LAST Friday, October 13, I had the privilege of being a speaker at a seminar organized by Dra. Ychu Bugante, Dept. Head of the College of Applied Math, Physics and Statistics at the Benguet State University.
With about 70 to 80 attendees, composed mainly of students and several faculty members, I listened first to the presentation of representatives from the National Statistics Office and from the NEDA.
As I was asked to discuss and link the decision making process that some business people use to help achieve the government’s 25 year vision embodied in Ambisyon Natin 2040, I had to read thru its main key points. Thanks to Dra. Bugante for what she sent me, otherwise, I would never have known it existed.
As admitted by one of my co-presentors, attaining said vision and dream for the Philippines has been set back.
I heard that while foreign investment projections for the first 2 quarters of the year were attained, the third quarter results were quite dismal. I am almost certain that the unfriendly and threatening words and tone of some of our government officials must have turned them off, if not scared them away, to friendlier governments. We have never been on the top of the list of investment friendly countries, but with the current situation, matters have turned from bad to worse.
Data that is generated by government agencies and churned out by private research agencies and investment organizations, form some of the basis for making investment and business decisions. Thus, the need for accurate, updated, and on time information. Data on population growth, demographics, growth, spending patterns and capabilities are essential to guide business decisions. That would mean the use of I.Q. in sorting thru all the data and making them meaningful and useful.
Major decisions by big industrialists are usually based on such information. Gut feel and experience are other factors. This is usually the EQ side, which refers to the ability to identify, evaluate, control and express one’s emotions.
Added to this now would be the major factor of love. What is our LQ or Love Quotient that affects our decisions to sacrifice and make decisions out of love for our fellowmen and the less fortunate?
It is not easy to let love be a major factor, but ultimately to make Ambisyon Natin 2040 achievable, a lot of LQ is required to stand by our country and countrymen during these challenging times.
My dearest fellow businessmen,
With what we see happening, and the fear and frustration that goes with it, a lot of love is required to make us want to decide to take additional risks, and make long-term decisions that our IQ tells us not to make for the short term.
Let us remember that any decision made out of Love can seldom go wrong, as long as it is well thought out and not a spur of the moment or impulse guided decision.
Let us think long term, 23 more years to 2040, if we must, and let us do it with love.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39