7 Lessons I learned when I was a kid

The original batang yagit hehe...Ninoy Leyran.

1) BE READY FOR COMPETITION
When I was a kid we would always play "sari-sari" store along the driveway leading up to the main entrance of our house in Chico Street. Our main customer was my Dad, we sold everything that can be imagined from dried leaves plucked from the garden (gulay) to empty bottles that we pass off as make believe beverages.

Competition was fierce since we were selling the same set of homemade "products". My dad would buy from each and everyone of us and would pretend to eat what he has just bought. This game went on until we moved to another house -- this time the game was for real.

2) FIND YOUR NICHE
Everything inside the ref was for sale, from the softdrinks to the ice-candy that my sister made. There were actually price lists and ads posted inside the house. I had no money so my business was service oriented -- I control the shoe shine market, even had a since posted along the hallway of our house : "Ninoy's shoe shine, service with a smile". I must say that I came to regret that sign because my older brother would always say "O dapat naka smile ka buong time na nag shine ng sapatos ko!" and so I did, I had to smile until I was finished shining his shoes.

3) YOU NEED CAPITAL TO GROW
Soon I got tired of the shoe shine business, it was just too taxing since I had to wake up early to wait for my customers. Being the youngest boy meant I was way below the food chain when it came to errands, I was always being asked to buy stuff from the neigborhood store 2 blocks away from our house. I had to find a way to escape this cycle and so I turned to my parents for financial help, I borrowed money to set up my own little enterprise.

4) NEVER CONSUME WHAT YOU ARE SELLING
I bought everthing from the store. From soft drinks to snacks to various brands of cigarettes (I had to memorize which brand was the most in demand) and soon I had the ref under my control. Everything inside that was worth eating was owned by little Ninoy, business was good since most of the time my brothers and sisters would often have guests inside the house, during this time I know that sales would be brisk since they would be forced to buy from my stock instead of going to the store. I was so into making a profit that I would ask my older brother Manny to buy from my store and give it to me so I could eat it.

5) DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Collection problems? not to worry since I would report directly to the CFO (my Mom) any customers who have failed to pay for services rendered.



My CFO, Marina Leyran :)

6) KNOW WHEN TO QUIT
This went on for quite sometime now until I had enough money to retire -- at age 7 this meant buying all the toy soldiers that I wanted and finally having a taste of the stuff that I was selling hehe.

7) ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD
After enjoying the spoils of my "business" my Dad approached me and asked me to pay him what I borrowed to set up my store, initially I didn't underestand what this meant for all along I thought that they had given me the money. He said in a very calm way that there is a big difference in "borrowing" and just simply "asking" for money. Borrowing is a promise he said, so I paid him in full and went back to playing with my toy soldiers. Up to now, I'm very careful in using the word "borrow" hehe.

28 years past, I still live by these lessons that I've learned from way back. I look forward to teach my son these same lessons for I'm sure he'll be dealing with the realities of life as he gets older.

Meantime, it's back to "service with a smile" for me -- although this time it's more like "service with a smile while carrying a big stick" hehe.