Would investing by getting an expensive watch or camera, a good idea? I’ve always wanted to buy something but fear that if I do, I’ll lose money.
Sugar;
A new watch, or camera is a purchase, not an investment. (unless you own the store LOL) A normal rule of thumb is save 10% of your pay for the future. And it’s best to always pay yourself first, meaning put the 10% into your account, and what’s left you live on. When you want that new watch or other item, budget them out of the 90%.
Ahh, don’t listen to me, just go out and enjoy life!
Paul, thanks for that advise. Nothing to budget now.. he he. Skint! Yep, should put aside 10% or even more I guess. I’m not good with money matters. No one to ask to. Btw, the buy something.. it ain’t watch, it’s mostly just books. He he. Thanks again.
Sugar…books are ok to spend money on I think..you can read them and learn something…a watch emmm.. all you can do is see what time it is……
Sugar;
I’m on Dan’s side, they can take my TV, just leave my books alone!!!!
Sugar,
80/20 rule,learn to live on 80% of your income,save/invest the other 20%.
Thanks, Chas. I am dependent on myself, so yup, 80/20 is good rule too.
Chas & Sugar;
I’ll revise my rule to 80/20 vice 90/10, I think that is a better way to go. Now if they’d just start when they are young…
Very nice article Paul. This is what we need. I was just ‘ranting’ on the other article of Bob about lack of opportunities in the PH. But after reading your article, I think we lack innovation. It’s the “Juan Tamad” in us. Or maybe, we’re just too scared to innovate? Having said that, could be our inspirational speaker? Lol. 🙂
Jonathan;
As I’ve said before, both in the Navy and as a Merchant Seaman I worked beside and with Filipinos. There were time when I was the boss, and times when they were the boss. The one thing I noticed was my friends, did thinks the way they were shown how to, in the past. And refused to change, even if the new way was quicker and more efficient. I’d smile and counter with; “Maybe the first guy that showed you, learned it from an idiot?” By the same token, I learned a lot also. Work smarter, never harder!
Senior;
Some very wise wisdom there for us Kano’s on how to instill forsight and motivation our Filipino family and friends without looking like were dictators or know-it-alls. We all want our families to suceed and prosper. But the Filipino mind set is diffrent than the American mind set. Thats were the crossing of the rapids comes in fist we have to overcome the communication barrier, then we have to have them believe it was their idea, and then we must give them good moral support and maybe alittle monitary funding to get started. But your right if the seed takes hold and they prosper all is well. Besides that it’s one more peso in your pocket for one more SMB. 🙂
Merry Christmas to your Senior and your Family!!!
Mike;
Thank you and a wonderful Holiday Season to you and yours!!!
There are two types of bicycles, the one that was given to you, and you left it laying in the rain, or the one you bought yourself with money you earned, that was never left out in the rain.
Give the idea, not the money, I think is a better way to go. As Allan so aptly said below; “Never urinate over the windward side of a ship” (I’m paraphrasing, his way was more profound)
Senior;
So true, So true in peeing on the wiardside LOL 🙂
On the money side of life If people don’t feel the pain of paying for it out of their own pocket they don’t feel the need to take care of it. I know I fist hand with some family members living with me right now.
You know funny about this is my wife and I made a resolution that we are not going to help anyone anymore they need to grow up and fly on their own or crash and burn. We need to pull our resourses to get to the Philippines in 2013. That is our proirity going to have to step on some toes. My Dad made me fly at the early age of 18 time they fly too.
Mike;
You plan and plan and it will always be someone else to toss the wrench in to the gears and slow you down. Stick to your resolution, and achieve your goals before you help someone else achieve theirs. You’ve earned the right to get what you want, make them earn the right, to live on their own.
Senior;
Amen to that you csn csrry one only so far then something is going to break. And that something just might be my back. As DR Smith said in Lost in Space “OH the Pain OH the Pain”.
See you in Oct 🙂
Shipmate Mike;
I always thought Dr. Smith was a bit bent. I think he enjoyed the pain. October it is, lookin’ forward to seeing you guys!
Hi Paul
Good article and right on the money. I can say that no more of my money will go to try and start a business for my wife’s family. Might as well pee in the wind. Nice picture by the way. Now I know were old tire machine go to die.
Hi Allan;
My philanthropic days ended many years ago. An idea that cost you nothing, is what I’m speaking too. Teach them to fish, not become a fish. (old Navy term for sucker, is being a fish) Old tire machines here never die!
Paul Thompson
That saying is so true. I wish I was there now. I’m freezing here right now in Florida.
In the 30’s tonight BRRRRR. Drink a cold one for me in the warmth of the Philippines. Another good article Paul.
Randy;
In the 30’s? The snowbirds must be flocking to I-10 to get to Arizona. Jacksonville and the Panhandle, I remember getting that, but never south of I-4. I’ll have that cold one, you mix up a Rum Toddy!
Paul – Down in Clearwater, FL and it was indeed in the upper 30’s this morning (12/8), brrr….
Bill; Dear Lord, all I can say to that is; “I sure am glad I don’t live there anymore!!!”
Teaching someone to fish (or do anything) is only beneficial if the “student” wants to be in the class. If the message is lost, then it is just a waste of time and money.
Brent;
It goes to the old adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink”. If you noticed I gave no one any loans (read gift), I just snuck in an idea, or planted a seed. As with all things in life, it’s up to them now.
Ya Paul..that is about all any body can do is plant a few seeds and if the person you planted the seed for, waters them and take care of them then maybe some good things will come..and for those that just pee on the seeds instead of use good water then nothing much happens. Enjoyed your post…..
Dan;
You can only do so much to help a person, the rest is up to them. After that they can fish, or cut bait!
Hey Paul,
Your story reminds me of when I worked at Boeing, and I was trying to change a manufacturing process. The answer I got was “Thats the way we’ve always done it” Ok, so they have been doing it wrong for 25 years.
Last week, where I work now, I was asked to perform a water flow check on an eye wash station. It involved three pages of instruction, all sorts of stupid equipment and it would take me an hour to perform. I just grabed a 5 gallon bucket, pulled the handle, one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi….. DONE!
Hudson;
I must agree, it’s a special breed of anally retentive people who write repair manuals, when hip’s officer would quiz me on how I preformed a job, I’d recite the party line. Because I knew he read the manual, but never preformed the task. He and the manual writer had to know each other.
Hi Paul – Buy ’em books, send ’em to school; and what do they do?
They eat the books. 😆
We all know it’s Providence who decides which Sari-sari store makes money. 😉
They eat the books??? And I thought it was the teacher!
I judge which Sasi-sari’s is best, if the can cash a 20 peso note by 10:am.
Paul:
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Your observations are very well put sir. It always amazes me at the amount of imitation here. There can be literally 50 cell phone stores in one place. 10 rice stores on the same road within 100 feet.
My wife has a RTW -Boutique kind of business that we move around. She is very creative and makes the store very beautiful and attractive. Everyone else just hangs a bunch of clothes on a rack and that’s it.
Our store will start to do well and the others get jealous. Some will try to imitate. Then the intrigue starts. We have had to move our store at least 3 times because everyone is so afraid of anything different and they start to make trouble.
I am glad you have been able to suggest to some how to think a little differently.
I wanted to write an article about this same subject but you have done it so well i will have to think of something new!
Dave;
I suggest you still write your article, it would come from a first hand point of view, where as mine came from observation.
When I first noticed the duplication of stores/services, I thought it was a zoning thing, then I remembered which stamp was in my Passport. We have a street behind the Victory Liner station in Olongapo that sells pirated DVD’s and nothing else. The sad part is they all carry the same title movies, and charge the same price. This is a business model that predicts failure. Aside from the fact that when I get off a bus after a long trip, I’m looking for food and or drink. Not so much a DVD.
Hi Paul,
Well said,great philosophy.
regards,Chas.
Chas;
Thank you sir, as that was the first reference I’ve ever heard that links my name and philosophy. What is my world coming to? Later today I believe I’ll sit and ponder a cold beer, and its ramifications to the world in general or a corporal, who I’d really rather have a beer with. (lol)