Fourth Meeting Reflection

                The fourth meeting in our technopreneurship was a different one from the other past meetings that I attended. One of the reasons that I find it as unusual is that many of us were an early bird in that meeting. I could say that as our facilitator told us the new rule regarding with the late comers that will be effective in the fourth meeting, many of us were afraid to face the consequence and that made to be early in school. Even if the time of our class will start at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, some of my classmates including me arrive at 6:30 am in the morning and it was funny to think how we are afraid to spend our money feeding up the whole class’ stomachs as the consequence of being late in the class. Though thinking the consequence is a terrible thing that may happen to me, I’m still happy that it was the new rule in the class since it will discipline us, reminding us that everything that has time to be attended must be follow and I see this kind of discipline as a useful one in facing the real world soon as we get our diplomas and will have our own jobs. Aside from the lesson that it will taught us, it will also makes our tummies happy. Everyone loves foods and I’m one of them.

 

                 The class starts with a prayer as the room was full. It’s the usual thing we do before we start our class. Before our facilitator discuss the actual topic in that day, he told us that we must do our task and use the time wisely to make things to be done early and avoid like what happened in presenting our idea for the concept paper. We rushed in our facilitator’s office to present our ideas in the last day that we were allowed and it’s not a good practice for us especially that the task that was given to us has it’s deadline. After discussing the things I mentioned, our facilitator shown three images which it catch my attention. I just like this part of the sharing since it was catchy and I learn more about technopreneurship. So, as what I said, there were three images that includes a girl that cooks something, a hut house or a “Bahay Kubo”, and a person who is like a doctor facing a sick computer. Our facilitator asked us what’s our idea in the shown pictures and I plainly understand the pictures literally unlike the ideas that our facilitator reveals in the class. He explained that each activity has materials that are needed to finish the said activities and to make it successful. These images were connected to the main topic in the discussion which is about the technopreneurship.  He reveals the HELF which stands for Human resources, Environment, Laws and Policies and Financial resources which is really helpful in the field of techopreneurship. HELF is the main material that is needed for putting up a business venture. Each of this has components. Human resources are the people who are very important for the start up of a business. It includes the researchers which are the idea generators, the developers or the implementor of the idea, the scanner and marketing people and also the financer of the business. The technopreneurship environment is also important same as how Human resources is. Environment includes the incubation centers, academic insititutions, internet access and communications, Geographic accessibility and other support services which really help to start up a business. In putting up a business, a technopreneur must consider the law and policies regarding in business ventures. He must secure the following: Intellectual Property Rights Office, Technology Licensing Office and the Legal Service. The last one to be considered in starting up a techno business is the Financial Resources. Ideas are useless if it cannot be implemented and it could just be possible with the power of money. Putting up a business is very difficult especially if you don’t have a financer that will support your ideas. These financers are the VC (Venture Capitalist) and investors which supports you to make your ideas real and not will just remain as an idea. Partnering with other organizations or institutions is also an helpful one for your venture like partnering NGO’s and GO’s.

                Taking the AQ (Adversity Quotient) test was part in the meeting and I also like this activity. We answer all the questions which will state the level of being an entrepreneur minded. As we finished answering the following questions, I got a result of 41 stating that I’m somewhat entrepreneurial. Others who got 0 – 25 score has an equivalent saying that they are not entrepreneurial. While, 26 – 36 are the persons who were just in the middle, meaning they are neutrals. 37 – 47 are the persons who were nearly entrepreneurial and I’m happy that somehow, I’m part of these kinds of people who possess this kind of mind. At least I know that somehow, I’m interested with business stuffs. For the very entrepreneurial person, they have a score of 48 and above. This means that, they are highly interested and are into business stuffs.

                Our facilitator also include the Business Models which we are required to make it and present it to the class which I find it not so like but not in the phase that I hate it. I didn’t least like it in the reason that I don’t like making business models but in the idea that I don’t know if I can do it rightly. I don’t also have the enough confidence to present the business model that I will make. I get nervous especially if it will be presented in the whole class and the idea that you must convince them to get their approval as well as the approval of our facilitator is not an easy task to do. I have problems everytime I get nervous which cause me to speak jumbled words so that’s the reason why I least like this part. I also got worried as our facilitator present the nine components of the business model canvas that we will present together with our ideas. It includes the Value propositions, Customer segment, Channels, Customer Relationship, Revenue Streams, Key Resources, Key Partners, Key Activities, and Cost Structure. In that moment, I just questioned myself on how I will do it. Thinking of what idea I will make a canvas is really difficult adding the nine components that must be present in my canvas adds also the worries in my head.

                In the end of the day, I accept the challenge since it’s a part of being a student. As what our facilitator said, we must not see things as a problem, instead, we must see it as an opportunity. I guess, it’s an opportunity for me to learn more about this subject even if I will not receive the sweetest yes as an approval in the idea that I will present in the class. It’s also an opportunity to practice myself and to be able to have a thick face which I will use soon in many situations. And the most important part of this is that the experience that I will earn which will be treasured in my trunk of memories.

                

Third Meeting Reflection

                   The third meeting in our FTS happened in the 25th day of June, 2:00 in the afternoon and it was held in the ICLab2. The meeting went well. This meeting tackles the tentative expenses regarding with the activity as well as the seminars the class will be participate. The collection for the booking of plane tickets will be moved due to the conflict of the requirements but our president assured us that we will be able to go to Manila as long as we will cooperate. Talking about the tentative expenses, our president showed the total amount and was assumed that it will be 18,000 but as what was suggested, the budget of each could be 20,000 so whatever happens, there will be money to be used in case of emergency. There are few questions that was raised by our classmates and eventually answered by our president. It's a nice thing that for the few weeks we meet to discuss what must be discuss, the meeting just ended well.

Learning Expectation in Y4IT

               First times are considered as one of the greatest and unforgettable experience that a person could have. It may not matter for other people but as a person who experienced it, it’s a piece of gold that will be place in a treasure chest. It is consider as the most valuable things that a person could have. It may not happen again but it’s great to know that at least I’ve been there or I had tried it once. Talking about the first times, as these first times didn’t happen yet, it’s a nature of a person that he will expect something from it. Even though he will say that he don’t have any expectations, he will definitely think with it especially if it’s his first time to do it in his whole life. This expectation may be high or low but what matters is that a person will have time to think about it and how it will goes as he experience it within his self. Like me, I’m a person who keeps thinking what will happen in things I will do in the first time in my entire life. You can’t deny the fact that people do expects. As I said, it’s a human nature.

                As regards with the expectations, I do have too in this upcoming Y4IT event that will held soon in some place in Manila. Actually, all of us in the class will attend this big event for the first time since this event is one of the destinations we will participate in our field trip. Based in what I heard from the students that was able to attend this event, it wasn’t really a big event, it’s just a very, very BIG, HUGE event. Since it was I knew from the other students, I have high expectations from it not really high though. Given that it will be a big event for IT students like me, I’m expecting that there really huge numbers of students that will attend this event. As what our facilitator said, there are thousands of students who came from other parts of the Philippines will attend in this big upcoming event. It may come from Manila, Cebu and other places in the Philippines. Imagine that number of participants who will attend this event? It’s really a big event. For an IT student like me, it’s a prestigious event that must be attend not for the reason to have pleasure moments and just sit there and have small talks with my classmates in that place but it’s for the reason to know more how my chosen course is really an amazing course. I’m attending that huge event for learning new things, learning what IT people can do with their brilliant brains along with the touch of high technology. It’s a chance for the students like me to explore and will feed up our expectations and compare if it will be really the thing that we were expecting from this event.

                Aside from expecting of how it looks like, part of my expectations from this event was learning and discovering new things about the world of IT. So, let’s start with it. Well, since it’s a huge event, I’m expecting that I will more appreciate the course that I take as many speakers will utter inspiring words regarding what IT people can do. I assume that there will be many incredible human beings that will stand up in the stage and will absolutely amaze us through the perspective and ideas he or she may share to us since others said that this event will took a lots of hours. Even though I’m a person who can’t keep my ears on, I’m expecting that these incredible people will catch my attention until the event will end. Talking about the sharing of ideas and perspective, I have also expectations of it. Aside from the inspiring words that we will mightily linger in our own ears, I’m looking forward to know the brilliant ideas that will really amaze me, amaze the whole people in that event. I assume that these ideas that will be tackled also in the event are those best of the best which was made by the intelligent IT student out there. I’m expecting that I will also have an idea how to think ideas like what will be presented soon in that and how to think like a real, a brilliant IT person. I’m also expecting that I will obtain knowledge how these ideas will be a helpful one in our community especially in many sectors in our society. Part of the presentation of ideas was speaking in front of thousands of people and I’m looking forward from it that I will learn something new which I can relate to Technopreneurship. I’m expecting that Technopreneurship has a great part of presenting these ideas on which I’m expecting that I will earn knowledge and know more about this field. To sum-up what I was stating above, I’m expecting to learn new things regarding the field I had took and to learn important things which I can use in the future as to be part of the people who are successful in this field.

                Expectations can be either a good or a bad thing or even can be both of it. It’s natural and sometimes it triggers something and somehow to an individual. For me as an IT student, my expectations trigger me to persuade more in what I am doing. Regarding with the upcoming Y4IT event, those expectations I mentioned earlier triggers me to be positive, thinking that I will enjoy that event knowing that I expect more exciting things such as learning new things about the IT world. It’s proving me more that IT world is an amazing thing to engage to. Learning is part of person’s life and that helps us to do more great things which we don’t really expect at first that we can do it. Expectations and Learning is a combination which an individual finds it as a helpful one to explore things like how I want to explore to.

3 Idiots...

(From left to Right) Raju Rastogi, Rancchodas
Shamaldas Chanchad, Farhan Qureshi

“All is well”. Words that remind me that everything will gonna be alright. This came from an Indian movie entitled “3 idiots”. The movie is not literally about the three people who are idiots. It’s a movie that talks about the three people that enabled to develop a strong friendship. These three main actors are totally strangers to each other in the start of the movie. If you’re asking how they build up their friendship? Similarities with each other are not one of the options. As they are totally strangers to each other, they are also different, totally different. They have different attitudes and perspective in life. They also have different purpose on why they enter the ICE University and why they took the same course which is engineering. They also have different background in terms where they come from and from what kind of family they have. It’s really mysterious on how their friendship start knowing the big differences they have to each other. If you will not able to watch this movie, I could really say that your curiosity will not be resolve and you will miss half of your life. Consider my words that I’m like endorsing the movie but I will really suggest this movie that it must be watch. This movie is really worth to watch for even though it will take two hours. Looking back to the question I stated, how did this three people start their friendship?

                As I mentioned earlier, they don’t have similarities in terms of the things within themselves except for the course, university and the room they have. Yes. They’re roommates which I think that it also contributes in building a strong friendship among the three of them. So before I will talk about the movie, I will first introduce these three main characters or known as the three idiots. The narrator and the first main actor shown in the movie was Farhan Qureshi. From the time he was born and was able to see this wonderful world, he’s father already entitled him as Engineer Farhan Qureshi and that’s why he’s in the ICE University and took the course engineer when he attend college. He took that course because he’s father want it for him. Additional description to this guy is that he’s really good in taking shots. If you will ask him if who is her girlfriend, he may answer you that it’s her camera. He really loves to take pictures especially the things like animals which captivate his attention. Back in the movie, as Farhan came into his new room, he found a guy who has many rings in his fingers, praying and uttering words, asking for the guidance and blessings for his study. This second actor shown in the movie is Raju Rastogi. If you describe him, he’s a person who has any rings in his hand hoping that these things could help in his study. Actually, taking the course engineering is what he desired for. No one said to him of what will he take when he enter the college stage. Compare to the status that Farhan have, Raju came from a family who have 2500 salary in a month. He has a poor situation and that provokes him to go in school. He’s mother was the one who works for them for the reason that he’s father is paralyzed. He also wants to pursue his study to help her sister to get married since they can’t afford any things for dowry. He’s also a person who is really worried for his future and that’s why he wore many rings in his fingers thinking that it may help to his situation. So, if you’re asking who is the third actor, well he’s a very different type of person and I really adore it. Farhan and Raju saw a person who has big bags and just staring at them, performing the tradition for the freshmen in the university. Well, their first meeting was really funny for the things he made. It was an invention he had made to avoid the screaming professor to let him perform the tradition and that’s how it started at all. So who us this weird man? He’s name is Ranchhodas Shamaldas Chanchad, Ranchho for short. Actually it’s not his true name. He’s true name is Phunsukh Wangdu. He’s a person who don’t complicates thing. He’s intelligent yet mysterious in terms of his family background. His friends or any of that school didn’t know his true identity. Rancho was just a boy who really wants to go to school and eventually he was given a chance but he must carry the name of others instead of his. He’s really an amazing human and because of his attitude and how he treated Farhan and Raju, he got the heart of his roommates and they become friends. Along watching the movie, they become the best buddy ever. Rancho teaches many things to Farhan and Raju. Rancho showed not only for his two friends but for the other people that life is not a race that you must run to avoid of being trampled.  He said that being pressured in studying is not good. He showed it with the whole class including Mr. Virus when he was asked to stand in front and let him be their professor in that moment. So, he accepted it and let the class to find the words “Farhanitrate” and “Prerajulisation” within thirty minutes. At the end, no one got it even Mr. Virus. The class burst out of laughter as he revealed that those words are the names of his friend which is Farhan and Raju.  The idea on this is that learning must be fun and exciting, not being pressured. Rancho also gives a big difference to his friend. He told Farhan to marry photography and not waste his life to engineering. He must go with his passion, not the thing what the others told him to do. For Raju, he told him that being afraid and dependent into his rings or any material things won’t make him successful. As Rancho love his friends, the two also love him so much. That’s the reason why they search Rancho as he disappears in their graduation.

                Among the three characters in the story, I really adore all of them. They have different characteristics as I said earlier. But, if you ask me who I will choose among the three of them, I will choose Raju. As a matter of fact, Rancho and Farhan are better characters than him especially Rancho. Rancho is a good person, has a great perspective in life, a dreamer, and a great achiever. He became the top 1 in the class and can invent many things with the use of materials which can be easily found in his surroundings. Farhan compare to Raju has better standing in life. His family has a good home and has bigger salary compare to Raju’s family. He’s also a friend who never leaves Rancho even Mr. Virus threatened him an expulsion if he will not leave Rancho. But why Raju? I like his character in the movie despite in the fact that he has many flaws compare to the two characters I mentioned. He has many weaknesses and one of these examples is when he decided to suicide through jumping the third floor of their university. He was crying then and don’t know what to do as Mr. Virus let him choose between him and Rancho which who will be the person will receive a note for expulsion. Another example is he followed the suggestion of Mr. Virus to avoid Rancho and Farhan due to his fear of being expelled in the ICE University. I could say that he has great fears in everything. That’s his character. For me, no one really wants to be expelled in school especially if you have the same situation with him. He was really afraid that he may not graduate and will waste the chance. As what he said in the movie, he’s father continuously breathing because he’s father wanted to see that he will receive a diploma indicating that he finished a degree. He really love his family that’s why he just too afraid of doing things. However, I find his character really amazing. Although he had done many mistakes in life, he learned to stand in his own feet, fight his fear and correct it. In some part in the movie, he pushed his self and grabbed the opportunity to attend the interview even though he was still in the wheelchair and can’t even walk yet. The most amazing part of it is when he removed his rings and attended the said interview. In the interview, he was questioned by some people with his background and he was really honest in answering those. The most unforgettable part in the interview is when he refused the offer of being accepted by the company who interviewed him. The people who interviewed him negotiated with him that they will accept him for the condition that he must change his attitude. He just said that “Keep your job… I’ll keep my attitude”. It’s amazing the way how he was being honest and faces his fears. At the end, he got the offer and was crying to thank Rancho for pushing him to let go his fears and replaced it with courage.

                Raju’s character is one of the common personalities that people have which is living with fears and worries in everything. But, in this movie, it just shows that whenever we caste away our worries and fears for our tomorrow, the power of the words “All is well” will be effective. Same with the students like me. A student must not fear the future. Don’t chase success, be a good student in whatever field you’re in, and success will chase you. Well, it’s not the exact line but it definitely has the same thought. This thought only means that we, students or any people in this world must give our best for ourselves. We must enjoy our staying and learning things in school and if we do our very best, that’s the time we achieve success. So, instead of being worried, enjoy life like what Raju learn from his friend Rancho. Learning must be fun, not pressured. For the dreamers out there including me, we must not fear of having mistakes because in the first place, it will be the best teacher in our lives.   

Pirates of the Silicon Valley...

What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?

                As we people had our own minds, we start to formulate dreams and goals in our life. Upon making dreams and goals in life to be true, it’s a choice that depends on us. It could be either you will continue and do your best to achieve it or just leave it in your mind and do nothing with it. As a person chooses the first one, there are no assurances that he will be successful in attaining in what he wants, in what he needs. There are many instances that may come in our way that maybe the reason of our downfall or maybe the reason of our way to success. Therefore, there are no assurances in life. Even a successful person may be fail later or sooner as these natural happenings hits.

                Talking about failure, there are many factors why people hit with this kind of instances. It could be for the reason that there are things that is not destined for you to achieve. Like choosing a field you want to be successful. Whatever you do or how much effort you put on it, you end up failing because it’s not really your line or it’s not the thing that is meant for you. Another factor of failure is that there’s a problem within the person itself. There are times that a person commits some mistakes regarding with his actions or his decisions. Mistake is an inevitable thing. It’s natural in person’s life. Even the great people with brilliant minds and the richest people in the world could have mistakes. Like what happened in the known person in the world, Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs is known as the founder of Apple Company. He’s one of the people who presented successfully a computer during his time. He’s even more powerful and famous way back in his time. But, in just one snap, the fame and the things he had built was gone with his hands. Why these things happened to him?

               

Watching the Pirates of the Silicon Valley made me understand who is Steve Jobs and what he have achieve in his life. I also discover how great he is as a technopreneur and how he have come so far with his brilliant mind and his personality. This movie made me know what steps and techniques that he used to reach his goals in life. I also discovered and somehow witness his downfall in times the success he have in his own hands. But before I revealed why and how he end up failure, let me have my insights regarding how great he is. Actually, he’s just a normal person who has goals in life which was a product of his brilliant mind. As what Steve Wozniak said, Steve Jobs sees things differently. He sees power in the advantages he had. As he and Wozniak start their business, he was really a competitive person. One of the great things he has is his determination to push to something. Even though they have to get a loan to support in making a computer, he was really eager to sustain what they had started. He’s also good in sales talking in customers to let them buy their product and then, that’s the key in their success. He’s good in convincing people just to gain things for the betterment of their business. I can really say that the he’s an effective technopreneur. He was even then one of the cover of Time and Fortune magazine naming him as the America’s Risk Taker. This only proves that he’s on the peak of his success. He’s also a good thinker in terms of Technopreneurship. When the Xerox Company developed graphic interface and mouse for a computer unit, He was positive to convince them to have this invention for the betterment of Apple. As a result, he got what he wants and developed Lisa as well as the Macintosh. As Bill Gates known the new things that Apple Company has, that’s the start of the downfall of Steve Jobs.

                The success of Steve Jobs was fast as well as the failure. For me, there are two things that have big contribution of Steve’s failure as a technopreneur. Steve has great personality as a technopreneur. As what I said earlier, the success of Steve was fast which only signifies who great he is in the world of technopreneurship. But, there’s a part of him is very disturbing and I think it’s one of the factors why he fails. He’s attitude is unidentified. Me as a viewer, find him as a person who has attitude problems. I don’t understand why he has sudden mood swings which have a bad effect not only for him but also for the people around him. I called it as a mood swings due to the reason that sometimes he’s okay then suddenly changes. As his mood changes, he became rude to his team in the company. Like what happened in the movie, when his girlfriend talked to him about their baby, he was just disgusted and just be so rude to everyone. So how this affected him as a technopreneur? Being a leader, a manager, or any title in a company must possess good character. It’s good to have efficient skills like sales talking, making ideas, or dealing with computer technologies but without a good attitude still matters especially if you work with a group of people. If you and your people don’t have good relationship with each other, attaining the success you want is difficult. Your people may find you so rude and end up resigning in the company like what happened to Steve Wozniak. He don’t understand why Jobs acts like differently so he decided to resign in his job because he can’t take it anymore. If all of he’s men were like Wozniak, then no one will work to Steve because they may find their boss as a crazy person who have complicated attitude and it’s very difficult to work with these kind of people.

                “Trust, Big word”. That’s one of the movie lines that were said by Sarah Geronimo, a Philippine singer/actress. So what’s the catch in saying this? This one big word is one of the reasons why Steve fails as a technopreneur. As he made his step into the peak of success and being known, there’s a person also who seek him as an enemy who want to achieve the success as what Steve Jobs have. This person was Bill Gates. Along with the fast expansion of the Apple Company as his name was known in the world, there’s a person who also made his way to compete the world of technopreneurship. Actually, at first, no one knows who is Bill Gates. He’s a person who is also fascinated to computers and wanted to be successful in his passion. He and his friend was form a group called Microsoft. The start of their boosting career happened when they were able to sell the DOS, an operating system, in the IBM which was not their own. Bill was really good in talking that made the IBM to approve in their proposal. Even though they don’t have the operating system he said in the IBM, he just grabs the opportunity he sought. How did they pass through this? Well, they were able to present an operating system in the IBM through buying an operating to some guy which worth 50000 dollars. As they have the capability to put their own and stand their business align from the other competitive companies, he began to step his way into Steve Jobs territory, the Apple Company. For me, it’s a big mistake to make Microsoft guys steps their feet in the Apple Company. Words are so powerful and because of words, it can change anything. As Bill made a talk to Steve, it gave him an opportunity. Knowing how desperate Bill is, he took this opportunity and did everything he can to take over the success that Steve had. This thing that had done by Bill can be considered as betrayal. Steve trusted Bill without considering things. Steve must consider that the world of business is a war, a competition. Second, don’t trust any stranger. Third, think twice, thrice, and many times before deciding things. Steve must know that even Bill is like a saint, offering help for him, he must consider that after all, Bill is still a technopreneur same as him who is competitive to achieve success. Therefore, the main factor of his failure is his self. Bill Gates is just a part of it. It’s natural for a competitive technopreneur to made his way to success and do everything he could to attain it.

                “Good artist copy, great artist steal”. These are the words that were said by Steve Jobs and eventually the words that failed him as a technopreneur. As I watch this movie, I realize that this is an eye opener to everyone not only for the future technopreneurs but for everyone who are involved in the business world. Attitude and intelligence to weigh things are the two factors that can either bring you to the zenith of success and to the terrible failure. I’m against to the idea of the quoted words above. You can achieve success through making your own instead of stealing and copying things. But, what’s the real point in the thought above is the reality about the world of business. Business is still business and it’s a competitive world. Your faith is like a toss of coin. It has two faces which have success and failure and it really needs luck and great determination. So, even you’re in the top and in the peak of your success, competition doesn’t stop there. There are many competitive people who will do anything just to achieve what you have so it’s better to put up your walls rather than being comfortable in your place.

How do you see yourself as a technopreneur? 

                There are no assurances in the future. We don’t know what it will be and how our careers will be going in the future. We cannot check it even have a peek of it. People have dream careers and just hope that these goals will be smoothly followed based on what we are aiming. As these hopes we were forming just to be positive in our goals in life, there’s always a question that will be put into mind. This question signifies doubts. “Would I be a successful person in the field I choose or I am into?” It’s a question that gives worries to the people out there who were aiming success within their chosen field. This question will be followed by how to make it possible and what steps will be done to make the chance be in the positive side. These questions are also playing in mind whenever I have time to think over things like this kind of matter. I belong to this people who really have questions what will be the future and how our life will be going soon as we receive our diplomas and will enter the real battle ground.

               

As an IT student like me, I have a dream career also. I want to get a job that is really related in the course where I consume my energy, blood and sweat. I want to be a successful person in the field that I chose. Well, before the subject Technopreneurship was introduced to me, I just have the mindset to have IT related jobs. I don’t have specific job that I like or I want to have as long that it’s related to the course I’m taking right now. But when I enrolled this subject and discover what’s in the Technopreneurship, I was inspired and have labels on the job I want to have soon and it’s to become a boss someday. A boss in my own company I created. Be a successful technopreneur someday. My determination to continue the goals that I built grows more as I was inspired after watching a movie. This movie maybe boring for those people who doesn’t care about how the devices we use in our daily life was made. But for me, I find it fun though there are times that I can’t understand what the characters are talking about since they talk so fast. By the way, this movie is entitled Pirates of the Silicon Valley. As I mentioned earlier, it was a story not only focusing to Steve Jobs but also to Bill Gates. It was a story about the success and failure and how both of them achieve those. I think the highlight of the story is their experience as a technopreneurs including the way how they achieve their success and how failures come into their lives. If you don’t know who these two people are, well you must watch the movie. The Windows computers and the Apple products like phones and laptops are the product of the brilliant minds by Steve and Bill. Each of them has different kind of story as they achieve their success. They undergo ups and downs before their name was known and became one of the richest people in the world. But, who will expect that these two great people treat each other as a stranger? How this two were related? As what I mentioned earlier, this two great people have connection to each other. It’s not the feelings like something fishy but they have connection in the sense that the two of them are the reasons of their individual success and also their failures. They affect their careers in both ways based in the movie I watched.

                I’m dreaming to be like the two great people I mentioned. They were one of the successful technopreneurs and until now, they were known of what they achieved. As what others said, it’s free to have dreams so why not make it into a higher level? The achievement of the two may sounds impossible to achieve like me but I want to be successful like them. Answering the question how I look myself as a technopreneur, I would say that I’m a positive technopreneur but still not enough to be called as a successful since I’m still in the process of learning and exploring things regarding to technopreneurship. But, looking forward in the future, I will be a competitive technopreneur who will be successful in my own way. I’m aware that being Steve and Bill is very different from the reality but even if I’m not like what they used to, I will be successful technopreneur someday though it will take more time that what they experienced. I may not be like Steve whose career boost like a lightning, I will make a way that I will be a successful too even if it’s like a turtle’s movement on its progress. I want also to see myself as a technopreneur who will have innovations which has a sense and for the welfare of people. I’m not really good in thinking new and unique ideas and making those but I will see it through that it will follow the purpose that I made which will be a helpful one in the community. I’m aware also that in a career, fate has two faces which are success and failure. I know that there will be a big possibility that I may experience the taste of failure. There’s no chance that failure may come, however I will be a type of technopreneur that won’t easily give up. Like what Steve did, though he was failed at first, he still find ways to come back in his company he made and achieve the success again. I will become also as a technopreneur that will push and work hard until I will be a successful one like what Bill did. I will not do the thing like he did to Steve but I will do the same thing he did which is being persevere. Being determined on what we do and what we believe is one of the key to attain the target success we set.

                Being the ideal technopreneur I want to be someday is not easy. Being a technopreneur is not easy. Technopreneurship is still business and when it comes to this matter everything is like a war. Before achieving the success I want, I have to be a skilled technopreneur to achieve it. It’s complicated in the sense that you must have the skills to make the people around you believes you and buy what you were presenting. It’s true that you will find money in technopreneurship. Even ideas could turn into money but it’s not easy. It involves talking and convincing. It involves talking lies which will make your customer “wow”. You must also consider that customers will find much better things he wants. Being a technopreneur is like a contestant who competes to others and aiming the price, the golden “yes” of the customer.  As what I said earlier, I’m still in the process of learning to be an effective technopreneur. So, to be the ideal technopreneur I want to be, I must learn how to make it possible though no one’s perfect. I guess, the first step is to have a mindset which will lead me to think things in the line of technopreneurship. I’m lucky that in our subject technopreneurship, I learn that there is more effective mindset for a student like me. I think it’s a big help to guide student like me. Alternative mindset based in the previous meeting is a kind of mindset which has a goal not to settle only to be an employee but to be an employer and I guess, it’s a good start to have this kind of mindset at the early stage. Another thing that may help to be skilled technopreneur is to enhance my skill in talking people. A technopreneur must have a thick face and it’s one of the ability that can make you successful. The SEED which was presented also in the class by our facilitator is a big help to be a technopreneur. Everything that I learned from the class was really applicable to be an efficient technopreneur.

                Actually, there are many things that I must improve into myself before to be the ideal technopreneur that I wanted to be. There are no assurance also that someday, I will be a successful technopreneur or even to be a technopreneur someday. But as what I said, future cannot be tell by anyone. It’s clueless, mysterious which we commonly afraid of. We are worried for it and were afraid to make a move knowing that failure may come to us that will cause our depression and sorrows. But before over thinking things, we must be like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates who tried and tried until they got the success they have right now. All we must have to do is to think positively and give our best with it. We must also apply the things we learn that we think that it will be a big help for our career soon. We don’t know that the thing we aren't expecting is the one will lead us to success.        

Would you take the same career path that Steve Jobs took? Why or why not? 

                A best example of a great technopreneur is Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. They are the people who presented the new face of computer way back in their times. They were the one who introduces Macintosh and Windows who are still living in our today’s generation especially the Windows. But between these two great people, Steve Jobs is the first person whose name became famous and who achieve the success in the world of technopreneurship. Steve was even became the cover of the great magazines such as Time and Fortune magazine. To be their cover and to be entitled as the America’s Risk Taker is a positive thing for a person which only indicates that he is a very great man in their time and was very famous which catches the attention of the world. He’s really an effective technopreneur in their time then, even though the word technopreneurship was not yet made.

               

                  The life of Steve Job is very a colorful one and full of adventure. Watching the movie entitled Pirates of the Silicon Valley let me know not only the life of Steve but also to know how an ideal technopreneur must be. Steve as a technopreneur was a failure at first but he was able to come back with the company he built in his time, the Apple Company. If you’re a person who didn’t know yet about Steve Jobs, you may be so amused in him right now discovering how great he is. But how did Steve Jobs became a great technopreneur? First, he was just a person who perceives things differently. From what I understand of he’s personality, he’s a futuristic person. He calculates things and he’s positive for it that it will happen and it will fall into places as what he expected. He’s also a competitive person who has clear goals in life. Aside from being a successful man in the field of technology specifically in computer technology, he wants to wipe off the IBM from its spot which is one of the top companies in terms of technology. I guess, its one thing that motivates him to push until he taste the success he wanted. Since he have the good qualities of being a technopreneur, he was able to find ways to sell the computer that they made with his friend whose name is also Steve. They were friends then so they were great partners as their business was still starting up. Things were falling into the right place and many opportunities came into their lives as a technopreneurs. Their careers boost up rapidly and as what Steve Wozniak said, it was really surprising how it happen so swiftly.

                But, there were also some changes within the self of Steve Jobs. Actually, based in the movie, he acts differently. The changes are not really a big change since he has this kind of attitude in the first part of the movie. He has some attitude problems like he can’t control his emotion and what I observed is that he also doesn't understand himself. I’m so confuse regarding with his attitude showing great mood swings which also affects the people around him. This attitude affected him so much in the sense that his focus was disturbed. As the another guy enter his life and he let it ruin his mind, the threat of being a failure as a tecnhopreneur approached but he didn't notice it due to the fact that he trust this person. This person was Bill Gates who is one of the richest people in the world in this present time. He was one of the reasons why Steve Jobs failed. He was quite wise and knows how to deal people like Steve and he was successful to earn the trust of Steve and that was happened of Steve’s failure as a technopreneur. After Steve knew that Bill used the invented computer that he have and innovated greater than what he had expect, Steve was fired by the president of the Apple Company. Later on, as years goes by, Steve goes back in the company he built and part of this company was owned by his enemy before, Bill Gates. Based in the ending part of the movie, Steve and Bill’s relationship was good. They were in good terms that nothing happened and he looks as Bill as his big brother as what the character of Wozniak said who was one of the narrators in the movie. I could say that even though he failed first, at least he was able to make his way again in the Apple Company as a technopreneur.

                The path of Steve was very bumpy before he reached again the success. As an IT student, I was really amazed in how he was great as a technopreneur. I want to be a successful technopreneur soon and I know this dream is very difficult to achieve. Like what Steve had achieved, I want it too. If you ask me if I will choose the same career path of Steve Jobs, yes I want too. As what I said, I want to be successful technopreneur like him. I don’t actually consider his failure as bad thing for him. He was successful then things turn into failure and became a mess but the good thing is that he learns from it. So why I choose the same path that Steve took? Actually, being a technopreneur is not easy. I find this kind of career as a difficult one since you’re always in the battlefield. It’s a competition that requires many things which has great combinations to be able to a competitive one as well as to be an efficient technopreneur. It needs courage to push something, to do things accordingly into your plans. It needs a positive aura to be able to address problems. It needs great skills as a technopreneur. You must have a great mind to think new ideas, weigh things and provide better and quick solutions to a problem. You must also have the good attitude to have good relationship between you and your team. You must also have the skill of being a good communicator between you and the customers. Lastly, you must be a competitive person to stand and survive in this kind of field. But, despite from these requirements, I find this career as an exciting and challenging. One of my reasons is that I’m taking up an IT course currently and second, I want to help also not only in my family but for the people where I belong. I like to see the future that the place where I live will be a prosperous community.

                I know that being like him as a technopreneur is not easy. As what I said, it needs a lot of efforts and requirements. Being a technopreneur is not an easy path to ride on but I’m sure that even the way of it is full of humps, and ups and downs, it’s will be cool and the nice joyride that I would take. I may have the fears right now that there are possibilities that I will end up in failing, I’m developing now my positive side and start to believe that success will be there soon as I will continue and will possess great determination to achieve that path that I want to. I may not have the complete requirements to be an effective technopreneur but I will make a way that I will achieve those. I will develop what I am lacking and always seek improvement to myself as a technopreneur.

                Knowing the life of Steve Jobs was an inspiring thing that happened to me. I learn important things with regards to technopreneurship and also with human’s life. Success and failure are like twins. There are some instances that we must undergo great hardships and failures before to step the room of success. That makes our lives colorful like a rainbow in the sky. Everyone commits mistake and experienced failure like what Steve Jobs did. It’s part of people’s life and a nature. Meaning, it’s inevitable. But, even though this failure makes you depress or makes you feel that you’re the most person who is very unfortunate in life, it’s the best teacher that we have. There are things in life that we learned not in the four corners in our classrooms and even in the power of Mr. Google. There are times that we learned from our failures and mistakes and it could be the best learning we have in our entire life. Life could be boring if all of us will be successful always, without experiencing complications and hardships. We can’t appreciate life without having differences and conflicts. It’s like a food without seasonings and pork where you can find just a simple soup only with a blank taste.  Life must be adventurous and exciting and it will be done through the challenges we will face soon. It’s like a spicy food that even though our tongue may hurt at first, at least you were able to surpass and got a price of satisfaction with it.

Propelling the Economy of Davao (Meeting 2A Reflection)

                “Davao, Life is here” – A quotation that you will see in some tarps or boards as you enter the city of Davao. As you read between these lines, it denotes that everything you need is can be found in this city. It indicates that life is better living, that there are many opportunities in Davao. But is it really true? Is it right to associate the phrase “Life is here” in Davao? That’s a question that should be answer to justify the words above. A city can be categorized into three states. It could belong to a poor state, developing and best or enriched state. Cities belongs to the poor state are those places which has poor economy. It has low employment rate and the city industry is not alive as the pulse of their people is beating. Compare to the second state which is called the developing state, this city is making on its way to be align with the top competitive cities in the other parts in the world. When we talk about its industry, the people of that city are working on it and it’s alive and kicking. The third one which is the best or enriched state is the cities which are on its zenith of success. These are the top competitors in terms of economy and how they are advance in technology as well as its industry. With the case of Davao, this city belongs to the group of developing cities. It’s not bad though but it’s very alarming of what really happens in this city.

                Based on what our facilitator mentioned in one of our meetings, Davao is facing now a great challenge where its opponents are the people itself who live this place. It’s not a shaggy dog story but it’s the reality and it really happens yearly. Davao has great universities here. They can produce best of the best graduates yearly which in fact a very beneficial one for the city. On the other hand, there’s a big, a gigantic “BUT” in behind of this thought. Even Davao has the best graduates in every year, the city itself can’t utilize if for the improvement. Why? It’s because of the common mindset of the fresh graduates nowadays. They were fascinated only with the high-paying jobs and these jobs are can be found to other cities like Cebu and Manila. If you’re an observer type of a person, you will notice that there are only few companies here in Davao especially with the IT companies. As the matter of fact, IT is one of the prominent courses that college students took up. But how it happens that there are only few IT companies here in Davao? Where are these hundreds of IT graduates go? Since most of these graduates have the Default mindset which only persuaded to attain their goal to land only a high-paying job, you can find them still in school if they extended their year there, or you can find them in the other country or in the other cities within the Philippines. Having these best graduates which is a big help to city industry is a very pleasant to hear and it makes the universities proud that they were able to produce these best graduates however it’s disappointing to know that these graduates doesn’t contribute any for the improvement of the city. Instead Davao could benefit the brilliant, excellent or great minds that it have, it doesn’t now matter since the one who will benefit these are the other country and the other cities. Davao become the suppliers of intelligent employee which only benefits the other cities. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Why these graduates choose to migrate in other places? Since they have the different kind of mindset, they will go to the other places where there already many companies and therefore, they will be more opportunities there compare in this city. Even the average graduates are also following the steps of the others. They striving hard not for their city but for the other country and other cities were they think they could earn their desired salary. This is very alarming as what I said a while ago. If it continues, the industry of Davao city will be the same with the condition of the poor cities in the other part of the country as well as in the other part of the world. Instead of making this city to be one of the most competitive cities in the country or even in the world, it will end up into a horrible thing which has a massive effect not only into the city but also the people who lives there. What’s the bottom line in discussing this one? As you can see, each of the people who live in that city matters. People are the one who have the power to enhance or improve a city. A city will never be a city without a people who are living with it.

                Change. That’s what the Davao needs to solve this disturbing scenario. It must be stop not only for the sake of the existence of the city but also with the people living with it. So, if you ask me if what I can do to make a change and propel the economy of Davao, I will start with my own self. How? It may not change automatically the economic condition of this city but it’s a good start. As what they said, “Love yourself first, before you love others”. This thought has the same thought of what I want to express. Before the second meeting happened, I’m one of the people whose thinking are fixed and just want to land a high-paying job as they get their diplomas. Before I change and help to propel the whole city of Davao, I want to start it first with myself. Primarily, I want to change the old mindset that I have. I want to embrace the alternative mindset which I discovered in the second meeting in our technopreneurship. If I just still have the same outlook and the same goals why I study hard, it will just end up with the same scenario with the graduates who didn’t have any contribution to the improvement of Davao’s economy. And when I understand truly and embrace the alternative mindset as a whole, I will do the second step. This can be done as soon as I will receive my diploma and will face the real world. I know it will be not easy but I will do my best to follow my goals and that is to be an employer someday, to be a boss in my own company someday. To do this thing, I will find a job which also related in my course so I could use what I learned from the years I’ve spend in college. Therefore, I will first become an employee. As what my mother said to me, being successful is not easy. If you’re going to the top floor in the building, you must start with the first floor. This idea is the same before you achieve the success. It must be a step-by-step process. So, I will be an employee and will do my best to be an effective employee. As the time goes by and I have enough money, then I will do the next thing which for me, it’s a good step to help to improve the economic state of Davao. Let’s say that I will think this time as a technopreneur. Since I got a job and have enough money, that’s the time that I will do my way, I will create a company that I can call it as my own and will be entitled as a boss of my own company. Now, how this idea can help to boost the Davao’s economy? As what I had mentioned above, the main problem why there are many best graduates throw their selves into other cities and countries is for the reason that there are only few opportunities that will be sought here in the city of Davao. To address this issue, if there are many people like me that has the same idea and want to put a company here in Davao, then this best graduates as well as the average graduates will seek opportunities not from other places but here in Davao. Why must they leave their family and go away just to have a job if they have the option not to? If there are many opportunities sparkling in their eyes and waiting for them here in Davao? Well, aside from returning what’s for the Davao which making these intelligent people work for Davao, there’s a great possibility that many people who are not belong in this city may seek opportunities here in Davao. This idea is a great opportunity not only for the people who wants to have job which will increase the employment rate in the city of Davao but also for the city which is a good thing to grab on since it will really have a massive effect in the economy of Davao which is a positive one. If I will be fortunate to be a successful in the business that I built, I want to have a program which I believe that it’s a helpful one also with the economy of Davao. This idea really doesn’t originate from me and I just heard it from the sharing of ideas which was happened in our third meeting in Technopreneurship. So the idea is like this, I will have a program that will support people who are very interested to their studies. In short, I will have a scholarship program. These people will continue their schooling as they work on my company. The set-up will be a give and take relationship but these students under with this program will receive more benefit than me. Why? As they will work for me, they will also have their salary as well as what I said earlier, they can also go to school which their expenses will be covered by my company. They will also have to attend seminars which will be implemented as they will be under in the scholarship program. This seminar is about the idea on how they enrich their selves and how they will stand with their own feet as they will finish their school and will have their own money. This seminar is an encouragement to these people to put up their own business and follow the steps of the great technopreneurs. It’s like what happened in the second meeting in Technopreneurship which our facilitator presented an alternative mindset and I will include it in the seminar. I believe that having a discussion about this kind of mindset is a big help to change their outlook in life. As these people will be successful in their own way, it will guaranteed the city of Davao that after ten years or let’s say fifteen years, the economy of this city will be on its peak due to the numbers of companies here in Davao which will give the way to produce a lot of opportunities. The idea also of having a scholarship program doesn’t only targets the employment here in Davao but also the education of the people in this city. I consider that education is one of the primary key to produce great employers and eventually will help to boost the economic state of Davao. Another thing that I am concerned with is how the technology runs with the industry of Davao. Since I’m a technopreneur in this case, I’m attached to the inventions and products of technologies. Having the advance technologies in a city is really a big help. It makes life easier especially in the business operations. There are a lot of countries like Korea, Japan and other countries which really give an attention in the importance of technology. In my observation, they used these as their tool to propel their country. They embrace the touch of technology which makes their country technologically advance from other and this advantage makes them ahead and more competitive from the other state. In relation to this, since I consider myself as a technopreneur, I will support programs which focus in innovations through the use of modern technology we have right now. There are many brilliant dabawenyos who possess great ideas regarding with the innovations of things which has sense and really helps the community. But, these people didn’t receive any chance by the government and just let it sell to other countries. Eventually, other countries will benefits of what are countrymen made. Instead our country will use these inventions and use it for the prosperity, the government just throw this opportunity and it happened many times. So back with the idea I mentioned, I will support the programs or people who have brilliants minds that create great innovations through financial support. Since I have my company which I positively believe that it’s one of the successful company in town, I will make an arrangements with those group of people whose innovations are interesting and has a big help with the economy of Davao. Since it’s a business and money matters, investment is a proper word to use to support their ideas. As what I said, money matters. It’s really important to have funds to make and invention or an innovation to be possible. If also I will find interesting and a helpful inventions which will makes the city more techie than I will buy it for good. From this idea, there will be more brilliant people out there will be encourage to show what they got and I assume that this will help not only the economy of Davao but also the field of Technopreneurship.

  

                Davao city is a wonderful place. It supposed to be one of the best cities that Philippines could ever had. It must be align with Manila and Cebu or better with what these cities have. Davao has best people who have brilliant minds if it happens they were give a chance to show what they got and to give a chance to help the city. Davao should be one of the cities where you can find great opportunities not only for the people who live with it but for the other people who wants to be with it. My point is citing these words are that Davao could be what I said through the help of the people of it. It’s just a matter of having the guts to take a risk to accept and embrace the changes and just deal with it instead of sticking with the old one. As what I said, a city will not be city without the people behind it. Dabawenyos has the power to change the economic situation of their city and they are obliged to do it for the existence of this city. People in Davao is the answer with this situation and they must unite for the sake of the city as well as for their lives. I believe that as the people of Davao accept the changes and embrace the modernity which is the today’s technology, Davao’s economy will be on its zenith and even could be the great city not only in the country but in the whole world. 

"The Alternative Mindset"

                Education is an important thing for us individuals. According to some sayings which is very common, “Even though you don’t have anything, you have the knowledge and no one could steal it from you”. The quote above is one of the reasons why people must go to school every day but aside from this, each of us have hundreds of reasons why we striving so hard in school. One of these reasons is to land a high-paying job. Even if you ask random people out there, I’m sure it will be the common answers that you will find out from them. It’s because of the way how people think. Some people will say that nothing is wrong with this mentality but if we will talk about the Default Mindset, this will prove that there are part of this thought which must be changed.

                “Go to school, get good grades, and land in a high-paying job.” This is the common outlook of people why they will send their child in school or why these people pursue their studies.  Parents embed this kind of mentality into their children so as the result, children adopt this mindset and pass into the next generation. As these children steps into school and will make the utmost to get good grades, they have the mentality that someday they will have high-paying jobs as they finish their years in studying. But the question is, Is it good to have this outlook with the mind of the student? What will be the effect of this kind of mindset? Before answering these questions, let me refresh what I learned from the second meeting in Technopreneurship and introduce this kind of mindset. According to our facilitator, this type of thinking is called the “Default Mindset”. It was termed as the Default Mindset because it was a very common mindset that was originated long, long time ago. This mindset was just all about landing a high-paying job as a student will get his diploma thinking that it’s a right thing to be an outlook in life. Because of this kind of mindset, students won’t see the real goal why they work hard during the time of being a student and will be blinded by this to see the better possibilities than what he thinks. Since they just want to get high-paying jobs, they might not aim to be an employer but will just be satisfied as an employee. They might lose the opportunity to be a boss in their own company someday. Losing the opportunity is the main result of having this kind of mentality. Let’s just take the example of the current situation of Davao industry. Davao produces great graduates when it comes in the field of IT. It can be prove through the contest where Davao universities participated. If you cannot find their names in the lower part, they might get the first, second or even the third place. That’s how Davao’s students are great. But, if we will talk about the industry, Davao is not like with the other cities like Cebu and Manila. They might not have the best students but they have the best employees, and which did they came from? Proudly to say, Davao. Davao become the supplier of best employees for the other cities and as the result, Davao didn’t have any improvement when we talk about industry. Why does it happen? Since there are many companies in the other cities, these great graduates will leave their city to obtain the alluring offers. In this case, it’s very alarming that it doesn’t only affect and individual but also affect the city. If only these great graduates have a different kind of thinking then, this could not possibly happen

                  If there’s a Default Mindset, there is also a different kind of mindset which is better. This kind of mindset is a substitution to change the effects of the old mindset. “Go to school, get good grades, create and own a company.” If you will read the words between these lines, it’s ideally different from the first one. This outlook is like, you’re telling to yourself that “I want to be an employer someday, not to be an employee”. Having your own company and to be called as a boss is better than to be an employee right? It’s like hitting two birds in one stone. You will earn a lot of money as well as to have a superior position in your own company. This kind of thinking is the “Alternative Mindset”. Parents send their child in school not just to let their child to land high-paying jobs but to have their own chair, own table with the label of their name, their own building, their own company. Students will work to get grades not just to be a web developer, a system analyst but be the boss in the company they had create. This will have a positive effect not only for one’s self but also for other people as well as to the city. If these great students will be successful to put up their own company, this will cause more opportunities to other people and will don’t have to migrate to other places just to have the desired earnings. What’s great with this, is that the city will be improved in terms in the condition of the industry as the rate of employment will increase. If this will happen to Davao as an example earlier, Davao could possibly align with other successful cities like Cebu and Manila and could even overtake to think that Davao has the best graduates with great abilities.

                For me, after what I have learned from the second meeting, I realize that efforts you have exerted in your student years are useless if you have the wrong outlook in life. Thinking how life will be so challenging after you graduate will just make you go into a wrong path. Somehow, this kind of thinking makes you possess to have the Default Mindset. Setting the right goals will be out of place and will be replaced of worries of ‘what if’s’ concerning with the future. Even if once I was being one of those people who have default mindset, I’m glad that I made a reflection to myself regarding on how I think and how I set my goals. I was given a chance to take away my worries and think positively outside the walls I had made. Now, I look forward in my future not only as to be an IT programmer but a person who is entitled to be called as the boss someday in my own company.