Today's Issue
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Editor's Take: Exercising Entrepreneurial Leadership
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SME News: Consumers Now Prefer Local Brands
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Meet our SME.com.ph Member
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Tax Calendar - NEW!
SME News
Consumers Now Prefer Local Brands
By Rory Visco
Many years ago Philippine-made brands, or lokal in the vernacular, were ignored by Filipinos due to poor craftsmanship and overall product quality.
Now, all that has changed. More local products are now competitive and at par with some of the foreign brands. In fact, many Filipinos prefer to have them than their foreign counterparts.
The latest Philippine results of the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey point to this development. Now in its 9th edition, results of the survey will be announced today at the Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati City.
In some of the categories like banking, Filipinos trust local banks such as Metrobank, Philippine National Bank and Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Crown Asia, Ayala Land and Sta. Lucia Realty, on the other hand, were chosen as trusted property developers.
Other local firms trusted more by Filipinos include Philamlife for insurance.
Other familiar brands include San Miguel Beer, Boysen Paints, Panda, Emperador, Philippine Airlines, Enervon, Wilkins, Carrier, Condura and Miladay Jewels.
To read more, click here!
Meet our SME.com.ph Member
Mediatrix Manpower & Management Services
Mediatrix Manpower & Management Services, Inc. (MMMSI) or simply Mediatrix, is a company engaged in providing local manpower services, consultancy on human resources development management, labor relations, organizational development and legal related endeavors for the various needs/requirements of different projects, firms, and other domestic business establishments.
With a vision to provide high quality service to its clients nationwide, the company provides unique value proposition for clients in the service of promoting a good client and employee business relationship.
Click here to find out more about the company's services and corporate values.
Tax Calendar
April 30 - Last Day of e-Filing/Filing & e-Payment/Payment
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1702Q - ITR by taxpayers on FY accounting period for TQ ended February 2007
May 2 - Last Day of Filing
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Engagement letters and renewals or subsequent agreements for financial audit by independent CPAs for FY beginning July 2007
Source: Punongbayan & Araullo
Editor's Take
To be an entrepreneur is to ply the roads of leadership. From managing and directing daily business activities to deciding big projects, delegating and advising, these elements, no matter how you call it, are parcels of leadership.
Having your own business means you are ready to take responsibilities and step up to become a leader. But leading is not just a mere task of pointing this and scrapping that. It takes enormous mental and emotional strength and discipline to effectively steer your people to your company’s advantage and to their individual growth as well while sealing in their commitment.
If leadership is founded on ethical principles, you can easily win the trust and respect of your men. Every productive activity you engage yourself in is a reflection of the quality of your leadership where your men can take after. By inspiring your people, you more than inspire yourself. This only means that somewhere in the moral outskirts, you have accomplished something of great importance, a legacy perhaps, by providing them good leadership as they go home and tell stories how a day’s work can be a lifetime of heart uplifting and learning experience.
In the exercise of leadership, one must know how to adapt. Being in charge is not an easy thing. As a leader, learning to adjust your approach means you ride well with the tide. How you have led your way yesterday may be different with how to deal with things tomorrow. Yet the leader will always adapt.
A good leader also knows how to care. Caring about your people especially in the heat of things pictures your sensitive nature - and that sends the message that you know how to understand and empathize. External stress or stress arising from the job will always bring complains to some degree yet leaders never let these pressures get in the way of their duties. It’s alright to listen and feel the brunt of emotion, but be on guard not to overdo it as this will tip you off the right perspectives as the one in control.
Equally important in playing the role as a leader is assessing how your people interact or respond to situations under your authority. Grumbles may carp your leadership style but you can always treat this as a welcome avenue for improvement if you are really keen on making yourself an effective leader. Positive remarks about your leadership will burn more your passion and sense of service, so just keep it up!
Your leadership is also an indicator of your personnel’s morale how they feel about themselves and how they feel towards you and your company. If things get nasty, be prepared to listen. Your willingness to sit things down with them signals that you are open to communication scoring you a nice deal of good leadership points. By listening you encourage mutual confidence. You might even pick up something from their opinions and turn it to a plus factor.
Remember that your people will look up to you if you know how to lead them. Once you’ve gained their trust, you’ve already built a team willing to stand and labor for your ideals. Your people are your most valuable commodity. As your company’s most precious asset, their support becomes the yardstick of your business and even personal success.
Why not try pondering as a leader and find out how you fare as an entrepreneur? It can determine your venture’s success.
Russelle S. Trinidad
SME BizLink Editor
