Guy Kawasaki: Make Meaning in your Company

As I watched the video “Guy Kawasaki: Make Meaning in your Company”, I have realized many things. Especially about your motivations in your company. This lecture has cleared my mind on what should be my goal as an entrepreneur or a technopreneur, someday. “Make Meaning in your Company.” What does Guy Kawasaki wanted to imply with this statement? And who is Guy Kawasaki, by the way? How did he made us realized many good things? 

Before going to my reflection about the video “Guy Kawasaki: Make Meaning in your Company”, let us know who is Guy Kawasaki. Guy Kawasaki is a Japanese American. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a very famous blogger. And aside to that, he is also one of the individuals behind the marketing of the Macintosh of Apple in the year 1984. He has this brilliant mind that made him to be a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He started not as a technopreneur or being in the technology business. After graduating UCLA Anderson School of Management, his first work is selling jewels in Nova Jewelries, a jewelry company. And thereafter, he was employed in Apple Computers through his college friend, Mike Boich. He works there as a chief evangelist for four years but he never wish of staying there for a long time. And so he decided to make his own software company and earn big amount money. Of course, we all know that being an entrepreneur can earn a lot of money than those who are employed. But before he was able to create his own company, he was hired in ACIUS (the United States subsidiary of ACI). After leaving ACIUS, he continued writing columns and founded a new company, Fog City Software. And he bacame more successful as he returned to Apple and founded Garage Technology Vantures, Truemors, and Alltop. 

 Through his success, we can say that “I wanted to learn from him about technopreneurship”. In the video he said a lot of meaningful and sense-full things even though the video only lasted for two minutes and 54 seconds. He said that as an entrepreneur or technopreneur we thought that in business what is important is about earning money. Which is not the right mindset. He said that, the core or the essence of entrepreneurship is making meaning. He even added that in the companies that he worked at, what is important is about how to change the world. He also said that those companies who make meaning in their company are those companies that are successful. He believed that when you make meaning, you make money but if you did not make meaning you would not make money.

Guy Kawasaki said that the core, as you start your company, is making meaning, this is the first thing he said the company must have. Making meaning in a sense that the company must have motivation to continue its service to the people. Some people that the meaning of creating a business is creating or earning a lot of money. But from what the video is all about, the business must not focus in creating or earning money. Especially in technopreneurship, one technopreneur must think of ways in how his company can change the world by creating ideas that will help a lot of people. It is important that a technopreneur thinks this way. Because in this way, earning money will come after. Guy Kawasaki even said that in the computer related companies that he worked for, everyone always wake up every morning thinking on how to change the world through technology. They never stop thinking of ideas that will be helpful to every individual. It is because this is what the meaning of their company. 

He also said that there are 3 ways of making a meaning: 

(1) Increase the quality of life.

“We are not motivated by making money.... We are trying to increase the quality of life... That’s the great motivation that kept us going in many, many difficult periods.” This is what gave the company success. You should not always think of profit. Think of what is helpful. Technologies were created to make difficult things to get easier. Appliances were maid to make changes in our daily living. As a technopreneur, we should think like what he did. 

(2) Right a wrong.

“Right a wrong which means you something wrong in the world and you noticed that you want to fix that.... The very core is to end that wrong.” There are many things that are ‘wrong’ in this world. I am not questioning about God’s creation about this world but what happened to our home? Our God created the world very beautiful but the people made things that made it ugly. And these things must be corrected. This is what Guy meant about the statement. Pollution made the water, land, and air dangerous to everyone, so let us think of ways or ideas that would change this. And Techopreneur should solve this with the creation or innovation of technology.

(3) Prevent the end of something good.

“If you see something beautiful, something wonderful and you just can’t stand the fact that it has been eroded, it has been changed, it’s being ruined.” Of course, if you have seen things that have no defects, then leave it like that or it will ruin that specific thing.  

He said that if you do not have any or all of these three motivations, you must rethink what you are doing. Think about is this really the thing that you wanted to do? This is not only about technopreneurship or making business but it is applicable to anything. Think of the thing that you really love, the thing that you wanted to happen in your life, or the things that you wanted to do. Because if you don’t, you will never attain success. So I have thought many times, is this (technopreneurship) what I really wanted to do? Or is this (technopreneurship) will make me happy? And after that I said to myself, “Of course IT IS!”

Click here to see the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQs6IpJQWXc

SONA 2012 - ICT Related Programs

July 23, 2012. This was the day when President Benigno “Noy-noy” Aquino has given his 3rd State of the Nation Address. In this case, he have mentioned many topics that it lasted for more than an hour. For this, we are asked to look for three (3) areas realted to ICT (Information Communications Technology) that was mentioned in the said SONA.

1.) TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program. From the word technopreneurship, we could definitely say that this is a n ICT realated program. With this program, the Filipino people are encourage to start a business and this will make the unemployed rate decrease. This is a good start for Filipinos to be successful.

2.) AFP Modernization Program (Defense Capabilty Upgrade and Sustainment of Equipment Program). We all know that out defense is very weak. Especially in the country’s current state, we can’t keep our land safe from the threats of invaders. But for this program, our country might have chances of keeping our country safe. All equipments in AFP will be modernized, which means they will have hi-tech and advanced gadgets, computers and machines.

3.) PAGASA Project NOAH. Philippines is a country belongs to the pacific ring of fire. This means that this country is prone to many calamities. After the Bagyong Ondoy, Pepeng and Sendong, PASASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Goephysical and Astronomical Services Admionistration) have developed a very useful application. With this, the whole country will know which places can be affected by an upcoming storm. This will make the Filipinos aware of what they should to in times of calamity.

As the President’s speech had ended, I hope that the progress of the country will continue. I also hoped that the Filipino people, soon, experience the advance technology like other big countries experience.

What have I learned from our Technopreneurship lecture?

Part of one’s learning is experience. You will learn lot of things out of experience. That is why, student needs to go to the real world and experience the work atmosphere. At some stage in our lecture last July 16, 2012, our professor for Technopreneurship subject told us that to be able to produce quality graduates the students must be trained in their fields to have experience. So then he introduced and told us to follow the SEED model. What does SEED model is for Technopreneurship? Well, SEED stands for Self mastery, Environment mastery, Enterprise mastery, and Development of Business Plan. This will help us, students, to experience having our own company. This will give us knowledge on how to make or develop our own company. This will also prepare us, IT students, handle, manage and become a good technopreneur someday.      

On the first part of his lecture, he talks on the subject of the mind set that we, as students, and our parents having now. He mentioned that our parents are thinking that we must go to school to earn good grades, to have a degree; to be employed to big companies, to be paid, and some parents wants us (the students) to go to abroad instead of staying in our country and improve our nation and countrymen’s life. Our professor, in his lecture, he told us the difference between an entrepreneur and a salaried employee. Of course, these two are far different. From our professor’s lecture, it is said that entrepreneurs are people who enter into new and pioneering ventures. Entrepreneurs are whole-brained, meaning he / she uses both the left brain (logical) and right brain (creative). An entrepreneur is the person who owned the business while a salaried employee is the person who works for the entrepreneur. For you, which do you prefer? For me, I will prefer being an entrepreneur than an employee. And our professor made us realize this. He told us that being an entrepreneur is way better that being an employee. Because if you are an entrepreneur you are the boss, you are the head, and no one is higher than you. I guess, no one in the world would not want to become an owner of a company.

After that, our professor has told us how an entrepreneur becomes a technopreneur. We all know that an entrepreneur is the one who owned the business and if you add the business with a technology, this will be the time that an entrepreneur becomes a technopreneur. According to Technopreneurship Module that I have searched from the internet, what makes an entrepreneur a tchnopreneur is by these two reasons: (1.) a technology idea owner who ventures to make his idea a commercial reality, and (2.) an entrepreneur who gets a technology idea, finds an opportunity to make it a commercial reality.

I have mentioned on the first paragraph about the SEED model. And now I will tell you what I have learned about this model one by one. First is the Self mastery. What is Self mastery in the SEED model? From the presentation of our professor, it is said that a Self mastery passion comes from knowing your self. Actually, after the said lecture, our professor gave us (his students), an assignment. He asked us to take two different tests; first is the EQ test (or Emotional Quotient test), and second on is the AQ test (or Adversity Quotient test). This will help us know our limits emotionally and mentally. It is also needed to take IQ test (or Intelligence Quotient test) for us to know our intellectual capacity. Another test is the Personality Test; this is evaluating our character as a strength and weaknesses. But these two tests were excluded because we have already taken the IQ test as an entrance exam in the university and the Personality test when we are in our first and third year students. So, what is the reason why we need to take these tests for Self mastery part of the SEED model? Well, it is because we need to know our capacity individually as a Technopreneur. Everything that we have to know starts with your self. It is also stated in the presentation that Self mastery brings passion. When you know yourself, you know what you want and what you do not want. What does it takes being a Self mastered person? You don’t have to be very intellectual person. What matters is your emotional capability and how you cope with misfortune. At this point it is needed to know your result in EQ and AQ tests. On my part, after taking the EQ test, I got an average result while for my result in the AQ test, I got a below average rate. I guess it is not that bad, right? It is also stated there that a self mastered person needs to be a whole brained individual, has a personal vision and knows his own strengths and weaknesses.

The next one from the SEED model is the Environment mastery. So, what is Environment mastery? Environment mastery is about generating business ideas and seeking opportunities out from his or her environment through: (1) serendipity walks, (2) crises, (3) trends, and many more. When our professor gave us the first activity, which is to come up with 9 technologies all in all. Three out of the nine technologies must be a technology that is for home usage. Another three are technologies that are for mall usage. And the final three are technologies that are for a fast-food chain usage. For us to com up good ideas, our professor told us to do a serendipity walk. He said that it is a good strategy to formulate for ideas if we go to the areas that are assigned to us and try to observe things in there. Through these observations, we will know what is really needed in the areas. We can tell the things that are needs to be developed and to create. Crisis can also help us to generate business ideas. Why? Because when there is crisis, the people need to have a solution or anything that might give ease the said crisis. Trends, of course in the field of technology the entrepreneur or the technopreneur must follow or think ahead of the trends. The ideas must be up to date. If the trends today are touch screen gadgets and device, then why would you create or come up with an idea that does not fit to the trends? That makes trends a critical part or essential in generating business ideas. And another thing, the trends tells the entrepreneur what do people in the generation wants. What does it takes to be an Environment mastered person? In our lecture, an environment mastered person understands the industry. He or she sees the opportunities, not the problem in the environment. An environment mastered person is on top of the situation instead of being under the situation. He or she must be the organization and the industry innovator and strategist.  

Next in the SEED model is the Enterprise mastery. What is Enterprise mastery and why is it part in the SEED model? This is where all your learning about how to run a business is needed. Let us know more about this part of the SEED model. According to the slides or presentation that I have reasrch, Enterprise mastery is how to run a business. This pertains to the knowledge of the different enterprise disciplines, like: creating the business, marketing management, operations management, financial management, and risk management. In this part of the SEED model, the technoprenuer is needed to have knowledge about business transactions. It can be from documentations, to your marketing skills and to deciding what is best to your business. When you have created or started your business, you must know how to market your products or services. That is why an enterprise mastered person must understand and integrates the functions of management, like: marketing, human resource, operations, and finance. An entrepreneur or a technopreneur must know how to have a good rapport or connection to his planned markets. If he or she have this link or bond to his desired market, it is easy for him / her to sell their products. An enterprise mastered person must also understand and integrates the process of management, like: planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. Of course, as you create your own company or business you plan first. You set for the company’s goal. You set on what products or services you tend to offer to the market. And when you have already have set those, you will now also plan for the future of your business or company. But it does not stop there; the entrepreneur is also needed to organize everything in your company. As an entrepreneur or the boss of the company, he or she must also act as a good leader. He or she must be good in directing the employees. It is also very important that an enterprise mastered person not only leads the company but also inspired others as well.

Last in the SEED model is the Development of Business Plan. As you start for a business, you must first write a business plan. Here you will write everything that you have set for your business. You must include your set goals, what product or service that your business offers, your set capital, and many more aspect in the business you want to create. Then after that, you must present and defend your business plan.

In the middle of the lecture, our professor gave us a mini activity. The mini activity is about what are the implications on three different scenarios. The first scenario is, the father of the family is not employed and no one in the family has income. This scenario is given to the first group, where I was one of the members. Then, the second scenario goes like this: you are applying for a job but you are not accepted because you don’t have a pleasing personality. And this scenario was given to the second group. And the last scenario is, you are employed but you are not contented with your monthly salary. And this scenario was given to the third (last) group. With the help of this mini activity, we have realized (our professor made us realize) that it will be better if you owned a company. In the first scenario, we answered that the family will suffer in hunger. We don’t want to suffer in this kind of situation, right? But if we chose to be employed, it is possible you will also get fired. For the second scenario, the second group answered, this will make you unemployed only because you do not have a pleasing personality. And we all know that now-a-days most of the employers are looking for an employee with pleasing personality. For all the people who are experiencing this it is better if you create your own business, because here you are the boss so you don’t really need to hassle your self searching for a job that does not require you to have a pleasing personality. And for the third scenario, the third group answered that the person will look for another job (it can be two or more jobs). This is very tiresome way after all. Because of minding only one job, you are required to do more jobs. And this is not healthy. You must also take a rest. 

For the lectures that we have attended in this subject, our professor only wanted us to instil into our minds to become an entrepreneur. And because we are IT students, we must not settle as an employee but a technopreneur. He told us that, we must start a business inside the country (actually inside the city) to help the community and individuals, as well. I guess there is no harm in trying. And besides, there are many big companies that are helping students to start up a business like putting up incubators. These incubators are not for hatching eggs of different egg-laying animals neither for premature human babies but for the people who wanted to start their company. These incubators, or the organization that are building these incubators, aims to help create new and exciting companies by combining a young entrepreneur’s ideas and technical skills with business experience and some capital. With this, your entrepreneurial skills will be developed. See, because of these method, there more young individuals will be braver in starting up their business and create grate ideas for the benefit of all.

"3 IDIOTS"

Your reflections on the 3 characters, which one would you choose?

 “All is well.” This is the first thing that comes to every mind when we talk about the movie “3 Idiots”. 3 Idiots is a Bollywood film, a film that is produced, casted, written, and taken in India. The movie is one of the top grossing movies in India and it reached box office hit upon its release. It was also announced that there will be a Chinese remake of this movie that will be produced by Stephen Chow and there was also a plan for an American version of this movie soon. The story of the movie is centred to the lives of 3 young engineering students of Imperial College of Engineering in India. These students are Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad or Phunsukh Wangdu (which is portrayed by Aamir Khan), Farhan Qureshi (which is portrayed by R. Madhavan), and Raju Rastogi (which is portrayed by Sharman Joshi). They shared the same room when they entered the campus. The three of them have different personalities, but they get along together so well.

Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad / Phunsukh Wangdu, which is portrayed by Aamir Khan, is a very intelligent student. He is so persistent. He knows what he really wants in life. He is free spirited person. He acts to the things that he knows he is right. He loves machines and devices. He loves fixing things, inventing useful machines, and he loves engineering. His character stands out the most of the three. He helps his friends and colleagues in times that they needed help. He taught his friends to have confidence, to believe in their selves, to believe in their dreams, and to never quit. At the very last part of the movie, it was revealed that he is just borrowing someone’s name. He is not the real Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad, his real name is Phunsukh Wangdu. He is an orphan. His deceased father was once a hardener to the Chanchad family. He was taken by the family. He used to wear the real Rancho’s school uniform when he was in elementary. Because of his intelligence, the real Rancho asked him to do his assignments, get to his classes, and take examinations, quizzes and many more. The young Phunsukh Wangdu only wishes to study and be educated. For him, it doesn’t matter if he was used as long as he continued being at school and learn more. They continued the scheme for years until a teacher have seen him answering an advance mathematical equation. The teacher asked him what is his name, and that is the time when they were caught. The teacher has talked to the real Rancho’s father who is very influential in their country. After hearing the news, the real Rancho’s father asked the teacher to keep the secret and let the young Phunsukh Wangdu to replace his son, Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad. The father knew that this might bring shame for the family, but what he only wanted is that his son to have a degree even if it was not his own effort to earn one. The father doesn’t want his child to be known as dumb, dull and illiterate. So they continued the replacing scheme until Phunsukh Wangdu who is known as Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad throughout the university, reached and graduated college.

I was really touched with what Phunsukh Wangdu (also known as Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad inside Imperial College of Engineering or ICE) said to his newly met friend who is also his roommate, Raju Rastogi. He said that if he feels uneasy or troubled, just place your hand to your chest near your heart and say this line, “All is well”. He even added that these words won’t take his problems away but this will make him braver to face any of his problems. I was touched simply because, sometimes in my life, I felt so weak that I almost wanted to quit. I can’t bare anymore the problems that I have been through and the problems that I have at this point of my life. I easily get pressured many times. Pressure that came from your parents and in my school. But after hearing this line made me realize that if I quit, if I runaway my problems, I won’t solve any of it. The problem might get bigger and bigger. But if I face it fearlessly, I’ll solve it and put an end on it. I was also struck with what Phunsukh Wangdu, as Rancho at that time, told his friend, Farhan Qureshi. He said that, he must pursue his dream for this will make you happy and contented. If he loves photography that much, then he must strive hard to reach it even if it takes to have a debate with his father. With this, I have thought many times, if I did the right choice of choosing Information Technology to be my profession. Because if I did, I know my light will shine so bright in this field. His character also teaches not only the characters in the movie but also the people who have watched this movie to stay strong, to be tough and be wise to which career will you take because you can’t ask God to leap backwards to correct something from your past.

Ranju Rastogi, which is portrayed by Sharman Joshi, is a very responsible person. He is family-oriented. He is religious. He always asked God for guidance and many more. And he believed in lucky charms and things that might give good fortune, he even wore plenty of lucky rings for good fortune in studying. He is dedicated. He wanted to help his family to live a better life. Unlike Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chanchad and Farhan Qureshi, Ranju Rastogi is very poor. His father is very sick. His sister is not yet married because they can’t afford a car as a dowry. His mother is a retired teacher but all her pension is spent for the medication of his sick father. Because of this, Ranju Rastogi has the desire to finish schooling, to have good grades, and to have a well paid job. He is intelligent, too. But he was considered one of the dumb students in the whole university. He is the most serious person from the three. He always got scared easily. He has this fear to fail because he is the only hope of his family. There was actually a time when he left his friends and went to another room, Chatur Ramalingam room (also known as “Silencer” by his colleagues) which is played by Omi Vaidya who is very good in memorizing things from books word for word, to study and prepare for the upcoming examination. He did this because the college’s director, Professor Viru Sahastrabudhhe (very well known as “Virus” throughout the campus) which is portrayed by Boman Irani who is also the director of the Imperial College of Engineering, have given him a piece of advice. He told Raju to stay away from Rancho and Farhan if he wanted to pass and have good grades. Ranju did what he was told.   He did everything and no one could ever blame him for that, not even his friends. Rancho and Farhan understands Ranju’s actions. Instead of feeling bad with his decision, they continued helping him.

One of the most touching part, I guess, all through out the movie is when Ranju decided to jump off the building. Why would he do that? Well it is because he does not want to fail and will never let his friends fail, too. He was pressured at that time. Before that suicidal act, Ranju and Farhan were called at the centre of the stage by the campus director. They were called to embarrass them to the crowd and said that the two of them are the most consistent students, for they always have been ranked at the last 2 places while Rancho always ranked first. Due to frustration, the three drank liquor inside the campus. Ranju and Farhan asked Rancho why he does not fail even they are doing the same thing. Then Rancho told them that it is because he loves machines and being an engineer is really his thing. Unlike Farhan, who loves taking pictures and have passion in photography, Rancho has passion in engineering. For Ranju, it does not make sense. Ranju wanted to become an engineer but why does he fail? For Farhan, the problem is his lack of interest to the course that is why he failed so it is understandable. Then Rancho answered, because of fears. Ranju is dreaded with pressure. It can be the pressure at school, caused by his teachers and the director it self, and pressure from his family, caused by their poverty. Because they are all drunk, they went to the director’s place to let Rancho confess his feelings towards Pia Sahastrabudhhe, the daughter of Professor Viru Sahastrabudhhe, the director of the campus. Ranju and Farhan told Rancho that he should prove that he is not scared by telling Pia Sahastrabudhhe his true feelings. Rancho likes Pia who is a medical student. So, the three went there. Rancho and Ranju went up to the second floor while Farhan was left down stairs. Rancho was able to confess but Pia’s sister was there, too, and surprised them. Ranju was taken aback and fell off the window. Down stairs, Farhan and Ranju peed to the door and sings aloud. And that awakens the director and saw Ranju clear enough to identify that it was Ranju. The next day, the director called Ranju’s attention and told him to go to his office. Inside the office, Ranju was asked to type everything that he says. Ranju did it but he realized that what he was making is a notification letter for his parents saying that he will never finish schooling in ICE (Imperial College of Engineering). Ranju was shocked and could not believe it. Then the director said that he will forgive him but he must address the letter to Rancho’s parents. Ranju was even more confused. He does not know what to do. Because of his confusion and fears, he decided to kill himself. He jumped of to that building. Everyone was shocked. His decision to commit suicide was a very wretched way to solve his problems. He cares for his friends and would not want to be the reason of his friends’ failure.

It is very common for every student to feel so bad because he failed. Because of weakness, someone would actually think of suicide. In reality, this is really happening. We can’t dictate anyone, but what we can do is to not leave them behind. Just like what Rancho did, he never left his friends’ side. When Ranju was hospitalized, they were always there. They talked to him like he was not paralysed at all. When talking to Ranju, they always put a smile and hide their loneliness seeing him in that condition.  For me, personally, I am weak but it never even crossed my mind to commit suicide. I have failed many times but I never quit.

Farhan Qureshi, which is portrayed by R. Madhavan, is a very obedient person. Even though he always ranked at the last, we can’t say that Farhan is dumb. He is intelligent. He is also a good friend. He always gives importance to his father’s decisions. It was his father’s decision to take up engineering. It was not his decision. What he wanted to do is photography. He loves taking pictures of wild animals. Rancho even noticed his talent when they went to Farhan’s house. Rancho saw all his pictures inside his room. Those photographs are very beautiful. But unfortunately, Farhan’s father never has noticed his son’s talents, capabilities, and his works. Farhan never speak out what he really feels, what he really likes, and what he wanted to do for his future to his father. He was stuck to his father’s shadow. He was so scared of telling them the truth. Farhan’s family is not that reach like Rancho’s family (when we talk about the identity of the real Rancho that Phunsukh Wangdu borrowed). Farhan’s family is not even as poor as Ranju’s family. Because of that, Farhan have never felt of hardship that much. The half of the whole movie is about Farhan’s flashbacks during their college years. Farhan and Raju are both looking for Rancho who is missing for a long time (it was after 10 years, I guess). It was so amazing that Farhan even acted that he was having a heart attack during the plane’s departure. The flight stewardess freaked out and asked the pilot to delay the flight to give Farhan a medical attention. After that, Farhan was sent out of the plane and about to be taken to the nearest hospital by the ambulance in the airport. It is so funny that while he was on the wheelchair, he suddenly stood up and does some jumping jacks for many times. Shocked faces painted to the doctor and some airport crews at that time. When Farhan saw an opening, he then ran so fast out to the airport. He did all this things because he wanted to see his friend who they have no connections for hoe many years.  

Actually, I could relate my self to Farhan. Among the three, I will choose Farhan because his personality fits mine. It is not that I was forced to enrol this course but I considered my parent’s part in my decision. My parents wanted me to have a degree and to have a well-paid job someday (actually, for them, it doesn’t matter of what course should I take but what their concern is the tuition and miscellaneous fees). I have always wanted to become an animator since elementary years. At the same time, I have also dreamed of becoming a pilot but because of the height requirements I have accepted to my self that I can’t be a pilot. So I have changed my mind. What I want after is to become an aircraft technician. I have these two ambitions that I really, really want to do in the future. And that is why, back in my high school days, I have set my plans for the future. I have thought that I will study in an aviation school and become an aircraft mechanic or technician. I was also thinking that I still have plenty of time, and studying animation is not that hard (actually, back then, what I meant of being an animator is being an artist). I love to draw and I also love anime that is why I have come up to an idea of becoming an animator after becoming an aircraft technician. But then my parent won’t agree to the idea. They told me that studying to an aviation school is expensive especially there are no school in Davao City that offers quality education for aviation. My father told me that if I want to study aircraft technician, I should enrol to an aviation school in Cebu. Because of these matter, I followed my parents’ decision (because even though I haven’t decide what course and school to take, they already told me that I will choose a course that is available in the University of Southeastern Philippines). I have chosen to take up Information Technology because this is the nearest course to my dream of becoming an animator. I can also relate myself to Farhan because just like him, I am also a caring friend.
The part when Mona Sahastrabudhhe, Pia’s sister, was about to give birth to her first son, gave the most powerful part of the story. Pia and her father quarrelled before Mona felt that her baby is coming out. It was raining at that time and the campus was flooded. Because of that, Mona can’t be sent to the nearest hospital. Instead of going to the hospital, Rancho (who was forced to leave the school at that time due to stealing the questionnaire inside the director’s office) saw Mona inside a car asking for help. Rancho took Mona inside the residence of the Imperial College of Engineering. Rancho called the attention of the other students who might help him. The whole student’s body helped out. They have shown team effort in helping Mona. They also called Pia who is a medical practitioner to help them what to do. All of them worked out and Mona was able to deliver a baby boy who they named Champ. Champ was not crying, and that made everyone sad thinking that the baby is dead. Mona cried and Ranju told her that “all is well”. After saying those words, the baby kicked Rancho in the face then Rancho asked everyone to say “all is well” together. Then, after that, the baby kicked again and cried. Everyone looked so happy that the baby was alive. The director was very emotional and has given respect to Rancho afterwards by giving the space pen that his instructor gave him before. This part shows team work and good leadership. I was very much amazed on how they have solved and helped out a woman who has this difficulty in giving birth. Everything about this part is amazing (amazing because the director who was once against Rancho has given respect and honour).  

These three characters do not reflect only engineering students but all students in college. They have shown the reality in studying for a degree. For the first time that I have watched this movie together with my brothers, I have noticed the teary reaction of my brother. My brother is an engineer now. He was a fresh graduate as we watched this movie for the first time. While watching, my brother laughed and told stories about his own experiences when he was still studying. He told us that there was a time that they entered the class drunk, just like what had happened in the movie. He even told us that it is normal to have strict professor just like the campus director, Prof. Viru Sahastrabudhhe. He even told us that they have named there professors any names that they could think of. Seeing him like that, I could actually say that whatever had happened in the movie has this real life basis. That made this movie top grossing and very famous to many college students. 

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

Information Technology is a very wide world. You can do many things. Steve Jobs even stated that the digital world is so powerful. And I agree to that. Because there are many things that an IT-person (or a person who is very into computer programs, computer softwares, and computer application) can do. Even if you are not an Information Technology student but you consider yourself as a computer and electronic whiz, you can do a lot of things in the digital world. You can go and get serious to some branches like in animation, photo editing, and many more.

Back when I was young, I enjoyed watching television together with my four siblings. My two older brothers introduced to us the cartoon world or anime’ world. I got hooked up with this kind of entertainment so easily. And starting then on, I became more into anime’ that I have decided to become an animator someday. Animation is used as an entertainment. It is an optical illusion where a collection of images looked like it is moving. It is a visual art technique where you can produce a motion or a simulation of movement out of the still drawn images that is placed in a sequence. Every image displays a small detail of the movement. This is the reason why I choose this course. I wanted to learn more about animation. But, as an IT student, I should be knowledgeable in all sort of things related to computers. 

There are plenty of careers that you can choose from. Steve Jobs took and pursued the field of technoprenuership. Technopreneurship is a combination of two words: ‘technology’ and ‘entrepreneur’. This word means to have a business related to computers/technology. Because of this man’s success, we actually say that the path that he have chosen is the right path, after all. Steve Jobs showed enthusiasm, expertise and strong desire for success in this field. He is really good in technopreneurship because he has this mindset for innovation. If he was able to have a successful life, why can’t we? But, I guess, I do not belong to this field that Steve Jobs have taken. 

For me, Technopreneurship is not my thing. But I do have ideas or plans for having a business someday. But for now, I will go to the thing that will make me happy. If Steve Jobs feel so contented and happy in this field and become successful. Then I should choose the path that will make me happy for this will give me success. Just like what I have said earlier, I wanted to become an animator. This will make me happy. I know, this path is far from what Steve Jobs have taken. Steve Jobs wanted to be the boss but I wanted to become an employee. I want to get paid for my work. I have dreamed of going outside of the country and try my luck. I wanted to work in Japan. I wanted to explore that country. And see the things that I have been seeing on television, especially in anime’. I know it sounds bad. A Filipino wanted to work abroad under a different race? This really contradict with what technopreneurship is all about. 

From the start, I know that I will have this difficulties in building my own business. I grew up in a simple living family. I don’t have expensive clothes or any expensive stuff. My parents sends me to school to learn, to be educated, to have a degree, and to get employed after. They have this simple dream for us, and that is to have a pretty well paid job after schooling. And because of that, I wanted to earn money by being an employee. But my dreams doesn’t stop there. That was my views for now. For me to be able to achieve all your dreams, to acquire success, and to have a better life, I should do it step by step. I have planned that after years of being an employee in a foreign land, I wanted to go back to the place where I came from. The reason why I wanted to work abroad is to save money, to learn all their technology, to explore things that made them successful and to apply it at home. This is my real plan.    

I will go to a foreign land and work there. After years of being an employee in an animation company, I wanted to form and build my own company at home. Just like what Steve Jobs did, he works for an apple farm then after that, when he have money to spend, he started and build his own company, the Apple Computers. I know that I will learn more techniques in this form of art outside the country (especially in Japan because here, animation is a big deal). I will build an animation company here, in Davao. I’ll train youngsters that have the potential in this kind of art. After that, I’ll offer jobs to them. I’ll make them work for me because I know that they will help my company bigger. For now, I know that these dream is far. But I am willing and eager to wait for that time to come. All I need to do is focus on what is very close to me at this point of my career. And that is to study hard. I will never rush things. If there is something that I want to do or decided to take, I will do it in a strategic way. I must plan so that everything will goes well.     

2.) How do you see yourself as a technopreneur?

What is a technopreneur? From webanswers.com, they said that a technopreneur is a combination of technology and entrepreneur. It is a person engaged in starting and running a business that loves and is deeply involved with high technology, usually computer or electronics. Steve Jobs of Apple and Larry Page of Google were considered technopreneurs. From answers.yahoo.com, a nameless respondent answered that ‘Technopreneurship’ term is a derivative of two words, namely 'technology' and 'enterpreneurship'. In general, the word technology is used to refer to the practical application of knowledge to the industry or as a framework of knowledge that is used to create the tools, to develop expertise and materials in order to solve the existing problems. While Entrepreneurship word comes from the word entrepreneur refers to a person or agency that created the business / business with courage bear the risk and uncertainty to achieve profitability and growth.And from rajeshshakya.com, Rajesh Shakya said that a technopreneur is an entrepreneur who is technology savvy, creative, innovative, dynamic, dares to be different and take the unexplored path, and very passionate about their work. They take challenges and strive to lead their life with greater success. They don’t fear to fail. They take failure as a learning experience, a stimulator to look things differently and stride for next challenge. Technoprenuers continuously go through an organic process of continual improvement and always try to redefine the dynamic digital economy. 

With their definition, a technoprenuer is simply the people who make new technology for business. Just like what have Rajesh Shakya have stated above, a good technopreneur should be creative, innovative, dynamic, and an explorer in technical wolrd. Well, as for me, I guess I'm not yet considered as a technopreneur. The world of technology is the widest world, like the universe. Who would have thought that technology have gone this big. And it grew bigger and bigger as time passes by. Lots of people are having big ideas in developing or to nurture the existing technologies. And some have made changes in the world of technology. I have ideas in mind, too. But not as solid, as good, and reachable as to the technologies that Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg have created, though. All my ideas are all based in the anime world. And I don't call it enough for me to become as big as they did. But everything that these people made are due to their hard work. 

It is also needed to be a stratigic thinker to be known as a good technopreneur. A strategic thinker is a person who thinks in a strategic way wherein he exercises his power over critical thinking, problem solving, and strategic planning. One should be knowledgeable enough to the digital world to sell its own product. You should know the trends and the needs of every people. After formulating an idea, you, as a technopreneur, will strategize the way on how you will put these ideas in reality. After that, you should think of ways on how you will introduce your formulated ideas to the public that will catch their attentions.  For me, if I rate myself in to what level am I, I would be at the least, I guess. On my level today, I still need a lot of time for learning. Improving myself and believing in my talents. It is also important to be confident with your idea, especially if it is original. It is best to join seminars, workshops, or any form of learning activity.  

There are no people on earth who don’t want to become as successful as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and any other famous person who defines technology in another level. Just like in the movie, Pirates of the Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs started as a simple guy who loves exploring in the technical world. He encourages his friend, Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple Computers) to help him in creating computers. Because, he knows that he alone can’t do it. He loves technology very much but he hates IBM (International Business Machines). International Business Machines or IBM, is one of the worlds most successful and big computer companies.  He hates working for other people’s profit. And that is why he wanted to create his own business. Another thing that made him a good technopreneur is that he is innovative. He wants to create something that no one has done it before. 

Comparing to all of them, I haven’t reach half of their level. I am creative, but not like them. I have thought of many ideas to develop or improve technology in the future, but it is not that solid that I made me so confident with it. Before, I thought that as long as you are rich with ideas, you can be as successful as them. But I was wrong. After watching the movie, Pirates of the Silicon Valley, I have realized that it is not easy to become a successful technopreneur. I have seen from the movie that even Bill Gates struggles in presenting his technology to those big companies at that time. He actually tried to contact or deal with Steve Jobs after knowing that Steve Jobs have created personal computer. But he failed. But he never quit and stopped moving forward in order to acquire success. And look at him now. He used his brain. He is a risk taker. Even his friends and colleagues wanted him to stop chasing Steve Jobs, he did everything. He was able to deceive Steve Jobs and made his Microsoft Company bigger and successful in the computer industry.     

At the very least, I can’t see myself as a technopreneur as for now. But I know someday, I can be a successful technopreneur. I will learn how to develop devices, machines, softwares, programs, and many more. With dedication, perseverance, and love for what I am doing, I know I can improve myself in this field.  No one can tell what my future would be. Maybe after five or  10 years, I’ll become one of the persons who will  sets up a business concerned with computers or any similar technology in this city. I hope in that time duration, I can improve all my skills.

1.) What are the factors that contributed to the success and failures of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?

The movie “Pirates of the Silicon Valley” has a very enjoyable story. I never knew the whole story behind the success of the late Steve Jobs and how did he come up to those ideas. The story is all about: how did the personal computers came alive in this world, how did young students (some even dropped out of the university) have created this computers, what made them decide to take computers for every households, and how did some individuals make a big change in the world of technology. It is based on the book "Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer" by Paul Freiberger.

According to my research, Steven Paul Jobs (commonly known as Steve Jobs) have been through ups and downs. He was once a simple man living in a simple world with big dreams. He was an adopted child and tried to look for his biological parents. His parents decided to put him in an adoption because his biological mother’s parents are against to the relationship of their daughter to Steve Jobs' biological father. Steve Jobs loved his adopted parents. He actually said that they are his real parents. His adopted father taught him how to work with electronics. They used to fixed electronic devices in their garage. His adopted parents have supported him. They send him to school and enrolled him in an expensive college because they have promised Steve Jobs' biological parents that they will give him good education. They also let Steve Jobs together with his friends used their garage as they form their company, the Apple Computer Corporation. His foster father have molded him to what Steve Jobs right now. He is the man who have introduced to the young Steve Jobs to the technical world. By this, we could actually say that they (his foster parents) are the biggest factor to his success.

There things that only a man can do and there are many things that only one man cannot do alone. Aside from his ever supportive foster parents, Steve Jobs will never be this successful without his friends. When he was only 16 years old, his neighbor who is also have the same interests in electronics, Bill Fernandez, introduced him to Steve Wozniak (who he called "Woz"). Steve Wozniak is also a computer and electronics geek. He is five years older than Steve Jobs (Woz is 21 years old when they became friends with Steve Jobs). He invented the Apple 1 computer when he worked together with Ronald Wayne and Steve Jobs in Jobs' garage. They called their company as Apple Computer Company for Steve Jobs have been harvesting apples as a job for some time. Without their help, Apple computers will never be this successful. It is not always Steve Jobs alone. It is the team he created. It is the people who worked for his ideas.

Steve Jobs has been dreaming for a big change in the world of technology. And there are factors that brought him success and failures in achieving this dream of his. He has been called or referred as “legendary”, “futurist” and “visionary”. Noah Wyle, the actor who played the part as Steve Jobs in this movie even stated that “I would call him a perfectionist”.  He wanted everything to be perfect. He doesn’t want something goes wrong. “He is one of those rare breed of men who are destined for greater things and would not rest until they get there” Noah Wyle added to his interview. This attitude of his is the biggest factor for him to become this successful. He is a man of dreams and whatever he comes up with, he always deals it. He will do every way to make something new. There was actually a part of the movie which he scolded one of his employees from sleeping inside the office. This scene indicates that he doesn’t like people who he thinks are not productive or contribute to whatever his goal is. Another thing, what factor made him this successful is how he communicates or deals with people; it can be an employee, friends, foes or people outside his world, and how he convinces people to trust him.

The most obvious factor or reason for his success is that he really is a genius. It feels like his brain is always working. He is one of the chosen people who are having a very deep mind (together with Bill Gates, portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall in the movie). He always thought beyond the box, just like what our Technoprenuership instructor wanted us to do. He never satisfies himself with the existing technology or devices. The movie is like a “Battle of the Brains”. He said, “Good artists copy, great artists steals”. That’s what he believed in. He steals ideas from various computer and consumer electronics companies. It is so amazing that Steve Jobs have taken Xerox PARC’s mouse-driven graphical user interface for his new computer, Apple Lisa, where he named it from his newly born unwanted daughter. 

Steve Jobs have acquired success but he also experienced failures. For a guy like him, it is very questionable that he failed. But after watching the movie, I have realized that his actions inside his company caused him failures. Steve Jobs is a risk taker. This attitude leads him to success and failures. When he talked to people, it can be big people who owned businesses or simple people who is interested with what he is doing, he seemed to be fearless. He comes up to an idea that is risky. Like selling his car for the start of the Apple Computers, dropping out of the university, and putting the idea of the production of the machine they called the "Blue Box". The Blue Box that they created can intercept signals to avail a free call. And that made it illegal and the authorities are doing their job in finding the people behind this. Because, Steve Jobs was very into making money out of the machines that they have created. And so, they continued in making more Blue Boxes. And there was a time when they almost got caught on the streets selling these Blue Boxes but luckily, the officers have no idea on what was the Blue Boxes looked so they were freed after. 

After the success, Steve Wozniak realized that Steve Jobs have been acting so weird. He gets angry most of the time that he thinks that his anger is uncontrollable, especially when someone talks about his unacknowledged daughter, Lisa. It also seems that power has controlled his mind. He loves seeing his own employees having fights about 'whose team is the best' inside his company and Woz was concerned about this. Then, he was ejected from his own company by John Sculley, the president of Apple Computers at that time. Because of these events, is very obvious that Steve Jobs had failed. But this never stopped him from continuing creating useful technology. He proved that he is capable and deserves to be back to the company that he started. And after that, he made lots of collaborations with different companies and became this successful.