A field sales manager was late in fetching his boss, the multinational corporation’s director of sales. Rumour had it that as a result of that snafu, the field sales manager was passed over from promotion and was eventually re-assigned to an obscure position at the logistics department. Some years later, the field sales manager resignedContinue reading “Never Make the Boss Wait”
Author Archives: Ellery
It’s a…What Is It, anyway?
Subic Bay at Luzon island, the Philippines, is a former United States naval base. In its heyday from the 1950s to the 1970s, it was the Americans’ largest military facility in the Western Pacific. Subic Bay served as a logistics hub and port for the US Navy. Together with the nearby Clark Air Base, SubicContinue reading “It’s a…What Is It, anyway?”
What is the Problem in the First Place?
I went to a branch of a local drugstore to buy a small bottle of mosquito repellent lotion. The branch didn’t have any stock but the nice lady behind the counter checked her computer and told me to go to another branch which was a short five (5) minute walk away. I went to theContinue reading “What is the Problem in the First Place?”
Praising Unsung Heroes
National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) administrator Jared Isaacman praised the United States space agency’s workforce for the success of the Artemis II mission which brought four (4) astronauts to orbit around the moon and back for the first time since the Apollo missions in the 1970s. Mr. Isaacman’s praises were noteworthy given all theContinue reading “Praising Unsung Heroes”
How Do Supply Chains Fit into Your Firm’s Priorities? (Wrong Question)
Supply chains are the lifelines of the products & services of enterprises. Hence, executives should manage their enterprises’ supply chains to ensure they will meet strategic goals. Nice answer. Wrong question. Supply chains don’t fit into the priorities of enterprises. It’s the other way around. Enterprises must fit into the supply chains they are linkedContinue reading “How Do Supply Chains Fit into Your Firm’s Priorities? (Wrong Question)”
What Is Your Masterpiece?
Twenty-eight (28) out of Vermeer’s known thirty-four (34) masterpieces were exhibited at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum in 2023. My sisters & I immediately bought tickets as soon as they went for sale. In March 2023, we travelled to Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum to see Vermeer’s paintings. Relatives and friends were amazed that we would go all theContinue reading “What Is Your Masterpiece?”
Her Problem Was Worse Than Mine
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee told me to come back with several documents before the agency would give my business firm access to the forms on its electronic payment portal. I already submitted the application for the new forms via the BIR’s registration portal, I said. And it was already approved, I toldContinue reading “Her Problem Was Worse Than Mine”
Arguing for Adversity vis-à-vis Risk
The built-in artificial intelligence (AI) program on the word processing software advised me to replace the term, adversity, with risk. Risk, the AI app said, is a more familiar term than adversity. I didn’t agree and I kept writing ‘adversity’ into my essay. Risk is the likelihood an unfavourable event shall occur. Adversity is anContinue reading “Arguing for Adversity vis-à-vis Risk”
Another Year, Another Disruption
It’s March 2026, and just when I thought I could settle down and focus on my business after the usually gruelling annual routines of renewing permits and wrapping up the accounting records of the previous year, another disruption to my well-laid plans looms in the horizon. January of every year is predominantly about renewing permitsContinue reading “Another Year, Another Disruption”
My Health Routine is My Responsibility
It’s 5am, another Monday morning. I could use another hour of sleep, but I must get up if I were to make this day and the upcoming week productive. So-called experts (i.e., rich people who have more money & time to spend than I do) say people should get up early in the morning soContinue reading “My Health Routine is My Responsibility”
Ellery's Essays 