Introduce yourself . . . . .

February 9, 2005

Out of college, the first thing that came into my mind was working. Making money was a distant second considering the fact that even when I was a student, I was already engaging myself in numerous business ventures. I have always believed that if you want security, you get a job, but if you want prosperity, you sell.
Given this mindset, I still embarked on a journey towards the tumultous world of corporate management. From the start, I never considered myself inferior to anyone even if I finished my BS in a not so prestigous school. I have always believed that I could assert myself and get any position I like in any company for that matter. Straight out of college, I was given an opportunity to work for a great company. It was a multibillion dollar company and I applied for a marketing position. It was an entry level therefore it was a rank and file position. Fortunately for me, from the beginning, the company saw my potential and immediately offered me a management post, a supervisor for that matter. I was so happy, very excited and flattered because even if I didn’t graduate from a top university or finish with a business course, I was given the chance to prove my worth in the organization, that enough was a blessing and a signal that the company trusted me.
When day 1 came, an orientation program was to be held for two weeks. There I was together with the other supervisors, management personnel that were also recently hired.
8 am we all came together and prepared ourselves for the said orientation. Everyone was talking, chatting about business stuff, what company they were from, how long they were working and stuff like that.
From the looks of it, they were from the age of 30-40 years old. We were all engaged in a conversation wherein we were talking about the hiring process, how long they called and other stuff about recruitment. After some time, the HR specialist came in and told us to sit down for we were to begin in a few minutes. I was sitted at the end of the table (because that was were my name was) where I got a pen, the schedule for the day and a cup of coffee.
Then, the HR specialist said okay, first agenda, introduce yourself. I was very confident and very excited to speak but unfortunately the other end must start. Blah, Blah, Blah, Business Management Graduate, De La Salle University with an MBA in Marketing Management, Blah, Blah, Blah, Management Engineering Graduate, Ateneo University, Go Blue Eagles!, with an MBA in Business Administration, Blah, Blah, Blah, Ateneo, La Salle, then came to me, immediately after I introduced myself and where I graduated from, with no experience, no MBA, no business degree, I remembered the look on their faces and clearly heard their comments, “What school is that? What the Hell is That?” It was a mixed feeling. But I confidently breezed through and told myself, I will earn your respect, I will earn the company’s respect.
Then again, it was a chapter of realization in my life and I really loved it. I challenged myself with that experience and told myself the only way for you to be known and respected is through your performance.
The universal language in any business corporation is performance and output. I delivered, I brought home the bacon, it was what mattered, it was whats important not the things that will beautify your resume. After some time, I was also able finish my MBA in a very prestigous school and I am very happy where I am right.
Sometimes you just got to take certain stones in your life and turn it into gold. Don’t be discourage by other people nor be bothered by them. Work your way towards your happines. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish.