23/02/2024
LETTER OF GRATITUDE (Long Post)
Today, I'm grateful for the people surrounding me. Personally, my family and friends. Business-wise, still my family, my partners, and my staff. Thank you for being so loyal, and for believing and trusting me. The hardships that we went through during the pandemic, the effect that it had to the business, the store closures, the debts incurred that we are slowly paying off, and how you still stayed with me to run the business despite cutting your salaries to as much as HALF! Thank you for staying, and for believing when I said na "kakayanin natin 'to", pero alam niyong kakayanin lang natin 'to kung hindi niyo ako iiwanan. Salamat at patuloy pa rin kayong naniniwala na magiging OK din ang lahat, at ngayon, nandyan pa rin kayo habang unti unti nating binubuo ang negosyong tinamaan ng pandemya.
In 2019, I was blessed with a son, by my ever supportive yet palaban wife (future wife, present fiance haha). This was at the peak of the business, gearing up for a major expansion. Funds were ready, the branches were sprawling in Luzon. We had a network of stores, that allowed for a smooth, flowing logistics. We were ready to transition to a full-fledged franchise business. It was GAME TIME!
But in early 2020, as we all know, the pandemic hit. I thought it was going to last for only 3 months. I kept the businesses running at a loss, just so my employees can sustain their incomes. I had cash to burn, I thought. But it lasted more than just 3 months. I was juggling between being a first time dad, and resuscitating the business, and looking for ways to pivot the business. It was so difficult. Every time we closed a store, I would find myself crying. When I had to e-mail SM's Area Manager that I will be closing several branches at once, all of the memories of designing the kiosks, opening them, the feeling of excitement ---all of those, like a mosaic of flashbacks, so vivid that it felt like I was there, immersed in the sights and the feelings of the memories --- it all just HIT ME HARD. It was devastating. Once I pressed SEND, I just started sobbing. A grown adult man, with a growing kid, sobbing.
They say you shouldn't be emotional when it comes to business. But I beg to disagree. Having your own business, especially the first one, is like your child. It fills your heart. You invest in it, not just money, but time, effort, and love. Much like how you raise a kid. You don't expect it to walk and work for you in the first year or so. You pour it with love and hard work. You guide it when it seems it has no direction. You carry it when it can no longer move forward. You give it time to rest when it needs to rest by closing which needs to be closed. You heal it by rehabilitating its finances and cash flows. Despite the embarrassment you may feel in facing the debt collectors due to the incurred debts for prioritizing your employees, you face them, and humbly ask for reconsideration, for recalculation and renegotiation.
Hindi ko pa naiiyak ang dapat kong iiyak sa sobrang sakit ng pinagdaanan ko at ng mga nakapaligid sakin dahil sa pandemya. Sa awa ng Diyos, kumpleto pa rin naman kami at walang tinamaan ng sakit. Pero hinding hindi ako, tayo, aabot dito, kung hindi rin sa tulong ninyo.
Malaking pasalamat ko sa inyong lahat, alam ng Diyos kung gaano ko kayo pinasasalamatan. Sa lahat ng nakapaligid sa akin, kung alam niyo lang kung gaano ko gustong mapaganda at mapaginhawa ang mga buhay ninyo sa pamamagitan ng negosyo ko. Ngunit kinailangan lang talaga nating salbahin ang negosyo. Ngayon, dahil sa inyo, gumaganda na ang cash flows natin, nakaka hinga na tayo, at unti-unti na tayong makakabalik sa dati.
At syempre, kay Negosyo Mommy, maraming salamat sa pag tiwala at sa pag buhay sa negosyo. Kung wala ka at ang mga investors mo lalong lalo na kay Negosyo Brother-in-Law (hahah), na unang nagtiwala, nag-invest DURING the pandemic, at sinalo ang losses due to the low foot traffic! But look at your branch now, one of the strongest performing branches at SM Fairview!
Again, thank you Negosyo Mommy, for the patience and understanding during my down days. Masasabi ko na talagang, you loved me at my worst, you had me at my best, and you chose NOT to break my heart. HAHAH
Lastly, I am most especially thankful for our landlord partners, SM Supermalls and SM Foodcourt, and all of my SM peers who have been patient and who have been truly considerate. Thank you so much for allowing the business to get up on its feet again.
Kaya this 2024, ituloy lang natin ang laban! Unti-unti tayong babalik sa dati! LET’S GOOOO! Sama-sama tayong lumipad!!!
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