People say I have the Midas Touch — that everything I touch turns into gold. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
We’ve had our fair share of failures, closures and costly mistakes. Maybe even more than others — because we try more than most.
Nobody likes losing money or seeing a project fail. But every seasoned entrepreneur knows this: losing is part of running a business. It’s not something we hope for. It’s not in the plan. But it’s something we must learn from.
Losses come with the territory
Since 1996, we’ve grown our family business into a multi-brand group with over 1,500 employees. But along the way, we’ve had to let go of several ventures: Big Foot Tire Repair, Guitar World, Shawarma Carts, Kan-anan Restaurant, Simply Suka, CleanZone.ph, Yahay Foodpark and more. Some concepts just didn’t work.
Each loss brought frustration, even doubt. But in hindsight, every failure was a turning point. We were forced to stop, rethink and grow. Those mistakes became expensive — but valuable — lessons.
Losses aren’t just setbacks. They’re tuition in the school of entrepreneurship.
The real test of leadership
Losing money tests your leadership more than success ever will. It forces you to confront the brutal facts and make tough decisions. The pandemic was our biggest test — no playbook, no guarantees — just grit.
It’s easy to lead in good times. But true leadership is forged in adversity. If you can lead through losses and come out better, you’re building resilience — not just a business.
The key: Keep going
What sets successful entrepreneurs apart isn’t that they avoid failure — it’s that they recover. They learn. They adapt. They stay in the game.
So expect some losses. Don’t take them personally. Don’t let them define you.
Treat them as lessons. Use them to grow.
Because in business, it’s not about how many times you fall.
It’s about how many times you get back up.