I would like to personally begin this piece by expressing how incredible it is to be around at this period in time! As a young professional in his mid-20s, it truly is a fascinating time to be alive; and all it takes is a quick look around—mobile Internet, drone services, crowd-sourced businesses, social-media marketing and many more. In a broader sense, it is also imperative how people’s ideals are starting to become more modern, and how the Filipino people have matured into becoming more open-minded in general. The common theme to all this is that we are now in a period of change. And with this change comes opportunity, and in business, opportunity is all we can ask for.
Within this sense, I would like to consider change to be synonymous with the youth. Looking into our current business landscape, it is the youth that have emerged at the forefront. Through the air of innovation that follows from this budding environment, young professionals and entrepreneurs have capitalized through the use of technology, significantly changing the landscape of Philippine business. There are now countless services and products that have been popping up that we did not even know we needed, and it is in continuing this trend of innovation that would help in the further expansion of our local economy.
Fostering ties
In going along with today’s modern approaches, networking has also emerged to be a highly effective tool in business, especially now that connectivity and the exchange of ideas is more rapid than ever. Not to mention that we still are social beings, and that by surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals, it allows us to broaden our perspective, helps us to cultivate valuable practices and inspires to be better versions of ourselves. As what they say, “iron sharpens iron.” As being a part of the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the mere association with this group of people has been absolutely supplemental to my career, as I am sure that it has been for our other members, as well.
For the benefit of those unfamiliar, the YPC-ECCP was put together with the intention of bridging the gap between senior corporate executives and industry leaders, and the young professionals and the start-up owners. Sharing common interests, it was found necessary that the younger members also be involved in the ECCP’s efforts through their ability to contribute fresh ideas and to provide input from a more current perspective. More important, this platform was put together in order to provide opportunities for the youth to share and exchange ideas, and to help foster growth both professionally and personally.
Recounting my experiences in the YPC, I’d like to share with you the importance of including yourself in an organization such as the YPC, and how it is beneficial to one’s self. In a professional sense, the YPC is a breeding ground of ideas, coming from young professionals and entrepreneurs both locally and internationally, and from varying industries. These people are the kinds of people you would want to connect with, be it for professional reasons or event, just to simply learn from them. On a more personal standpoint, allowing yourself to be immersed in advocacies and matters relevant to the economy or to the country, in general, there is a sense of fulfillment and empowerment, knowing that as an individual, you can also play a role in helping the country’s development.
Going against the grain
Terms like “rat race” or “hamster wheel” have often been thrown around to pertain to one’s professional career. Unfortunately, for some, this still applies to this day, and I attribute this to what I feel is a carryover from an outdated practice where it was taught to follow this progression: go to college, get a degree, find employment and retire. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, however, what needs to be pointed out here is that people tend to treat this as the end-all be-all, which, to me, is highly concerning. What people fail to see is that this progression is merely superficial, and it is the meaning behind this that should be extracted. Allow me to provide contrast.
One of my strongest convictions on how to go about life and business, to put it simply, is to do things your own way. Not to sound rebellious, but because it is only within ourselves where we can identify our goals and aspirations, and it is from these realizations that we can determine how to ultimately achieve them. In this transitional time of opportunity, we are allowed flexibility with the decisions that we make. With the presence of resources, such as e-commerce platforms, online courses and virtual assistants, professionals and entrepreneurs are now equipped to be more productive, and career and financial goals are now more at our reach.
It is almost revolutionary, how much the dynamic of entrepreneurship and employment has shifted from previous years; and aside from technology, one of the main factors responsible for this change, is the pursuit of meaning and fulfillment in work.
If I’d have to single out one way to challenge the status quo, this would be it. I believe that this is the most substantial adjustment in being a professional in our landscape, as not only has it been found to do well for one’s own sake, but being in a state of personal immersion in one’s work will, more often than not, translate into favorable returns for the business.