Lessons from Lance’s little book

The book is so cute, a mere 4”x 6” with 108 pages packed full with pictures from the family albums and loads of lessons of a lifetime.

It’s called Lessons From Dad, John Gokongwei Jr. written by Lance Gokongwei with Yvette Fernandez, published by the family-owned Summit Publishing Co., Inc. last year.

It’s easy reading, as easy as going through a dozen long text messages, because the chapters are short and written casually in simple language that makes you closer to the subject and the author as if you’ve known them for a long time. There are anecdotes to which I personally related to such as the family having dinner together even the older Mr. John “worked very hard six days a week, many hours a day;” the whole family sleeping in the same bedroom, “my parents would sleep on their bed and the kids would sleep on mattresses on the floor;” and, like my own dad who originated from Fujian, China, “my dad has always been a voracious reader (who) loves to learn about anything and everything.”

Wrote Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng in the Foreword, “For Dad’s 90th birthday, my siblings and I decided to produce a book that would distill the lessons we’ve learned from his life, from the perspective of his only son, my older brother Lance.”

What a life it has been, summarized at the book’s back cover:

My father, John Gokongwei Jr. started out as an entrepreneur at age 13, after his father died. He sold fried peanuts cooked in garlic, and dreamt of one day having enough money to bring his brothers and sister back to the Philippines. They had been sent to China after his father passed away.

When Dad was 15, he got on his bicycle every day to head to the marketplace to sell thread, soap, candles, and other things he felt people needed. He woke up earlier than anybody else and worked longer than anybody else. He dreamt of being the biggest salesman in the marketplace.

After saving up money from buying and selling these wares, Dad dreamt bigger, and bought passage on a small boat called batel to head to Manila. He dreamt of becoming one of the biggest traders in Manila.

Today, at age 90, Dad is still an entrepreneur, and heads one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates. He still dreams of being an even bigger player in the global marketplace.

As they would say, the rest is history.

The book is a collection of the things that Lance said he learned from his dad through the years — lessons on life, family, work, and the courage and determination it takes to fulfill your dreams.

I’m not sure who sent me a complimentary copy of the book and thanks to whoever he/she was for the lessons that the book has taught. I read the little book during a Grab ride to The STAR office and, believe me, I felt enriched and enlightened after that one-hour trip.

Let me share with you some of the lessons Lance learned from his father:

• Have dinner together at home,

• Take care of your siblings,

• Spend as much time as you can with your family,

• Exchange stories at the dinner table,

• Support each other,

• Learn how to share,

• Know your roots,

• Choose the right partner,

• Spend time raising your kids properly,

• Invest in education (“It’s never too late to get an education”),

• Help educate others,

• If you don’t work, you don’t eat,

• Don’t be beholden to anyone,

• Never put all your eggs in one basket,

• Know what your customers need,

• Don’t be afraid to be the David among the Goliaths,

• Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty,

• Women are as smart and as strong as men, maybe even more,

• Lead by example,

• Be a team player,

• Take care of your people,

• Learn from difference in opinion,

• Stay humble,

• It’s okay to make mistakes,

• Everyone encounters disappointments (learn to move on),

• March to the beat of your own drum,

• Hire the best you can afford (hire professionals),

• Learn to negotiate so you can get a better deal,

• Don’t give your children a sense of entitlement.   Make them earn it,

• Stay cool under pressure,

• Be open to change,

• Dream big,

• Get enough sleep, stop smoking, live simply, and

• Exercise.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)