Leap and Do Work You Love
Hey people,
Two people just backed out due to sudden schedule conflicts. We now have two slots open. If you are interested in going, please send me an email at pcauton@yahoo.com before 12:00 noon tomorrow. Do send it in ASAP so I can reserve your slot.
Event’s on at 7:00 pm tomorrow at the Chelsea Room, Astoria Plaza.
Seeya everyone!
Peter
I had always believed and said to people that God was at the center of my life.
Only, I realize now that for most of my adult life, that was mostly just lip-service.
Yes, I would go to Mass every Sunday, quickly pray before sleeping (especially when I needed something), and always tried to do the right thing. Me and God were “good,” I thought.
In the meantime, the decisions I made in my life never involved Him. I would go from job to job never thinking about what God would want from me. I formed relationships in my life with nary a thought on faith. I had always been fiercely independent, leaving my parents’ house to forge my own path as soon as I could’ve. This would partly explain why decision after decision would involve only what I alone felt and thought. I would buy what I want, spend my time doing what I wanted, did what I want. It wasn’t really God who was at the center of my life, eh?
Not that I thought there was anything wrong with how I was doing things. This was no prodigal son story, right? I mean, I wasn’t really doing anything inherently wrong. But when I think of it, I ended up straying from the right path anyway. I was so intent on following my own way I just went around in circles. I conquered my corporate professional dreams, but felt empty. Left to my own devices, I found myself alone, frustrated, and confused. No, I wasn’t leading a ruinous life. I was, however, leading a mediocre one.
In some ways, I think this can even be more dangerous because mediocrity tends to subtly creep up on you. I can see how some people would only realize one’s presence in the mediocrity mire after decades have gone by – but you can even chalk up this late realization as a blessing. Some people never get it.
I guess life phase-triggered crises occur when we realize that the decisions we have made has resulted in a life that’s missing something, and existential desperation sets in. You can call it a search for meaning, or purpose, or pagmemeron, or saysay, or happiness, or joy, or peace, or even searching for yourself.
All along though, I realized I was searching for God. My infinite hole could only be filled by something, someone infinite.
It was only a few years ago that I truly, fully realized this. It was when my heart caught up with my head. So I resolved not to waste any more time. (why do we waste so much time?)
I had always heard holy people on TV say repetitively “Do you have a personal relationship with God?!” It was only recently that I truly understood this.
If I talked all the time with my close friends, got to know them better, and read their updates, I figured I would do the same thing with God. I endeavored to talk to God everyday during prayer, get to know Him more, and read His teachings.
I endeavored to make Him the center of my life. As in REALLY make Him the center of everything in my life.
This of course, includes career choices.
At first I thought, huh? Really? Careers and God don’t seem to mix. I had never encountered God in the corporations I had been in, save perhaps for the obligatory prayer said before Christmas parties. No one has ever told me to “pray,” when I asked for career advice.
But aren’t “careers” so inextricably linked to WHY GOD PUT US HERE ON EARTH?
God uniquely made each of us, endowed us with a specific set of gifts, for a purpose. And you know what? I bet that if you just find that purpose, more than anything, it would make you incredibly happy. So I prayed to God fervently to lead me to that purpose.
My big mouth.
One day, I found myself in a very difficult career decision point (detailed here) that put everything that I had resolved to do for Him against everything I held dear. It was one of the two most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to do.
In my gut, I knew it was a seminal moment. The decision I made here will determine how the rest of my life would unravel. To the world, it was a blatantly clear decision. To my God, it was a clear decision as well: Take the leap. I will take care of you.
It took guts which I didn’t have, but I took the leap no other career advisor would have recommended.
It was difficult going through that process, but God showed me a career path I never would have thought of in a million years – building startups. And oh boy, I can’t tell you how wonderful the fit is between what I do and who I am. In finding God, I had found myself.
Another interesting side effect is that my life was suddenly integrated. You see, before I would live a life divided into silos. I had my life at work, my family life, my love life, my life with my friends, and so forth. I noticed I was a different person in each silo. So during the times when worlds collided, I would feel very uncomfortable at the risk of being “discovered.” I don’t know if this makes sense to you. I didn’t do anything wrong, but I was projecting a different self, probably because I was trying to live in accordance to what each “world” expected of me. This has all changed. I am now one person. I feel integrated, complete. And the necessary foundation for this was and is, God.
A couple of weeks back, I posted this on a particular online forum. I was told by a reader that he had trouble believing how faith can determine the success and failure of a business endeavor. Friends, my whole happiness with where I am career-wise is a result of my faith and nothing else. The whole “business endeavor” would not even have existed if God had not intervened.
Not only can faith and work mix, but I would posit that NOT doing so would lead to something incomplete. The easiest, most direct way to find yourself is through God.
Of course, you can always do something part-time for God, like build houses, or help street kids, and stuff. This is all good, right? Think about that phrase though: part-time for God.
Hey God, you are my everything! I would give PART of my time to you!
Why not the alternative? I mean, you don’t necessarily have to be a priest or something, right? Why not be a full-time politician for God? An full-time entrepreneur for God? A full-time lawyer for God? A full-time website designer for God? The important thing is you follow that voice which calls within. Then you can still build houses and minister to street children in your spare time.
So, how exactly do you know what God wills for you? Three quick suggestions: One, it would help if you TALK to Him for starters, right?! Take a designated 30 minutes (say, 6:00am-6:30am) of your morning to pray. Everyday. Can’t overemphasize this. Second, search within yourself for your DEEPEST desires. I can guarantee it isn’t money. Our deepest, most intimate desires were put there by God. He sometimes can talk to us through our desires. Third, notice what sort of work you do makes time speed up remarkably fast. Notice what work you do brings you complete joy that you can do it for free, that you would PAY someone for you to do it. What did God put in your DNA?
Be warned though, that oftentimes in your journey, you will find that there will be a conflict arising between what God wants and what can bring in money.
So is following God truly strategic then?
It will depend on what you determine to be your ultimate end goal is.
Okay! We’re 40 strong on Tuesday for the first ever JUANGREATMEET!!! (I couldn’t say no to the 5 additional people). I had to put my foot down at 40 people – the venue cannot accomodate it.
So – Arnold, Melissa, Dennis, Glen, Gep, Ian, JP, Carlos, Jonathan, Jonathan’s business partner, Johann, Mrs. Johann, Joey, Robbie T., Artie, Jeff, Sherwin, Andrew, Kathy, Ryan, Chey, Cesar, Roy, Ansyl, Lauren, William, Macky, Reggie, Irene, Erica, Gigi, Raffy, Kiyo, Martin, Peter I, Brenda, Robbie G, Alex, Sharon, and RG, see you all on Tuesday!
I’ll be sending you guys a quick survey in a while, kindly please answer and email back to me. The survey will help me prepare better for Tuesday. Again, please don’t flake!!!
For those who didn’t make the 40, don’t fret – I’ve learned my lesson here and will get a bigger venue next time.
I’m totally psyched to meet everyone and learn from everyone on Tuesday!
Seeya in Astoria!
Hey everyone!
I know this is short notice, but if you’re interested in joining a startup, our Startup incubator / community, called Bizkitchen, is holding a Recruitment Event on THURSDAY March 22, 7pm at the 28th floor, Union Bank Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The event will consist on a short talk on startups, a primer on all the companies which belong to the group, as well as an idea as to what kind of openings there are.
Do email me at pcauton@yahoo.com if you are going so I can reserve a slot for you.
Please don’t confuse this event with JuanGreatMeet which is occurring the week after, on the 27th. Juangreatmeet is about FORMING startups. This Bizkitchen event is about JOINING one.
Do tell me if you are interested in going!
Peter
I remember years ago when I was congratulating my friend Jigger Galvez for the opening his BreadBag Pandesal store in Ortigas Home Depot. (which by the way, has awesome, original food – the roast beef pandesal is divine)
He said something which made quite an impact on me. He said “Try lang.” He was referring of course to the whole entrepreneurial endeavor.
Try lang.
The way he said it was almost apologetic, conveying a sense of – if it works, it works, if not, don’t blame me for trying. When you think about it, it’s a bit funny that he responded to my “Congratulations!” with a “Try lang.” But this attitude is totally understandable. We all have a fear of failure. So when we put something out there for the world to see, it’s a risk. Jigger put an original-themed restaurant smack in the middle of Ortigas. It’s only natural to feel a bit of trepidation. I can totally relate.
I remember when I finished my very first blogpost for Juan Great Leap. It took me around 2-3 days to finally publish it. I remember dilly-dallying about the design, and what widgets to put. But I was really dilly-dallying because of fear. Never in my life had I blogged before. What if no one visited the site? What would people think? Who am I to blog about startups? What if I run out of things to share? What if they think I’m a hack?
These are the times when telling myself TRY LANG is so powerful. TRY LANG demystifies the oftentimes large mental barriers we like to erect for ourselves, barriers that often paralyze us from doing even the smallest of actions. TRY LANG subtly puts our fear in its place – by the side.
Okay, I’m afraid of what people will think and if it will fail, but hey, I’m just trying here.
You’d be surprised at what a little “trying” can do.
There are also times when we worry too much about THE FINISH, and we ask ourselves questions like: would I really have time for this on a day-to-day basis? Would this be profitable enough to get me to leave my day job? Who would I hire as my GM? Would my company find itself in NASDAQ?
These are important questions, sure. But these questions might be too early, and could be debilitating if asked right at the start.
Just start. See what happens.
Try lang.
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The 30 original slots for Juan Great Meet on March 27, 2012, Astoria Plaza are now filled up.
We’ll be allotting five (5) extra slots for those who still want to go, so please send me an email at pcauton@yahoo.com to reserve your slot. We cannot allow anymore slots after this because of venue capacity. Again, for those who confirmed, I trust you, so please don’t flake 🙂
I’m excited to see everyone!
When I was in high school, I dreamt of someday owning a huge firm.
Then I entered college.
When I was in college, only the ones with the highest grades were given the most recognition. So I figured, only they could one day “own a company.”
So, from thereon, I dreamt of becoming a high-ranking corporate employee – perhaps a C-whatever-O!
Then I joined a corporation.
I came in as an entry-level HR Officer. The more I learned about my field, the more I realized how incredibly difficult it is to overcome my chosen corporate function and make truly strategic decisions.
So, from thereon, I dreamt of becoming a “Head of HR” one day.
Moreover, I also saw that in corporations, the best managers were often given “car plans” or “company cars.” Of course, I wanted to be the best.
So, from thereon, I dreamt of getting my own car – a FORD ESCAPE if possible, because I thought it looked good.
More than once I thought. “Hey, I’m not really happy! I can’t wait for the week to end and the work is getting repetitive.” But then when I asked around, everyone else felt the same way.
So, from thereon, I thought, “That’s life.” And then I just forced myself to chug along, day after day after day after day after day.
Then, one day I was the Head of HR for an entire firm. My salary was higher, so naturally, I quickly got a loan to purchase a FORD ESCAPE (which I eventually loathed because it was such a gas-guzzler) The monthly loan payments were debilitating, and in truth I could have used the money for more important stuff. But hey, who cares? I had my car, right?!!!
Then, after some time, I got a bit confused. Wait, so what was left to dream of? I dared not dream of being a CXO. Owning a firm was even more laughable.
So, I instead “dreamt” of just getting higher pay, year after year. Maybe get a job outside the country to earn higher currency. That’s it. I figured, nothing wrong with that right? Everyone I talked to dreamt of the same thing, and talked about the same thing.
In around a decade’s time, society and corporate life had subtly diminished my dreams from “owning a firm” into “receiving a higher salary increase next year” and “owning an Escape.” At one point, these two were my professional dreams. DREAMS. Egad.
My friends, our dreams should be saved for bigger, much more meaningful things. God placed us on this earth for far greater things than a nice car and nice pay. Our dreams fuel our hopes, which in turn, fuel our souls. We should take great care of our dreams.
Buy hey, you know, my dreams include the really big things, like having a family and travelling to Europe and stuff, they don’t involve work. Work is just work.
Stop thinking this way. Work is such an important part of our lives. It is where MOST of our waking hours are spent. A person who feels broken about “just work” is simply just a broken person. I was.
What, so inspiration, meaning, and feeling great are just reserved for the weekends?
When I took stock of where I was, and I made a conscious decision to follow my younger, more childlike dreams, I noticed something very different.
My dreams grew.
My initial dream was to “just earn enough to get out of corporate.” And I did (with a great leap). Then I figured we could “grow this baby” into an industry leader. We did. Then I figured I could use the experience to create more startups. I did. Then I figured I could use everything I learned to help people create more startups. This is my passion dream now, and it excites and burns within me furiously. I would do this for free. And when I think of it, I think it’s an aspiration worth being called a dream.
Are your dreams getting less and less worthy of being called a “dream?” Are you a victim of the Diminishing Dreams Syndrome? If you are, then this recognition alone can prove to be a monumental asset. Get out of this downward spiral, fast.
It might be good to take a long leave. But don’t go to Boracay with your friends first. Retreat. It might be tough to see the forest from the trees, so take a step back first. Take stock of who you are and what is meaningful to you. Pray. Consider. Be open.
Then ask yourself this question: what do you REALLY want to do?
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Here’s an interesting thing I realized when I was thinking of the previous post :
From my stint in Chikka, I know around 7 people who have developed (or are developing) startups upon leaving the firm.
In my own startup, STORM, a company of around 12-15 people at any given time, 2 people who’ve left the firm have formed their own startups (hello Kiko Loseo and Ope Linchangco!).
Knowing how sparse Filipino startups are, this is no coincidence: working for a startup prepares you to run one.
If I had not joined erstwhile startup Chikka Asia back in 2004, I most probably would not have had the inspiration and mindset to start my own firm. Back in those times, I only had one mindset – climbing the corporate ladder. My experience in Chikka broadened my career horizons and got me thinking, “hey, maybe I can do it!”
Previous to Chikka, I was working with companies which had really “corporate” cultures, where we had to go to work in ties and all. As I started in Chikka, I quickly noticed some differences, such as:
1) a hatred of formality (yep, it’s a strong word, but I’m sticking with it)
2) there were no special rooms for “Management,” everyone had the same table and chair like and with everyone else
3) there were interesting perks (beer after 6, lechon feasts during birthdays of founders, etc…)
4) LOUD meetings
5) approvals were A LOT faster
I mean, some of these might seem run-of-the-mill now, but during that time, and especially with my very corporate-conservative background these were all NEW.
And I loved it. I thought the lack of formality made for a more creative atmosphere.
Most importantly, I sucked up the entire experience like a sponge, paying attention to stuff like: how the CEO thought, how the COO just EXECUTED, how quickly ideas were turned into action, how problems were handled, how employees were empowered, how ambiguity was handled, how open the Management team was to new ideas, and very importantly, how the company grew from its very humble roots.
Actually, when I joined Chikka, I was already talking to Pao about forming STORM. In retrospect, joining Chikka was precisely what I needed at that time – I needed to understand firsthand that a Philippine startup COULD work. (thank you, God) My experience in working for a startup solidified my intention in building one. If I had joined that apparel company which also gave me a job offer, I remain convinced that I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing now.
If you are hesitant to dive headlong into starting a startup, joining one provides a very strategic bridge. Startup life and corporate life are SO dissimilar. Corporate life does little to prepare you for the challenges of running a startup. Joining a startup can provide you with a great way to experience startup life with minimal risk (you still have a salary). You can ask some of the founders to mentor you (If they are open. If they are not, then that might not be the right startup for you – startup founders are typically quite enthusiastic with mentoring newer startups). At the very least, I can almost guarantee a great learning experience.
(7 slots remaining for JuangreatMEET on March 27! Do email me at pcauton@yahoo.com to reserve a slot!)
JUAN GREAT LEAP 