NU IDEA #7 by AJ Guinto - a Company code book

NU IDEA #7  Family Corporation: What should've been done before everything else. I grew up with my family managing a then 20 year old institution that was passed on by my grandfather to my parents. It was easy for my grandfather who to choose in managing the institution since it was only my dad that stayed in this country and all our relatives had already migrated abroad. And now, since my brother focused on taking the corporate lifestyle, it was easy for my dad to designate me to manage the institution next. During this months that had turned into years that operations of the institution is being passed on to me, I can't help but read books and some articles regarding family owned corporations. Their pros and cons and how it should be handled. From my own experience, and for some articles that I have read I can conclude some things that are important in starting a family corporation, especially when the plan is to make it really big. 1.)    Code of Ethics a.       This is very important in any organization, but I need to stress out on this one. Since growing as family means everyone is comfortable with each other, but doing business should be treated very differently. A mere tardiness and absence should be taken seriously and should be addressed right away. 2.)    A rule on who to pass on the management a.       May it be the traditional way like the Chinese people where the first born son will take over the company or to any culture that gives it to the youngest, the point here is, it should be stated, it should be made known to everyone. Ideally for me, it should be given to the person who is most qualified, otherwise, running a business to ruins doesn't benefit anyone in the family in the long run. 3.)    The Patriarch/ Matriarch a.       There should always be that one person that would decide on the next move of the company, and everyone else should support his or her decision even if they disagree. Because at the end of the day, it is everyone's business. These are only some of the things in my mind, there could be more but that would entail writing a whole book. 3 AJ GUINTO

NU IDEA #4 by AJ Guinto - communication skills training

NU IDEA #4  On Skilled Labourers and their Education. Being in the Education industry and at least having friends in the construction businesses and real estate development, I became curious about the skilled labourers that we have here in the country. How did they become skilled? Why aren't they going anywhere in life to succeed? Then I questioned their background in education and found out that most of these people are High-school graduates and barely some reached College but didn't even get to finish it. Went on my research and found out that TESDA actually offers this kind of programs with construction and development. But even with that program, I think there should be a tweak on it. Here's my Idea, instead of training Skilled Labourers, train them to be Skilled "Professionals" in order to give the better opportunities in this country and abroad. What is thought in TESDA schools are purely skills, sure they have allotted a number of hours that concentrates on communication skills and other basic subjects, but realistically speaking, this is not what's happening, and you simply can't expect a person to be good in communication skills in a matter of three months.  This what I have in mind when I said a skilled "professional", the treatment of Vocational Schools should also give importance on basic training such as communication and leadership improvement, allotting more hours and ensuring more competent trainers in this matters. The Skill is what gives them the opportunity to work here and abroad, but it's the communication and leadership development skills that gives them to opportunity to move forward afterwards.3 AJ Guinto