My Unforgettable 2 month stay

A.C.E. or the Ac.ademy for Creating Enterprise has been here in the Philippines for more than 10 years. Founded by Steve and Bette Gibson, the Academy has graduated many Filipino Returned Missionaries and has evolved into several models which have been started in different countries in the world.

The Academy has closed its 2 month stay-in program and evolved into servicing an On-site Training Program (OTP), where ACE Faculty go to Stakes and Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines and train interested members on the uniquely-designed curriculum.

I for myself, have been blessed by this school. I attended Batch number 5 of the 2 month stay-in program. When I discovered that something like the Academy was being put-up, I did not hesitate to fill out an application form and send it for processing. It was an answer to my prayers and a solution to my budding desire to become an Entrepreneur.

After a couple of weeks from finishing my Occupational Therapy degree, I started attending ACE. One of the first lessons that were taught when we arrived was the concept of "Taking a Position", it emphasized that each of us is a unique person and is entitled to express our opinions in all issues.

That first lesson, somehow was unique in its message since Filipinos have a tendency to be agreeable, even if deep inside they do not feel the same way as the other person. This lesson helped me become more motivated to do my best while I was there, learning and being taught the precepts of financial & temporal salvation.

In lieu of the 2 year full-time service I willingly gave to the Church when I turned 20 years old, my time at the Academy was very precious and I had a lot of catching up to do in terms of temporal matters, to somehow make up for the 2 years I was gone preaching the gospel.

I remember taking a lot of notes (which I still have with me until now), reading the prescribed books way before entering the school, quizzing the Entrepreneur speakers, participating in a meaningful way in all of the activities.

A reflection paper was required on one of the books entitled the E-myth, written by Michael Gerber. I made sure I wrote down my thoughts earnestly and worked on that E-myth paper like crazy, while contemplating on the particular business that I needed to start afterwards.

One of the useful skills that I learned from ACE, was the adjunct lesson on learning MS Excel on a computer which has been the basis of my ability to analyze financial data using this program and to perform swift financial ratios for the businesses I run.

The lessons on financial statements was mind-boggling, I would have gladly skipped that part if I did not know better than what I know now.

For me, the case-study format that the Academy was using at that time was very interesting, entertaining, life-changing and filled with memorable lessons. I wish our local school system would consider adapting such a method, rather than filling time in schools with things that really do not matter in the grand scheme of things.

It was in the halls of the Academy that I got introduced to many financial authors like Robert Kiyosaki, Michael Gerber, Stephen Covey and many others. These authors and their books seem to have carried over my training to the next levels of education that I desperately needed in the different phases in my life as an Entrepreneur.

Recently, I learned that the books in that hall of the rented facility in Banilad, Cebu City were all owned by Steve Gibson, the founder of the Academy.

Time reminds me of the legacy brought by these "white men" and the other donors and benefactors of the Academy. A once-in a lifetime opportunity, which I am sure if the rest of the world knew of would probably in my opinion, be flat jealous.

If you are reading this article right now and have memoirs of your training, whether it was 2 months or 1 week, then I urge you to stop and look to the time-less principle of the Business Rules of Thumb.

I am sure wherever your are in the continuum of your Business and Financial Experience, you will realize that with a little more effort & perseverance in starting, building and growing your enterprise, success is just around the corner.

When you have it, in one form or another, be sure to give back.

1st Entrepreneur Awards for LDS set in Cebu Oct. 11

Malaya Newspaper
October 08, 2008

THE 2008 Entrepreneur Academy Awards Night will be held for the first time in the Philippines on Oct. 11, 6 pm at the On-Stage Ayala, Cebu City.

The Academy for Creating Enterprise, Brigham Young University-Hawaii and Yamagata Foundation – pooled resources to round up member-entrepreneurs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from all over the Philippines to give away eight major awards with a total of P1 million cash prize. A total of 149 businessmen-nominees were selected from more than a thousand enterprises all over the country to vie for any of the following major awards:

Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award – given to the entrepreneur who has maintained excellence in all aspects of the business over a sustained period of time; the business must have been founded more than 3 years ago;

Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year Award – given to the entrepreneur who recently started a business (below 2 years) but has established clear and workable systems from marketing, sales, human resources, accounting and has maximized limited resources;

Innovation Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for one who has applied an innovative approach, business solution or technology which resulted in improving business processes or in growing the company;

Retail Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has established excellent customer relationship in retail selling thus increasing sales and expanding market reach;

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for an entrepreneur, aged 21 to 28 years, who has maintained management excellence; Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for female entrepreneur who has shown exemplary management of her business;

Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has applied practical, innovative and market oriented approach to the business or has created products and services which address the challenges faced by communities, helped solve complex social problems and benefited the marginalized and the poor;

and LDS Entrepreneur of the Year Award – for the entrepreneur who has demonstrated leadership and excellence in business, church and community and has been a mentor to other blossoming entrepreneurs.

* The event was a great success and was attended by many including Cebu based Businessmen, officers of the Yamagata Foundation and of course, Steve and Bette Gibson.

Here is the link to the Master Entrepreneur Awardee via YOU TUBE.