“Born writers,” “born artists,” “born teachers,” born lawyers,” “born mathematicians.”
We hear of “born this and that” all the time. What about “born entrepreneurs?”Ever since sociologists determined how important entrepreneurs are to nation-building, they have probed deep into the wellsprings of entrepreneurial behavior.
Still, the question remains largely unresolved: Are entrepreneurs born or are they made?
Quite possibly, there are individuals with enterprising qualities in their genes so they grow up naturally predisposed to business. On the other hand, it is also likely that it is a question of early upbringing rather than genetics that orient people towards a career in business.
This kind of upbringing conducive to the formation of entrepreneurs is known as the enterprising culture.”
Comes now another school of thought: That the enterprising culture can be simulated in the classroom.
The enterprising culture
In an enterprising culture, youngsters are brought up in an atmosphere of self reliance and freedom, where they are allowed to feed themselves, wash and dress themselves, fix their own rooms, cross the streets on their own. These children are not shushed and excluded from “adult conversation” but rather allowed to speak out and be heard.
As they grow older, they are also encouraged to tinker around and learn a craft or a trade, such as sewing, cooking, gardening, carpentry, and auto and appliance repair. They are not spoon-fed and they do not have their moms or their house maids picking up after them.
Kids who grow up entrepreneurs are exposed to business early through a father, mother, grandparent, or some other relative or family friend who is in business. The more pleasant the exposure to businessmen, the more likely children will pursue business in adult life.
They are apprenticed early in the family business — trained to tend the store, count money, give change, and run errands for the business. They are disposed to entrepreneurship when they grow up. It is easy to see why — the best way to learn something is by example and by doing.
Apparently, Wilson and Melanie Ng, a couple from Cebu, are among those born and raised in this so-called enterprising culture.
The Ngs of Cebu: to business born
Wilson is the oldest of three children of Calixto and Felisa Ng, who set up AKAI Food, Inc., a sea food processing and exporting business in 1981. As children, he and his siblings spent a lot of time in the family business. The adolescent Wilson made himself useful around the fish processing factory – delivering merchandise, balancing the books, and depositing business sales revenues in the bank.
Wilson remembers family gatherings while he was growing up: these were full of business talk and sharing of experiences on the ups and downs of business. Back then, being the first born, it was assumed he would join the family business when the time comes.
Like Wilson, Melanie is the first born in an entrepreneurial family. Her grandparents came from China and settled In Madrilejos in Bantayan Island where they traded in salted fish and dried squid. The young Melanie used to tag along with her grandma, selling fish around nearby Taboan town.