In the old days (as late as the mid-20th century), many parents told their kids that children were meant to be “seen not heard” and that children can only “speak when spoken to.” This rule prevails among many families, never mind if it’s the 21st century and some people say we should be more liberalContinue reading “Seen and Not Heard, Speak Only When Spoken To, Why It’s Good to Listen”
Category Archives: Aha!
How to Save Money When Renewing the Dreaded City Business Permit
Every time we enter a new year, many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. When the first working day arrives, however, we face reality. One of those realities is the dreaded city business permit renewal. Town and city governments in the Philippines require enterprises to register before they canContinue reading “How to Save Money When Renewing the Dreaded City Business Permit”
How to Deal with Insults
I was insulted the other day. A senior director on the board of trustees of a high-rise building said I lacked technical education and experience. For a person who is an engineering graduate and has been in business for almost 40 years, that sounded very much at least like an insult. It’s not the firstContinue reading “How to Deal with Insults”
The Terror Boss
Most of us will eventually encounter the Terror Boss. The Terror boss is that direct superior who shreds a subordinate’s self-esteem. He or she: Yells at you, with expletives and words not acceptable for children below 18 years old; Finds faults, never praises, never has anything good to say about you; Assigns lots of workContinue reading “The Terror Boss”
Managing Multiple Risks
Threats of fire, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions don’t take breaks. They don’t necessarily come one at a time. Risks are mutually exclusive. They can occur simultaneously. Ongoing threats make our lives complicated. We are constantly stretching resources to keep workplaces and homes safe and secure from risks. We need to always consider thatContinue reading “Managing Multiple Risks”
It’s Time to Start Listening
Joseph Biden wins the American presidency. Donald Trump has lost. Many people are rejoicing. But the election results were close. Very close. So close that one cannot discount that nearly half of the American electorate voted for either candidate. While President-elect Biden garnered more votes overall, soon-to-be former President Trump won as many as 2,500Continue reading “It’s Time to Start Listening”
Do We Really Need New Capacity?
Do we really need a new highway? Metropolitan Manila, Philippines, has one of the worst urban traffic congestions on Earth (at least before the pandemic of 2020 forced people to stop travelling). This has led to a number of corporations and wealthy individuals to propose new roads, bridges, and tunnels. The proposals cite the obviousContinue reading “Do We Really Need New Capacity?”
Why and How Banks Should Improve their Services
In the late 1990’s, Asiatrust Development Bank, a relatively newcomer to the Philippine banking industry, expanded its banking hours from 8:30am to 6:00pm. It was a break from the traditional 10:00am to 3:00pm schedule that was the mainstay of other Philippine banks. Many small businesses and individuals particularly those who worked until evenings, flocked andContinue reading “Why and How Banks Should Improve their Services”
The Feasibility Study Ends with a Plan, Not A Solution
The feasibility study consists of the following steps: It starts with defining the problem. It ends with a plan. A lot of people make the mistake of ending a feasibility study with a solution. After they have the answer, many of them neglect to ask “what’s next?” They rely on the stakeholders to figure thatContinue reading “The Feasibility Study Ends with a Plan, Not A Solution”
How Do We Define Quality?
Quality is a strange subject. It’s strange because people talk about it a lot especially when they have a complaint or an admiration about a product or service. At the same time, people don’t seem to take it seriously especially when they settle for a cheaper product or service because they don’t have the budgetContinue reading “How Do We Define Quality?”
Ellery's Essays 