Country of Arts: Artistic Philippines

Country of Arts: Artistic Philippines
August 27, 2012

Malaysia have a campaign called Creative Malaysia. The meaning behind it is if you need something about creativity most especially animation, you can count on Malaysia. My concept of Artistic Philippines maybe a copy of that idea but at the bottom of my heart it's really the description of our beloved country.

In our history, great painters emerged and poets. If you would remember the Indio who won in poetry. Rizal won and was not accepeted since he is not Spanish. At present, artists like Chariz, Jessica and the new singer discovered in SM known as the random girl exists. Not only do we have art geniuses in singing but also in ballet and visual arts. I had the chance to witness these things in an event that I was invited by my animation business mentor Grace in Rizal Park. It was a celebration of the Artistic heritage of our country.

There is nothing the Filipinos cannot excel into. Be it boxing or work, name it and we will excel on it. Even laughing at ourselves despite calamities and mishaps, we are also good at it. I guess a reminder just have to be there always for us to really embrace our power as a nation.

One of the things I value the most today is support group. I was different back then. I don't believe in having a support group before. But understanding business did the paradigm shift. Create a business team first before you achieve business success. You can still achieve doing it alone but sure everyone is aware that a team would do better. I dream of having a support group for the artists within us. I dream of having a community that shares their passion on arts. They talk about it and create art together. They also share it to others together.

Every Filipino has an artistic spirit inside. He wants to sing a song with his own rendition. She wants to dance her own choreography. A painter wants to express his visual genius. We have a cultural heritage worth showcasing to the world!

Another thing that I value is the call to action. If you believe on what I believe about the things I said above, you are the next person that I want to sit down and share ideas with. I know a group who believes what you believe. You might discover an exciting time of your life. More importantly, you will be able to unleash that artist spirit inside of you. See you my new friend.

Cheers!

Ludwig

PS. If you want to join our support group that meets once in a while, you can message me with your name and intention for joining the group. We will reply with details on schedule of our gatherings. See you soon!
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CEO File #6: Passive Income

CEO File #6: Passive Income
August 23, 2012

I'm expecting most people right now should be aware of passive income. But one of the simple rules given to me before is to never assume anything. You can set assumptions and always give some percentage for it to be wrong until proven right. If you do not know what passive income means, you can always look it up on the internet. I suggest you first understand the meaning before reading the rest of this article.

I make my it a point that my life is about making passive income first that would sustain my needs and family. I decided on this the moment I was committed to pursue to become rich in business. I don't want to work until the age of 65. Of course, not everyone agrees on this principle.

I also do not recommend it to anyone who is not willing to take risks. Becoming rich is only to those bold enough to try something different. At least this is the world I knew today. Getting rich is hard to those who does not look harder what he is missing. If you already have a plan like climbing the corporate ladder, I suggest still question your plan and do due diligence. Improve that plan and make sure you really make it.

My friends say that being rich is unique to everyone. That is very true. People who have a lot of friends consider themselves very rich of friends. People who have many likes in facebook consider themselves rich of likes. People earning 30,000 a month consider themselves rich. I didn't understand this before and yes this is very true. I have nothing against it today. I don't want you to change your perception of being rich. I also do not hinder you of adopting a different one. I suggest really ask yourself what would really fulfill you as a person.

Rich equals billionaire and more. Being one of the top ten richest men in the world means rich to me. My quest is to be an ultimate investor. I wanted to sell hundreds of companies every year. Thus, I decided my business is creating passive income. It's my ticket to becoming rich.

I'd like to share to you my formula for creating passive income. There are 3 things: mission, leadership and team.

1. Mission - Decide your mission in life. I have a mission for myself, my family, my country and the whole world. I believe the path to becoming rich would be very hard if you do not have spiritual mission of contributing to others. Creating passive income for oneself may sound being self-centered. It is. Before you selfishly enjoy wealth, you first undergo being selfless. Like the ultimate samurai first decides to die and face death in battle before becoming the ultimate undefeatable slasher, a billionaire in the making first decides to offer his life for the good of millions of people. When you adhere to this principle, you will notice being selfish diminishes forever inside of you. This is the drawback of really wanting to be rich in a legal way. You will no longer create wealth only to benefit yourself. Part of giving it back will stick to you forever. Before deciding any mission in life, be sure to be willing of not having your selfishness come back to you forever. It is the sacrifice you need to make.

2. Leadership -  You need technical skills to run a business. That is the easy part. You can find partners or hire people  with the skills required for your business. The people skills is the hard part. People run the system. You need to lead people. The highest form of people skill is leadership. When you become a true leader; rejection, disappointments and failures become nothing to you but sources of wisdom and clues to finding the right path for your business. There are a lot of ways to becoming a true leader for your business. There is no definite path. You need to find your own style just like in anything that we do. Even businesses are not exactly the same. You can always first have a model then you need to evolve in having your own identity.

3. Team - It's very difficult to become rich if you don't have a team. I prefer a team that I can trust and are closely bonded to me. It also makes challenges easier to take and more fun in exploring new worlds. The team needs to share the same dreams. Maybe not too similar but aligned.

This is my formula of becoming a billionaire. Yes, it is not everything but I consider them the pillars to my success. There is more to it and I will share to you more in the next CEO Files. Bless you!

Ludwig

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CEO File #5: Give Love

August 19, 2012

It's Sunday and a good day for a very long meditation. It's been a long time since I was consistent with that practice. I was reminded with the Spiritual Laws of Success. I was reminded of planting seeds of happiness.

I rewrote my passive income goals for this year. It was my personal goal and not for the company. I think about the things I learned in my business and the experiences I have. One of the things I learned is to write your goal for this year and look at it as frequent as possible. I kept it in my wallet. Then I remember the goal of giving happiness and love to others.

Have I been giving love to others? Or am I just going through the flow of life making myself comfortable and do just fine. Have I been living my purpose?

"There is more to life than love."-Ramon Bautista, Tales from the Friend Zone

I'm talking of a different kind of love. It's not the romantic love that teenagers think about 95% of the time. It's about love to people. It's more of giving value to others. Maybe the romantic love is part of it but it's not all of it. I think about love on the larger scale like love for the country or the less fortunate or the middle class getting broke or employees who are desperate of going to the right quadrant.

I want to be rich. I want to do the things that matter to me. What are those things? One of them is spending time with my family. Another is playing video games all day long or maybe all year long. I would want to play all the RPGs in the world. That's the personal desires that I have. One of my beliefs is I cannot have this if I don't give them or similar to those things. Give first then you get. My formula of being rich and being financially free is giving love to more and more people.

I was thinking of continuing the group I created before. It was a leadership group. Those people believed that everything rises or falls on leadership. That is love. I'm thinking if I continue to give value to these people, giving them what they want, happiness will be expanded. And it will return hundred fold. Is this unconditional love?

They say that unconditional love is about not expecting anything. It's half true for me. Maybe you don't get something in material form but you may feel happy. You still received happiness in the act of giving. I guess I'm expecting something in return but it would be just the secondary purpose. One of the things I learned in college is not to expect too much so as not to be too disappointed.

I guess my challenge to you my beloved reader is that give little love everyday. It can be anything. It can be writing a blog for readers and they learn. It could be a motivational text quote to your friend. Or it could be a silent prayer. And lastly, I challenge you to write your goals for this year and I hope you write me if it benefited you. Thank you for reading and bless you!

Ludwig
http://ludwigrich.blogspot.com

CEO File #4: Go Basic

Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 1:44pm ·

"Getting rich is automatic. That is why it's boring." - Rich Dad

I always go back to this quote when I am confused in business. Sometimes we love complicated and fancy things when all you need are simple stuff -  the basics.

"Make your life simple," my lady boss in my first job would usually say. I remember also she saw a leader inside of me. She said compared to my partner, I was not good enough and I have more mistakes because she and I are the same. We are leaders. If managed properly, I would become a superstar in their company. Today, I strive to be good enough and make less mistakes to lead by example.

I'm not sure if it's been weeks or more than a month when I haven't reviewed my leadership books. I always notice this pattern. The pattern of being fancy and forget my basics when things are going a little better. Then frequent high tempers and growing frustrations emerge. Did I ever learn or am I just plain stupid?

"When you are in your rhythm, nobody can beat you." I don't remember what movie that was but I really like that line. Things are not so bright in the business right now. I think I'm off my rhythm. I'm sure I need to go back to my discipline to have my basic rhythm.

The purest form of discipline is in a child. Discipline means total focus on what you do.When a child is playing, it's totally focused. Parents have a hard time stopping them for they are fully disciplined in playing. Now I need to find the child in me for the usual discipline that I do. It seems a bit challenging for I feel its work. I need to find how to make it part of the child in me. Make it playful or a game. Make it fun.

I guess this is a transition to my own evolution. The evolution of my usual discipline. What is your discipline?

"Everyday we are practicing. The question is what are you practicing?" - Martial Arts Master

Ludwig

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LUDWIGOLOGY
A journey to the business world.
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CEO File #3: Something Unusal

Monday, August 6, 2012 at 1:53pm ·

This morning in the bus, the one getting our travel charges or fees is a girl - not a woman. I usually see older women doing this job during latenight shifts. We call them "konduktor." Today, it was a young girl. Her age may be around 22-ish. It's just way too odd for me.

Usually, insights happen when we go out of our routines. I think this is one of them in my case. What's normal to me are men doing the "konduktor" job. The first thought that came to me was,"Too much poverty might have caused females getting jobs like these." Or do I still have the gender bias mentality in my subconscious?

I guess it's not gender discrimination or something. I guess I just don't see it too often. I also encountered a taxi driver that is a woman. Sometimes it just feels weird. What is the message behind these things?

Another scenario in the bus was a weather update. Mayor Lim cancelled classes in Manila. And the news anchor said,"Ang balita ay galing sa Tweeter ni Mayor Lim." That just made me laugh inside. I guess the picture of the mayor doing fb and tweeter was just a funny picture to me. Then I thought, in the past, there are stories in the internet that we don't readily believe, now it's used as updates on current news.

With the annoying rain outside, I guess it's not a bad day to start after all.  The interpretation that I concluded with these unusual things that I have observed is that life is reminding me to always challenge the status quo for a better life. I guess all these things are just part of our evolution.
To end, I invite you to challenge the status quo. Dare to be different. Improve lives.
Ludwig

LUDWIGOLOGY
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CEO File #2: Speak Up

Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 7:52pm

Today, me and my team went to an animation congress at CCP. The topic was "Storytelling to Storyselling." It will run for 2 days and we just had finished day 1. It was exciting for me to attend the event. It's good that we are not too busy in production and we have more time to attend events and meet more people and be more exposed in the business.

Nothing against to artists but I think we got too much poverty in our original content. I have this comment since it was the 1st thing I saw in one of the galleries at the venue. This is not the culture I want to have that I want to pass on to the next generation of artists. But I guess I couldn't complain more at this since it's the culture that they have grown up with. I guess me and my team would be the ones to initiate the change we want to have.

At the event, we get to see one of the co-founders of Pixar, Ralph Guggenheim. It's really an honor to actually see someone when before you have just read about him. And so the discussion began.

The pressing issue not only in the animation industry but the whole Philippine entertainment industry today is how to market globally. The 1st day was suppose to talk about what would be the original content of the philippines if we are to market internationally. Just like japanese have anime, china have dynasty disputes and kung-fu, bollywood of india, what would be for the Philippines?

As the congress proceed, the discussion was leaning towards the details of how to really market instead of first talking what to sell. There was no problem with content. Filipinos have a lot of resources to tap when it comes to stories. But as what Robert Kiyosaki said in his book Rich Dad Poor Dad,"I'm not the best-writing author. Im a BEST-SELLING AUTHOR." His advise to one of the aspiring writers of novels in Singapore was to study sales marketing. The aspirant reacted violently that she wouldn't stoop down to sales people like him and she refused to take the advise.

In my observation, most artists don't have the inclination of how to market their stories properly. Worse, they don't have any idea what marketing is all about. Yes, it's important to speak your heart out to your story, but if you cannot sell them, you will only have your family as your market or worse just your loving and understanding mother. Well I guess it's not bad at all to start with your loving mother. At least you have you 1st track record.

I recently appreciate sales and marketing when I got interested in business. I look down at sales people before but now I look up and admire them the most. Selling for me is very important. Had not Churchill sold the idea of freedom for UK, Hitler must have overrun them. Had Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio hadn't sold the idea of our freedom, we wouldn't  have the Katipunan and other supporters that led us to our freedom. All the great leaders need to sell. For  me, selling is efficient communication. For better understanding, it's knowing how to communicate straight to the heart of people. The meaning of straight to the heart is that people get to readily understand the value to them of your idea. If your story,or better, your sales marketing message don't convey the value to them straight to their hearts, they will not buy it.

In one of the open-forums at the congress, there was a question to the panelist:"Have anyone of you really made an effort in marketing your film here in the philippines? Have you really tried testing here in our country before going out?" We all have many opinions at this but for me, I wouldn't start in the philippine market. There are a lot of attempts already and it didn't work. I believe also with another line from RK: Don't go where you are unwanted. If Filipinos don't like local content, well, I guess they are the wrong market for it. Other countries might want it. Besides, the US speakers at the congress said it themselves. They don't like US influence in movies that they watch. They want stories from other countries to know more of different cultures.

I also noticed stories in the Bible wherein prophets cannot persuade people in their own hometown. They need to start outside and go back to their hometown, before they get to be listened to there. Get the picture? US don't like US content. Philippines don't like Filipino content. I guess the Japanese is just really the exception here.
Ralph said of only talking to people who asks "Why not" instead of just "Why?" So, if I ask people, let's try to sell film in the US first before we sell it here, I would then only listen and collaborate with people who will ask:"Why not?" instead of the skeptics"Why? can't you see? we need to convince first our countrymen before you can sell it abroad. How in your logical mind ever conceptualize that if we don't like what we do, the international market will? If we keep on subscribing to this colonial mentality, we cannot move on. blah...blah.. blah..."I wouldn't stop you though if you want to try that approach and I pray that you would be successful. If I fail, well, at least you are right and you are already there and I would follow you then.
I guess being logical is not the way to approach this issue. They always say think out of the box. You want another evidence why my idea would work? One of the morning panelists said it himself. He posted a simple stick game in youtube and the MTV wants to buy it. He was skeptic if the deal was true since what he made was really, in his view, was a stupidly simple one that he created for only 3 days. And now he is running a company, partnered with a big foreign company, with 65 employees and growing.

In the afternoon open-forum, I just couldn't hold myself and I felt I needed to really speak up and say what I have to say. I gave that comment about that marketing first in the US before here in the Philippines, and I got criticized with pretty much similar comment with the above paragraph in front of the many audience. I said to myself that I should've just asked my question and not give any comments. I later learned from my teammate that a comment at the seats said something that I was too blunt to say that and that I was implying that we as filipinos are not good enough to sell stories. But my team said, they deserve to know it and hear it. Thank you team. I felt the same way, I love my country the Philippines, and I would rather hurt the people I love and learn from it.

At the end of the day, the world only listens to results. I may be wrong, you may be right or vice-versa. Or we can be both right or both wrong. I guess the key is unity. We may have different paths to take, but the same goal that we want to achieve. You might find the right way of your path, I wouldn't bother you. I certainly do commit to finding the right way through my path. That way, let's meet to the top and see you in the winners circle.
P.S. If you ask "Why not" to my question earlier. Do message me and I'd like to talk with you.

CEO File #1: Kill Ego

Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 12:39am

"It doesn't matter what you feel with your experience. What matters is you learn from it and become better." - Hideyoshi

The spur of emotions especially anger can be very consuming and makes one irrational. And what happens next are conversations you regret to spit. The trust bank of your influence to the people you trust is again consumed. You will need to refill them again. But if only you were aware and maintained awareness of the choice you are about to make, trust didn't have to be diminished and better yet fill it more.

Being seated at a high position in the company can be very stressful. Intense focus on making choices what's best for the organization can be very challenging.

"Every moment you are making a choice." - Deepak Chopra

Consistent practice of killing the ego whenever criticisms arise is the most challenging. Being in the high position can sometimes get in your head and become deaf of what is important.

Realizing today, I haven't yet mastered myself or I have become rusty. One of the ways to subdue the ego is embrace the big picture and continue to love people genuinely.

Ludwig Rosete
July 14, 2012
12:38am
At the studio with artists and music

CEO File Introduction

One day I was just urged to blog again now that I am in a high position. I was thinking I could capture my experiences being a CEO of a company, I would love to visit this again maybe few years from now or more. I wanted to look back how I did. How immature I was. How did I mature. How did I grow as a leader. And I hope to share to you and would be happy if my experience would help you in any way.

I thought it would be catchy if I will title the blog series as CEO Files. I think it would be interesting for readers to know the experience of a CEO or his thoughts. It would be also great to know how he matures or how does he deal with challenges. And I think it would be worth sharing to people how I do, think and what I believe as a CEO.

I've already written 4 files before I thought of writing this introduction. I just thought, why not create it like a book. Maybe I could ask an author someday to write a foreword for it. And I hope you would buy it soon, too.

Now, who am I trying to share these thoughts? Who would benefit it reading these files? If you are someone who wishes to improve as a person as whole, these articles are for you. If you also believe the importance of leadership in every aspect of your life, this is also for you. More importantly if you are interested in running a business, you would also get a thing or two. What if you are an employee? You will have an understanding how your boss is going through and you might find someway to help him and you might just get a promotion. Or better, you might become his right hand and you may discover opportunities you can only imagine. If you are looking for just something new, I guess the CEO files is not that new as an idea but the experiences I had may be very new to you.

I will be just blogging one or two posts per week and I hope you enjoy it. I would also appreciate your comments and suggestions. Who knows we might be doing business in the future by engaging through my CEO Files.

With that, I live with prayers of joy, happiness and laughter to your day ahead and hope to hear from you soon. See you next time in my articles.

Cheers!

Ludwig
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