I first heard the word nominate when I was in grade 1. I was wondering why I cannot nominate myself. I want to be one of the officers in class. What if I would ask one of my seatmates to nominate me? I was ashamed to do so.
Majority of my life in elementary, I would say I'm a loser, especially in academics. I remember I was a cry baby. What I am proud about in my elementary days would be, I can play "sipa" well. 2nd is I'm in the group who won the best dance group. Last would be I am an altar boy.
I see my friends who were consistent with their honors as great leaders. I envy them. I was a loser. Not until I was in grade 6. I was nominated an officer. Not President but high enough to be included in a basic leadership training. Little did I know the training would have a huge impact17 years after. It ignited who I am today - the best coach in our business community.
The word nominate was replaced with the word "charisma." It fascinated me so much. "Leaders are firm in their words," the speaker said. "People follow them because they are firm. And it creates what they have to which we call charisma," he continued. He further explained not necessarily being firm will create it. Some people are just naturally charismatic. I wanted that power.
In high-school I was popular. Simply because my father is the best science teacher and he teaches physics and my mom is the best math teacher and she teaches analytic geometry and algebra.
I was eager to be more popular. One of my frustrations in elementary was not participating in poster making contests. I displayed my artistic skills early in my secondary schooling. I won 2nd place. I told myself not bad for a beginner. From then on, everyone knew I am good in drawing and I was consistent in being invited to the contests.
My 1st year English teacher was also one of those who triggered me to be excellent. I perfected the pronunciation test. From then on, part of my ego tells me that it would be very shameful if I fail in an English class. I carried that until College.
I remember I hated declaiming or speaking in front when I was in elementary. I even skipped one final practical test. I don't know how I passed the subject. Everything was different in HS. I was longing for speaking in English and in public into perfection. My 3rd year English teacher said in one of our group presentations that I was very formal and she liked it!
4th year I was nominated president. Top accomplishment was organizing the Christmas party well. 3rd year I was captain ball in volleyball varsity. Looking back, I was an amateur leader. If translated into business, I was self-employed.
What I am proud about when I was in HS was I am a headbanging rocker who loves to do hip-hop dance, a punk who hates hip-hop dudes and an academic achiever all at the same time - and an athlete, too. I was also best-actor in our 4th year film showing project. My role? I was a rapist. I'm proud of the achievement but not the role.
I gave up popularity and extra-curricular activities when I was in College. But I was striving to show my talents in little ways that I can. I still long to show-off my talents.
The attitude of showing off is not bad. Of course, you have to show-off something that's worth showing off. Campus popularity was no longer in my priorities. But class priority is. I took up Engineering. In tradition, engineering students have low grades in English classes. I was different. I got high-grades on those subjects and in engineering.
At 1st year college, everyone was in high-hopes. Everyone displayed their academic expertise. I was thinking, I'm naturally gifted. I can blow these people away. Looks can be very deceiving.
I happen to meet some losers in the 1st day of class. Little did I know one of them would become my best friend and become the top of the class graduates. I was trying to look dumb and dumb-fully ask who could be a genius in our class so we could meet him and he could help us in our academic survival and success.
Fast forward, I'm doing ok in class. I would say one of the top 10, an idealistic leader who wants to make a huge difference to our country and a loser when it comes to dating and having a girlfriend. I became president in 4th year and 5th year - no major accomplishments. I also became an illustrator in our division publication.
The marks of the calling to be a leader: elementary - became an officer and 1st hand charisma, hs - president in 4th year and captain ball, college - president in 4th and 5th. Am I really called to be a leader? Would I become the president of the Philippines? Or would my great grand children will be?
I am called to be a powerful leader for this country. I am called to sacrifice. I am called to serve.
My first job was in IT. I was in web maintenance. My boss saw my leadership personality. "You Ludwig, you are like me," she said. "We are fully aware that we are good but we just miss sometimes in our routines. If guided properly, you can really bring the team to great heights! You are a natural leader."
Working at GMA7, which was my 2nd job, became the turning point. Aside that I am no longer a loser in dating, I was a jet-setter!
I wasn't a jet-setter in leading the company to top ratings. I was in influencing my office mates in playing PC games like Starcraft and Warcraft. Yes, I love video games.
In fact, I left a legacy there today. I heard majority of the engineering employees play Dota - even in office hours. Not sure if it became a policy that it's OK to play Dota as long as it makes the employees awake but would definitely be given memo if fumbles happen.
I practiced leadership fully in business. I remember, even in playing Dota, I was a very harsh leader. I shout at my office mates that I consider slow and lame. Even in business, I was also fierce to some apprentices.
My persistence of not being bored and somehow make my life more meaningful than just play Dota, go to work, eat, drink, play badminton - even in badminton I'm sometimes fierce and very harsh; led me into exploring the world of business. That's when I bought my 1st business book. I bought it because I wanted something new in my life not that I want to go into business. I guess God has His ways to really lead people where He wants them to go. The book showed me why I was prepared to be a powerful leader all those years. I was prepared to be a solution and not part of the problem. I was part of the solution in creating a prosperous country out of a struggling developing one.
Can I really turn the Philippines into a 1st World Country? Understanding leadership, the answer is a big NO. That's why you are reading this article up to this point for you are also called to be a powerful leader for our country. Can WE turn this country into the most powerful economic superpower? The answer is a big YES! But only when you commit to do so. No matter how little you start today, it may bring great fortune in the future.
For prosperity!
Ludwig Rosete
PS. For comments and suggestions, you can email the author at ludwigmarkr@gmail.com. You can also contact 0917.6149.879 (MR. LUDWIG ROSETE) for more info about the business community.
