By Danielle Gabriel
LIBERATION from a limiting mentality among Filipinos is a good way to celebrate Independence Day, Irish lean management coach and motivational speaker Mike Grogan said during the launch of his first book, Rise of the Pinoy.
“What is holding the Philippines back from its greatness? What’s holding us from our potential? I believe the answer is false limiting beliefs. It breaks my heart when I see Filipinos thinking they cannot make it in this country and they have to leave,” Grogan said during the book launch in Bonifacio Global City.
Grogan’s book, featuring 21 success stories of Filipinos in their line of work in social development, business and writing, is a guide for Filipinos in realizing their greatness to becoming world-class.
“This is book is for Filipinos to help them unleash their full potential whether in their career, in their personal health, in their spiritual life. It is more than just a storybook. I have extracted from them seven powerful success stories that you can relate, to prove that Filipinos is worthy and capable of making their dreams come true,” Grogan said.
Similarly, Gawad Kalinga Founder Tony Meloto, who wrote the book’s foreword, said Independence Day should be a venue for a shift in thinking from mediocrity and colonial mentality.
Meloto added that freedom from poverty means helping the poor establish livelihood and create inclusive wealth for the country.
“What is Independence Day all about? To give the gift of excellence to the poor, because in the past we just gave charity to the poor. It will not stop poverty. It will just perpetuate it. As we have seen in many social enterprises, we are now giving Filipinos the gift of world-class quality,” Meloto said.
According to Meloto, Filipinos should let go of the culture of depending on imports, as they need to look at local products as a means to improve the country’s economic standing.
“Let us correct the anomaly that Filipinos have to import 98 percent of our daily needs from countries abroad. This is the age of innovation and Filipinos now will produce best-quality products anchored on our strengths. We are importing chocolates from other countries that do not even have cacao trees. We would like now the genius of the Filipinos to be applied to this country. Right now, the best global brand is the Filipino himself,” Meloto said.
Grogan said he chose the title “Rise of the Pinoy” to encourage Filipinos to break free from whatever it is holding them back.
“In this time of change, when we have elected a new president, there is change in the air. I believe the Filipino is going to rise further. I want them to take those false limiting beliefs and to help people smash them,” Grogan said.
The 152-page book has seven chapters focusing on finding one’s passion and inspiration, embracing pain and using setbacks to succeed.
Personalities interviewed for the book include inspirational speakers Francis Kong and Lloyd Luna; Human Nature President Anna Meloto-Wilk, Bo’s Coffee Founder Steve Benitez, Asia CEO Forum President Rebecca Bustamante, Starbucks Philippines CEO Noey Lopez, bloggers Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and Vince Golangco of When in Manila; and Gawad Kalinga Director Issa Cuevas-Santos.
Image credits: Roy Domingo